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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Can Florida get hit by an earthquake? What to know about the risks of natural disaster
An earthquake shook Southern California in early February. This week, a devastating quake toppled buildings and killed thousands in Turkey and Syria. Can the earth move in Florida? Florida is known for its own natural disasters: hurricanes, tornadoes, riptides, flooding, flesh-eating bacteria, alligator and shark attacks. Earthquakes aren’t usually on the list of things to worry about. But they can — and have — happened in the Sunshine State. More from the Miami Herald.
Miami’s airport just had its busiest year ever — and now it’s ranked No. 1 in Florida
Miami International Airport marked a record-breaking 50.6 million passengers in 2022, the busiest year on record, according to county officials. MIA barely squeaked by Orlando International Airport’s 50.1 million passengers in 2022, making it the busiest airport in Florida for the first time in six years. The airport’s performance in 2022 surpassed its previous record of 45.9 million passengers in 2019, before the COVID pandemic brought air travel to a near standstill in 2020. More from the Miami Herald.
Industry group seeks more time on Surfside-inspired condo inspection law
A Surfside-inspired law imposing stricter inspection and funding guidelines for condominiums won’t go into effect for almost another two years, but that’s not long enough for many associations to comply, according to an industry group seeking more time. Senators Tuesday are scheduled to hear from professional management companies on how to improve (SB 4D), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 11 months after the Champlain Towers South condo collapsed in surfside. More from the Florida Politics.
Tampa and Orlando dog bars are fighting a challenge to block pets from establishments
Bars in Tampa and Orlando are challenging the Florida Department of Health over decisions to block dogs from being in the establishments. Pups Pub Tampa and Pups Pub Orlando filed a case last week at the state Division of Administrative Hearings after health officials issued orders to prevent dogs in what the case describes as “dog friendly bars.” In part, attorneys for the bars wrote that the department reversed course after earlier allowing dogs. Also, they said the bars do not serve food and are designed to keep separation between dogs and where drinks are prepared. More from the News Service of Florida.
Mayo Clinic in Florida starting work toward $21 million central utility plant
Mayo Clinic in Florida continues the $432 million expansion it announced a year ago at its San Pablo Road campus in Jacksonville with the foundation for a new central utility plant. The city issued a permit Feb. 1 for the foundation at $1 million as it reviews plans for the support building at a construction cost of $20 million. Jacksonville-based Auld & White Constructors LLC is the foundation contractor. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Event
Third annual Florida Climate Conference happening in Sarasota
Scientists, business leaders and government officials will examine the threats posed by climate change and discuss the emergence of the climate economy at a conference in Sarasota on Thursday. The third annual Florida Climate Conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Selby Auditorium on the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. It’s run by the Sarasota-based Climate Adaptation Center.
» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Out of the Box
Is that a 6-foot dinosaur in the Publix aisle? What the supermarket mascots look like
Publix has a mascot — and its name is not BOGO. The Florida-based supermarket rolled out Plato the Publixaurus more than 30 years ago. The company says it also considered a farmer as a mascot but went with the dinosaur — which looks a bit like an alligator, if you ask us. Customers don’t see Plato often. Most of the mascot’s appearances involve community events and store openings.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.
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