Florida growers battle to keep citrus industry thriving

Florida’s citrus industry still contributes an estimated $8 billion a year to the state economy. That’s despite its longtime battle against greening - a bacterial disease that sours the fruit and is fatal to the trees. And local growers, some who have been around for generations, say disease, hurricanes and freezes won’t stop them – they are determined to keep Florida’s citrus thriving. [Source: WJCT]

See also:
» Can citrus grow in the Panhandle? One extension agent wants to find out
» Florida conference to reveal citrus grower research
» Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2019

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida's water future: Where is it going? Where will it come from?

Florida’s problem isn’t a lack of water, but where it is, how it’s used, where it gets dumped when we’re through with it, and how much it will cost by 2035 to satisfy farms, 5 million new Floridians — and the needs of the environment. Florida tapped 6.4 billion gallons of water per day three years ago. By 2035, Florida will need another 1.1 billion gallons a day, a 17% increase. [Source: Florida Trend]

Hotel arms race in Orlando's convention industry

Hotels across Central Florida have been doing what they can to compete for added convention dollars by expanding meeting space capacity. It's an effort to fight for a share of the growing tourism market, which last year saw 1.53 million visitors to Orange County Convention Center, a 5 percent increase over the year before. [Source: AP]

Report: Florida schools fail to report many crimes to state

From rapes to arsons to guns, Florida’s school districts are hiding countless crimes that take place on campus, defying state laws and leaving parents with the false impression that children are safer than they are. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the AP.

For-profit prison companies back criminal justice reform. It could be good for business.

A bipartisan push in Congress backed by President Donald Trump to slow America’s rising prison population has a puzzling supporter: A Boca Raton-based for-profit prison company. GEO Group, one of the country’s largest detention companies, is publicly urging the Senate not to adjourn without passing the FIRST STEP Act. [Source: Times/Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› JetBlue Airlines offers cheap flights to Florida to boost tourism [NBC-2]
A push to get more people to visit our area is coming from an airline. JetBlue has partnered with VISIT FLORIDA to offer cheap rates for flights into several Florida airports, including Southwest Florida International Airport.

› Wayfair picks Jacksonville for warehouse [Florida Times-Union]
Online retail giant Wayfair Inc. has selected Jacksonville for a new 1 million-square-foot distribution center and warehouse. The project was dubbed “Project Empire” by Jacksonville city officials, who were negotiating for months to land the deal.

› Electric Lime bikes cruising onto Orlando street scene [Orlando Sentinel]
The electric-assisted bicycles bursting onto Orlando’s street scene are battery-powered antiperspirant on two wheels. That’s what the vendor, Lime, is marketing as for why anybody would want to pay $1 to unlock and 15 cents a minute to ride one.

› Imagine Clearwater slows to a crawl as band shell redesign stalls entire project [Tampa Bay Times]
The design of the roughly $50 million waterfront redevelopment that is supposed to transform Clearwater's struggling downtown by 2021 was already months behind schedule. Elected officials still had not even determined how to pay for it all.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› New Carnival ship named Mardi Gras, a nod to the line’s start in Miami [Miami Herald]
In an allusion to Carnival Cruise Line’s rocky start, the company is naming its newest and largest ship Mardi Gras. In 1972 the company’s first ship, also called Mardi Gras, made its sailing debut in Miami.

› G.Wiz as icon for preservationists [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The G.Wiz building, built in 1976 as the Selby Public Library, has become a cause for the local preservation movement. Perhaps concerned with the community’s reputation for tearing down significant structures, a small group of preservationists are determined to prevent its demolition.

› New Gov. DeSantis may drop legal fights over medical marijuana [Orlando Sentinel]
The advent of a new administration with Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis could bring a sharp turnaround in how Florida officials approach the state’s medical marijuana industry, including challenges to the lawsuits swirling around it.

› Tampa Bay visitors enjoy open beaches in wake of Red Tide [Tampa Bay Times]
Parking is easy, restaurants have open tables, and there's no wait at the bar. A Red Tide hangover is good for visitors, not so much for businesses.