March 28, 2024

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/10/2019

'Green rush' investors turn skittish in Florida as Supreme Court ruling could upend industry

In what was jokingly called a “green rush,” investors not long ago stampeded into Florida to gain entry to what was expected to be one of the nation’s most lucrative marijuana markets. The competition swelled after Florida voters three years ago broadly legalized medical marijuana. But even as the possibility of legal recreational pot looms on the horizon, the bidding war for medical-marijuana licenses in the Sunshine State has fizzled. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.

Restitution available for 'scammed' Florida businesses

More than $1 million is available to repay businesses that bought into what the Florida attorney general called a "government imposter scheme." Ashley Moody said Thomas Henry Fred, Jr., and his affiliated businesses targeted thousands of small businesses by sending letters designed to look like an invoice from a government agency, demanding payment for labor law posters. More from WEAR and First Coast News.

Palm Beach County to get its own Home Show next year

The Home Show is moving to Palm Beach County. The Home Design and Remodeling Show, which has been hosting events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties for more than four decades, will hold its first expo in West Palm Beach next year while the Broward County Convention Center undergoes a 19-month renovation. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

JEA pleads for ‘restart button’ on controversies

JEA board Chairwoman April Green on Monday told a Jacksonville City Council committee she hopes for a “restart button” on some controversial actions JEA has taken since the board voted in July to put the city-owned utility up for sale. Green gave a prepared statement that reiterated the JEA board will kill a potentially lucrative incentive plan for employees and also will stop sending ratepayer-funded advertising about JEA’s decision to seek offers for the utility. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Orlando approves of electric scooters, and permitting process opens

Scooters are coming to Orlando. After months of considerations, city commissioners Monday unanimously approved a proposal allowing electric scooters to zip around Orlando streets. The scooters were a sought-after addition by numerous companies, who see the city as ripe for their business. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Business Profile
New Port Richey coffee shop thrives in unlikely spot

 Brett Griest is making a go of it in an unlikely spot. His coffee shop is in a near-empty empty strip mall on the corner of Main Street and Congress, next to the Post Office and just inside the city limits. There’s a working barber shop next door and a food pantry around the corner, but store signs and vacant windows are all that’s left of businesses that have closed.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Floridian of the Year 2019: The Florida Teacher
The new Florida teacher

floridaAs a copy machine salesman in his early 20s, Jeff Becker was pulling in nearly six figures. “I was making a ton of money, hand over fist,” he recalls, but there was a problem. “It just wasn’t fun. I hated my job.” He returned to school and got a master’s degree in elementary and secondary school counseling and became a middle school guidance counselor. A few years later, he landed a position as a video production teacher at Island Coast High School in Cape Coral — a job he loves.

» Read more from Florida Trend.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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