Florida legislators consider special session on gambling

Florida legislators may hold a special session in April if top Republicans can reach a long sought-after agreement on gambling. It's all about money. “The Seminoles’ potential to completely walk away from the forbearance agreement jeopardizes the stability of the state budget. We will be forced to cut between $390 and $441 million in general revenue, or we will have to allow our reserves to be drained, which could jeopardize our state bond rating,” House Speaker Richard Corcoran said Thursday evening. More from the AP and Florida Politics.

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Rocket-powered cancer research

A recent suborbital space flight exposed T-cells to nearly 4 minutes of microgravity, in hopes of giving researchers better insight into how microgravity may change T-cells. Microgravity more closely mimics the physiological conditions inside a human body than do conditions in a lab. Also in this story: FIU researchers explore how magneto-electric nanoparticles can be used to treat ovarian cancer; a look at Ackerman Cancer Center in Jacksonville; profile of urologist Dr. George Suarez and a profile of Scripps Florida scientist Matthew Pipkin. Full story here.

» See all the cancer care stories from Florida Trend here.

GateHouse Media buys Palm Beach Post for $49.3 million

GateHouse Media has bought The Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News for $49.3 million. The papers have been owned since 1969 by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises. The sale is expected to be completed by May. See the announcement from Gatehouse Media here, or read more at the AP.

Golf anyone… anyone? Developers reimagine South Florida’s money-losing courses

Despite several closings, Florida still has the highest number of 18-hole golf courses in the country. But many are barely hanging on and entertainment-themed golf centers and residential communities are replacing the traditional greens and fairways. [Source: The Real Deal]

Solar jobs on the rise in Florida

The Solar Foundation says solar jobs are on the rise in the Sunshine State. The organization’s 2017 census shows that solar employment declined 3.8 percent nationwide, from 260,077 jobs in 2016 to 250,271 in 2017. But solar jobs increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia, including Florida. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Solar panel company goes out of business, leaves customers with unfinished installs

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami Marlins names Ocean Bank as official banking partner [South Florida Business Journal]
Ocean Bank was named the official banking partner of the Miami Marlins, which includes major signage at Marlins Park, along with promotional rights.

› Record rain led to bonanza year for Florida’s wading birds. Just not in the right places [Miami Herald]
The record rain that pounded South Florida last year and left the state a sodden mess had a silver lining: an explosion of wading birds. But while the numbers were up, nesting patterns revealed a troubling pattern continues.

› Sarasota and North Port police won’t pay for new school security [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Both the Sarasota and North Port Police departments said they will follow Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight’s lead in having the school district pay the full cost of school resource officers.

› 27th Fort Lauderdale International Auto Show opens at convention center [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
This year’s show will feature more than 500 vehicles — a mix of new 2018 models available at dealerships now, 2019 prototypes not yet available for sale, carefully restored antiques, and an array of Honda motorcycles.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida commercial real estate industry ranks third in U.S. [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Florida’s commercial real estate industry contributed $189.4 billion to the state’s economy in 2017, the third most of any state, according to an annual economic impact study. Only California and Texas contributed more, according to a NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association survey conducted by George Mason University.

› Dale Whittaker confirmed for UCF presidency [Orlando Sentinel]
University trustees selected Whittaker over three other finalists for the position on March 9, but his appointment was not official until it was confirmed by the state’s Board of Governors on Thursday morning at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

› Sarasota-area nonprofits team up to prepare for hurricane season [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Heads from at least a dozen local charities met Wednesday with the county’s emergency services director to outline the framework of a streamlined plan they all could follow to ensure a seamless response to aid residents and visitors should another monster storm like Irma strike the area.

› Florida-based marketing firm merges with Charlotte digital signage company [Tech Wire]
Spectrio, a Tampa, Florida-based firm that sells location-based marketing solutions powered by content and technology, has merged with Charlotte-based 10 Foot Wave, a company specializing in the design, creation, deployment and management of Digital Signage media networks since 2007.