March 28, 2024

Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/9/2023

Ian's deadly path: A visual look at how the hurricane devastated Florida region by region

It was a monster, with monstrous results. It brought destruction not just to one region but to much of the state, in the form of deadly storm surge, wind damage, river and inland flooding and beach erosion. Region by region, you can see Ian’s toll, which in many areas lingers today, more than three months later. More from USA Today and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Unanswered questions remain at Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld for 2023

It’s the start of 2023. Surely this year will bring plenty of major developments, surprise twists and newsworthy updates for the theme park capital of the world in Orlando. Here are some unanswered questions lingering from 2022 that we’re hoping to get answered soon in the New Year. More from Florida Politics.

New year, same Rays: Tampa baseball team's search for a new home continues

Despite the team’s outstanding track record of success on the field, the Tampa Bay Rays — whose lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg expires after the 2027 season — have endured multiple failed attempts to secure a new home over the past few years, starting with the 2018 debacle in Ybor City and culminating in the controversial “Sister City” split-season plan with Montreal that was quashed by Major League Baseball. Thus, a new year once again arrives with little to no clarity about the Rays’ future in the Tampa Bay region, but an even greater sense of urgency. More from the Business Observer.

Can hybrid super reefs defend the coasts? UM leading research for military project

To protect coastal bases, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has enlisted corals, oysters and three international teams of scientists led by investigators at the University of Miami, the University of Hawaii and Rutgers University. The researchers are developing what they call “hybrid reefs,” which combine concrete structures with living coral reefs and oyster beds to break up damaging waves. More from the Miami Herald.

Duval at 1 million: What population milestone means for city, region

Without a party, Duval County likely surpassed 1 million in population between 2020 and 2021. Consider it another quiet moment during the coronavirus pandemic. It was 25 years earlier, in January 1996, when the five-county metro area reached a million people and marked it with a community celebration featuring “I Dream of Jeannie” star Barbara Eden. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Transportation Trends
Brightline shares first look inside its new Orlando train station

Intercity rail company Brightline on Jan. 9 pulled back the curtain on its future Central Florida train station at Orlando International Airport with the release of a video and renderings. The station's main entrance is off the airport’s two-story glass atrium. Once inside the station, passengers can buy tickets from guest services or self-service kiosks, and check luggage before proceeding through touchless turnstiles into the security screening area. Brightline is currently the only rail system in America that screens all passengers and bags prior to boarding.

» More from the Orlando Business Journal.

 

Out of the Box
'A unique way to honor a loved one': Inside Celestis, the company sending human ashes to space

Celestis, though not a household name, has been around for decades as one of the first – and most successful – commercial space companies. From astronauts to celebrities to students, its participants have run the gamut. And as far as future missions go, Celestis is just getting started.

» Read more from Florida Today.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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