Can Florida become the first state to regulate sweepstakes casinos?
A string of state-level bans in 2025 changed the mood around sweepstakes casinos nationwide. Florida sits in a curious spot by comparison. The platforms still operate openly, and efforts to restrict them haven’t gained much traction. Considering that roughly 23 million people live in Florida, the industry cannot afford to ignore it. More from Florida Daily.
Collier County gives green light to new rural village
A new rural village with 3,205 homes, including affordable housing, is planned for eastern Collier County — the eighth new town or village approved in the area. Construction would begin in 2027 and take about 15 years to complete. The project designates 560.2 acres as a Stewardship Sending Area, preserving natural wildlife habitat. More from the Gulfshore Business.
ADA compliance lawsuits hit Central Florida businesses, raising concerns about accessibility and legal challenges
Local business owners in New Smyrna Beach sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act said settling the lawsuits is their only option because fighting in court could bankrupt them. The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a federal law passed in 1990 and updated in 2008. It protects people with disabilities from discrimination in four key areas: employment, government services, public businesses and telecommunications. More from Click Orlando.
CSX officials say CEO transition going well: ‘We’re so much aligned’
Two months after Steve Angel joined CSX Corp. as president and CEO, two other C-Suite executives of the Jacksonville-based railroad company said the transition is going well. “We’re so much aligned in terms of the detail, making sure that we align our resources properly to get the efficiencies out of them. It’s just been fantastic for the first month and change,” Chief Operating Officer Mike Cory said Dec. 2 at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference in Palm Beach. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
SpaceX mission today 1st of 5 launches in 8 days on tap for Space Coast
SpaceX and United Launch Alliance are combining for a busy week or rocket launches on the Space Coast. First up Thursday afternoon is SpaceX’s planned Starlink 6-90 mission with 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Liftoff is targeting 3:26 p.m. during launch window that runs from 1:59-5:59 p.m. The rocket pads will be quiet for a few days, but get busier Sunday night through early Friday, Dec. 19. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
Cut down your own Christmas tree at this Florida national forest
Want that quintessential Christmas experience of walking through a forest of towering evergreens to pick out and cut down the perfect Christmas tree for your home, but don’t think it’s possible in Florida? It is. Sure, you won’t be schlepping through snow and likely won’t even be wearing a scarf, coat and mittens. However, you can still get that authentic Christmas tree experience and create lasting family memories.
» More from Florida Today.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Changing gears
Three times, Arelise Vasquez has seen Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington at public events. All three times, she made a point of introducing herself and letting him know she was taking full advantage of the opportunity for a tuition-free college education that he helped bring about. Vasquez, 22, has already earned an associate’s degree at Valencia College under the Osceola Prosper program and is working toward her bachelor’s in applied science and organizational leadership with a concentration on management. And she’s already exercising her entrepreneurial muscles.
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