Florida’s Gulf Coast braces for Cat 3 hurricane as Tropical Storm Idalia strengthens
Florida could see an even stronger hurricane this week than initially predicted, bringing dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surge to much of the state’s Gulf coast. Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened faster than expected overnight, giving it more time to cook as it travels north over the bathtub-warm conditions of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s expected to become a hurricane later Monday. More from the Miami Herald.
Palm Beach County, downtown Fort Lauderdale burnish reputations as greener pastures for businesses
A little chest thumping never hurt anybody — especially when business is sizzling during inflationary times. In a case of “strike while the iron is hot,” or perhaps before it turns cold, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County took its decade-old “Wall Street South” campaign to midtown Manhattan last week with the purchase of one-day ads on giant electronic billboards in Times Square and nearby neighborhoods. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
New data shows 'forever chemicals' in Mims, Titusville drinking water
So-called "forever chemicals" that were once used to fend off fires now nag water systems throughout the United States, with uncertain health consequences. This month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that 26 million people in hundreds of communities have these toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in their drinking water. Brevard County's water treatment plant in Mims was among them. More from Florida Today.
New Florida law has Tampa Bay labor unions scrambling for members
A state law that went into effect July 1 is threating the existence of collective voices that negotiate everything from wages to workplace protections throughout Florida. The law, SB 256, requires public sector unions to enroll at least 60% of eligible employees or risk decertification by the state. Local governments may no longer deduct monthly dues from paychecks, forcing unions to reenroll existing members in a new payment system and recruit any new members needed to meet the 60% threshold. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
CMG Clean Tech shifts U.S. headquarters to Poinciana SunRail land
French green energy company CMG Clean Tech has shifted its plan to build its U.S. headquarters and research park in Osceola County. The company’s U.S. affiliate, Panacea Global Energy Inc., was one of four bidders Tuesday for the 63-acre Poinciana SunRail Park property and received the most favorable reviews from the county’s executive staff. And Thursday, the county issued a notice of intent to begin negotiations with Clean Tech subject to approval of the Board of Commissioners. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Entertainment
Sax-playing ninja from Orange Park competes on NBC's 'American Ninja Warrior'
When Orange Park's Ridgeview High Panthers play this fall, one of the best athletes on the field will be playing saxophone, not safety. Alex Romer, a 17-year-old Ridgeview senior, plays in the marching band. But he's also a highly trained ninja. Romer appears Monday on the semi-finals of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior."
» More from the Florida Times-Union.
Profile
How Tampa’s ‘snake man’ is trying to save Florida’s snakes from a deadly disease
Amid sandy ground covered by saw palmetto and the occasional prickly pear cactus, Shiv Shukla looks for snakes. He has been doing this recreationally since he was a kid, but now he slogs through the woods with urgency. Shukla is concerned about many threats facing snakes. During the almost 3-mile trek across the University of South Florida Forest Preserve in search of one, he speaks at length about invasive species, habitat destruction and urbanization.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.