Things To Do In SW Florida

A wax figure of actress/singer/producer Selena Gomez has been added to the starry lineup of Madame Tussauds Orlando, an attraction inside Icon Park on International Drive.

The faux Gomez is outfitted in a red beaded floral gown worn to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2023.  Tussauds, owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, says a team of 20 studio artists spent more than nine months creating the figure, including meticulous work such as hand-inserting every strand of hair.

“Selena Gomez is an international icon whose talent, style, and authenticity inspires millions around the world,” Paul Gould, general manager of Madame Tussauds Orlando, said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to honor her and welcome fans with this striking new wax figure, capturing one of her most memorable MTV VMA red-carpet looks.”

Gomez is known for hit music (“Come & Get It,” “Bad Liar”), television appearances (“Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Only Murders in the Building”) and business endeavours, including her Rare Beauty cosmetics brand, which propelled her to billionaire status last year. read more

By STAN CHOE, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking higher on Monday, ahead of a week with several data reports that could dictate by how much or even whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its next meeting in a week.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and was sitting just below its record set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 11 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% higher.

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AppLovin and Robinhood Markets helped lead the market after learning they will join the S&P 500 index later this month, along with Emcor Group. Many investment funds directly mimic the index or at least compare their performance against it, so a stock’s joining the list of the 500 largest companies can draw investor dollars immediately. read more

A SpaceX launch on the Space Coast just after sunset Monday could mean the return of the unique jellyfish effect over Florida’s skies.

A Falcon 9 rocket on the Nusantara Lima mission carrying an Indonesian communications satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 during a 116-minute window that opens at 8:02 p.m.

Sunset is set for 7:35 p.m., but the rocket’s path into space means its plume will catch the dipping sun rays with its exhaust trail potentially lighting up into what is often described as resembling a jellyfish in the night sky.

The phenomenon occurs when launches occur near sunrise or at twilight so the sun’s rays catch particles from the rocket contrail and create a bloom of blue and orange colors.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron, though, forecasts only a 30% chance for good conditions at the opening of the window Monday, which will improve to 45% by the end of the window. The same weather conditions are forecast if delayed until Tuesday during a similar launch window that opens at 8:01 p.m. read more

Along a narrow lane in front of a Home Depot in central Broward County, Jorge Villa waited with a group of day laborers, hoping contractors exiting the store might offer them some work.

He pulled out his wallet and proudly displayed photographs of family members in his native Venezuela.

His personal goal, Villa said, was to send as much money as possible back home and eventually, start his own trucking business. Now, he’s not so sure how long that will last.

From her home in Plantation, Maria Elena Hernandez, who came to South Florida from Nicaragua years ago, wondered why she will soon be losing her right to live and work in the United States after steadily toiling as a custodian cleaning and sanitizing classrooms and offices at a local university for many years.

Hernandez, an activist and member of the SEIU 32BJ, which represents custodial, property maintenance and food service workers, told the Sun Sentinel of her sense of betrayal.

“We worked throughout the pandemic as essential workers without worrying ourselves about getting sick,” she said. “We still showed up day to day. Because of that the parents were very grateful that we kept their children safe and kept the classrooms safe and disinfected.” read more

By ALEX VEIGA

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Skyrocketing housing values and a shortage of homes on the market gave homeowners the upper hand for years when it came time to sell. That’s no longer a given.

Across the country, it’s getting tougher for sellers to drive a hard bargain. A dearth of home shoppers who can afford to buy and uncertainty about the outlook for the economy, jobs and mortgage rates is putting pressure on sellers to give ground at the negotiating table.

In some markets, mainly in the South and West, homeowners who are eager to sell are more likely to give buyers a better deal. This could include a lower price, up-front money to nudge down the buyer’s mortgage rate, and funds for closing costs and any repairs or improvements that may pop up after the home inspection.

The reasons: Would-be buyers balk at what they view as unreasonable asking prices, while at the same time new construction is giving buyers more options and putting pressure on sellers to make their homes more appealing. read more