Florida gas prices slowly coming down

While gas prices are still higher than normal across the state of Florida, the average cost for a gallon of fuel is actually going down. AAA reported Monday that average cost is now $4.18 in the state, down 20 cents over a nine-day streak of declines. "The oil market remains extremely volatile, after seeing big swings in both directions during the past few weeks," said AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins. " Fortunately, oil prices are well below the high we saw more than a week ago. This should enable gas prices to slip lower this week, unless oil suddenly spikes again." More from  NBC Miami, WJXT and MySuncoast. 

Talking about Russian wealth is 'bad for business' in South Florida

Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, is keeping its lips sealed on the Russian wealth that lives there. Originally a place that attracted both tourists and immigrants fleeing communism in the Soviet Union, this pocket of Florida's Miami region saw a luxury-development boom at the turn of the century. Ever since, a number of Russian elites have parked money in the high-rise condos that tower over the ocean. But amid the rising tensions of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, many people don't want to talk about the money that helped fuel the city's economy and its nickname as "Little Moscow." [Source: Business Insider]

A private astronaut training facility could be coming to Florida

Through the years, Florida's Space Coast has seen rockets built, launches, new developments and the commercialization of space. But a new endeavor could be on the horizon — a private astronaut training and human spaceflight services center. Florida Today was the first to report on the project. The potential deal in the works between Space Florida and an unnamed company is being called "Project Beach House." [Source: WTSP]

Florida tops 1 million recreational boats

More than 1 million recreational boats are registered in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida requires vessels to be registered with local tax collectors within 30 days of purchase. As the state passed the 1 million benchmark, the commission tried to highlight the importance of safety. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Biggest touring Broadway season yet set for Orlando in 2022-23

The 2022-23 touring Broadway season in Orlando will be the biggest to date, with a mix of eight classic and newer shows, including several rescheduled titles postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which presents the series in partnership with Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America, announced the new season lineup on Friday morning. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Left for dead, retail booming in Southwest Florida [Business Observer]
The runaway leader in sales activity in Southwest Florida’s commercial real estate market is an industry whose death has been shouted from the mountaintops for more than a decade: retail. Yes, brick-and-mortar retail. The dinosaur left to the dustbin of history as e-commerce takes over, Amazon overtaking Sears, Etsy surpassing K-Mart. But as it turns out, people still like shopping in stores.

› Plan for soccer stadium at Miami Freedom Park is in motion. But what do neighbors think? [Miami Herald]
If the city approves the proposal for the complex, Melreese golf course could be replaced with Miami Freedom Park, a sprawling campus that would include a stadium to host home games for Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami, shops, a hotel, offices and 58-acre park. Retired soccer star David Beckham and his local Inter Miami co-owners Jorge and Jose Mas are seeking approval from Miami’s commission to lease the land for 99 years to build the complex. Commissioners are scheduled to consider the agreement April 1.

› Here’s which Tampa Bay projects got federal funding from the $1.5 trillion bill [Tampa Bay Times]
The $1.5 trillion federal budget bill recently passed by Congress includes millions of dollars in projects for Tampa Bay. Hometown legislators asked for, and got, money for high-speed internet in affordable housing communities, wastewater system upgrades, renovations for the Science Center of Pinellas County and more. President Joe Biden signed the bill earlier this week, which includes provisions to help the Ukrainian government.

› Florida Film Festival to screen over 160 films including new Pulse documentary [Orlando Sentinel]
In just a few weeks, Enzian will once again play host to the Florida Film Festival from April 8-17. This year’s event will be bigger than ever, screening 167 films from 37 countries. Of the films selected for inclusion at this year’s event, 145 have premiere status. “We have a lot of big firsts because we have 24 world premieres in the festival. So that’s extremely exciting, including more features than ever,” said Matthew Curtis, Florida Film Festival programming director.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Executive helping at-risk girls in Pinellas returns to her roots [Tampa Bay Times]
Pace Center for Girls, where counselors and teachers work with at-risk girls to get them on the path to success in adulthood, has a network of 21 centers throughout Florida. Chantell Miles, who has been with the organization for 10 years, started at the Jacksonville Pace Center and returned to Jacksonville earlier this month as executive director after serving as executive director of the Pinellas Pace center for 2 ½ years.

› Lawsuit threat faces Jacksonville redistricting map [Florida Times-Union]
A new map for Jacksonville City Council's 14 districts is heading toward a final vote while a possible lawsuit looms from opponents who contend the city will retain boundaries that weaken the power of Black voters. The threat of a lawsuit comes from critics, including the NAACP and the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, who say the proposed map packs Black voters into four districts so Black voters living elsewhere in Jacksonville have diminished clout in electing their preferred candidates to other council seats.

› Winter Park couple to launch with Blue Origin; "SNL" star Pete Davidson drops out [Florida Today]
After celebrating their wedding anniversary in 2007 by experiencing weightlessness aboard a Zero Gravity Corp. jet, Sharon and Marc Hagle reserved $200,000 tickets to fly aboard a future Virgin Galactic spacecraft. Fifteen years later, the Winter Park NASA buffs are set to become the first married couple to fly to space on a commercial vehicle — not with Virgin Galactic, but Blue Origin.

› Fast-casual restaurant Qdoba Mexican Eats has big plans for South Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Never heard of Qdoba Mexican Eats? Don’t worry, you will. The fast-casual chain has announced plans to bring 30 franchise locations to Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties over the next 10 years. At the helm of what is the brand’s biggest deal is Boca Raton snowbird Michael Guiffre, who tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel the he would like to start with 12 locations in Palm Beach County.