Tuesday's Afternoon Update
State spending expected to grow at a slower rate
The state forecast for money coming in from sales taxes is down a little bit from forecasting just a few months ago. While still growing, the incoming tax dollars are expected to grow slower in the years ahead. The slowdown in tax revenue is leading lawmakers to slow the growth of the overall budget. After expanding by more than four percent per year over the past four years, the budget lawmakers are negotiating now represents half that growth rate -- less than two percent. More from WJCT News.
Two SeaWorld corporate board leaders aren't seeking new terms
Two members of SeaWorld’s corporate board of directors are stepping down and not seeking re-election for their seats, the company said. The departing members are Deborah Thomas, who has been on the nine-person board since 2013, and Donald Robinson, a member since 2016. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Bar exam blues: Florida pass rate falls again
Like a bad roller coaster, the passage rate for first-time takers of the Florida Bar winter exam has dipped again. Results of the February 26-27 examination released Monday by the state’s Board of Bar Examiners show 57.3% passed out of 599 first-time takers — down from last February’s pass rate of 57.9% out of 637 first-time takers. More from Florida Politics.
Think twice before sharing medical secrets with Amazon's Alexa, Florida's CFO warns
Amid reports that Amazon employs thousands of people to listen to customers talk to their virtual personal assistant Alexa, Florida’s chief financial officer is warning residents to be careful what they say about their private health matters. He also revealed steps Alexa owners might not realize they can take to protect themselves. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
AAA: Florida gas prices reach 2019 high
Gas prices in Florida reached a 2019 high of $2.80 this past week, a 9-cent jump over the previous week, according to AAA auto club. Although the average price of a gallon of gasoline declined by one penny over the weekend, motorists statewide are still paying 8 cents more than a week ago, nearly 20 cents more than last month and 15 cents more than this time last year. More from the Daytona Beach News Journal.
Business Profile
Rib City
Tracking the 30-year history of Rib City draws parallels to the preparation of the signature item in the restaurant’s name: purposefully slow, steady and with meticulous attention to detail. What began as a single location in Fort Myers in 1989 has grown to 14 corporate stores in Florida and 12 franchise locations spread nationwide, from Virginia to Washington state. And all done without turning up the heat.
» More from the Business Observer.
Out of the Box
You can audition to be a real-life mermaid at this Florida park
Florida is becoming quite the mermaid hot spot. There’s Disney World’s mermaid school, the Wreck Bar where you can watch them swim majestically — and now you can audition to be one at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Auditions for their world-famous mermaid crew will be April 19 at 5 p.m.
» Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.