A gambling underworld: Illegal casinos thrive in Florida despite raids
Florida is home to hundreds of illegal casinos, which can be found on roads and strip malls throughout the state. Some operate openly, with brightly lit signs, Facebook pages, business licenses and weekly promotions. But as police raids become more frequent, many arcades run more secretly, hiding their businesses behind locked doors and black glass. More from th South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
How Cuba fooled the U.S. to get millions of dollars from Miami for its armed forces
The Cuban government has been fooling U.S. sanctions by concealing the true nature of the company that handles money sent by Cuban-Americans to their families on the island. The Cuban government pretended to create a new company independent of the military to handle the millions of dollars sent yearly to the island through Western Union and Miami-based money-transfer agencies. More from the Miami Herald.
Pensacola creates plan to help revitalize 'lost neighborhood'
Revitalizing a public space can transform a neighborhood, but making sure the neighborhood doesn’t lose its original character when revitalization happens can be a tall order. That’s exactly what Pensacola will be trying to do with the redesign of Hollice T. Williams Park. It’s the first time Pensacola has ever attempted to revitalize an area while also actively putting forward steps aimed at avoiding the downsides of economic growth like gentrification and displacement. More from the Pensacola News Journal.
Tampa Bay Rays appear to backtrack on stadium project threats
After alluding for nearly a month that the agreement to build a new ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg was nearly dead, the Tampa Bay Rays have stepped back on their threats and say the deal is still on. In a letter sent Friday to the chairwoman of the Pinellas County Commission, the team writes that it has fulfilled all of its requirements and is just waiting for commissioners to approve bonds to move forward with its plans. More from the Business Observer.
Equinox debuts at Port Canaveral, making Celebrity seventh cruise line to base ships there
Celebrity Cruises officially joined Port Canaveral's expanding cruise lineup early Tuesday, as the Equinox sailed into the port for the first time in the pre-dawn darkness. The Equinox will offer 20 sailings out of Port Canaveral, with seasonal service from now through April 19. Celebrity is the seventh cruise line to base one or more ships at Port Canaveral. More from Florida Today.
Out of the Box
All the ink, no ache: South Florida studio offers tattoos under sedation at a premium price
Most tattoo shops have stencil images on the walls for clients to look at and get ideas if they’re unsure what permanent art to choose for their bodies. One South Florida tattoo business, operating about a year now, doesn’t have a storefront to visit on a whim. It's more like a doctor's office or hospital. To book a procedure here, it requires pre-planning.
» More from WLRN.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Port providers
You can find maritime workers tugging barges, captaining ferries, manning cruise ships or transporting cargo across oceans. Their jobs — often perilous — can keep them at sea for weeks, making any time on land scarce and precious. That’s why Port Tampa Bay and the University of South Florida’s College of Nursing have opened a clinic in Florida’s largest port to improve workers’ access to health care while they’re ashore.
» Read more from the Florida Trend.