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Thursday's Afternoon Update

Florida economist predicts more growth in jobs, population

A top economist predicts Florida will continue to outpace the country on key economic measures and add another 200,000 new jobs this year. That's on top of the 217,000 new jobs created last year. The bullish outlook was delivered by the Florida Chamber Foundation's chief economist, Jerry Parrish, during a teleconference Thursday morning. More from the AP.

Federal judge frustrated over Carnival’s continued pollution while on probation

More than halfway through Carnival Corporation’s five year probation, company executives were in federal court Wednesday trying to assure U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz that they were making progress on the cruise company’s widespread pollution problem. More from the Miami Herald and the Orlando Sentinel.

Debate over Florida toll road projects continues to flare

Gaining initial legislative support last year might have been the easy part for controversial and expensive toll-road projects envisioned to cut through more than 300 miles of mostly rural land from Collier County to the Georgia border. More from the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Boynton Beach Mall redevelopment plan chops retail, adds housing and offices

A plan to redevelop Boynton Beach Mall by owner Washington Prime Group was revealed this week and it halves retail space at the 34-year-old mall, adding multi-family housing, a hotel, and offices. The master plan and rezoning request for the 116-acre site was filed with the Boynton Beach City Commission, which gave initial approval, but meets again on the plans Jan. 21. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

JEA paid $25,000 to lobbyist with business ties to then-CEO Aaron Zahn through JaxChamber

JEA paid the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce $25,000 and told them to use the money to hire Deno Hicks, a local lobbyist who at the time had an undisclosed business partnership with then-CEO Aaron Zahn, to raise money for an innovation conference that the organization helped JEA organize in 2018. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Construction Trends
‘Net-zero’ energy homes to be built in Ruskin

 A local nonprofit is hoping to make sustainability a bigger part of the conversation of affordable housing. Seven homes which will be built in the Sunset at Bayou Pass neighborhood this year will be “net-zero” energy — or consume as much energy as renewable energy is generated — after the Florida Home Partnership, a nonprofit organization and Community Housing Development Organization, received a $150,000 grant from Wells Fargo.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Florida Film
Two filmmakers are shining a light on Liberty Square and Haitian experience in Miami

floridaWhen Miami Gardens resident Faren Humes was working as a location manager for the Academy Award-winning film “Moonlight,” she learned all about Liberty Square. Now, the independent filmmaker is expanding her own film project, “Liberty,” based on the lives of residents at the public housing complex in Liberty City.

» Read more from the Miami Herald.