Things To Do In SW Florida

By STAN CHOE, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tumbled to one of their worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve hinted Wednesday it may deliver fewer shots of adrenaline for the U.S. economy in 2025 than earlier thought.

The S&P 500 fell 2.9%, just shy of its biggest loss for the year, to pull further from its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1,123 points, or 2.6%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 3.6%.

The Fed said Wednesday it’s cutting its main interest rate for a third time this year, continuing the sharp turnaround begun in September when it started lowering rates from a two-decade high to support the job market. Wall Street loves easier interest rates, but that cut was already widely expected.

The bigger question centers on how much more the Fed will cut next year. A lot is riding on it, particularly after expectations for a series of cuts in 2025 helped the U.S. stock market set an all-time high 57 times so far in 2024. read more

After circling above the runway for months, Kissimmee commissioners Tuesday evening finally brought in for a landing the issue of fees for airplanes that touch down at the city’s airport.

Despite pushback from pilots, commissioners will implement a $3 landing fee for every 1,000 pounds of aircraft weight for planes not based at Kissimmee Gateway Airport beginning in 2025. Helicopters will have to pay $20 upon landing. The airport will use a third-party vendor, Vector Airport Systems, to monitor and collect fees — for a 15% cut over three years.

Kissimmee becomes the only airport in the state with landing fees for general aviation planes under 5,000 pounds. Any emergency, law enforcement or nonprofit medical aircraft are exempt from the fees.

“This is no different than any other business that needs additional funding to either operate, sustain or maintain,” Commissioner Angela Eady said. “This is what we have to do … there’s no other way around this.”

Nearly a dozen pilots and flight students spoke during the meeting, pleading with commissioners to listen to them. read more

Space Florida approved up to $65 million of state funds Wednesday to help stimulate a $1.8 billion launch site project in Cape Canaveral known as “Project Hinton.”

In a vote held by the state’s aerospace finance and development authority during a special project board of directors meeting, members approved matching grant funds sought by the unnamed company’s application of up to $50 million for construction of a “high-volume production facility, high bay and related infrastructure” through Space Florida’s Call for Projects within the Florida Spaceport Improvement Program in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation.

It also approved $15 million in common use funds for “utility improvements including power modifications and industrial wastewater treatment.”

“While there may be much work to do, we look forward to partnering with Project Hinton and local stakeholders to cement Florida’s place in history for decades to come,” Space Florida CEO Rob Long said during a presentation before the unanimous vote. read more

By Funto Omojola, NerdWallet

Mobile wallets that allow you to pay using your phone have been around for well more than a decade, and over those years they’ve grown in popularity, becoming a key part of consumers’ credit card usage. According to a “state of credit card report” for 2025 from credit bureau Experian, 53% of Americans in a survey say they use digital wallets more frequently than traditional payment methods.

To further incentivize mobile wallet usage, some credit card issuers offer bonus rewards when you elect to pay that way. But those incentives can go beyond just higher reward rates. In fact, mobile wallets in some ways are becoming an essential part of activating and holding a credit card. For example, they can offer immediate access to your credit line, and they can be easier and safer than paying with a physical card.

OK, but let’s start with bonus rewards

From a rewards perspective, it can make a lot of sense to reach for your phone now instead of your physical card.

The Apple Card offers its highest reward rates when you use it through the Apple Pay mobile wallet. Same goes for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard® when you use it to make purchases via the PayPal digital wallet. read more

Seven Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of Dec. 8-14, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange County

Hon Lee LLC at 18 N. Dollins Ave. K14/15 in Orlando shut down on Dec. 10. Inspectors found 20 violations, three of which were high priorities. Those violations included roach activity, food not being cooled from 135 degrees and a stop-sale issued on food due to temperature abuse. Authorities conducted a second inspection on Dec. 11. They found 16 violations, and issued time extensions for two high-priority violations dealing with temperature abuse. The restaurant met inspection standards.

Sister Soul Food at 436 S. Parramore Ave. in Orlando shut down on Dec. 12. Inspectors found 11 violations, two of which were high priorities. Those violations included a stop-sale on food due to temperature abuse and food held at the wrong temperatures. A second inspection the same day found seven violations, two of which were high priorities. Authorities issued a time extension on both. A follow-up inspection is required but the restaurant has reopened. read more