Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/21/2018

With no power to pass gun laws, Florida cities prepare plan B (and C)

With no power to pass their own gun laws, local officials who want stricter gun laws are turning to the ballot box and the courts to get them. But even if they support stricter gun control laws, some local officials will be hesitant to take on the state. More from Governing.

Bradenton bank agrees to sell for $52 million

Premier Community Bank of Florida in Bradenton has signed a definitive agreement to sell itself to National Commerce Corp. in Birmingham, Alabama, in a cash and stock deal valued at $52 million. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Florida-based shared office firm opening first Dallas location

Five-year-old Venture X has co-working facilities in seven U.S. states and Canada. The company will open its first North Texas location next month in Far North Dallas and is working on outlets in Plano and Frisco. More from the Dallas News.

Huge spring break crowds overwhelmed South Beach. Officials want to avoid that again.

South Beach’s surging popularity as a spring break playground has outgrown city officials’ expectations, and vacationing students brought with them a slew of troubles that the City Commission wants to deal with — quickly. More from the Miami Herald.

Smaller size could be big opportunity for Florida peaches

Florida peaches run on the small side, and several in the industry noted that could be an advantage for the sweet fruit. The fruit has drawn interest at retail, with some shipping as far as Canada, but its size means other channels could be wide open as well. More from the Packer.

Business Profile
Urban Food Delivery

Jordan Davis is the CEO of a new food delivery service in South St. Pete called Urban Food Delivery. The USF graduate is also the head delivery driver, marketing director and every other position you can think of.

» More from WFTS.

Event
Lightning Class Southern Circuit

The annual Lightning Class Southern Circuit finds caravans of road weary sailors from across the continent coming to Florida in March for two events of world-class competition. The schedule begins in St. Petersburg where 50 teams are registered for the Winter Championship, with 30 teams making the trip down to Miami for the Midwinter Championship.