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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Snowbirds still flocking south
The low Canadian dollar and higher real estate prices in the United States don't seem to be deterring snowbirds from going south in search of the sun and deals. Canada is Florida's number one source of international tourism with more than four million visits by Canadians - a figure that is growing by four per cent a year. [Source: The Canadian Press]
See also:
» Cold weather up North good for FL businesses
» Strong U.S. dollar hurts Canadian tourism
» Sports tourism boosts Brevard economy
Amid Cuba opening, Havana quinceanera biz booms
Cuban reforms permitting small-scale, private businesses and the re-establishment of U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations have encouraged new photo and event planning businesses for events such as girls’ 15th birthdays. [Source: AP]
Manatees could lose endangered status
The sea cow morphed into a sacred cow of sorts over the past half century. But Florida's most iconic creature could soon flop down a peg from the lofty status it's held since America's original list of endangered species was created in 1967. [Source: Florida Today]
A growing holiday pastime: Returning those unwanted gifts
Returns, an increasing headache for retailers, are spawning a huge industry of middlemen, technology firms and discount sellers dedicated to figuring out what to do with all those goods. The weeks after Christmas are their busiest time. [Source: LA Times]
One third of U.S. homes located in high risk zip codes for manmade environmental hazards
According to RealtyTrac's second annual Manmade Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Report, over 25 million U.S. homes are in zip codes at high risk or very high risk for manmade environmental hazards -- representing 38 percent of the 64 million homes in all zip codes analyzed. [Source: World Property Journal]
› 3 reasons Florida schools should focus on STEM education
As more people talk about the idea of robots doing the bulk of the work for certain jobs in the near future, there's one piece to the puzzle that's missing: Who's going to program those robots to perform the task?
› Opinion: Don't gut Florida's sunshine law
Over the years, Florida lawmakers have steadily chipped away at their constituents' constitutional right of access to government by approving hundreds of exceptions to the state's open-records and open-meetings laws. B
› Cheers! South Florida’s spirited startups serving up innovation
South Florida startup companies are creating concepts in just about every aspect of the spirits industry, including brewing and distilling, packaging, selling and dispensing — even creating the perfect ice for each glass.
› 2015 emerges as a big year for philanthropy dollars aimed at Florida universities
To say it has been a very good year for philanthropic giving to certain Florida universities would be an understatement.
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