Riverwalk nears completion: A longtime vision in Tampa, linking the downtown via a riverwalk, is getting closer to completion.USGS dedicates building: The U.S. Geological Survey recently celebrated the dedication of its newest building in St. Petersburg, an 11,400-square-foot facility with six state-of-the-art labs, a dive locker and 12 offices.Tax increase delayed: Sarasota County commissioners has agreed to postpone a planned increase in a new-construction tax of almost 50% for at least one year.Project lives on: The Sarasota City commission narrowly approved a change to the city's land-use rules, a key victory for a developer seeking to build a mixed-use project just south of downtown Sarasota.Popular festival canceled: The Sarasota Reading Festival, a popular annual event that brings several noted writers to the area every November, is the latest victim of the soft economy.County cuts jobs: A drop in new construction and development in Collier County has forced county government officials there to trim another nine jobs.Passenger traffic rises: More than 1 million passengers passed through Southwest Florida International Airport in March.First Florida now Synovus: Naples-based First Florida Bank is now officially part of Synovus Financial Corp
