Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/16/2013

Hiring tax credit could go away in 2014

A number of tax credits benefiting individuals and small business are set to expire when the clock strikes midnight at the end of the year, and it’s up to Congress to determine whether to renew them. Read more at FOX Business and see also:

» Seven 2013 Year-End Tax Planning Ideas
» Year-End Tax Strategies, What Else?

How to stay in the black this holiday season

Racking up big credit card debts has become a holiday tradition for many Florida households, but financial experts say it doesn't have to be that way. Despite the spending temptations, consumers don't have to finish the Christmas season swamped with debt and in worse financial shape than they were at Thanksgiving. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

NOTE: Ron Stein's sales and marketing advice columns will resume in a few weeks. Until then access his full article archive here.

Questionable insurance claims spike 55% in South Florida

Startups

Building a tech community in Miami-Dade

A public-private venture with Miami-Dade County and the Miami Downtown Development Authority, Venture Hive at Miami World Center houses an entrepreneurship education program called Venture Hive U.

» Full story

Questionable claims to insurance companies surged 54.5 percent in South Florida over the past two years, according to a study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The South Florida area easily led the state in questionable claims in 2012, at 4,686, up from 4,349 in 2011 and 3,033 in 2010. The Tampa Bay area came in second. More at the South Florida Business Journal.

Small Business Advice
Ignored conflicts just keep growing

No matter how much time and energy you spend on teambuilding, conflicts in the workplace are inevitable. People are people, and disagreements are going to happen. In a recent study, top CEOs were asked what their major issues are, and No. 1 on the list was – you guessed it – managing conflict. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

See how Florida lags in broadband Internet

Florida’s access to high-speed broadband Internet has expanded, but the state is still lagging in many areas that have an impact on jobs and economic development, according to a new survey by Boca Raton-based Cherrystone Management Consultants. More at the South Florida Business Journal.

Out of the Box
Defense agency’s robotics challenge set for this week in Florida

The real world has not caught up yet with "Star Wars" and its talking, thinking robots, but some of the most sophisticated units that exist are heading to Florida this week for a Defense Department competition. Seventeen humanoid robots will be evaluated Friday and Saturday at Homestead Miami Speedway for how well they can complete tasks including getting into an all-terrain vehicle and driving it and opening doors. More from the AP and the Homestead Miami Speedway. and see the official DARPA Robotics Challenge site.