Things To Do In SW Florida

By YURI KAGEYAMA and MATT OTT, Associated Press Business Writers

Wall Street chugged mostly higher in premarket trading Tuesday as Chinese and U.S. officials begin a second day of trade talks and the Federal Reserve kicks off its two-day meeting to make a decision on interest rate policy. The meetings come amid one of the busiest weeks of corporate earnings season and a flurry of economic data.

Futures for the S&P 500 were up 0.2%, while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. Nasdaq futures rose 0.4% before the bell.

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By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is expected to leave its short-term interest rate unchanged on Wednesday for the fifth straight meeting, a move that will likely underscore the deep divide between how Chair Jerome Powell and his chief critic, President Donald Trump, see the economy.

The Fed itself, to be sure, is increasingly divided over its next steps, and many economists expect that two members of the Fed’s governing board — both appointed by Trump — could dissent on Wednesday in favor of cutting rates. If so, that would be the first time two governors vote against the chair since 1993.

Even so, the gap between the views of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee, chaired by Powell, and the White House is unusually large. In several areas, Trump’s views sharply contrast with that of the Fed’s leadership, setting up likely clashes for years to come, even after Powell’s term as chair ends in May 2026.

For example, Trump says that because the U.S. economy is doing well, the Fed should cut rates, as if the U.S. is a blue-chip company that should pay less to borrow than a risky start-up. read more

By JOSH FUNK

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific is seeking to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S, and potentially trigger a final wave of rail mergers across the country.

The proposed merger, announced Tuesday, would marry Union Pacific’s rail network in the West with Norfolk’s rails that snake across Eastern states.

The nation was first linked by rail in 1869, when a golden railroad spike was driven in Utah to symbolize the connection of East and West Coasts. Yet no single entity has controlled that coast-to-coast passage that so many businesses rely on.

The railroads said the tie-up would streamline deliveries of raw materials and goods across the country by eliminating several days of delays when shipments are handed off between railroads. The AP first reported the merger talks earlier this month a week before the railroads confirmed the discussions last week.

Any deal would be closely scrutinized by antitrust regulators that have set a very high bar for railroad deals after previous consolidation in the industry led to massive backups and snarled traffic. read more

Osceola County is launching a second NeoCity technology park in St. Cloud, in the latest piece of the county’s aggressive, publicly-subsidized job development efforts.

The county has contemplated “NeoCity South” since acquiring 323 acres last year on the Cross Prairie Parkway at the new Florida’s Turnpike interchange with W. Nolte Road from D.R. Horton. Development Services Director Raymond Stangle announced the decision last week while speaking to the Osceola County Association of Realtors, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

“We’ve got NeoCity moving forward at a brisk pace, and we’ve got lots of interest there,” Stangle said. “And now we’re taking our next step to look at the 300 acres and partnering with St. Cloud in creating NeoCity South … We’re very excited about building on our brand and bringing jobs to Osceola County.”

The county is nearing a deal for the development of a smart city center at its main NeoCity campus, anchored by a new $225 million performing arts center. County Manager Don Fisher said co-developers Sciame Construction and Edward J. Minskoff are expected to submit development plans for phase 1 by December. read more

Yes, it’s crazy hot outside. But yes, there are options to steaming and standing in line for a ride. Orlando has many indoor attractions to fill the overheated vacation and staycation time. Here are five combo packs that offer direct sunlight only whilst you are moving from the car to the gate.

Merlin minds

Icon Park offers several 1-2 attractions punches, but consider a stroll through Madame Tussauds Orlando then winding through Sea Life Orlando Aquarium. They’re both in the large building at the base of the Orlando Eye, so there would be no heat or rain to fret about in between stops. All three of those attractions are owned by Merlin Entertainments, so there are ticket bundles available.

Tussauds features wax-based replicas of famous folks ready for their close-ups and your selfies. A recent addition is a new version of Taylor Swift, one of 13 poses created for Tussauds outlets worldwide. Sea Life is home to creatures such as sharks, turtles, stingrays, jellyfish and seahorses, and the structural highlight is probably the Ocean Tunnel that gives dry landers an all-around look at underwater life. read more