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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Busy summer travel season expected in 2014
With the brutal winter now in the rear view mirror, many Americans are planning to take summer vacations, recent travel surveys show. The majority of Floridians — 81 percent — expect to take at least one summer trip of 50 miles or more away from home with an overnight stay during the next three months. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
See also:
» Foreigners do 70% of tourist spending
Gov. Scott touts record Florida tourism numbers
In the first three months of 2014, the governor said Florida had a record 26.7 million visitors, an increase of 2 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013. It was the best quarter in terms of visitors in state history. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
See also:
» Florida tourism hits a record, but what's next?
» Florida ready to spend $74 million on tourism
 Frank de la Torre [Photo: Michael Price] |
Florida Trend Exclusive
The nuances of Florida's ‘stand your ground' law
Florida Atlantic University professor Frank de la Torre warns that his class isn’t about debating ‘stand your ground’ as pundits do on cable television. Toward the end of the semester, students take a side and articulate their position to classmates, but first they have to study – and learn – Florida’s version of the law. Access full story.
Homebuilder confidence unexpectedly falls
U.S. homebuilders are feeling less confident this month in their near-term sales prospects, reflecting doubts stirred by a sluggish start to the annual spring home-selling season. Even so, builders are more optimistic that sales will perk up later this year. More from the AP and Business Insider.
Starting a business? Two common management issues
Is there a downside to job market recovery? If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, there may be. A recent Kauffman study showed that entrepreneurship suffers when the job market is in recovery mode. [Source: Forbes]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Power technology company wins Florida Venture pitch
Jupiter-based startup company PowerPHASE won the Florida Venture Forum’s Early Stage Conference pitch session on Thursday. Twenty companies pitched all afternoon at the conference held at the Reunion Resort near Kissimmee.
› 300 Florida elementary schools to add hour to day
Three hundred elementary schools will have to add an hour to their day next year, using the time for extra reading instruction, under the budget the Florida Legislature just approved.
› Duke Energy Florida plans to scrap coal power plants
Continuing a series of major changes, Duke Energy Florida said it plans to build a $1.5 billion natural-gas power plant in Citrus County while also shutting down two old coal-fired generating units.
› Tampa tech exec checks out Orlando's tech scene
The former head of Tampa Bay’s biggest tech organization, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, was in Orlando this week to check out the Orlando tech scene.
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