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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida’s medical marijuana market flourishes amid the pandemic
Florida has long been one of the most important cannabis markets in the U.S., and even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical cannabis market continues to flourish there. According to Marijuana Business Daily, demand seems to be higher now in the Sunshine State than it was before the outbreak started. Florida, like most states that have marijuana dispensaries, has categorized them as "essential businesses," which allowed them to remain open amid the emergency measures that were implemented statewide to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Dispensaries there have benefited as a result. More from the Motley Fool and Nasdaq.
Horse industry gallops back in Marion County as coronavirus lockdown eases
The horse industry in Marion County is gearing up for its return after lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic caused events to be canceled en masse. The first back is Ocala Breeders’ Sales, which begins its four-day sale of 2-year-old thoroughbreds on Tuesday, June 9. The sale lists more than 1,300 horses for sale, about the same number that the canceled April sale usually draws. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Jacksonville cinema offers a return to drive-in glory days
Drive-in days returned to Northeast Florida as the independent Sun-Ray Cinema in Riverside ventured out to the Callahan Speedway Friday to show a well-aged, Southern-fried classic movie under the stars. Burt Reynolds’ 1977 hit, “Smokey and the Bandit,” played on a 32-foot wide LED screen built for the event, with sound coming over the radio of the 100 cars allowed in. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Darden Restaurants CEO resumes taking $1 million annual salary as company ‘building momentum’
Orlando-based Darden Restaurants CEO Gene Lee is receiving his $1 million annual base salary again as the company recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Lee’s salary was restored Monday, weeks after he gave it up in March, a Securities and Exchange Commission document shows. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Despite virus challenge, Miami advances Allapattah project
The City of Miami’s planning and zoning department staff has adjusted to Covid-19 and not been prevented in needed reviews for the many development projects in the pipeline. A good example is the proposed mixed-use residential building planned for Allapattah to be called 2323 Apartments. The project is moving forward despite the challenges created by the coronavirus. More from Miami Today.
Entertainment
Free streaming TV arrives in Tampa Bay today
In a boon for cord cutters, a little-known nonprofit now under legal fire from some of America’s largest media companies expands its free television service to Tampa Bay today. Locast will make 45 channels of locally-broadcast streaming TV available to millions more people through its app and at locast.org. The channel lineup is meant to be identical to what’s available free over the air with a digital antenna – if you had a pristine signal.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Event
Florida’s Lionfish Challenge to run through Labor Day
In an effort to cut down on the numbers of an invasive fish that harms native fish that are important to maintaining healthy reefs, Florida’s Lionfish Challenge will run through Labor Day. The challenge, which kicked off May 22nd, has recreational and commercial categories with tiered prizes. The minimum to qualify is 20 lionfish for recreational participants or 20 pounds of lionfish for commercial.
» Read more from CBS Miami.
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