Florida Trend

Casino industry stories are trending in Canada, Australia, the UK and the US. Headlines include Seneca Resorts & Casinos unveiling a new brand identity, reviews of instant withdrawal and offshore casino sites, a Florida casino cruise ship stuck in extended dry dock leaving workers without pay, and coverage of a North Fork Mono casino in California. The mix of corporate rebranding, worker disputes and gambling site rankings is fueling the surge in searches.

Gulf Winds Credit Union, based in Florida, has agreed to acquire Peoples Exchange Bank in Alabama, its second bank purchase in a month following a deal for Madison County Community Bank in August. The credit union is expected to complete a rebrand next year. The rapid back-to-back acquisitions are drawing attention as credit unions increasingly move into buying traditional banks.

Former Republican congressman David Jolly and state Representative Angie Nixon headlined a Democratic rally in Florida, drawing an energetic response from party supporters. Jolly, who switched parties, and Nixon, a progressive Jacksonville legislator, are seen as prominent voices as Florida Democrats work to rebuild momentum in a state that has trended Republican in recent election cycles.

A Florida Today roundup links three trending subjects: pythons spotted in trees, Florida's ongoing property insurance troubles, and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The insurance topic remains a persistent concern for homeowners in the state, while Burmese pythons continue to be an invasive-species story in Florida. Antetokounmpo draws attention amid ongoing NBA coverage and speculation about his future.