Things To Do In SW Florida

By HUIZHONG WU

BANGKOK (AP) — While U.S. President Donald Trump has talked of victory after reaching a weekend deal with China to reduce the sky-high tariffs levied on each others’ goods, businesses in China are reacting to the temporary deal with caution.

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The U.S. and China have cut the tariffs levied on each other in April, with the U.S. cutting the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. The lower tariff rates came into effect on Wednesday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, announcing the reduction in tariff rates this weekend in Geneva, had said, “We do want trade.” While the markets have responded to the agreement with gusto, rebounding to the levels before Trump’s tariffs, business owners remain wary. read more

SpaceX knocked out another Starlink launch from Space Coast on Wednesday afternoon.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 of the company’s internet satellites lifted off at 12:38 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

The first-stage booster for the mission made its fourth flight making another recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

Watch Falcon 9 launch 28 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida https://t.co/PUxxJ5JjSd

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 14, 2025

The launch was the 42nd orbital mission from the Space Coast in 2025 with all but two coming from SpaceX. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station also was the launch site for a hypersonic missile test this year for the Army.

The other two orbital launches were from Blue Origin with the debut of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket back in January, and United Launch Alliance with an Atlas V launch last month.

Blue Origin has yet to announce a date it might try for a second launch, but had stated earlier this year it would be in the spring. ULA has several more missions on tap this year including a potential second Atlas V launch in early June to fly up the second batch of customer Amazon’s satellites for its Project Kuiper internet constellation, a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. Amazon’s first batch on the April launch totaled 27, but the company has lined up more than 80 more launches to grow that number. read more

By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese technology and entertainment company Sony logged an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year through March on healthy results at its music and video-game operations.

Its chief executive, Hiroki Totoki, outlined the company’s strategy for growth Wednesday, stressing that collaboration among Sony Corp.’s various segments, like animation and music, were crucial to deliver the “kando,” or emotional engagement, that lies at the core of the company’s vision and strength.

“Building on our momentum and results to date and working with a laser-like focus to realize our long-term Creative Entertainment Vision will be at the core of our corporate strategies moving forward,” he told reporters.

Sony’s movies division has strong offerings in the pipeline, including Spider-Man films and biopics about The Beatles, while animation remains a driver of growth centered around the popular anime streaming service Crunchyroll, Totoki said. read more

Two Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of May 4-10, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

El Pueblo Mexican Grocery at 7124 Aloma Ave. Unit C in Winter Park shut down on May 7. Inspectors found 12 violations, two of which were high priorities for roach activity and raw food not separated from ready-to-eat food. Two more inspections occurred on May 8. There were six violations on the first inspection, and the restaurant remained closed. There were four violations on the final inspection. None was a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards.

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant at 3090 Aloma Ave. Suite 150 in Winter Park shut down on May 8. Inspectors found 10 violations, two of which were high priorities for roach activity and raw food not separated from ready-to-eat food. Two more inspections occurred on May 9. There were 10 violations on the first of those inspections, and the restaurant remained closed. There were 10 violations on the final inspection. Authorities issued a time extension on the roach activity. The restaurant fixed the issue and met inspection standards. read more

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writer

Shares of American Eagle Outfitters are tumbling Wednesday after the retailer withdrew its financial outlook for the year citing “macro uncertainty” and said it would write down $75 million in spring and summer merchandise.

American Eagle said late Tuesday that it expects first-quarter revenue to slide 5%, or more than $1 billion. Same-store sales, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, are projected to fall about 3%.

The Pittsburgh company foresees a first-quarter adjusted operating loss of about $68 million due to the inventory write-down as well as heavier spending on promotions.

The company’s stock slumped 7% early on Wednesday.

CEO and Executive Chairman Jay Schottenstein said the retailer is unhappy with its execution during the first quarter.

“Merchandising strategies did not drive the results we anticipated, leading to higher promotions and excess inventory,” Schottenstein said in a statement. “As a result, we have taken an inventory write down on spring and summer goods.” read more