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Thursday, October 31, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1967, rapper and Miami-raised Vanilla Ice, known for his 1990 hit Ice Ice Baby, was born.

Happy Halloween! Today is also the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In Central Florida, a patient has become the first to participate in a global clinical trial testing a new chemotherapy drug aimed at treating triple-negative breast cancer. You can read her story here.

Today's sponsor is Graze Robotics, offering an upcoming investment opportunity you won't want to miss.

Seminole Tribe Reaches Sports Betting Deal

The Seminole Tribe of Florida and a group of businesses that operate racetracks and poker rooms have settled a legal dispute going back to 2021 over whether the Seminole Tribe should have exclusive rights to online sports betting in Florida.

The agreement announced Monday has the companies that have unsuccessfully fought the sports-betting plan in state and federal courts agreeing to "refrain from engaging in any future litigation with respect to the Seminole Tribe's gaming operations."

As part of the deal, Battle Court Jai Alai games will be available on the Seminoles' betting app in early 2025.

This resolution allows the parties to focus on promoting jai alai in Florida's gaming landscape, described by Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen as a "win-win."

Florida Accidentally Blocked Banks' Business

This week, Florida's top financial regulator invoked emergency powers tied to recent hurricanes to suspend part of a new law that banned banks from selling securities, according to a proclamation from the state government.

A law that went into effect Oct. 1 prevented banks from selling securities such as corporate bonds or shares of private companies in Florida for four weeks.

Initially intended to support startups and companies seeking capital by preventing individuals with criminal records from exploiting Floridians, the law inadvertently restricted any bank previously penalized by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Nearly all of the country's big banks—from JPMorgan Chase to Goldman Sachs—have been in trouble with the law at some point. The Florida Legislature is expected to revise the law when it reconvenes.

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Sets Sail

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world’s largest in-water boat event, kicked off Wednesday and runs through Nov. 3. It's expected to draw around 100,000 visitors.

Now in its 65th year, the show will feature 1,300 vessels, including superyachts, and debut models from top manufacturers like HCB and Azimut.

With an economic impact greater than the Super Bowl, the event supports local businesses and sees $710 million in sales by Florida businesses annually.

This year’s show benefits from the newly renovated Las Olas Marina and the revamped Pier Sixty-Six, a Fort Lauderdale icon. See event details here.

Good Help Just Got Easier to Find

Whether it's the long hours in the sun or the tough physical labor, 84% of landscaping operators say finding workers is their top challenge. Not anymore, thanks to Graze Robotics.

There are some 50 million acres of mowable grass in the U.S. alone. Well, Graze's automated mowers cut labor costs per acre by 56%. So, no matter if you're talking about a golf course, airport, solar field, or anything in between, the future is here when it comes to reliable landscaping help.

After all, there's a reason Graze already has 2,500+ unit reservations and partnerships with RWE Energy, DFW Airport, golf course ownership groups, and more. Invest in Graze as they scale in a $70.2 billion opportunity.

➤ Orlando: The state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties has announced forming a hate crimes task force, using a $1 million federal grant. (More)

➤ Tampa: A $2 million federal grant is funding efforts to address rising student anxiety from active shooter drills, which research shows increase stress by 42%. (See Video)

➤ Sarasota County: A ballot measure in this year’s general election could secure critical funding for county schools, as the county’s longstanding millage referendum is up for renewal on Nov. 5. (More)

➤ Lakeland: It could take 25 to 30 days to lower the water level of Lake Bonny and alleviate localized flooding, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (See Photos)

➤ Fort Lauderdale: City officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday to open the renovated and expanded Las Olas Marina, a $130 million project. (See Video)

➤ Jacksonville: Mayor Donna Deegan is “extraordinarily optimistic” that the city will sign a new contract with the University of Florida and the University of Georgia to keep the rivalry game in the city from 2028 and beyond. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars traded longtime left tackle Cam Robinson to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for draft compensation. Both teams will pay a portion of Robinson's salary. (More)

➤ Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov tallied one goal and one assist in his return from injury on Monday to help the Panthers defeat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. (More)

➤ The Miami Dolphins are in advanced talks to sell 10% of the team assets to a private equity firm. The terms of the deal value the team's total assets at $8.1 billion. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: MLB | NCAAF | NBA | NHL

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➤ New federal rules requiring airlines to reimburse travelers for canceled or "significantly or automatically changed" flights went into effect this week, ending the airlines' ability to decide on their own whether to reimburse. (See Details)

➤ Nearly 280 warehouse workers employed in Sarasota by wholesale grocery distributor United Natural Foods have voted to join Teamsters Local 79, based in Tampa. (More)

➤ Endeavor Group Holdings, a subsidiary of IMG, is considering selling the Miami Open, one of South Florida's premier tennis events, as part of a broader review of its sports and entertainment portfolio. (More)

➤ Did you miss our donation opportunity yesterday? If you've ever wanted to help Flyover Florida cover its expenses, this is your chance. I appreciate your support!

— Cole, CEO

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➤ Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday declined to recuse herself from the case against Ryan Routh, who is accused of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach. Cannon dismissed Routh's claims of bias in favor of the prosecution. (More)

➤ South Florida's Sun Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times are among several larger regional and national newspapers that are not endorsing a presidential candidate, sidestepping the traditional journalism practice. (See Details)

➤ Vote-by-mail numbers in Florida have surpassed those from the 2016 election. Florida county election officials have mailed 3.52 million ballots to requested voters, a 5.07% increase over previous years. (More)

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