March 19, 2024

Monday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 9/19/2016

In Florida, a shifting Cuban vote could be the difference

Florida Primary 2016

The votes of hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans could tilt the nation's most populous presidential battleground state and may determine whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton wins the election. This article from the Associated Press looks at the many factors that weigh on today's Cuban vote in Florida, including historical stances -Vs.- current trends. "We're starting to see them think and vote like everybody else, not be driven by a single issue," says Moreno, a Republican pollster and professor at FIU.

See also:
» White voters keep Trump’s hopes alive in must-win Florida
» Florida isn't just your grandma's battleground state anymore
» Florida’s open-seat House races aren’t that open
» Florida voting rights amendment clears key hurdle

Florida leads the nation in the number of prisoners released by Obama

To date, Obama has commuted 673 sentences, more than the previous 10 presidents combined. Florida leads the nation in the number of granted clemency cases, with most coming from Tampa Bay's Middle District of Florida. Some statistics on cases that have been commuted:

  • 673: cases commuted by President Barack Obama
  • 121: cases from Florida
  • 58: cases from Middle District of Florida

Read more at the Tampa Bay Times.

Is a recession looming for Florida?

Florida has crawled out of the 2007-2009 downturn much more diversified. Florida's latest quarterly GDP growth topped 2 percent, outpacing the country and all but one state in the Southeast. Yet, there are signs the economy is cooling off, including: Restaurant sales are sagging, consumer confidence has tumbled, job creation at small businesses is down, and Gov. Scott has said there will be less money in Florida's budget next year. More analysis at the Tampa Bay Times.

» Quick poll: Is a recession looming for Florida?

Florida universities may push for summer scholarships

Florida's state university system may ask legislators to expand the state's popular Bright Futures scholarship program to cover summer courses. The Board of Governors plans to discuss this week whether to ask the Florida Legislature to set aside nearly $50 million so eligible students can use the scholarship for classes taken during the summer terms. [Source: AP]

State regulators approve rate hikes for Citizens customers

State regulators late Friday announced that it had approved premium hikes being sought by Citizens Property Insurance. The state-created Citizens has nearly 500,000 customers across the state. More from the AP and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› All Aboard Florida tops off Lauderdale train station
Construction contractors topped off the Fort Lauderdale train station that will be the middle stop in All Aboard Florida’s South Florida passenger rail network from West Palm Beach to Miami.

Seeking your input:

In our December issue, Florida Trend will highlight software entrepreneurs and innovative startups of all kinds around the state. If you know of a Florida company that has successfully launched an innovative product or service within the past two years, we'd like to hear about it. We're looking for companies that have progressed beyond the idea stage and are actively marketing a product. Email associate editor Amy Martinez at amartinez@floridatrend.com by Sept. 30.

› Florida journalists form union at Herald-Tribune newspaper
Journalists at the Herald-Tribune in Sarasota have voted to unionize. The Herald-Tribune becomes the second newspaper newsroom in Florida to organize in as many months.

› Flagler County: Fastest-growing, hardest hit, looks to future
In 2005, Flagler County sat at the top of the heap as the fastest-growing county in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But that wave crashed as the housing market collapsed, putting Flagler at the top of another list: highest unemployment rate in the Sunshine State.

› Florida governor heads to Miami to declare Wynwood Zika free
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is heading to Wynwood Monday amid expectations that the trendy Miami neighborhood will be declared Zika free. Click for full news release, with map.

» Miami Beach Zika zone expands as aerial spraying continues

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

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