March 19, 2024

Thursday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/21/2015

Florida crime rate drops almost 5 percent

Florida's crime rate last year was its lowest since the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) started tracking crime statistics in 1971. However, the number of murders rose from 971 in 2013 to 981 last year, and there were 10,236 forcible sex offenses, an increase of 375 over 2013. More from the AP, WTXL, and the Fort Myers News-Press.

Florida Citrus Chart

Squeezing the greening out of Florida citrus

The citrus industry, which includes fruit production, processing, juice extraction, and packaging, is of great importance to the Florida economy, as it employed more than 62,000 Floridians in FY2012-13, and was valued at $10.7 billion. Story, with economic analysis, from Florida TaxWatch is here.

Small Florida bank opens account for Cuban government

Stonegate Bank in Pompano Beach has reached an agreement with the Cuban government to open an account in a move that could speed renewal of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and CNBC.

Florida's testing failures: let us count the ways

This week brought news of more trouble with Florida's school testing system. It's been a familiar refrain this spring. Here follows a list of highlights — or, more to the point, low lights — of Florida's testing flops. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Education gaps pose looming crisis for U.S. economy

If African-American and Hispanic workers continue to lag so far behind white educational achievement levels, even as those minorities comprise an increasing proportion of the overall workforce, employers may find it increasingly difficult to recruit the high-skill workers that many say they are already struggling to identify. [Source: National Journal]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Rising foreclosures are a boon for homebuyers
Lenders took control of more foreclosed homes across South Florida in April, an encouraging sign for frustrated buyers, a new report shows.

› Heico Corp. reports 17 percent profit jump for second quarter
Heico Corp., a niche technology company with headquarters in Miami and Hollywood, reported increased net sales and profits for the second fiscal quarter.

› NASL announces Miami FC as next expansion club
Paolo Maldini, the retired AC Milan icon and a part-time Miami resident for 15 years, announced Wednesday that he teamed with sports media magnate Riccardo Silva to launch Miami FC, which will play in the North American Soccer League, the second-tier U.S. league that includes the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

› How the Disney 'ecosystem' works
"We're a company with a very long tail," explained Disney CFO Jay Rasulo at a media industry conference last week. That long tail refers to the various merchandizing, theme park attractions, and other efforts that can generate cash from popular films and Disney characters long after they last appeared on the big screen.

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