Effort to change petition process decried as aiding special interests
Florida’s Legislature is eyeing changes to the ballot initiative process after last year’s intense fight over two proposed amendments on abortion access and recreational marijuana. Opponents say the bill would consolidate more power in the hands of Tallahassee and monied special interests. Proponents say the changes ensure the integrity of the process and keep out-of-state special interests out. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the News Service of Florida.
Orlando expands downtown retail, restaurant incentive program
Orlando wants to expand the places it can draw retail and restaurants in downtown through one of its programs. Focus areas in the program include the Creative Village surrounding Luminary Green, Downtown's Central Business District and Parramore. Businesses who locate in the focus areas are eligible for more money than those who locate in other parts of the downtown, which the program covers. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
95 businesses receive funding from Glazer Family Small Business Fund
The Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has awarded grants to 95 small businesses in the Tampa Bay and West Central Florida regions affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The funding is part of the Glazer Family Small Business Fund, which provides financial relief to businesses impacted by recent storms. The fund, administered through local chambers of commerce, distributes grants to businesses with significant losses. More from Tampa Bay Business and Wealth.
World LEGO Festival is coming to Florida's theme park. Here’s where, what to know
Forget Coachella or Lollapalooza — LEGOLAND is hosting a kid-friendly festival. LEGOLAND is launching a brand-new global festival this summer for families with children at its resorts, including Florida's theme park. The festival will feature five zones: music, creativity, dance, gaming and chill out. More from Florida Today.
Jacksonville set for next step in building $1 billion jail at site to be determined
Movement on building a new $1 billion jail is heating up as the city seeks to bring on board a firm that will design and construct it in a public-private partnership that will answer the hot-button question of what part of Jacksonville will be the site of the corrections complex. The prospect of paying $1 billion for a new jail has already brought protesters to City Hall. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Precision and expertise at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care
Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the U.S. for the past century, a situation exacerbated by an aging population and increasing risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. However, experts at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care, part of Baptist Health South Florida, are optimistic about the future of cardiovascular care. [Sponsored report]
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Business Beat - Week of March 7th
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Sports Business
A peek into the future with the race cars of Formula E on display in South Florida
Formula 1 racing has produced some of the most astounding cars on the planet. But now they have a rival: Formula E, a racing series that began in 2014 and is essentially an all-electric version of Formula 1. Formula E will race in Homestead in April, but the cars were on display recently as the series put on a promotional event at the Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.