March 19, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/29/2015

Florida consumer sentiment in May continues downward trend

Consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped for the second month, falling seven points to 87.6, the lowest reading since December, according to the latest University of Florida consumer survey. The sharp decline is in line with the University of Michigan’s mid-month reading for the U.S., which also fell by seven points. More at UF News.

Florida Originals
Counter Insurgency

Fifty-five years ago, Clarence Fort helped desegregate Tampa by staging non-violent sit-ins.

After a week of the non-violent sit-ins, Tampa’s then-Mayor Julian Lane appointed a biracial committee to discuss segregation issues and, by September 1960, the city’s lunch counters were integrated.

» Access full story

U.S. economic growth significantly less than expected

The economy got off to an even weaker start this year than first thought, the government reported Friday, as economic activity contracted amid a disappointing trade picture and continued caution on spending by businesses and consumers alike. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida’s tech sector vibrant, and likely to stay that way

There’s no doubt that Florida is taking part in the technology investing boom. Venture capital investors poured just over $1 billion into Florida startups in 2014, the highest total since 2000, according to Dow Jones VentureSource. More at Nerd Wallet.

New lab can create hurricane conditions on demand

Researchers trying to figure out what makes some hurricanes strengthen into catastrophic monsters have a new lab that allows them to generate tropical storm conditions with the flip of a switch. More at the Florida Times-Union.

All Aboard Florida expects 5.3 million riders by 2020

The planned passenger rail service, set to begin running in 2017, would initially see about 1 million riders a year, ramping up to 5.3 million a year by 2020 and 7 million by 2030, according the report prepared by the Louis Berger Group. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Out of the Box
I, Waiter

i-waiter Service jobs were a refuge for people when robots took factory jobs. Service jobs seemed safe—you needed the human touch. But robots are making headway there, too. They're checking us in at hotels, renting us cars and ringing us up at the supermarket.

» Listen to the full report, from NPR's Planet Money team:

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Incoming income tax instructor indicated
Incoming income tax instructor indicated

Affordable housing remains an issue; Income tax guidance on its way; What's in the 2024 budget; A mysterious threat to endangered sea life; Bass Pro Shops founder's "Florida Dream"

 

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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