Things To Do In SW Florida

TALLAHASSEE – A state legislative proposal to free up hundreds of millions of dollars a year in tourist tax revenue for local governments to spend on mass transit, roads and other projects that benefit Florida residents has been scrapped.

The proposal was removed from the Republican-led $1.3 billion House tax package  (HB 7031) in the last hours of budget negotiations Friday after an intense lobbying campaign by the tourism industry. It would have given local governments new flexibility in how they allocate those tax dollars, which currently must be spent to support a specified range of tourism-related functions.

The change would have been especially impactful in Central Florida, where residents deal with chronic traffic congestion and other strains on public infrastructure caused by the region’s huge visitor count but see tourist tax dollars go instead to marketing campaigns and construction projects deemed to support tourism, like stadiums and event venues.

“I’m disappointed,” said Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who announced last month that she intended to run for county mayor in 2026. “We had an opportunity to support transportation and public safety needs.” read more

By MICHAEL CANTU

There are some new cars that many shoppers tend to overlook even though they have a lot to offer. These hidden gems boast a special combination of attractive qualities and can potentially make excellent choices for savvy folks who want their ride to stand out from the sea of mainstream vehicles. Certain slower-selling cars don’t get the respect they deserve, whether due to styling, the type of vehicle, or brand image. Edmunds explores five hidden gems and the wow factor that makes them shine. Our choices are ordered by starting price, including destination fees.

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WhatsApp to start showing ads to users in some parts of the messaging app read more

The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — WhatsApp said Monday that users will start seeing ads in some parts of the app, as owner Meta Platforms moves to cultivate a new revenue stream by tapping the billions of people that use the messaging service.

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Advertisements will be shown only in the app’s Updates tab, which is used by as many as 1.5 billion people each day. However, they won’t appear where personal chats are located, developers said.

“The personal messaging experience on WhatsApp isn’t changing, and personal messages, calls and statuses are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be used to show ads,” WhatsApp said in a blog post. read more

By Katharine Wilson | kwilson@baltsun.com

Tariffs on China, which produces the vast majority of the world’s fireworks, aren’t expected to noticeably affect this year’s Fourth of July displays in Maryland. However, the companies behind the shows are already worried about supply — and even their own viability — as the U.S. prepares to mark its 250th birthday in 2026.

Before President Donald Trump began increasing tariffs on Chinese imports in February, Tim Jameson was looking to 2026 to be a “once in a lifetime hit” for his Maryland firework company, promising “the largest revenue stream we could possibly have.”

But now he says that his company of five full-time employees and 60 part-timers, Innovative Pyrotechnic Concepts, will be forced to close after exhausting its inventory on semiquincentennial displays, unless tariffs on China are lifted by late summer.

China manufactures about 90% of professional display fireworks and 99% of consumer fireworks used in the United States, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Historically, fireworks imported from China have faced duties of about 5%. read more

By NADIA LATHAN,  Associated Press/Report for America

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Juneteenth celebrations have been scaled back this year due to funding shortfalls as companies and municipalities across the country reconsider their support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Canceled federal grants and businesses moving away from so-called brand activism have hit the bottom line of parades and other events heading into Thursday’s federal holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The shrinking financial support coincides with many companies severing ties with LGBTQ celebrations for Pride this year and President Donald Trump’s efforts to squash DEI programs throughout the federal government.

In Denver, for example, more than a dozen companies backed out of supporting the Juneteenth Music Festival, which is one of the city’s biggest celebrations of the holiday, according to Norman Harris, executive director of JMF Corporation, which puts on the event.

“There were quite a few sponsors who pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year,” said Harris, who has overseen the event for more than a decade. read more