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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Whether it’s March Madness or not, Women’s elite sports is slam dunk for Florida economy
Research firm Deloitte predicts that revenue from women’s elite sports in the U.S. will surpass $1 billion for the first time ever in 2024, a 300% increase from 2021. Among the various reasons interest in women’s sports is growing across the country, Croom said there may be a unique push in Florida due to online sports betting being legal in the state since 2023. More from WMFE and WLRN.
Patronis questions costs of land deals
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis suggested the state should have looked again at the prices of three land-conservation deals that totaled $193 million before they were approved Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Cabinet members. Patronis said after the Cabinet meeting that a federal judge’s ruling last month in a battle about wetlands permitting has affected the appraised values of the 27,742 acres of agricultural land in Polk, Seminole, Hendry and Collier counties. More from the News Service of Florida.
CSX donates $10 million to MOSH Genesis campaign
The Museum of Science & History announced a $10 million contribution from CSX Corp. in support of the museum’s Genesis capital campaign. “This generous contribution will have a lasting impact on our institution, enabling us to create a museum that offers engaging exhibits, dynamic educational programs, and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages on the Northbank of the St. Johns River,” Jill Davis, chair of the Genesis capital campaign cabinet and vice chair of the MOSH board of trustees, said. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
South Florida yacht brokers hit with lawsuits that claim 10% commissions violate antitrust laws
Two newly filed federal lawsuits claim that 10% sales commissions required by South Florida’s yacht broker industry are anticompetitive and violate antitrust laws. The claims follow an October finding by a federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri, that the National Association of Realtors conspired with brokers to artificially inflate commissions paid to real estate brokers. The ruling, and a March 15 settlement by the Realtors, is expected to radically change how homes are sold in the United States. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Though skeptical, Orange County commissioners won’t rule out transportation tax
Reluctant Orange County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to continue exploring a possible sales tax hike for transportation on the November ballot — but warned Mayor Jerry Demings that he has a big job ahead to convince them. In 2022, county voters trounced a proposed penny-per-dollar sales-tax increase for 20 years aimed at creating better and safer roads, more punctual Lynx bus service and an expanded SunRail commuter line, with 58 percent voting no. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
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In Memoriam
Clearwater’s Mayme Hodges was a teacher, trailblazer, Pinellas icon
By the time Mayme Hodges retired after 34 years of teaching in Pinellas County Schools, she had already influenced generations of young people. But after retiring from the school system in 1989, Hodges continued a lifetime of civic leadership that included becoming the first Black woman on what then was the Clearwater City Commission, now the City Council.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
MBA Programs
Retooling toward the future
Anil Menon, dean of the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business, is redesigning the school's MBA program to make degrees more flexible and durable. It will relaunch this fall with a curriculum emphasizing management philosophy and mental resiliency.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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