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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Sports betting app back up in Florida, though not everyone can use it
Online sports betting returned to Florida Tuesday morning, although its availability is still limited. The Seminole Tribe, which currently has exclusive rights to sports betting in the state, relaunched its mobile app with little fanfare and no advance warning Tuesday. The app is available to customers with existing accounts who signed up before legal challenges in December 2021 temporarily shut it down. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Morale down and cronyism up after DeSantis takeover of Disney World government, ex-employees say
Morale and trust within the Walt Disney World government has deteriorated since allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took it over earlier this year, according to many employees who have departed in recent months saying the governing district has been politicized and cronyism now permeates the organization. More than 40 out of about 370 employees have left the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District since it was taken over in February, raising concerns that decades of institutional knowledge is departing with them, along with a reputation for a well-run government. More from the Associated Press.
Hilton Grand to buy Bluegreen Vacations in $1.5 billion deal
Vacation property operator Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV.N) said on Monday it would buy peer Bluegreen Vacations (BVH.N) in a $1.5 billion deal including debt, to attract younger customers for its timeshare properties and expand offerings. Under the deal terms, shareholders of Bluegreen Vacations will receive $75 in cash for each share held, more than double the stock's closing price on Friday, valuing the company at $1.28 billion. More from Reuters.
Tampa leaders ride Brightline to Orlando as they weigh long-delayed rail link
“Next station stop: Tampa!” For visiting public and private sector leaders from Tampa who came to South and Central Florida on Monday to tour Brightline’s higher-speed rail system, a conductor’s announcement like that would be music to their ears. They traveled from Miami to Orlando for one reason: They want the line extended to their town, more than a decade after the idea for higher-speed rail service was sidetracked amid partisan politics. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Tampa software aggregator receives $10 million investment round to continue acquisition spree
Embrace Software announced the equity funding in a release on Sept. 11. The round had three participants: Maryland-based Singh Capital Partners, R3 Funds and “continued support” from investor Jed McCaleb, according to a release and a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The aggregator company acquires and invests in software, specifically “niche vertical ‘software-as-a-service’ and on-premise software.” More from Tampa Bay Inno.
Agriculture
Invisible fences could be the future of cattle ranching in Florida and climate change research
Florida scientists are determining how cattle grazing impacts plants, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon stored in the soil, using collars and cell towers. A Southwest Florida rancher is controlling cattle on his 5,000-acre property with an invisible fence as part of research exploring ways to keep livestock from trampling environmentally sensitive lands.
» More from WUSF.
Environment
‘It was insane’: Second-heaviest Burmese python caught in Florida — a 198-pound beast
At just after sunset last Friday night, two trucks of python hunters cast their headlights upon something huge crossing the road in Big Cypress National Preserve. The animal was so thick that Mike Elfenbein, who’s been hunting and fishing in Florida his entire life, wasn’t sure what it was. “It was stretched out across the road. It was so huge it looked like an alligator.” It was an outlandishly fat invasive Burmese python.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.
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