Florida citrus growers face tough year ahead with weakest crop since the Great Depression

Citrus fruit growing on crops — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Aoshi VN It’s possible that Florida citrus growers will produce the weakest crop since the Great Depression, which may be unduly optimistic for an industry still recovering from Hurricane Ian as the new season gets underway. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an initial

Florida will launch temporary toll rebate program for commuters

View of a tollbooth on the road at the entrance of Sanibel Island in Lee County, Florida. Sunpass holders go through an express lane to pay toll. – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by EQ Roy Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that a six-month highway toll rebate program would start in Florida and be

Shaquille O’Neal’s famous chicken franchise, ‘Big Chicken,’ is coming to the Sunshine State

Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken Chain — Courtesy: Mike Coppola | Getty Images A “big” franchise is coming to the Sunshine State’s Panhandle in a “big” way. The Panhandle Restaurant Group signed a commitment deal with “Big Chicken,” whose founder is former NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal is primarily known for his years playing for the

Florida sees major decline in COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 Testing Site — Courtesy: Shutterstock — YES Market Media There has been a sharp decrease in coronavirus cases during the month of February. According to a report released by the Florida Department of Health, cases in the Sunshine State decreased by nearly 60 percent last week. Leon County’s cases also dropped by nearly 70

New laws could make craft beer much easier to find in Florida

Craft Beer Pour — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Antov Bannov Craft breweries are heading to Tallahassee to fight for new laws that could make your favorite beers easy to find. Among other requests, they want to be allowed to sell their beer wherever they’d like. Currently, they have to go through a distributor. Matthew Dahm of

Florida provides $5 million for Orlando’s bid to host 2026 World Cup

World Cup — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: AGIF On Wednesday, Florida’s business-recruitment agency put $10 million into the pitch to help Miami and Orlando become host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors agreed to provide $5 million for each of the cities’ efforts, which are

Florida climate summit kicks off in Orlando

Climate Summit — Courtesy: Shutterstock — teerayuth oanwong Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer welcomed attendees to the 2021 Florida Energy & Climate Summit, held at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center in Sand Lake Road on Tuesday. This year, the summit is hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Energy and

Florida’s largest school districts ease up on masks

Running at School – Face Mask: Shutterstock — Monkey Business Images ORLANDO, Fla. — Two of Florida’s largest school districts are easing up on mask requirements this week. Beginning Monday, Orange County students will not be required to wear a face mask if their parents provide a note opting them out. High school students in

Florida Senate will be led by the third woman in state’s history, Kathleen Passidomo

Florida Senate – Courtesy: Shutterstock — Cheri Alguire Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) has been formally named Senate President-designate. Once she takes charge of the Senate next year, she will officially be the third woman in the state’s history to lead the chamber.  After being selected by Republican senators to become president after the 2022

Will Florida have a new state bird? Three bills were filed in Tallahassee to replace Mockingbird

Mockingbird – Courtesy: Image by Bonnie Taylor Barry TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Mockingbird has been Florida’s state bird since 1927, and now 94 years later, the Sunshine State has filed three bills to change it. In September, Tampa State Senator Jeff Brandes filed Senate Concurrent Resolution “rescinding the designation of the mockingbird as the state