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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida sports betting plan faces a new challenge
The new lawsuit filed Tuesday at the Florida Supreme Court accused DeSantis and the Legislature of exceeding their power by allowing sports betting off tribal lands — without approval from voters. The challenge pointed to part of the constitutional amendment that says it “ensures that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling” in the state. The amendment includes an exception for gambling that takes place on tribal lands. More from WUSF.
Some Tampa Bay fall festivals canceled due to labor, migrant worker shortage
The annual fall festivals at St. Raphael’s and St. Paul’s Catholic churches in St. Petersburg and Blessed Sacrament in Seminole have been canceled — though they hope for a spring rescheduling — mostly because their amusement vendors are not able to get enough labor for what is their biggest fundraiser. It echoes a problem nationally, where many companies in the carnival industry that rely on hiring seasonal workers from outside the United States are facing a shortage of workers. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
DeSantis names 3 to join the new GRU board. None live in city limits as required by law
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed three of the five members to the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board which will be responsible for making all decisions related to the municipal utility. But there's one major problem: None of them live within the city's boundaries, as required by law. More from the Gainesville Sun.
Record-high budget set for Jacksonville after unanimous vote by council
Jacksonville City Council approved a $1.75 billion budget Tuesday after voting down floor amendments that would have added $3.1 million for homelessness programs and eliminated $1.4 million for construction of a charter school's gym. The city's property tax rate for the 2023-24 budget will be the same rate as last year at about $11.32 per $1,000 of taxable property value for areas excluding the three Beaches cities and Baldwin, which each will make their own decisions affecting the tax rates for property within their city limits. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Sleek trains, slow speeds: Brightline Orlando passengers see promise, flaws in first trek from Miami
Passengers on the route's first trains found much to praise about the rides but pointed as well to several areas where they said Brightline can improve, especially amid the high expectations — and ticket prices — it has set for its service. Nearly all said they enjoyed themselves, and said the idea of efficiently riding a train instead of making a drive of 200 miles or more is appealing. More from the Palm Beach Post.
Out of the Box
These Florida shark taggers are scientists — and also drag queens. It’s a fierce crew
A drag queen with an aquaculture masters from the University of Miami, Miss Toto was the opening act — and driving force behind — what may be Miami’s fiercest fundraiser: Drag n Tag. The event combines flashy acts from local drag queens with a day on Biscayne Bay with some of Miami’s top shark scientists, catching, tagging and releasing sharks as a fundraiser for queer youth in South Florida.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Innovation Trends
Tech focus
The Orlando Economic Partnership has spun off its development efforts in the technology sector to create Innovate Orlando, a non-profit that will promote its MetaCenter concept. David Adelson, who served as the partnership’s chief innovation officer, will serve as Innovate Orlando’s CEO. It’s the next step in the region’s efforts to define its capabilities in interactive entertainment; modeling, simulation and training; augmented reality; virtual reality; artificial intelligence; and the internet of things.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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