‘Concerned is probably an understatement:’ Florida cities brace for property tax blow
Lawmakers this week will consider the proposal, which calls for a $150,000 exemption on homesteaded properties in 2027 and a $250,000 exemption in 2028. It also handcuffs cities and counties in terms of how they can spend tax money, limiting them to a short list of core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, flood control, and retirement benefits for local government employees. The proposal could be approved in its current form, tweaked or killed altogether in the planned special session this week. More from Orlando Sentinel.
Florida gas prices dropped 32 cents last week
Florida gas prices continue falling as peace talks in the Iran conflict spark optimism in the fuel market. On Sunday, the state average for a gallon of gas was $4.07, according to AAA – The Auto Club Group. That’s 32 cents less than a week ago, 9 cents less than a month ago and 96 cents more than this time last year. More from the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Miami Herald.
Florida port could become hub for SpaceX, Blue Origin rocket recovery
St. Lucie County is updating the master plan for the Port of Fort Pierce and sees the commercial space industry as a potential future customer. A draft of the new master plan includes building a Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility at the port and integrating it into Florida's Spaceport System. A community meeting on the 256-page draft master plan is st for 5:30 p.m. June 1 at the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. More from Florida Today.
Former St. Pete Science Center to become AI and startup campus
Plans to redevelop the former St. Petersburg Science Center reveal a 67,324-square-foot campus that would combine artificial intelligence training, startup incubation and science education on a site that has sat largely vacant since 2014. City filings show the roughly $25 million project would more than double the size of the existing facility at 7701 22nd Ave. N. and transform the former museum into a hub for workforce training, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. More from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
Holon shifts Jacksonville autonomous vehicle factory plans to phased approach
Holon’s Jacksonville project is still aimed at making Northeast Florida a U.S. hub for autonomous transit manufacturing. But the company now says the road to that larger factory will likely begin with a smaller first step. The German autonomous vehicle company and parent organization Benteler Mobility are outlining a phased strategy for Jacksonville. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Recreation
Looking for places to hike in Florida? This new guide has over 1,000 trails
Is there any good hiking in flat Florida? Absolutely, say the co-authors of a new statewide hiking guide that encompasses more than 1,000 Sunshine State trails. Florida Hikes founder Sandra Friend teamed up with Central Florida-based writer Chris Stevens to craft “Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State,” a guidebook with footpaths from the Panhandle to the Keys.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Trend Exclusive
The Cake Girl
Kristina Lavallee first started baking with her mom while growing up in Puerto Rico. Now she's celebrating the 10-year anniversary of her brand The Cake Girl, which grew from a dessert truck in 2016 to a brick-and-mortar in 2019 to an expanded Tampa location in 2021. To date, Lavallee has crafted more than 25,000 custom cakes and 1 million cupcakes, while gaining more than 250,000 followers on social media
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