March 28, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/6/2015

At the midway point, Florida lawmakers pay attention to powerful interests

With Florida lawmakers having reached the halfway point of their 60-day session last week, the lineup of legislation with traction looks like a Who's Who of fundraising and lobbying heft. Nearly all of the big donors have a stable of lobbyists ready to influence legislation and, by mid session, there were 1,826 lobbyists registered, 10 for every legislator, representing 3,559 companies. [Source: Times/Herald]


Confidence dips among Florida business owners

Eighty-three percent of Florida's mid- and small-sized business owners are optimistic that their companies will grow in the next six months, according to a new PNC economic outlook report. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Consumers putting more money into their homes

Some people are spending because they have more money in an improving economy, according to analysts and businesspeople. Others are sprucing up their homes to sell as the housing market heats up. Either way, "the consumer is coming back," said economist William B. Stronge, a professor emeritus at Florida Atlantic University. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Florida kicks off micro loans for businesses

Florida’s new microfinance program is kicking off this week. The loans are generally matching loans under $50,000, meaning the state will match dollars an entrepreneur is sinking into a new business. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


Spy tech prompts legislation

Two bills offering protection against drones and electronic snooping are moving through the Florida Legislature. The measures, sponsored by Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, target private citizens who spy on other people. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Small crew staffs huge One Spark crowdfunding event in Jacksonville
When One Spark’s inaugural festival launched in 2013, the paid crew consisted of only eight staff members. In 2014, the crew increased to 12 staff members. Now, the 2015 crew consists of 10 full-time staff and four full-time contractors who support core staff during the four months leading up to the festival.

› Slightly more than 93 percent of Florida kids immunized
New data from Florida's Department of Health shows 93.3 percent of Florida's kindergarten students have been immunized. That immunization rate falls a bit short of the state's goal to have 95 percent of all kindergarten students immunized for diseases such as polio and measles.

› In the sports tourism business, Tampa runs up the score
Tampa will host an NCAA championship for five straight years. There's more at work here, though, than just a love of sports. These are business decisions.

› Dwindling oyster supply threatens Apalachicola's economy
The local oyster industry is under threat from water-flow issues, environmental concerns, health and safety regulations and economic realities. Restaurants from New Orleans to Tampa and beyond tout Apalachicola oysters as the tastiest oysters around, but the annual harvest has been in decline.


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