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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Extended unemployment benefits a casualty of the 'fiscal cliff'
More than 2 million Americans, including 118,976 Floridians, will lose their extended jobless benefits by the end of the year unless Congress reauthorizes federal emergency unemployment benefits. The state Department of Economic Opportunity, which administers the program in Florida, is sending notices to recipients alerting them that their benefits will end Dec. 29. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
EB-5 is a federal program that allows foreigners to obtain U.S. resident status through investments of at least $500,000 in U.S. projects. But it is being hampered by bureaucratic delays. Full story...
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Teachers upset with newly released appraisals
Many teachers have taken issue with the use of the value-added model, or VAM, which uses student test scores and accounts for 40 percent of the appraisal. Teachers and union officials have questioned the validity of using the data the way the data is being used, particularly the way teachers who do not teach FCAT grades are evaluated. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Judge tosses out prison health care privatization
State Circuit Judge John Cooper in Tallahassee ruled on Tuesday that the Legislative Budget Commission broke the law when it approved the department’s request to transfer $57.6 million meant to pay the salaries and benefits of 1,837 state employees to instead help fund the contract with Brentwood, Tennessee- based Corizon. More from Businessweek and the Palm Beach Post.
Florida workplace fatalities near record low
Workplace fatalities in Florida remained near a record low in 2011 with construction once again accounting for the single highest number of deaths, according to a government report released Tuesday. Fatal work injuries statewide totalled 227, up just two from the total in 2010 and the second-lowest since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking fatalities in 1992. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Art Miami buys Aqua Miami
One of the largest satellite art fairs buys a smaller one in South Beach to get a foothold in the lower end of the market.
› Sarasota County to recover $24 million lost in '08 collapse
Sarasota County has reached a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank to recoup about roughly $24 million that disappeared during the economic collapse of 2008.
› Innovative AC company moves to Sunrise
Keep an eye on Advantix Systems, a company opening its world headquarters in Sunrise on Tuesday and winning accolades for innovations in air conditioning. Advantix has nearly doubled sales this year, thanks to its patented technology in air conditioners.
› New web portal puts Gainesville on the map
Gainesville is presenting a bright new face to the world with the launch of GainesvilleConnect.com, a unified web portal designed to entice and welcome new businesses, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.
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