March 28, 2024

Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/22/2023

2.1 million Floridians plan road rip as gas prices continue decline

Memorial Day weekend travelers should see favorable prices at the pump as gas prices continue downward. On Sunday, the state average for a gallon of gas was $3.41, with some customers paying in the $3.20s or lower, according to a press release from AAA. The continued drop comes as more than 2.1 million Floridians prepare for road trips on Memorial Day weekend, AAA forecasted. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

NHC tracking area of 'disturbed weather' off Florida with low chance for development

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a system off the southeastern coast of Florida that has a low chance for development. The system appeared on NHC's tropical outlook map Sunday northeast of the Bahamas. Over the last 50 years, there have been 19 storms that have formed before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The season officially begins June 1. More from Florida Today. and the Orlando Sentinel.

A tale of two counties: Lee County adds thousands of jobs, Collier far fewer

The jobs picture is mixed in Southwest Florida. The latest report from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity shows strong job growth in the Fort Myers metro – essentially Lee County. Not so in the Naples metro – or Collier County. While Lee took the brunt of Hurricane Ian's wrath in September, it continues to recover and rebuild. More from the Naples Daily News .

Majority of Disney first responders approve bargaining agreement, await ratification

Disney World’s first responders have approved a three-year labor deal that now heads toward the ratification process. On Friday, 80 percent of the Reedy Creek Fire Department’s 185 staff members signed off on the deal, paving the way for a significant bump in starting firefighter pay and benefits, in addition to investment in transportation equipment and addressing safety concerns, union President Jon Shirey said. Shirey said about 20% of members either did not vote or voted against it. More from WESH and the Orlando Sentiniel.

Super yacht, tight squeeze: Fort Lauderdale facing gridlock crisis on New River

Boats are getting bigger. But the New River they travel up and down is not. The channel, one of Fort Lauderdale’s busiest waterways, already has a reputation for being the most challenging river to navigate on the East Coast, marine experts say. Mega yachts and barges are especially feeling the squeeze — and some worry they might abandon Fort Lauderdale in search of kinder, gentler waterways. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Trend Mention

Mention ImageRegister for the 2023 ACEC Florida Transportation Conference

Register for the 2023 ACEC Florida Transportation Conference! Don't miss the opportunity to join FDOT policymakers and transportation consultants for networking and continuing education. Attendees will learn about major projects underway or being planned in Florida; get up-to-date information about state policies and initiatives shaping the engineering profession; network with other professionals in transportation, development, and infrastructure; interact with FDOT decision-makers from all districts; and earn PDHs and CEs.

Sports Business
Rays have potential buyers, both local and for relocation, interested in franchise

At a time when the Rays appear closer than ever to completing their 15-year quest for a new ballpark in the Tampa Bay area, their options are only multiplying. At least one local businessman is trying to buy the franchise, according to sources briefed on the discussions who were granted anonymity so they could speak candidly. The team also is drawing interest from groups that would relocate the club to one of the cities that is a candidate for major-league expansion.

» More from the Athletic and the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Business Profile
City Furniture

Along a stretch of I-4 some 25 miles east of Tampa and 60 miles west of Orlando, a new City Furniture campus stretches for a half-mile. The 87-acre development that opened late last year features 1.3 million square feet of warehouse space and a nearly 190,000-sq.-ft. two-story showroom, complete with a wine and coffee bar. The $125-million complex is dwarfed only by the possibilities of the Tamarac-based chain, founded and led by the Koenig family. The company is riding the wave of Florida’s growth, citing the state’s system of ports and highways that allows it to look beyond borders in building the company.

» Read more from Florida Trend.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

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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