Things To Do In SW Florida

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher for the third week in a row, though it remains close to its low point this year.

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The average long-term mortgage rate ticked up to 6.26% from 6.24% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.84%.

Three weeks ago, the average rate was at 6.17%, its lowest level in more than a year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also inched up this week. The rate averaged 5.54%, up from 5.49% last week. A year ago, it was 6.02%, Freddie Mac said. read more

With more than 1,100 vendors on the trade floor, there is a slew of browsable options at the annual IAAPA Expo at Orange County Convention Center. Attendees swarm around ride-vehicle reveals, marvel at virtual-reality opportunities, browse through bounce houses and line up for pretzel samples.

The expo, produced by the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, concludes Friday. It is open to registered members of the trade association. Here are a handful of eye-catching, perhaps trend-setting, items at this year’s booths.

Winging it

The virtual tentpole of the Expo floor is a circling swing ride named Wingz, exhibited by Zamperla, an Italian manufacturer.

At first glance, it’s pretty, topped with butterfly designs … but pretty ordinary. But why are all the passengers flapping their arms? It has the feel of a fraternity prank or an inside joke or chickens gone wild.

Mystery solved: The up-and-down arm motions make the two-seat ride vehicles move up and down.

“We have motion-capture cameras used in video-game development and a brushless DC motor system developed for high-speed elevators,” said Michael Coleman, North American sales manager for Zamperla. “The arm movement of the passengers is what actually makes the ride change elevation.” read more

As county officials probe Visit Orlando’s spending, a newly released tax filing shows the top executive for the region’s tourism marketing agency earned nearly $700,000 last year while 10 other top officials each made more than $200,000.

Visit Orlando’s tax form also shows that about 92% of its $100-million-plus annual budget comes from public money, mostly hotel taxes — a proportion likely to embolden critics who argue tourism-based businesses ought to pay more of the marketing tab.

Visit Orlando CEO Casandra Matej received $693,170 in total compensation in 2024, while other top officials earned from $231,000 to nearly $400,000, according to the nonprofit organization’s IRS filing made public this week.

Matej’s compensation package is in line with other executives in comparable roles, an adviser to the agency said, but Visit Orlando has faced scrutiny over its use of public money.

“Frankly, regardless of what industry norms might say, Florida has made it clear through the DOGE process and increased public scrutiny that lavish salaries funded with public dollars are a thing of the past,” said Orange County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad. read more

By JONEL ALECCIA, Associated Press

As cases of potentially deadly botulism in babies who drank ByHeart infant formula continue to grow, state officials say they are still finding the recalled product on some store shelves.

Investigators in at least three states found ByHeart formula for sale a week after the New York-based company recalled all products nationwide, officials told The Associated Press.

At least 31 babies in 15 states who drank ByHeart formula have been hospitalized and treated for infantile botulism since August, federal health officials said Wednesday. They range in age from about 2 weeks to about 6 months, with the most recent case reported on Nov. 13.

No deaths have been reported.

In Oregon, nine of more than 150 stores checked still had the formula on shelves this week, a state agriculture official said. In Minnesota, investigators conducted 119 checks between Nov. 13 and Nov. 17 and removed recalled products from sale at four sites, an agriculture department official said. An Arizona health official also said they found the product available. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Federal Reserve policymakers expressed support in late October for further interest rate cuts, though not all committed to making the reduction at their next meeting in December, according to minutes released Wednesday.

At the same time, many officials said “it would likely be appropriate” to keep rates “unchanged for the rest of the year,” a sign of strong divisions among policymakers about the central bank’s next steps.

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  As infant botulism cases climb to 31, recalled ByHeart baby formula is still on some store shelves

Rate cuts by the Fed, over time, typically lower borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. read more