Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 11/2/2017

Florida disaster unemployment assistance extended

Workers and the self-employed who lost income due to Hurricane Irma's damage in Florida can apply for disaster assistance if they are not able to work or provide services because of physical damage — including no electricity -- or destruction to their place of employment as a result of the hurricane. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Holiday outlook drags on Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts, which has a large Maitland studio, saw its stock drop Wednesday after it announced financial results of its recent quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Multiple financial news websites quoted analysts who said the stock impact was because EA lowered its expectations for holiday game sales. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Proposal would end dog racing in Florida

State Senator Tom Lee filed a constitutional amendment that would phase out greyhound racing over three years. The amendment would also end the state dog-racing mandate. More from WEAR.

Hurricane Irma triggers a profit, sales windfall for Publix

Hurricane Irma turned into a windfall for Publix. The Lakeland-based supermarket chain late Wednesday said earnings jumped 13 percent in its third quarter to $474.9 million, compared to $421.1 million a year ago. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Distressed home sales falling in Sarasota-Manatee region

Distressed home sales in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metropolitan area during the third quarter of this year — either short sales, bank-owned sales or third-party foreclosure auction sales — accounted for 11 percent of the residential real estate market. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Innovation
Weather Warnings

Babcock Ranch, the community under construction on a parcel that straddles the Lee County-Charlotte County line, aims to be both the nation’s first solar-powered city and the first to have its own lightning-protection system.

» More from Florida Trend.

Business Profile
Innclusive

Tampa-based Innclusive is launching an exclusive line of properties with amenities sourced from women of color. The company — which says it provides a service overlooked by much larger rival Airbnb — is taking its platform to another level with an initiative called Zora.