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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
1 out of 5 Floridians still lack health insurance
Nearly one out of five Floridians still lack health insurance, despite people being able to sign up this year for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study released Wednesday. However, Obamacare reduced the state's uninsured rate by 5 percentage points in one year as those lacking health insurance had been at 24.7 percent in 2013. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Orlando Business Journal.
Apartment rents rising as demand heats up
Apartment rents are a risin', driven higher by strong demand from former homeowners and young professionals who have a new lease on life. Broward County's average monthly rental rate at the end of the second quarter was $1,283, a 4.5 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida business leaders call for immigration reform
The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida joined forces with faith-based leaders Wednesday to call for national immigration reform. The press conference Tallahassee was part of a national "day of action" that included at least 60 other events. More from the Times/Herald and WFSU.
Libertarian could help determine Florida’s next governor
Adrian Wyllie
Libertarians have been attracting attention across the nation in recent years thanks to a confluence of political cross currents — war fatigue, debt concerns, marijuana legalization efforts — that dovetail with the party’s positions. Now a very vocal Libertarian candidate for governor -- Adrian Wyllie -- is hoping to shake up Florida’s gubernatorial race. Analysts say even modest support for a third-party candidate could affect the outcome of the election. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Feeling stuck in your job? It may be time to hire a career coach
As the job market opens, more people, particularly younger workers, are turning to career coaches. In a survey of 12,000 professional coaches by the International Coach Federation, 60 percent of respondents reported an increase in the number of clients over the previous 12 months. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday starts Aug. 1
Prepare to legally cheat the tax man Aug. 1-3 when Florida's sales-tax holiday gets underway in time for back-to-school shopping.
› Some state workers exempt from drug tests
Gov. Rick Scott has capitulated in his crusade to require all state workers to submit to suspicionless drug tests, giving up on about half of the state's classes of workers in a drawn-out legal battle that could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
› Hedge fund pushes to split CEO, chairman roles at Darden
A hedge fund that invests in Darden Restaurants hopes to persuade shareholders to call for splitting the roles of chief executive officer and chairman. Barington Capital Group, which controls a little more than 2 percent of Darden stock, has submitted the proposal for an investor vote.
› Gainesville-grown company Optym to expand
A formerly foreclosed building will soon become the state-of-the-art home for a Gainesville incubator graduate that’s gone global.
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