Florida Trend Exclusive
Marijuana in Florida: This bud's for us

Headed by Wall Streeters and MBAs and backed by deep-pocketed investor funds, more than 20 companies are fighting for dominance in the era of Big Pot ushered in by voters. By voting in 2016 to approve a constitutional amendment that legalized medical marijuana, Florida voters have birthed both a marijuana industry and a rush to dominate it. [Source: Florida Trend]

Ending invasive species group ‘a disaster,’ says Florida scientist who helped start it

For 20 years, the Invasive Species Advisory Committee coordinated all of the federal government’s efforts at controlling pythons and other invasive species plaguing the nation, aiding in the design of regulations and scientific approaches to dealing with them. But last week the Trump Administration officially suspended the committee, in effect disbanding it at a time when Florida — which has more invasive species than any other state — has doubled down on its attempts to stop pythons. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Hurricane Michael one year later: Housing crunch still a major obstacle

A year has passed since the Category 5 hurricane gashed Bay County, leaving hundreds of crumpled homes and apartment complexes in its wake. Twelve months later, not much has changed for many residents. The thousands who evacuated can’t return and those who stayed, but lost their homes, have struggled to find new residences or ones that fit their price range. [Source: Panama City News Herald]

Florida’s toll road projects lack big support, except from road builders

The controversial idea this year to expand Florida’s toll system by 300 miles was first pitched by road builders. Now, months after lawmakers signed off on the expansion, it appears road builders are the only members of the public voicing support for the idea. Out of hundreds of public comments solicited by the Florida Department of Transportation in August about the largest toll system expansion in 60 years, only two dozen came from people in favor of building the three roads. Of those, nearly all came from road builders, contractors and engineers who sent their endorsements via personal email addresses without disclosing their employers. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

South Florida business schools aim to broaden their appeal with innovative, flexible programs

Sustainability, cybersecurity, social media marketing, big data, analytics, cryptocurrencies. These are just a few challenges and opportunities that executives and other business professionals must deal with today — in addition to growth, profit-and-loss, finance, marketing and all the traditional disciplines that keep companies competitive and successful. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Hurricane center tracks two systems in the Atlantic [Orlando Sentinel]
October storms are churning the Atlantic one week into the month. Meteorologists are tracking two nontropical weather systems with increased chances of becoming tropical or subtropical depressions later this week, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 2 a.m. update.

› Hundreds of workers needed for Christmas light maze at Tropicana Field [Tampa Bay Times]
The creators of Enchant Christmas, a huge Christmas light maze coming to Tropicana Field, are putting out the call for hundreds of seasonal workers to serve as character actors and customer service representatives. The event, which is billed as the world’s largest Christmas maze, is coming to St. Petersburg starting in November.

› Python hunting team captures its largest snake ever. There was another milestone, too. [Miami Herald]
September was a record-breaking month for python hunters. First, two members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Python Action Team captured an 18-foot, 4-inch-long female Burmese python at Big Cypress National Preserve Sept. 22. The snake, weighing 98 pounds, 10 ounces, is the largest ever captured at the preserve in Southwest Florida. And it’s the second largest ever captured in Florida.

› JEA for sale: bid price at least $6.8 billion [Florida Times-Union]
JEA will open bids Monday, beginning a five-month process to negotiate with potential buyers. City Council member Michael Boylan wants council to have public hearings during that time to explore the pluses and minuses of selling.

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› Want a Brightline train station? Taxpayers may help pay for it [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Brightline, the South Florida high-speed rail service, has been in talks with local governments to start building stations in Aventura, as well as in Boca Raton and PortMiami. But unlike the rail line’s initial buildout, where the company paid to build the stations now in operation, taxpayer funds are now a consideration.

› Red Tide is back in southwest Florida [Tampa Bay Times]
For 14 months, a Red Tide toxic algae bloom plagued Florida, killing thousands of fish and other marine creatures, chasing away tourists and harming the economy of coastal towns. Finally it faded away in February. Now Red Tide is back along the state’s southwestern coast, according to scientists at St. Petersburg’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

› Survey finds big opposition to Sarasota County’s redistricting plan [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
A survey asking for input on the Sarasota County Commission’s plan to redraw commission district boundaries has generated more than 2,000 responses, and the comments are overwhelmingly against redistricting. Not everyone who filled out the survey submitted comments. Most just stated which alternative district boundary map they prefer among the three prepared by a consultant.

› Brew Bus born after two friends’ trip to Tennessee [Gainesville Sun]
In September 2018, two friends drove to Tennessee to watch the Gators defeat the Volunteers, 47-21. While they were there, they were inspired by a local Tennessee business to start a business of their own in Gainesville: the Gainesville Brew Bus.