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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty resigns
After more than a decade as Florida’s top insurance regulator, Kevin McCarty resigned Tuesday, nearly a year after he survived a failed effort by Gov. Rick Scott to get rid of him. The date of his departure is May 2, 2016. By staying in the job until May, just before the start of the hurricane season, McCarty said he’ll be able to review all insurance legislation out of the 2016 session that opens next week and make recommendations. More from the Times/Herald, the AP, and Florida Politics.
» Also see: Official statement from commissioner McCarty.
Lawmakers weight incentives, tax cuts
Gov. Rick Scott wants $250 million to attract companies to Florida and hopes to convince lawmakers to support a series of business-friendly tax cuts that would permanently remove more than $1 billion from state revenue. [Source: WJXT]
Some salaried workers will be eligible OT pay under new regulations
Under new regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor, salaried workers earning less than $50,440 will be eligible for overtime pay. That salary guideline nearly doubles the previous threshold, and many employers are rethinking their policies and job descriptions. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
State officials brace for surge in concealed weapons permits after Obama action
Florida has 1.4 million concealed weapons licenses currently and officials are expecting a surge in the number of new applications following President Barack Obama's executive action on guns. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Palm Beach Post.
See also:
» Florida reaction to President Obama’s executive actions on gun control
Brazil heads for worst recession since 1901, economists forecast
Brazil’s economy will contract more than previously forecast and is heading for the deepest recession since at least 1901 as economic activity and confidence sink amid a political crisis, a survey of analysts showed. [Source: Bloomberg]
› Citizens plans more policies takeouts for March
Up to 71,500 policies may be moved from state-backed Citizens Property Insurance into the private market in March in what will be the third "takeout" of the year.
› Florida cities among best places for jobs in 2016
With a new year comes new opportunities, and that often means a new job. WalletHub compiled a ranking of the best and worst cities in the United States for jobs in 2016 and a number of Florida cities made the top 100.
› Ben Baldanza out as CEO at Spirit Airlines
Ben Baldanza, who led the industry push for more and more airline fees, is out as chief executive of Spirit Airlines. The low-cost carrier based in Miramar announced Tuesday that Robert L. Fornaro is now president and CEO.
› First SunRail-inspired apartment sells
One of the most high-profile projects to grow out of SunRail — Crescent Central Station on North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando — sold Monday to an investment group out of Hartford, Conn.
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