Why Florida medical marijuana companies are pushing so hard for recreational pot
As legal marijuana dispensaries hope Floridians vote in November to allow recreational weed, they face a troubling trend: Right now, their flow of new customers is drying up. The state’s medical marijuana industry is stagnating, data shows. Experts say a slowdown in new patients means the success of the largest marijuana companies in the state could depend on the proposed amendment. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa General chosen as one of Florida’s first behavioral health teaching hospitals
Tampa General Hospital has been chosen to house one of four new state-funded behavioral health teaching programs as Florida tries to address a shortfall of mental health professionals. Lawmakers have set aside $300 million over a three-year period to pay for psychiatric residencies and workforce development programs at four hospitals across the state. More from the Tampa Bay Times and Spectrum News.
It's official: Travel + Leisure to move HQ to downtown Orlando after city approves incentives
Travel + Leisure Co. has been approved for incentives that will bring its global headquarters from Orlando's tourism corridor to downtown. The Orlando-based timeshare/vacation ownership giant (NYSE: TNL) was approved by the Orlando City Council on May 13. The company will move 908 jobs and create another 102 positions over five years. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Special Council committee begins exploring how to rev up downtown Jacksonville redevelopment
With the possible abolishment of the Downtown Investment Authority hanging in the balance, DIA CEO Lori Boyer stood before a special Jacksonville City Council committee May 13 to chart her organization’s record in leading Downtown revitalization. In the first meeting of the Special Committee on the Future of Downtown, Boyer gave a presentation on the DIA’s successes, failures and challenges since its founding in 2012. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Should Miami-Dade taxpayers foot $46 million in World Cup costs? That’s the plan
World Cup’s 2026 games in Miami Gardens are bringing some early sticker shock to Miami-Dade’s County Hall over the $46 million in expenses that organizers want taxpayers to fund. Legislation to endorse the subsidy package easily advanced through a County Commission committee on Monday, despite some pushback on the government spending that’s been requested for the seven international soccer games coming to Hard Rock Stadium in two years. More from the Miami Herald.
The business of basketball
By the time Rohith “Ro” Vemuri graduated from high school, the Jacksonville native was ready for the big leagues. A four-year starter on Stanton College Prep’s basketball team in Jacksonville, Vemuri decided early on he wanted to work as a student manager with the University of Florida men’s basketball team. While earning a degree in business management, his goal is to pursue the sport as a coach or a manager in the college or professional ranks. [Sponsored report]
Out of the Box
Disney auction: Vintage Space Mountain car goes for $43,500
A refurbished ride vehicle from Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain ride has sold at auction for $43,500, according to figures released by Van Eaton Galleries, host of the recent “Joel Magee Auction, Part 2” event. The California-based auction house had estimated it would draw a winning bid of between $15,000 and $20,000. The vehicle dates back to the indoor roller coaster’s debut in 1975.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Agriculture
Florida steps up its rules on cattle imports because of disease spread
Florida has expanded rules blocking the importation of some cattle because of the spread of a type of avian influenza in dairy herds in other states. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Monday issued an emergency rule that requires most dairy cattle being imported into Florida to meet federal testing and movement requirements for Bovine Associated Influenza A Syndrome.
» Read more from the News Service of Florida.