Things To Do In SW Florida

By JAIMIE DING and TRÂN NGUYỄN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have struck a deal with rideshare companies Uber and Lyft to allow drivers to join a union and bargain collectively for better wages and benefits.

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The agreement includes a bill for collective bargaining backed by the Service Employees International Union along with a measure sponsored by Uber and Lyft that would significantly reduce the companies’ insurance requirements for accidents caused by underinsured drivers, would ultimately reduce costs for passengers. read more

Discount carrier Spirit Airlines, overwhelmed with continuing financial difficulty, returned to bankruptcy court in a second bid to rehabilitate its business reorganization under Chapter 11 protection from creditors, the company announced Friday.

“Today, Spirit took a proactive step to build a stronger foundation and future for our company,” the company said in a letter to customers made public Friday afternoon. “We have voluntarily entered the Chapter 11 restructuring process to ensure the long-term success of our airline.”

“The most important thing to know is that Spirit continues to operate and offer high-value travel options,” the letter added.

It also told travelers the following:

• Flights will continue to operate normally.
• Travelers can use tickets, credits and loyalty points.
• Customers may continue to benefit from the airline’s Free Spirit loyalty program, Saver$ Club perks and credit card terms.
• Its employees “remain focused on offering you a safe journey, with excellent service and an elevated experience.”

Signs that Spirit might be headed back to court arose amid reports last week that it had retained three consulting and advisory firms to counsel it about how to return to profitability and deal with increasingly aggressive competition. It also continued to retain the law firm that helped guide it through Chapter 11 the first time, when the carrier filed in late November 2024 and emerged this past spring. read more

Orlando is marking the 100th day of the Epic Universe era. Universal Orlando’s new theme park, which debuted May 22, burst onto the scene during a very hot summer with positive reviews for its detailed design and elaborate attractions.

But international sociopolitical issues clouded the blue skies, and operational delays tempered the happy talk for some visitors, experts say.

“There’s stuff that you can control, and there’s stuff that you can’t control,” said Len Testa, owner of Touring Plans, a vacation-planning site.

“I think in the overall context of what we’re seeing in leisure travel around the United States, Epic did as good as it could possibly do,” he said. “Las Vegas would take Epic’s numbers right now.”

Those who go to Epic have upbeat responses, Testa said. Its restaurants are well-regarded and, according to surveys, the rides are rated higher than the ones at sister park Universal Studios Florida, he said.

“We can tell from our app that people seem to be spending more time in Epic than the other Universal parks,” Testa said. “So, those are all good signs. It means that the stuff that they built is resonating with fans.” read more

By Alex Brown, Stateline.org

Across the country, state leaders are racing to fast-track wind and solar projects before the expiration of federal tax credits to support clean energy.

Colorado is directing state agencies to prioritize permits for projects that might qualify for the credits. Maine regulators are moving up timelines to purchase new power, hoping to give developers a head start on construction.

And renewable industry leaders are pressing governors and lawmakers to clear bureaucratic backlogs and connect projects to the grid in the narrow window that remains.

Federal clean energy tax credits have been essential to the financing of wind and solar projects across the country, and a key part of states’ plans to transition to wind and solar power.

Following President Donald Trump’s moves to quickly phase out those credits, pending projects have a tight time frame to start construction before their eligibility expires. But states have long struggled to speed up permitting decisions, reduce regulatory hurdles and add new power to the grid. And the clock is running out. read more

By KRYSTA FAURIA

TORONTO (AP) — At 77 years old, Geoffrey Hinton has a new calling in life. Like a modern-day prophet, the Nobel Prize winner is raising alarms about the dangers of uncontrolled and unregulated artificial intelligence.

Frequently dubbed the “Godfather of AI,” Hinton is known for his pioneering work on deep learning and neural networks which helped lay the foundation for the AI technology often used today. Feeling “somewhat responsible,” he began speaking publicly about his concerns in 2023 after he left his job at Google, where he worked for more than a decade.

As the technology — and investment dollars — powering AI have advanced in recent years, so too have the stakes behind it.

“It really is godlike,” Hinton said.

Hinton is among a growing number of prominent tech figures who speak of AI using language once reserved for the divine. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has referred to his company’s technology as a “magic intelligence in the sky,” while Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, has even argued that AI could help bring about the Antichrist. read more