Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/25/2019

Florida lawyers are raking in millions working in bankruptcy court

It pays to work in bankruptcy law — sometimes to the tune of millions of dollars. It seems counterintuitive. Bankruptcy court is a federal court where litigants seek protection while looking to discharge or repay debts. Debtors there are often in financial distress and unable to repay creditors. More from the Daily Business Review.

FSU receives grant to restore Apalachicola Bay's struggling oyster industry

Florida State University has received $8 million to study how to revive the Apalachicola Bay. The 10-year project, dubbed the Apalachicola Bay Systems Initiative, will be housed at FSU’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory and will work to rehabilitate the community’s oyster industry. More from FSU News.

Florida gas prices on the rise

Gas prices are on the rise yet again, according to the latest report from AAA. While prices have held steady for the past week, AAA expects prices at the pump to increase by 10 cents this week. More from WJXT.

Soaring sales: The only high in CBD

Statewide and in the Sarasota-Manatee County area, selling CBD — which lacks THC, the chemical compound in marijuana that makes users high — is a cash cow. Some bars and coffee shops infuse their cocktails and lattes with CBD, while more than a dozen retailers locally sell the product. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida company owed workers over $18,000 after overtime pay and child labor violations

A Florida company paid $18,844 in back pay to 14 farm workers after the company failed to properly interpret overtime pay rules, according to the Department of Labor. Lake Meadow Naturals, based in Ocoee, also made a child labor no-no by having a 15-year-old work outside the hours allowed for a 14 or 15-year-old. More from the Miami Herald.

UCF Business Incubation Program: Nurturing seeds of growth

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program was created to improve the chance of survival for area small businesses. Now celebrating its 20th year, this award-winning, university-driven community partnership nurtures scalable, early-stage ventures across Central Florida. [Sponsored Report]

Arts Business
Is St. Petersburg the future of glass? The Glass Art Society thinks so.

When it comes to great cities for glass art, a few spring to mind. This country’s epicenter for glass is Seattle, where the prestigious Glass Art Society formed in 1971. But the most famous and prestigious is Murano, Italy, known for its rich history of glass making since the 13th century. The Glass Art Society held its 47th conference in Murano last year. And this year, they’re bringing it to St. Petersburg.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida 500
Kelly Smallridge

Kelly Smallridge’s work spans all 39 cities in Palm Beach County. She’s been a leader in integrating the county’s educational institutions into economic development and in using creative techniques to attract business, including a number of hedge funds that have relocated to the county.