Florida News That Impacts You – November 8th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The Seminole Tribe relaunched their sports betting app for the first time in nearly two years on Tuesday. According to a statement from the Tribe: The Seminole Tribe is offering limited access to existing Florida customers to test its Hard Rock Bet platform. The Tribe declined to comment beyond that statement. It appears that active users at the time the sports betting app was shut down in November of 2021 have been provided with the opportunity to use it on a limited basis. The test comes on the heels of the decision by the Tribe to launch full in-person sports betting operations at all six Florida casinos, with South Florida’s locations launching December 7th. That decision followed a procedural win before the United States Supreme Court which lifted a stay blocking expanded gaming as outlined in the 2021 Seminole Compact agreed to between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe.
- Incumbents in Sebastian and Vero Beach won in Tuesday’s municipal elections. In Sebastian Mayor Fred Jones, Vice Mayor Christopher Nunn and councilman Bob McPartian won their races. In Vero Beach Mayor John Cotugno won reelection with Taylor Dingle winning a city council race.
- Martin County officials have formally opened up an exploration process for the consideration of a Brightline station within the county. Two sites being considered are near the Martin County Courthouse and the Martin County Fairgrounds. Brightline will consider those proposals along with any submitted in St. Lucie County at the end of the month with the expectation for a decision early next year.
- The tropics are clear with no activity expected over the next week.
- Gas prices bumped up 4 cents per gallon for the second straight day. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.24 per gallon – a penny lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.42 per gallon and in Indian River County the average is $3.25 per gallon.