The 2019 hurricane names are out, and it could be another busy season

Coming off two especially active hurricane seasons, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released 21 potential storm names on Wednesday ahead of 2019's season, set to begin June 1. Though the official season will run through November, the peak season for hurricanes in the U.S. is often mid-August to mid-October. Last year, the Atlantic hurricane season had 15 named storms, with eight strong enough to be classified as hurricanes. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida is 2019's State with the 4th Lowest Tax Burden

With Tax Day fast approaching and the new tax code taking effect this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its 2019 Tax Burden by State report as well as accompanying videos, along with its 2019 Tax Facts infographic. [Source: Florida Trend]

Faulty 737 sensor in Lion Air crash linked to Florida repair shop

Accident investigators in Indonesia, home of Lion Air, and the U.S., where Boeing Co., the plane’s manufacturer, is based, have been examining the work that a Florida repair shop previously performed on the so-called angle-of-attack sensor, according to briefing documents prepared for Indonesia’s parliament. Read more from Bloomberg and Business Observer.

Is the job market as good as it gets?

Florida CEOs were asked: The Wall Street Journal recently published an article stating that the job market is now “as good as it gets.” Do you agree with this sentiment? Why or why not? Dorcas L. Wilcox, CEO of Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, says, "No, I do not agree with that statement. In almost anything we do, there is room for improvement." [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida growers favor UF blueberry strains, and so do competitors

As Florida blueberries begin to show up in farmers’ markets here and in grocery stores across the nation, Alachua County growers say they understand why better plant strains developed by the University of Florida are being licensed globally — including to exporters with whom they compete. But some blueberry producers across the state aren’t so happy. [Source: Gainesville Sun]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Projected pilot shortage will impact air travel - what one Orlando airport is doing about it [Orlando Sentinel]
The aviation industry is banking on the next generation of potential pilots to maintain future air travel. An estimated 1.3 million new pilots are needed to fly current and new fleets for the two largest commercial jet manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, within the next 20 years.

› Sarasota police crackdown on CBD products canceled, for now [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Police won’t begin enforcement efforts announced in mid-February on retailers who sell cannabidiol — known more commonly as CBD — until the Legislature creates regulations and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services finalizes its own cease-and-desist order for the hemp derivative, a police spokeswoman said Wednesday.

› Tampa Electric looking at Tampa-owned property in East Hillsborough as potential solar farm [Tampa Bay Times]
A new solar power farm could sprout north of Interstate 4 on 450 acres the city of Tampa is poised to sell to Tampa Electric Co. If the utility does pursue the idea, the property could become part of Tampa Electric's plan to build 600 megawatts of solar power by 2021 — enough to power 100,000 homes.

› Miami OKs its first legislation to protect from sea level rise [Miami Today]
The Miami City Commission made history March 28 by approving the city’s first piece of legislation related to protections from sea level rise. The move to add resilience methods into the Miami 21 zoning code was met with support from environmental organizations, community leaders and from residents who say the City of Miami is Ground Zero for sea level rise and climate change concerns.

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› Florida seeks to limit strength of smokable medical marijuana [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Less than a month after Florida lifted a ban on smokable medical marijuana, a House committee approved a bill to limit the strength of marijuana flowers available to patients who want to smoke their medicine.

› National Geographic animal photo exhibit coming to Bradenton [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Some of the world’s most intimate portraits of animals are coming to Manatee County in the form of an acclaimed exhibit. It’s all part of a project called the National Geographic Photo Ark, and the exhibit will be displayed at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton.

› Tampa Bay Watch dedicates the first building in St. Petersburg's $80 million Pier District [Tampa Bay Times]
The first building of the new $80 million St. Pete Pier, which the contractor has said should be substantially complete in December, was dedicated Tuesday. About two dozen people gathered halfway down the Pier approach for the event at the structure being built to house hands-on marine exhibits and teach about Tampa Bay’s ecosystem.

› Airport marks airline's inaugural flights [Business Observer]
The inaugural flight on Allegiant Air from Syracuse, N.Y., to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport was scheduled for Wednesday, April 3. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport officials will also mark the first Allegiant departure to Harrisburg International Airport in Harrisburg, Pa., the same day.