• Jacksonville’s hotel occupancy topped 60 percent in February and March, the first time it exceeded that mark since October 2008, reports Visit Jacksonville. Duval County occupancy was 61.4 percent in February and 63.3 percent in March, surpassing the 60 percent occupancy needed to remain profitable. But room rates continue to drop. The average rate for February and March was $70.50, down 10.2 percent over the same two months in 2009.
• Rasuli Lewis, executive director of the Harlem Children’s Zone Practitioner’s Institute, will be in Jacksonville Friday as part of the institute’s work with the New Town Success Zone project. Lewis will attend meetings at the Jacksonville Children’s Commission and review the success zone’s plans and programs.
• The City is receiving more than $12 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to use in four areas: Community Development Block Grant ($7.3 million), HOME Investment Partnership ($2.7 million), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS ($2.5 million) and Emergency Shelter Grants ($297,843).
• City Council member Glorious Johnson is sponsoring a bill that would encourage the re-establishment of Amtrak passenger rail service between Jacksonville and South Florida.