Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 8/31/2017

Supreme Court rules against State Attorney Ayala on death penalty cases

The Florida Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Rick Scott has the authority to take death penalty cases away from Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala, who has said she won’t seek capital punishment for anyone. The court wrote, "The executive orders reassigning death-penalty eligible cases in the 9th Circuit to (Brad) King do not exceed the Governor’s authority.” See the full ruling here. Also read more at the Orlando Sentinel and WESH.

One Florida bank is willing to risk it all on cannabis when others won't

Marijuana is still considered an illegal substance at the federal level, making it nearly impossible for banks to fund marijuana distributing companies. But one Orlando area community bank is willing to take on the risk. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

This airline has some Florida real estate it wants to sell you

After 18 years flying as an airline for the price conscious, Allegiant Travel Co. wants to add real estate development to its list of corporate activities. The company is embarking on an audacious plan to build a 22-acre resort compound with a hotel, condominiums, bars, and restaurants on the Florida Gulf Coast in Port Charlotte. More from Bloomberg.

Jacksonville "State Of The Arts" focuses on culture as investment

At Jacksonville’s annual State of the Arts event this week, the economics of culture took center stage as a new national study finds investing in artists is good business in Florida. More from WJCT.

Vinik-Cascade team unveils plans for 500-room hotel for Water Street Tampa

Water Street Tampa's plans for the southern end of downtown continued to come into focus Wednesday as the $3 billion project unveiled the most details yet about its planned 500-room, high-end hotel. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Technology
Turning the tide

Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory has a new tool to manage the red tide algae blooms that often plague the Gulf of Mexico — an app that enables coastal residents to inform researchers about red tide indicators, such as respiratory irritations or dead fish.“When app users report on current conditions, the presence or absence of red tide indicators helps bloom tracking and ultimately informs response efforts,” says Vincent Lovko, manager of Mote’s phytoplankton ecology program.

» More at Florida Trend.

Business Profile
Chef's Cut Real Jerky

While working as golf caddies, Dennis Riedel and Blair Swiler would snack on beef jerky that Swiler made from scratch in his Florida kitchen. The friends turned the hobby into a business, and their company is projected to do $100 million in retail sales this year.