Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/2/2016

Small business hiring rebounds, despite rough 2016 start

Despite the worst January for the stock market since 2009, plummeting oil prices and concerns about an economic slowdown in China, U.S. small business hiring bounced last month, according to the Paychex-IHS Small Business Jobs Index. More from CNBC.

Nova Southeastern University undertakes largest fundraising campaign in its history

The initiative, named "Realizing Potential," has set a goal of raising half a billion dollars by 2020 through philanthropy and research funding. More at Florida Trend.

Florida Supreme Court to decide whether executions can go forward

Florida's highest court on Tuesday will hear a case that may determine the fate of some 390 people on the state's death row. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Florida's system for imposing the death penalty is unconstitutional. More from KPBS.

PortMiami preparing for daily ferry service to Cuba

Interest in Cuba-bound ferries has been high enough at PortMiami that officials are looking for ways to create temporary terminals to accommodate operators wanting to launch overnight runs to Havana every day. More from the Miami Herald.

Florida lawmakers look to curb unemployment fraud

A House panel on Monday unanimously approved a measure aimed at cracking down on unemployment fraud based on identity theft — a practice lawmakers say is spiraling out of control. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Education
The Anemic State of High School Physics in Florida

Physics is the most fundamental of sciences; it’s an essential stepping stone for careers in engineering or science. But around the country, fewer than 40 percent of high school students take a physics class. In Florida , that number is much lower — only about a quarter of high school students take physics.

» More from StateImpact Florida.

Industry Spotlight
Yacht Repair

The refit and repair of yachts is big business in South Florida, so the decision to launch the first Refit International Exhibition & Conference in Fort Lauderdale, the industry's epicenter, was a no brainer, organizers said.