Things To Do In SW Florida

Disney and the Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed tourism oversight district agreed Thursday to a June 24 trial date for a lawsuit over public records.

The entertainment district sued the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District last month, alleging that officials were withholding records in violation of the state’s public records law. Lawyers for the tourism oversight district deny the allegations.

Disney seeks records from DeSantis’ oversight board in new lawsuit

In a separate lawsuit, Disney’s lawyers accuse the district of stonewalling them on discovery. They asked the court on Tuesday to order the district to turn over text messages and emails, including work-related communications from board members and district employees on personal devices. A judge has not yet ruled on that request.

The tourism district filed that lawsuit over development agreements limiting its authority. The suit asks for a judge to declare the agreements void.

A third lawsuit filed by Disney against DeSantis and state officials is also pending in federal court. read more

The good news is in the headlines. On the same day that the S&P 500 stock index hit all-time highs, consumer confidence (the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index) climbed dramatically to 78.8 from 69.7 in December. This is the second month in a row that the index has seen a strong gain, and the index is now at its highest since July 2021.

The good news is all around us. Stocks soar, GDP remains strong, consumers have regained their confidence, unemployment is low, and it appears the Fed has finished raising interest rates.

The stock market is salivating at the idea that rates will drop — encouraging investors to leave their money market funds behind and buy stocks. And it appears that the fed has engineered a “soft landing” for the economy, avoiding recession as it slowed inflation.

The logic of that thinking is compelling. But Jim Stack of InvesTech Research, who has published a must-read newsletter for more than 40 years and has an excellent track record of calling major turns in the economy and markets, says there are major red flags waving today — both for the stock market and the economy. And he has history on his side. read more