Things To Do In SW Florida

Blue Man Group’s return to Orlando has been delayed again.

Performances were scheduled to begin April 3 in a new 580-seat theater at Icon Park, in the shadow of the Orlando Eye observation wheel on International Drive.

But construction on the theater is not complete, and the official Blue Man website now designates that it will be “opening soon in Orlando” rather than a specific date, month or season. As of Wednesday afternoon, heavy machinery was at the site facing Universal Boulevard and excavation work has been done, but there was no visible vertical construction.

In an official statement, Blue Man Group said it is “thrilled” about its move back into Orlando after a five-year absence.

“The group’s new home will be the bald, blue trio’s first ever theater built from the ground up. Unfortunately, that comes with occasional challenges,” it reads. “We continue to work hard to make progress, and we can’t wait to bring Orlando all the surprising, fun and iconic moments you have come to expect from Blue Man Group.” read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are swinging again Wednesday in the final hours before President Donald Trump unveils the tariffs he promised as part of his “ Liberation Day,” which could drastically remake the global economy and trade.

The S&P 500 was up 0.5% in afternoon trading after rallying back from an early loss of 1.1%. It’s had a pattern this week of opening with sharp drops only to finish the day higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 154 points, or 0.4%, after erasing an initial fall of 360 points, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher, as of 12:43 p.m. Eastern time.

Financial markets around the world have been particularly shaky lately because of uncertainty about what Trump will announce in the event scheduled to begin after the U.S. stock market closes for the day. He has said he wants tariffs to make the global system more fair and to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States from other countries.

But tariffs also threaten to grind down growth for the U.S. and other economies, while worsening inflation when it may be stuck above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Much is still unknown about what Trump will say, including how big the tariffs will be, which countries will be hit and what kinds of products will be targeted. The announcement may also not even clear up all the uncertainty weighing on Wall Street, given that it may just provide a starting point for negotiations with other countries. read more

Florida is the state where the most people and the most properties will be at risk of experiencing “severe coastal flooding” by 2050, according to new analysis released on Wednesday.

Just 25 years from now, a total of 23,000 people and 17,000 homes in Florida will experience annual coastal flooding, with high tides or strong winds that whip ocean water onto land, including into areas that would have previously been unaffected, research by nonprofit Climate Central found.

“When we think about the fact that this is just within the next 25 years, this is a level of exposure that’s going to require a massive amount of planning and investment in coastal resilience,” said Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central.

That Florida is especially vulnerable — with more homes and people than the next most at-risk states of New York, New Jersey and Louisiana — is in part because it has a long coast that lies almost at sea level. It it also reflects the state’s approach to zoning and planning, with high population density right in the areas most vulnerable to catastrophic damage. read more

By BERNARD CONDON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla sales fell 13% in the first three months of the year, another sign that Elon Musk’s once high-flying electric car company is struggling to attract buyers.

The double-digit drop is likely due to a combination of factors, including its aging lineup, competition from rivals and a backlash from Musk’s embrace of right wing politics. It also is a warning that the company’s first-quarter earnings report later this month could disappoint investors.

Tesla reported deliveries of 336,681 globally in the January to March quarter. The figure was down from sales of 387,000 in the same period a year ago. The decline came despite deep discounts, zero financing and other incentives.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected much higher deliveries of 408,000.

Dan Ives of Wedbush said in a note to clients that Tesla is seeing soft demand in the United States and China, as well as facing pressure in Europe.

“The brand crisis issues are clearly having a negative impact on Tesla…there is no debate,” he said. read more

By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — After weeks of White House hype and public anxiety, President Donald Trump is set on Wednesday to announce a barrage of what he calls reciprocal tariffs on friend and foe alike.

The new tariffs, coming on what Trump has named “Liberation Day,” are a bid to boost U.S. manufacturing and punish other countries for what he says are years of unfair trade practices. But by most economists’ assessments, the move threatens to plunge the economy into a downturn and upend decades-old alliances.

The White House is exuding confidence despite the political and financial gamble.

“April 2, 2025, will go down as one of the most important days in modern American history,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. She said the new tariffs would take effect immediately.

Details of Trump’s tariff plans were unclear hours before the president’s scheduled afternoon speech. The S&P 500 stock index was up slightly in Wednesday trading as investors hoped to have more certainty about his agenda. read more