Bradley George

An organization that brings authors, history programs, and museum exhibits to Florida communities has made cuts because of a loss in state funding. Florida Humanities (formerly known as the Florida Humanities Council)  is asking lawmakers to restore that money in the next state budget. 

The unemployment rate in the Tampa Bay region was 2.9% in October, the lowest since November 1999. But as the area’s jobless rate nears record lows, some companies are struggling to find and keep workers. 

General elections were held across the Tampa Bay region Tuesday. Results from key races are below. 

Starting next year, cruise passengers at Port Tampa Bay will go through a new weapons detection scanner.

A new report card ranks how Florida’s cities and counties are embracing electric vehicles. It comes from a surprising source: The League of Women Voters of Florida.  

Another option for internet and TV service could be coming to Lakeland.

Commissioners are considering a plan to build a city-owned broadband network. The backbone is already in place—more than 300 miles of fiberoptic cable that brings high-speed internet to Lakeland Electric, Lakeland Regional Health, libraries, and schools.  

A developer has filed plans for a 29-story apartment building in Downtown Tampa at the site of First Presbyterian Chruch. 

A Central Florida company says it will take over part of Mosaic's fertilizer factory in Plant City.

For years, planners have discussed building a bus rapid transit line linking St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Wesley Chapel. A study underway right now will determine that project’s future.

Brazil has been Florida’s number one international trading partner for years. In 2017, the two exchanged nearly $20 billion in goods and services, according to Enterprise Florida. Business owners from the Tampa Bay region recently traveled to Brazil. 

Congress is looking to expand a program that uses private ships to transport military cargo. Tampa-based Overseas Shipholding Group wants to be part of that effort. 

The Florida Supreme Court will decide the fate of Hillsborough County’s voter-approved transportation sales tax. But the board that will supervise how that tax money is spent is eager to get to work.

Commissioner Ken Hagan says Hillsborough County should be part of the discussion if the Tampa Bay Rays follow through on a plan to split seasons between Florida and Montreal. 

The City of Tampa will hire a sustainability officer to create a long-term plan for dealing with the effects of climate change. It’s one of the proposals Mayor Jane Castor announced in her first budget.

You can read Castor's budget presentation here [opens in a PDF file].

Over the last decade, battery-powered cars have become more common, thanks to the Nissan Leaf and  Tesla’s sleek models.  But advocates for clean energy say there are still a lot of misconceptions about electric vehicles.

A growing number of Democrats in Congress are calling for the impeachment of President Trump, following former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony last week. But St. Petersburg Congressman Charlie Crist is taking a more cautious line.

About 100 business leaders from the Tampa Bay region will travel to Charlotte in October. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce arranges these trips each year to learn what other cities are doing right, and where they fall short. 

By Bradley George

Hillsborough County commissioners have approved a plan for spending money collected from a new transportation sales tax.  

Aflac is buying Argus Holdings, a dental and vision insurance company headquarted in Tampa, for $75 million.  

A new state law aims to make Florida a leader in self-driving cars. It sets out rules for the day when the vehicles are widely available. It also allows testing of those cars without a backup driver.

By Bradley George 

The fish sold at your local Publix will soon carry a new label. The grocery chain, headquartered in Lakeland, is promoting sustainable seafood 

By Bradley George

Florida attracts newcomers from everywhere in the U.S. and around the world. An apartment rental website has released a report that looks at the most popular sites where people are considering a move.

By Bradley George

One of the largest companies in the Tampa Bay region says it isn’t seeing much of an impact from the U.S.-China trade war.  

Mosaic said it’s permanently shutting down a fertilizer factory in Plant City. The company stopped processing phosphate at the facility two years ago. 

A judge has ruled in favor of Hillsborough County’s voter-approved transportation tax. But the decision from Judge Rex Barbas also includes a win for opponents.  

Since 1973, the Florida Humanities Council has brought history programs, authors, and Smithsonian exhibits to communities across the state.