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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Promoting the pot industry in Florida
Pointing to a need for education, a handful of the state’s medical-marijuana operators have formed a trade association designed to “foster a thriving medical-marijuana industry.” Members of the newly minted Florida Medical Marijuana Trade Association include some of the state’s largest pot companies. More from the News Service of Florida.
Owners of second homes in Florida could be moved out of Citizens insurance
Some Floridians with state-run Citizens Property Insurance could soon find their homeowners policies shuffled to an unregulated insurer. In a first for the state, lawmakers are poised to allow companies known as surplus lines insurers to take out policies from Citizens. Up to 80,000 Floridians — those whose second homes are covered by Citizens — could find themselves with policies lacking basic consumer protections, such as a guarantee that their claim could be paid. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
What Orlando may do with long-vacant historic downtown tower
A long-vacant tower downtown could see new life if the city of Orlando's community redevelopment agency buys the property. The 10-story, 46,730-square-foot building at 1 N. Orange Ave. is among four properties the CRA has proposed purchasing. One North Orange LLC currently owns the building, and the proposed sales price is $9.59 million. The building has been vacant for over 15 years. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Florida-bound this fall, new Sun Princess cruise ship makes maiden voyage
Princess Cruises welcomed passengers aboard the largest ship ever built for the cruise line as the Sun Princess made its maiden voyage from Rome on Wednesday. The 177,882–gross-ton ship has a 4,314-passenger capacity based on double occupancy. It’s the first of the line’s new Sphere class of ships, the first to run on liquefied natural gas, part of parent company Carnival Corp.’s efforts to reduce emissions. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
St. Pete Beach approves permit for contentious Sirata expansion
A plan to add two new hotels to the Sirata Beach Resort property in St. Pete Beach will move forward, city commissioners decided late Tuesday night. The redevelopment proposal led to public outcry, as residents argued that the expansion threatened to upend the character of the city’s resort district, to harm the environment and to worsen traffic. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Public Safety
Lawmakers move to prohibit ‘gas station heroin’
Florida lawmakers are moving to ban tianeptine, an antidepressant that’s commonly known as “gas station heroin.” The drug has alarmed federal regulators, who warn that some products have been linked to seizures, loss of consciousness and even death.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Sports Business
Ballpark upgrades
The Daytona Beach City Council agreed to spend $30 million on upgrades as part of a new 20-year lease with the Daytona Tortugas, the minor league class A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds. The agreement includes a pair of five-year renewals. Renovations will be done in two phases. The first phase, estimated at $17 million, is needed to keep the ballpark in line with Major League Baseball’s current standards, according to Deputy City Manager Dru Driscoll.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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