Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/4/2017

Breaking News

The Florida Supreme Court rescinds order blocking death sentences in Florida.

From the Tampa Bay Times: Just hours after declaring that the state can't prosecute death penalty cases, the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday rescinded the order, saying it was "prematurely issued." This afternoon, the court took an unusual step in rescinding an order that said Florida's death sentencing laws, ruled unconstitutional in October because they did not require a unanimous jury vote for the death penalty, could not be used to prosecute cases. The court also deleted the earlier order from its website.

Earlier: Supreme Court: There's no death penalty in Florida right now
The state Supreme Court made clear Wednesday that there is no law on the books in Florida allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty in murder cases. "The act’s 10-2 recommendation requirement renders the act unconstitutional," the justices in the majority wrote. "Thus, the act 'cannot be applied to pending prosecutions.' "

» Relevant ruling from Florida Supreme Court: Larry Darnell Perry vs. State of Florida
» Also see: Florida House Judiciary Committee meets next week to consider death penalty, workers’ comp

Behind the scenes: the making of medical marijuana in Florida

Medical marijuana is officially legal in the Sunshine State. But while questions linger as to how Florida will regulate legal cannabis, WPTV investigative reporter Katie LaGrone takes you behind the scenes and beneath the soil, giving you an all access pass of one company's operation, from seed to sale. [Source: WPTV ]

Column: The last citrus groves in Martin County

Once upon a time, 1994, to be precise, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service counted 48,221 acres of citrus acreage in Martin County, most of it in oranges. Now there's about 2,700 acres left, and most of that — maybe all of it — will go out of production this year. More from TCPalm.

Amazon confirms plans for second Jacksonville fulfillment center

The second fulfillment center will bring Amazon’s announced footprint in Jacksonville to approximately 2,500 jobs. At the new center, employees will pick, pack and ship large items like household decor, sporting equipment and gardening tools. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Orlando tech firm builds interest in home health device

A five-person health technology company has plans to launch a device that would allow consumers to check vitals at home and share data with their doctor during video conferences. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Publisher's Column
Tallahassee clout

My role as publisher here at Florida Trend takes me to the capital city half a dozen times each year. I visit with friends in Florida agencies for tourism, workforce development , the lottery, corporate growth and many others . But there is so much more to Tallahassee — from major educational institutions to technology to associations to media.

» Read Andy Corty's full column.

Technology Trends
Carnival medallions

Carnival Corp.’s medallion, part of the company’s new guest-centric technology, is given to each passenger for free. The more cruisers do, the more the medallion knows what they like and the more customized their experience becomes.