Florida gets boost in tax revenues in December

Florida in December recorded its best monthly general-revenue collections since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research estimated revenue for December at $336.7 million over a forecast revised in August. What’s more, the $2.999.4 billion in overall revenue was $154.4 million higher than what had been forecast before the pandemic hit. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Pandemic getaways present marketing challenge for Visit Florida

Visit Florida spent much of the last decade fighting for its funding and mission. This decade, it faces the challenges of marketing what it calls the Florida Tourism brand during a pandemic. The agency continues to push marketing gimmicks to juice awareness. These include a Florida-themed board game said to be similar to Parcheesi designed to spike awareness in trade. And virtual Zumba and Cuban sandwich-making classes are tailored to international markets. [Source: Florida Politics]

Legalizing recreational marijuana supported by some Florida business owners and lawmakers alike

Medical marijuana is already legal but some lawmakers believe it should be available to everyone with some limits. Dr. Heather Auld, who runs the Compassionate Cannabis Clinic, points out that legalization will protect public employees. “And it also protects jobs, because there is no job protection for people who have a medical marijuana card,” Dr. Auld said. Support for legalizing seems to be growing among lawmakers too. [Source: WBBH]

DeSantis reverses COVID-19 vaccine strategy to ensure second doses

In a reversal, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that the state is now withholding COVID-19 vaccines to ensure seniors and healthcare workers can get their second doses. As hundreds of thousands of Floridians approach the 28-day deadline this week to receive their second Moderna vaccine dose, DeSantis guaranteed there would be enough supply to meet the demand. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

New study rates Florida as best state in U.S. to retire

Florida's top 10 rankings in affordability and quality of life helped it earn the top spot in WalletHub's 2021 Best States to Retire study. Florida's score of 61.09 in WalletHub's study, which was released Monday, placed it No. 1 over Colorado (60.94), Delaware (58.69), Virginia (58.61) and North Dakota (57.49). To determine how retirement friendly each state is, WalletHub, a personal finance website, examined three categories in each state: affordability, quality of life and health care. [Source: The Center Square]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› A tunnel under Fort Lauderdale? Mayor says Elon Musk’s company wants to build it [Miami Herald]
Could Elon Musk build a tunnel under the New River in Fort Lauderdale? Mayor Dean Trantalis spent Monday talking to Musk’s Boring Co. about it. And Broward County officials are slated to have another discussion with the company Wednesday. The background: After years — if not decades — of discussion, new commuter rail is being planned along the Florida East Coast railway tracks in South Florida.

› Mayor says Tampa Bay Rays want too much to build stadium at Tropicana site [Tampa Bay Times]
For the first time in years, it appears the Tampa Bay Rays have had serious talks with the city about potentially building a new stadium on the Tropicana Field site. But St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said the team’s increased demands for the property’s development rights and its insistence on the split-season plan with Montreal have the two sides at a standstill.

› Darden Restaurants to pay hourly employees to get COVID-19 vaccine [Orlando Sentinel]
Hourly employees at Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and other chains owned by Darden Restaurants will be paid to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Orlando-based Darden, which has more than 1,815 restaurants, will grant workers two hours of pay for each dose of the vaccine they receive, for up to four hours of compensation, CEO Gene Lee wrote in a Tuesday letter to employees.

› Monster Jam returning to TIAA Bank Field in March. But it will look different. [Florida Times-Union]
Monster Jam will bring a dozen smoke-spitting, car-crushing behemoths to Jacksonville this year after all. The event has drawn huge crowds to TIAA Bank Field every February for years, but plans were put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the trucks — including Grave Digger, Max-D and Megalodon — will be at the stadium for two shows on March 6 and 7.

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› Moffitt Cancer Center Announces First Phase of 775-Acre Campus Project in Pasco County [Florida Trend]
In a project that is expected to support more than 14,500 jobs in the region, the plans for the campus have released. “The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) and Pasco County are thrilled to welcome Moffitt Cancer Center (Moffitt) to the county, ” said the Pasco EDC in a statement.

› Parents opposed to Wawa gas station sue Coral Gables to stop construction [Miiami Herald]
Parents at Carver Elementary School opposed to a Wawa gas station and convenience store being built across the street are suing the city of Coral Gables for violating its own laws by skirting public input and rushing approval for the project on land originally designated for affordable housing.

› Bar leaders must face challenges in 2021 [Jacksonvnille Daily Record]
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association partnered with the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association on Jan. 14 for a combined membership meeting. Presenters of the live stream meeting were JWLA President Cyndy Trimmer and Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association President Onchantho Am. Aurora Austriaco, president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, was the virtual guest speaker.

› Venice holds firm on prohibition of large outdoor events due to COVID-19 [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Merchants who relied on sales to people who frequented larger special events – notably Howard Alan-hosted arts festivals – are still hopeful that the city of Venice will greenlight larger gatherings, but Assistant City Manager Len Bramble said the risks of COVID-19 are still too great.