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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Home prices rise as inventory stays low
U.S. home price increases continued to rise at a steady pace in January, as the housing market deals with affordability problems and a lack of properties listed for sale. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home-price index rose 4.6 percent in January compared with 12 months earlier. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
See also:
» Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Rose at Faster Pace in January
» Care to live in a Porsche? Designer labels are drawing luxury home buyers to Miami
State officials, students celebrate STEM Day
Students showed off their robots and gizmos in the Florida Capitol courtyard, a display of technological marksmanship to celebrate STEM Day. State officials touted studies in STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math, as critical Florida's economy and future. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida senators meet with feds to talk about health care money
Amid growing discord that could derail this year's session of the Florida Legislature, Senate President Andy Gardiner dispatched two top Republican senators to meet directly with federal officials to talk about more than $1 billion in health care money the state could soon lose. [Source: AP]
Legislative Roundup:
» After a year, lawmakers try to fix medical marijuana plan
» Police assessment fee bill in the limelight
» Abortion rights activists object to waiting period bill
» School guns bill suffers setback in Florida Senate
Brick-and-mortar stores can survive and thrive in an e-commerce world
Experts predict that over the next few years, online retail sales in the U.S. will approach $400 billion. With more and more shoppers going online, plus the ability of large chain stores to offer deep discounts, is there still a place for the small brick-and-mortar retail business? [Source: Gainesville Business Report]
Millions of Americans have little to no money saved
Millions of Americans have no savings set aside for a rainy day, leaving them in serious jeopardy if financial calamity strikes, according to two new studies released this week. Roughly a third of American adults don't have any emergency saving. [Source: USA Today]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Disney debuts Polynesian's newest offerings
Disney World has started showing off some of the changes it has made to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, one of its original on-property hotels. The new elements of the project range from hovering-above-waterfront bungalows to a remodeling of the Great Ceremonial House.
› FPL parent clears one hurdle to buy Hawaii utility
NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, has received federal approval to buy Hawaii's largest utility for $4.3 billion.
› 'World's largest' sperm bank relocates near UCF
Cryos International, which calls itself the world’s largest international sperm bank, has relocated its U.S. main office and inventory from New York to Orlando.
› Miami Science Barge wins Knight award
Ahoy Miami, make room for the Science Barge. The Miami Science Barge is envisioned as a marine innovation lab, a hybrid between a floating urban farm and environmental education center powered by renewable energy.
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