Things To Do In SW Florida

By JONATHAN MATTISE

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) — A supplier of fuel for nuclear power plants announced a $60 million expansion in Tennessee on Wednesday, promising to resume and grow its manufacturing of high-tech centrifuges there to enrich uranium at its facility in Ohio.

The expansion by Centrus Energy at its massive facility in Oak Ridge comes as the U.S. ramps up its reliance on nuclear power as a climate change solution. The Tennessee facility, which stretches 440,000 square feet, is where they make and test 40-foot-high centrifuges that will be transported to the company’s enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio. The company gave reporters a tour Wednesday, showing off the centrifuges but covering other classified equipment with tarps.

Centrus is one of several companies working on enriching uranium in the U.S., which is currently dependent on foreign providers. Russia has about 44% of the world’s uranium enrichment capacity, supplying some 35% of U.S. imports for nuclear fuel, according to the Department of Energy. Just last week, Russia announced it would temporarily limit its exports of enriched uranium to the U.S. in response to the U.S. deciding to ban Russian uranium starting in 2028. read more

Four Central Florida restaurants shut down the weeks of Nov. 3-16, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

Pangs’s BBQ at 5132 W. Colonial Dr. in Orlando shut down on Nov. 7. Inspectors found 14 violations, two of which were a high priority for an expired business license and rodent activity. A second inspection occurred on Nov. 8. Inspectors found 10 violations, but none was a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards.

Volusia

Caton Catering at 2295 S. Ridgewood Ave. in South Daytona shut down on Nov. 8. Inspectors found eight violations, four of which were high priorities. Those violations included rodent activity, food held at the wrong temperatures, and two “stop sales” on food due to its unwholesome condition. A second inspection took place on Nov. 12. Inspectors found five violations, two of which were a high priority for rodent activity and food not being in a wholesome condition. Authorities conducted a third and final inspection on Nov. 15. Officials found one inspection, but it wasn’t a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards. read more

By MATT O’BRIEN, AP Technology Writer

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal President Joe Biden’s signature artificial intelligence policy when he returns to the White House for a second term.

What that actually means for the future of AI technology remains to be seen. Among those who could use some clarity are the government scientists and AI experts from multiple countries gathering in San Francisco this week to deliberate on AI safety measures.

Hosted by the Biden administration, officials from a number of U.S. allies — among them Canada, Kenya, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the 27-nation European Union — are scheduled to begin meeting Wednesday in the California city that’s a commercial hub for AI development.

Their agenda addresses topics such as how to better detect and combat a flood of AI-generated deepfakes fueling fraud, harmful impersonation and sexual abuse.

It’s the first such meeting since world leaders agreed at an AI summit in South Korea in May to build a network of publicly backed safety institutes to advance research and testing of the technology. read more

Florida condo owners won’t get any relief from potentially crushing association fees for future building repairs before the end of the year, Republican legislative leaders said this week.

By Dec. 31, many condominium associations must complete a reserve study to budget for those future repairs as part of condo reforms lawmakers passed to prevent another Surfside tragedy.

With that looming deadline, the governor said in recent months that he wanted lawmakers to address it before the end of the year to keep constituents from being “forced out” of their condominium who are facing steep repair costs. It now appears that’s not going to happen.

DeSantis has power to call lawmakers into session but hasn’t done it for this issue and his office has not said when it plans to address condo reforms or how. Republican legislative leaders Tuesday said the issue should wait until March, when the legislative session begins.

Sen. Nick DiCeglie, a St. Petersburg Republican who attended with some of his constituents a roundtable in Pinellas Park in September with the governor over the impending condominium fees, said he would be “very supportive” of dealing with the problem before the end of the year. read more

Orlando-based Falcon’s Beyond Global, an attractions master planner and producer, has positioned itself to operate Oceaneering Entertainment Systems, an Orlando-based designer of ride systems.

Letters of intent with the companies and a major Falcon’s investor were announced Tuesday.

“We’re so thrilled to fuse the amazing OES engineering legacy and competency with our extensive themed entertainment place making the capabilities and technologies at Falcon’s,” said Cecil D. Magpuri, Falcon’s CEO, during a news conference at IAAPA Expo. The company used a talk-show format for the announcement and other updates from the exhibit floor at Orange County Convention Center.

Falcon’s is a worldwide attractions planner, ride inventor and producer of animation, movies and gaming.  Oceaneering Entertainment, referred to as OES, is currently part of Houston-based Oceaneering International, a provider of engineered products and services.

IAAPA Expo: SeaWorld teaming with Mack Rides for flying theater read more