‘People are canceling reservations.’ Canadian tourists rethink Florida trips
Canadians love South Florida from its beaches to boardrooms. Hotels and motels in Broward County at this time of the year usually brim with tourists from the United States’ longtime ally to the north. This year, something is out of the ordinary. After years of growth, Canadian tourism in Florida is reversing course, tourism officials say and initial data indicate. Demand for flights from Canada to South Florida has fallen about 20% compared to a year ago. More from the Miami Herald and CNBC.
Judges uphold challenge to Florida rule on license renewals for medical cannabis companies
An appeals court has rejected a challenge to a Florida Department of Health rule that led to dramatically increased license renewal costs for medical marijuana companies. Department of Health officials in December 2022 released a rule that created a formula for establishing a license renewal fee. The rule boosted renewal costs to about $1.3 million, more than 22 times the $60,000 biennial fee paid in the past by pot companies, which are known as medical marijuana treatment centers. [Source: Health News Florida]
Unemployment claims in Florida declined last week
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Florida dropped last week compared with the week prior. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 5,414 in the week ending March 22, down from 5,684 the week before, the Labor Department said. U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 224,000 last week, down 1,000 claims from 225,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis. [Source: Ocala Star-Banner]
Much of Central Florida faces drought conditions. Here’s what that means.
Stack three quarters and you’ll have a good measure of how much rain fell across Central Florida this month — 0.17 inches, on average. That’s almost 2½ inches below normal — about the thickness of a paperback book — putting most of Central Florida into abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Drought Monitor. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida might bring back arts grants — with political oversight and new strings attached
Wielding his veto pen nine months ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis wiped out state arts and culture grants, sparking a bipartisan outcry — and forcing hundreds of Florida theater, visual art, dance, music and other cultural organizations to scramble to close unexpected budget shortfalls and salvage their programs. Arts and culture grants may soon have a revival. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Canada-funded billboards warn Central Florida: ‘Tariffs are a tax’
Canada is taking its fight against President Donald Trump’s tariffs to Florida’s highways. Billboards paid for by the Canadian government are popping up across the Sunshine State, including one near a 7-Eleven gas station in Winter Springs. Canada’s message to U.S. voters: “Tariffs are a tax on hardworking Americans.”
› Legendary show 'Bar Rescue' has plans for downtown Melbourne: Giving local bar a makeover
The well-known downtown Melbourne bar, Hurricane Creek Saloon, has been selected for a makeover by the Paramount Network television series 'Bar Rescue.' 'Bar Rescue' travels across the country to assist struggling bars and nightclubs, often making significant changes to rejuvenate the businesses while documenting for TV the dramatic transformation process.
› NIH funding cuts threaten Tampa Bay's research powerhouses
Several of Tampa Bay's largest economic engines risk losing millions in funding for critical research. Tampa Bay institutions have received over $1.54 billion in National Institutes of Health grants in the past decade. That funding is now at risk, which could result in devastating budgetary shortfalls. Researchers are anxiously waiting to learn if their projects will continue to receive federal support.
› Swifties or SunRail? Orlando lawmakers question hotel tax spending
Visit Orlando, the region’s tourism marketing agency, has gotten millions of hotel tax dollars to promote theme parks to Taylor Swift fans, run television ads during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and court international visitors from Canada to Chile. A pair of Orlando state lawmakers say some of those funds should be spent on more pressing needs — from expanding mass transit to building affordable housing.
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› University of Florida professor to expand disease-prediction dashboard to monitor Gulf threats
After deploying life-saving cholera-prediction systems in Africa and Asia, a University of Florida researcher is turning his attention to the pathogen-plagued waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast. His team now wants to set up a similar pathogen-monitoring and disease-prediction system for pathogenic bacteria in the warm, pathogen-fertile waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
› Bradenton outsources wastewater treatment plant operations to address pollution woes
Bradenton will outsource operations and maintenance of its troubled wastewater treatment plant, which has a history of deficient operations and sewage discharges into the Manatee River. Problems with Bradenton's wastewater treatment plant and pipeline system have caused the release of hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the Manatee River over the years.
› Virtual pet fostering. Aging tests for cats and dogs. How new tech could help Miami pets
Miami Beach’s annual tech conference went to the dogs. No, not Pitbull, though he was at eMerge Americas 2025, too. More like cute, wagging-tail pups. Rescue dogs like 3-year-old Sultan walked around the Miami Beach Convention Center on Friday, searching for a new home. The indoor pop-up puppy park was the official launch of a new virtual fostering initiative by South Florida nonprofit Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, or FoMA.
› City of Naples increases building, planning fees
Naples is increasing its building and planning fees to keep up with other cities and recoup increased costs for time and services. City Council on March 19 unanimously approved an ordinance to increase fees for building permits, plan reviews, plan revisions and inspections and to add two new fees to help the Building Department manage noncompliance at construction sites and contractors who don’t adhere to approved construction site-management plans.