Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/4/2015

Lawsuit alleges Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Cabinet violated Sunshine Law

The Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, the Associated Press, a coalition of sunshine advocates and St. Petersburg attorney Matthew Weidner filed a lawsuit late Tuesday alleging that Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet violated the state's open meeting laws when the governor unilaterally decided to "force the resignation" of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Chief Gerald Bailey and they consented. The lawsuit also notes that the state's Sunshine Law offers little punishment for these violations. More at the Tampa Bay Times.

» Read the lawsuit here (PDF).

Staples to acquire Office Depot for $6.3 billion

Staples announced Wednesday morning it has agreed to acquire Boca Raton-based Office Depot in a stock transaction for $6.3 billion. The deal would combine the nation's two top office-supply retailers. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the AP.

Event
Black Tech Week coming to Miami

Black tech innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors will converge in Miami for the inaugural Black Tech Week from February 23-28, 2015 hosted at Miami Dade College North Campus.

» Read more

U.S. businesses posted steady job gains in January

U.S. companies hired at a solid pace last month, a private survey found, the latest sign of steady improvement in the job market. Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that companies added 213,000 jobs last month, a decent increase though also the smallest in four months. More at the AP, Reuters, and Dow Jones News.

Developers bank on healthy living in Aventura

Developers in South Florida have offered car elevators, indoor ice skating rinks, 24-hour concierge service and other luxury amenities to entice residents into their gleaming new buildings. But a planned, mixed-use project near the Aventura Mall promises something simpler: healthy living. More at the Miami Herald.

Heico announces new aviation-related acquisition

Heico Corporation acquired another aviation-related company this week, the second so far this year. The technology company, which has headquarters in Miami and Hollywood, said Monday that it had completed the acquisition of 80.1 percent of the equity of Arizona-based Harter Aerospace. More at the Miami Herald.

Small Business
Building partnerships at FIU

FIU’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center is focused on building community partnerships. It hosts a “lunch and learn” workshop series on entrepreneurship with the Beacon Council, is the presenting sponsor of the Miami Herald’s Business Plan Challenge, and houses a new Small Business Development Center, part of a federal- and state-funded program that provides individualized consulting to entrepreneurs and business owners.