Tuesday’s Afternoon Update

Florida consumer sentiment drops in February amid economic concerns

After three consecutive months of increases following the presidential election, consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped 2.6 points in February, down from a revised figure of 86.9 in January. National sentiment stands out with a sharp decline of seven points. “The decline in consumer sentiment is primarily driven by Floridians’ pessimistic expectations about future economic outlooks, which have decreased for the second consecutive month,” said Hector H. Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. More from UF News.

Florida offices housing Everglades engineers, scientists on the chopping block

In its bid to cut costs, the Department of Government Efficiency has ended leases around the country, including at the Florida office staffed with hundreds of federal workers focused on Everglades restoration and maintaining beaches across the state. The federal government moved to end its lease for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Jacksonville, headquarters of the Jacksonville district and home to about 800 of the nearly 1,100 Florida-based employees. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Silver Airways halts Orlando service after leasing firm reclaims three of its planes

Regional airline Silver Airways of Fort Lauderdale, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, halted its service at Orlando International Airport over the weekend after three of its aircraft were repossessed by the owner. The action came after the cash-strapped carrier failed to reach an agreement to renew an extension that would have allowed it to continue to fly the planes for another 60 days. The airline is still serving travelers through Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Puerto Rico. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Carnival is opening a private resort for cruise passengers. See what’s in the works

Carnival Corp. is putting the finishing touches on, not a new ship but a new destination for cruise passengers. Beginning in July, Doral-based Carnival will send ships between PortMiami and Celebration Key, a private development in the Bahamas. Described by the cruise ship company as “a new destination from the ground up,” Celebration Key is on the southern side of Grand Bahama island. More from the Miami Herald.

Private equity giant to buy majority stake in ModMed in $5.3 billion deal

ModMed is teaming up with another private equity firm for its next chapter. Clearlake Capital Group agreed to acquire a majority stake of the Boca Raton-based company at a $5.3 billion valuation. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to a news release, Clearlake will purchase the stake from Warbug Pincus, which acquired a majority share of ModMed in 2017. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The role of Artificial Intelligence in occupational safety and health practices (OSH)

It has been feared by many that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be taking over how we do business. However, AI has revolutionized the way businesses operate, transforming mundane tasks into efficient, data-driven processes. In today’s workplace, AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s an integral part of daily operations. AI plays a crucial role in enhancing occupational safety and health (OSH) practices. [Sponsored report]