Ford donates $5.8M to disaster relief fund, including $2.5M in cash, vehicles, volunteer time
The automaker is contributing to a veteran-led humanitarian organization that assists in natural disasters.
EV startups collaborated with Foxconn to accelerate production. The wait continues.
Foxconn was supposed to help EV startups such as Lordstown Motors, Fisker and Monarch Tractor get to production faster. Commercial scale is still out of reach.
Universal visitors get first bites, banana breath at Minion Cafe
We’re getting closer to having free rein in Minion Land, the new, very, very yellow area of Universal Studios theme park. Several storefronts have entered a “soft opening” phase, including the banana-happy Minion Cafe.
Not ready yet is Villain-Con Minion Blast, the centerpiece attraction that Universal Orlando says will open sometime this summer.
All of this spins off the little overall-wearing, goggle-equipped, big-eyed beings first seen in the 2010 film “Despicable Me.” The park opened Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a simulator attraction in 2012.
Mellow yellow
To no one’s surprise, Minion Cafe’s signature color is yellow. It’s not quite a blinding yellow, but a little goes a long way. Imagine how far a lot goes.
This is especially true in the first room inside, which has yellow walls, tables, chairs, floor trim, pipes, team-member shirts, centerpiece sculpture / contraption and an assortment of appliances (microwave, coffeemaker, mixer, many more).
It could have been even more yellow. A running visual gag indicates the paint job isn’t complete.
Hyundai to consider joining Tesla's North American charging alliance
Tesla’s Superchargers make up about 60% of available U.S. fast chargers. Ford and General Motors have in recent weeks struck deals with Tesla to use its charging technology, now dubbed the North American Charging Standard.
Arts center residential towers shouldn’t go on city land, critics say
A plan to expand downtown Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts includes adding two residential towers totaling as many as 350 units, drawing concerns about putting private housing on city-owned land.
The new details came to light as leaders of the nonprofit performing arts center pursue funding to build phase three of its nine-acre campus, which sits on publicly-owned land. Phase 3 will include an outdoor performance auditorium, a 750-seat theater, an elevated park, a cafe, a restaurant, and more.
Dr. Phillips Center plan would add theaters, put downtown park in the sky
The arts center is seeking $145 million from the Tourist Development Tax and $15 million from the City of Orlando to complete the expansion.
The residential component is not part of the funding request, said Christine Skofronick, a spokesperson for the project who works as an account executive with Uproar PR.
“At this time, the Dr. Phillips Center team is still ironing out final details on the timeline and developer partner” for the residential piece, she told GrowthSpotter.