Things To Do In SW Florida

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai is recalling more than 226,000 SUVs and small cars in the U.S. because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens.

The recall covers certain Santa Fe and Elantra vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

Hyundai says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that solder joints on a printed circuit board can develop cracks that can worsen over time and cause the cameras to fail. That can reduce visibility and increase the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Dealers will replace the cameras at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letters starting Jan. 19.

Scott O’Neil, CEO of Merlin Entertainments Group, is stepping down at the end of the year, the company confirmed Wednesday.

Merlin, based in England, operates several Central Florida attractions including the Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Aquarium Orlando on International Drive as well as Legoland Florida and Peppa Pig theme parks in Winter Haven.

O’Neil joined Merlin in November 2022, replacing longtime CEO Nick Varney. O’Neil previously was CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which works with NBA and NHL teams.

Multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, report that O’Neil has been in talks to become the CEO of Saudi-financed LIV Golf, a position currently held by Greg Norman.

“It has been an honor to lead Merlin Entertainments as it lays the foundations for its next phase of growth,” O’Neil said in a news release Wednesday.

Madame Tussauds Orlando installs Messi figure

Upcoming Merlin projects include a Sea Life aquarium attraction in Winter Haven, a Peppa Pig Theme Park near Dallas and Legoland Shanghai, the first Lego-based park in China. The company recently announced an immersive project with the maker of the Minecraft video game. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer price increases accelerated last month, the latest sign that inflation’s steady decline over the past two years has stalled in recent months.

According to the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, consumer prices rose 2.3% in October from a year earlier, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. That is up from just 2.1% in September, though it is still only modestly above the Fed’s 2% target.

Yet excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called “core” prices also picked up, climbing 2.8% last month from a year earlier, up from 2.7% in September, according to Commerce’s personal consumption expenditures price index. Economists closely watch core prices because they typically provide a better read on where inflation is headed.

Inflation has fallen sharply since it peaked at 7% in mid-2022, according to the Fed’s preferred measure. Yet yearly core inflation has fluctuated between 2.6% and 2.8% since February. Price increases have remained elevated in services, including apartment rents, restaurant meals, and car and home insurance. read more

By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season, Americans will again be consumed with the annual trifecta of turkey, travel and transactions — lots of them.

While most big U.S. retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day, many will open early the following day — Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday gift-buying season and the biggest shopping day of the year.

Here’s what is open and closed this Thanksgiving, and a travel forecast from the experts at AAA auto club.

Government Buildings

Government offices, post offices, courts and schools are closed.

Banks and the stock market

U.S. stock markets and banks are closed Thursday; however, markets reopen on Friday for a shortened trading day, wrapping up at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Package Delivery

Standard FedEx and UPS pickup and delivery services will not be available on Thanksgiving, although some critical services will be offered at certain locations.

Retailers

Walmart will be closed on Thanksgiving but most stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. read more