Homeschooling is booming in Florida
From 2017 to 2022, Florida’s homeschool population grew nearly 70 times faster than the state’s public school enrollment and was among the highest rates in the nation. Tampa Bay is now a haven for homeschoolers. Nearly 11,000 homeschool students live in Hillsborough alone — more than any other school district in Florida. To understand what’s behind the explosive growth, the Tampa Bay Times spoke with two dozen families from across the region who have chosen to teach their kids at home. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Attorney General ends lawsuit against ACC over ESPN deal
The Florida Attorney General’s Office has ended its lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference over the league’s ESPN contracts. Ashley Moody and her office filed a notice to dismiss their complaint without prejudice on Friday. That filing came the day after the conference gave 251 redacted pages of its deals with ESPN to the Attorney General’s Office. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida recreational marijuana initiative has raised $66M
Proponents of ballot initiatives that would legalize recreational marijuana and enshrine abortion rights in the Florida constitution have raised millions. The two initiatives are among six that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot and will require a 60% vote to earn a place in the state's constitution. [Source: The Center Square]
Elon Musk’s plan for monster rocket rattles Florida’s Space Coast
This is hallowed ground for the U.S. space program, where NASA set the course for moon landings decades ago. But Florida’s Space Coast, as this stretch of palm trees, subdivisions and rocket pads is called, has never seen anything quite as otherworldly as Elon Musk. Musk’s space company wants to launch Starship, the Earth’s largest and most powerful rocket, dozens of times annually from the Cape in the years ahead. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
Florida Python Challenge starts Friday. See heaviest, longest Burmese pythons ever caught
The Florida Python Challenge, a Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation effort to help protect the Everglades ecosystem from invasive Burmese pythons, starts this week. First identified in Everglades National Park in 2000, the Burmese python may be the most destructive foreign animal in the park's history. [Source: Naples Daily News]
5 steps to avoiding litigation — Before a contract's signed
Corporate litigators take pride in effectively and successfully arguing their client’s case. But for many, the best success they can deliver is to help their client avoid costly litigation in the first place. The following steps can help avoid contractual conflicts. [Sponsored Report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Disney, SeaWorld post small revenue gains, quarterly reports show
Walt Disney Co. and United Parks & Resorts, parent of SeaWorld Orlando, on Wednesday announced small gains in revenue for their theme parks during their most recent fiscal quarters. Third-quarter revenue for Disney’s Experiences segment, which incorporates global attractions including Walt Disney World’s parks and Disney Cruise Line, was $8.38 billion, a 2% increase. Operating income was $2.22 billion, a 3% decrease.
› Pensacola looks to enforce new state law cracking down on private parking lots
A new Florida law is in effect regulating public parking in privately owned parking lots, and the city of Pensacola plans to enforce it. The law, which went into effect July 1, requires private parking lots to specify on signs that they aren't government-owned parking lots, post the fines they charge for parking violations, and provide valid contact information. The signs must also provide an appeals process for parking violations.
› Shad Khan: ‘We’re building a neighborhood’ in Jacksonville
When the Jacksonville Jaguars entered negotiations on the team’s stadium deal with the city, the project included an adjoining dining and entertainment district. That portion of the development was never seriously considered during the Jaguars’ talks with the city, but team owner Shad Khan told Bloomberg business news he hasn’t shelved plans to help create what he calls a “new core” around EverBank Stadium.
› ThreatLocker to add 1,000+ jobs; eyes Orlando Magic's Westcourt for space
ThreatLocker Inc. has been in its current spot only since November 2022, but already is running out of space, said CEO Danny Jenkins. That’s because the Maitland-headquartered cybersecurity firm hires 40 to 50 employees per month, with no plans to slow down. “We have about 480 employees now, and 20 people started today,” said Jenkins. “I haven’t met them yet.”
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› City of Orlando nears construction on Lake Nona project with library and more
The city of Orlando is nearing construction on a project in Lake Nona that would include a library and a city building housing an Orlando Police Department substation, community meeting space and city services. Orlando on Aug. 8 will seek development review committee approval for a master plan tied to the proposed $10 million, 14,600-square-foot Southeast Government Center building and the future 20,000-square-foot Orange County Library System building.
› Museum of Imagination is coming to Brevard
A children’s museum is coming to Brevard County. Museum of Imagination will be geared toward children up to age 13 and focus on STEAM activities, imaginative play and other areas. Brevard County resident and business owner Jacqulyn Baxter and her family are behind the initiative, which she’s she hoping will fill a void in the area.
› Another blow to Miami craft beer: Wynwood’s last independent brewery is closing
The last independent brewery in Wynwood, a neighborhood once famous as a haven for craft beer, is closing. J. Wakefield Brewing, which opened in 2015, announced it will be closing this fall, citing changes to the increasingly upscale neighborhood as the reason.
› Florida CFO: My Safe Florida Home can bring insurance rate relief
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis told members of South County Tiger Bay recently that insurance rate relief is coming but a key to seeking that relief is to follow the steps outlined in the My Safe Florida Home Program to improve the integrity of one’s home in the event of a hurricane.