SHARE:

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/31/2012

More good economic news for Florida

Republican Gov. Rick Scott's administration is continuing to put a positive spin on Florida's economy although that conflicts with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's more dour view of it. Scott's Department of Economic Opportunity on Wednesday issued a news release touting an 18.5 percent increase in housing starts in August compared to the same month last year. More at the AP.

See also:
» Case-Shiller index: home prices improve

Insurers under fire once again

Florida's insurance watchdog Tuesday called for an investigation into companies that she says deny claims by alleging that customers misrepresented their finances when applying for policies. Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott cited repeated complaints against Fort Lauderdale-based Universal Property & Casualty in asking Florida regulators for the probe. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

As cyber threat rises, Army and others seek a few good hackers

Editor's Column

Think Younger - Evolving Florida's Age Mindset

In a world of diminished government resources, the last kind of incentives Florida ought to worry about is anything targeting seniors. We’ll continue to get our share. What Florida needs to tend to is creating the kind of economic and educational infrastructure that will provide opportunity for a cohort of young people that — unlike in many states — is growing and dynamic.

» Read Florida Trend Executive Editor Mark Howard's full column.

As about 570 computer hackers and anti-hacking experts gather at a conference in Miami this week, a couple of key themes are emerging: The threat of cyber attacks on corporate and government sites is on an ominous rise. And there is a fortune to be made in battling the bad guys. More at the Miami Herald.

Titusville's Professional Aircraft Accessories to mark expansion

Professional Aircraft Accessories Inc. is having a ceremony Thursday marking its expansion at the the Space Coast Regional Airport. Professional Aircraft Accessories, led by company president Robert Bial, added 20,000 square feet to its 37,200-square-foot facility in Titusville and has hired 65 new workers, 15 more than originally projected. More at Florida Today.

Cubans swing Hispanic poll results in Florida

Call it the Cuban Conundrum — a problem for pollsters who find Florida Hispanics are far more Republican than anywhere else in the nation. It's on full display in the latest poll of likely Hispanic Florida voters showing President Barack Obama clings to a narrow 51-47 percent lead over Republican Mitt Romney. But nationwide, the poll shows, Obama leads by a far bigger margin among likely Hispanic voters. More at the Miami Herald.

Holiday Business
Dinner, drinks and a side of ghost stories

Restaurants can be dark, lonely places after last call. Chairs are stacked, the bar is empty — but are you really alone? This All Hallows Eve, chefs, servers and managers share their spookiest on-the-job stories. Almost all of them started with: You’re going to think this is crazy, but …

Tags: Daily Pulse