Things To Do In SW Florida

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, ELLEN KNICKMEYER and SIMINA MISTREANU

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Republican and Democratic lawmakers made their first trip to Taiwan under the new Trump administration a bipartisan one, aiming to show both Taiwan and China that U.S. support for Taiwan’s defense remains broad, despite the harsh words and heightened tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed for the Taiwanese.

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Taiwan’s leaders, in turn, have assured the Republican U.S. administration that they have taken in Trump’s complaints and are acting on them. read more

SeaWorld Orlando has set an opening day for its Arctic-based Expedition Odyssey attraction and the public debut of the Pacific walrus calf rescued in Alaska.

The ride and orphaned animal named Uki will join the theme park lineup May 1, SeaWorld announced Friday.

Expedition Odyssey is a flying-theater type ride that will virtually transport visitors through glaciers, over the tundra and into the depths of the Arctic Ocean. The exclusive footage — shown on a curved screen 50 feet in diameter — includes encounters with orcas, beluga whales, polar bears, seals and walruses. The scenes were filmed in three two-week excursions spread over a year.

The new attraction, located in the former Wild Arctic space, is “an adventure unlike anything our guests have experienced before, combining thrilling, immersive storytelling with powerful, real-world animal connections,” Jon Peterson, park president, said in a news release. “The newest addition to our park is unlike anything we have ever done before and brings to life the wonder of the Arctic in a way only SeaWorld can do.” read more

By BERNARD CONDON, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Among the threats tariffs pose to the U.S. economy, none may be as strange as the sell-off in the dollar.

Currencies rise and fall all the time because of inflation fears, central bank moves and other factors. But economists worry that the recent drop in the dollar is so dramatic that it reflects something more ominous as President Donald Trump tries to reshape global trade: a loss of confidence in the U.S.

The dollar’s dominance in cross-border trade and as a safe haven has been nurtured by administrations of both parties for decades because it helps keep U.S. borrowing costs down and allows Washington to project power abroad — enormous advantages that could possibly disappear if faith in the U.S. was damaged.

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‘Able to happen again’: Local Japanese American historians warn of Trump’s use of 1798 wartime law read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the same time that the Supreme Court is considering a case that could make it easier for the president to fire him.

The developments are occurring against a backdrop of wider turmoil in the economy and financial markets, brought on by Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports. Most economists worry that an assault on the Fed’s longstanding independence from politics would further disrupt markets and add to the uncertainty enveloping the economy.

In comments at the White House Thursday, Trump suggested he has the power to remove Powell and criticized him for not aggressively cutting interest rates.

“If I want him out, he’ll be out of there real fast, believe me,” Trump said. “I’m not happy with him.”

All the scrutiny threatens the Fed’s venerated independence, which has long been supported by most economists and Wall Street investors. Here are some questions and answers about the Fed. read more

Spirit Airlines has quickly retained a new leader to steer the South Florida-based carrier in the wake of its exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

He is David Davis, 58, who most recently has served as president, chief financial officer and board member at Sun Country Airlines, Spirit announced Thursday.

In a statement, Robert Milton, Spirit’s board chairman, said Davis “brings with him a wealth of experience and a solid track record of accomplishments from his many years in the airline industry. Dave’s background at both Northwest Airlines and, more recently, at Sun Country Airlines, positions him well to lead Spirit’s continued transformation.”

The transformation at Spirit entails attracting higher-paying customers with a wider variety of services as Spirit seeks to boost revenues at a time when traveler volume is declining industrywide.

Davis replaces Ted Christie, who stepped down as president and CEO earlier this month following a 13-year stretch at Spirit. Christie headed the carrier as it navigated through COVID-19, campaigned to improve customer service, restructured its finances through Chapter 11, and stayed the course as an independent airline after unsuccessful takeover bids initiated by Frontier Airlines and JetBlue Airways. read more