Could more nuclear power be part of Florida’s future energy portfolio?
Florida has four nuclear generating units — two at Turkey Point in Miami-Dade County and two in a St. Lucie County plant, all operated by Florida Power & Light — which provide approximately 11% of Florida’s energy needs. Approximately 75% of all energy in Florida comes from natural gas — a larger proportion from a single source than in any other state in the country. More from the Florida Phoenix.
Florida Senate expands its tax cut proposal
Local News Florida Senate expands its tax cut proposal miami By CBS Miami Team Updated on: April 15, 2025 / 10:23 AM EDT / CBS/News Service of Florida The Senate has released a ratcheted-up package of proposed tax cuts, as it prepares for negotiations with the House, which has pitched a $5.43 billion measure that includes reducing the state's sales tax rate. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee is scheduled Tuesday to take up the bill, which would reduce revenue by $1.83 billion next fiscal year. More from CBS Miami.
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville names new CEO
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital on Monday announced that Gabe Bullaro has been appointed as the Gainesville hospital's next chief executive. Bullaro replaces Eric Lawson, who retired in April after 36 years with the hospital. Bullaro previously served as CEO at HCA hospitals in Pensacola, Ocala, and West Marion. More from the Gainesville Sun.
Tavares Council wants to triple impact fees on new homes
The Tavares City Council is set to vote this month on a proposal to raise the city’s municipal impact fees for the first time in nearly two decades to help pay the costs of its rapid growth. But the new rates would add thousands more to the cost of new homes and businesses. The fees would be increased 233%, from $1,058 to $3,512 per new single-family home. The fees for apartments and non-residential uses would spike even more, in many cases by more than 300%. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
FDLE develops new, 64,000-square-foot Fort Myers operations center
Seagate Development says it has been chosen to develop a new 64,000-square-foot Florida Department of Law Enforcement regional operations center in Fort Myers. The company, in a statement, says the project is currently in the design stage and that the estimated completion date is October 2026. More from the Business Observer and Gulfshore Business.
Profile
Orlando’s Julian Villela gets his career roaring in ‘The Lion King’
Julian Villela remembers his first big performance, at Orlando Fine Arts Academy: “Funny enough, it was ‘The Lion King’ and it was Timon.” At age 12, Julian has been performing half his life — and already bid farewell to both student productions, and the sassy meerkat. He’s currently touring the country as one of the two young actors who portray Simba — the future king — as a child, or rather, a cub.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Giant rodents cuddle with visitors at the Capybara Cafe in Florida
Animal lovers now have a place to hang out with the “it” animals of the moment — big furry rodents. In the back of a real estate office building in what is known as America’s oldest city, capybaras are crawling into visitors’ laps, munching on corn on the cob and hunting for scratches from humans at The Capybara Cafe in St. Augustine.
» Read more from the AP.