Florida Declines Sports Betting Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a challenge to an agreement giving the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights to handle online sports betting in Florida.

The decision was the latest setback for West Flagler Associates and the Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, which operate racetracks and poker rooms in Florida. The companies say the compact gives the tribe a sports betting monopoly and that the U.S. Department of Interior wrongly approved the deal.

The tribe launched online sports betting late last year, and Florida’s share of 2024 revenues is already more than $120 million. State economic forecasters predict that the revenue sharing could total $4.4 billion through the end of this decade.

Two Florida Cities Offer the Most Homes Under $200K

Two Fort Lauderdale suburbs, Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill, came in at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the top 10 list of cities in the U.S. with the most homes for sale under $200,000.

The Realtor.com report says that upwards of 70% of all listings in the two towns are less than $200,000, and nearly all are condos.

The data is from the first week of June and identified cities with at least 100 total listings, excluding land and mobile homes.

Leaders Debate Usage of Cannabis Tax Revenue

A public discussion in Tampa on Thursday on potential state revenue from cannabis sales shined a spotlight on the November ballot’s Amendment 3, the proposed legalization of recreational adult use of cannabis in Florida.

If approved, recreational cannabis revenue would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local taxes once the retail market is fully operational, according to a financial impact study.

How and where that money would be used for public benefit was debated by sitting and former elected officials and stakeholders. The measure needs a 60% approval in November to become law.

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➤ Miami-Dade: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava appeared before a judge this week to explain why a new mental health facility the county has promised for two decades, on which it spent $50 million, is still not open. (See Video)

➤ Collier County: The Florida Culinary Accelerator may close as county commissioners voted last week to put out an invitation to sell equipment—and possibly the program itself. Funding for the program, which was developed to grow food-related businesses, is ending in September. (More)

➤ Seminole County: Commissioners voted this week to put the decade-long penny sales tax renewal to voters on the November ballot. “If it does not pass, it’s going to be ugly,” said Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek. (See Video)

➤ Orlando: SunRail debuted its new platform ticket vending machines on Monday as part of the commuter train system’s recent upgrades to improve customer service, speed up transactions, and provide more ticketing options. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: The proposed “Stadium of the Future” $1.4 billion renovation plan for the Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium stalled in a council special meeting last week, as members are unsure how to move forward. A third public hearing was held last night to discuss a $300 million community development benefit. (See Video)

➤ One Northeast Florida company was dropped from Fortune’s annual list of the 500 largest U.S. businesses, but the area continues to have five companies in the Fortune 1000. (See Companies)

➤ The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee will indefinitely suspend its twice-daily weather balloon launches on July 1 due to a “global supply chain disruption of Helium, and the prohibitive cost of the Helium gas contracts.” (More)

➤ Lamont: The North Florida Wildlife Center welcomed a Red Kangaroo Joey named Evie to its kangaroo exhibit, paving the way for the Australian walk-through exhibit later this year. (See Video)

➤ The Florida Gators baseball team won 5-4 against NC State on Monday in the NCAA Baseball College World Series. Jac Caglianone hit a three-run homer in the second inning to take the lead for good. (Video)  

➤ Inter-Miami beat Philadelphia on Saturday 2-1, despite being down to nine men and playing without Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, both missing from the lineup ahead of Copa América. (More)

➤ Naples’ first professional soccer team revealed its crest and colors Saturday. FC Naples team tryouts will be in late summer with a head coach announcement expected within the next month. (See Picture)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | MLS | PGA

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➤ Tampa-based Primo Water and the parent company of Poland Spring announced their merger Monday in an all-stock deal. The combined company is expected to have significant financial leverage, with $6.5 billion in net revenue for the year. (More)

➤ Innovative Solutions opened a corporate headquarters in Boca Raton after winning economic incentives from the city. The cloud services company will create 30 new six-figure jobs. (More)

➤ Winter Haven: Legoland Florida named industry veteran Franceen Gonzales its new theme park president last week. (More)

➤ A PMG-led joint venture scored $668 million this week to complete the Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami, which could become one of the tallest U.S. buildings south of New York. The 100-story development is slated for completion in 2028. (More) 

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➤ Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, the Utopia of the Seas, was delivered on Friday and will soon head to Florida. Intended for short getaways and weekend trips, the ship will debut in Port Canaveral on July 19. (More)

➤ A massive hole opened in a woman’s backyard in the town of Weeki Wachee, a community in Hernando County about 40 minutes north of Tampa. (See Video)

➤ The Wizard of Oz museum is moving to the entertainment district of Kissimmee from its current home in Cape Canaveral. The new museum will be twice as large and include a mini-golf course. (More)

➤ American Flamingos may be returning to Florida. Although native to South Florida, they have not nested or existed in significant wild populations here for more than a century. (More)

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Will you watch the Panthers play the Oilers tonight?

1. Yes
2. No

Monday’s Results:

Do you prefer Atlantic coast or Gulf coast Florida beaches?

1. 1. Atlantic Coast: 35.7%
   2. Gulf Coast: 64.3%

What is the official state animal of Florida?

Show me the answer