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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Cyber Monday to be biggest shopping day of year for Floridians
Cyber Monday has overtaken Black Friday as the busiest shopping day of the year for Floridians, says AAA. November is on track to be the busiest holiday shopping month as bargain hunters in the Sunshine State prepare to spend more on gifts this year. Among Floridians surveyed, more than 75 percent will begin shopping in November, with 49 percent looking for deals on Cyber Monday. AAA spokesman Josh Carrasco said, “Shopping online allows people to avoid the crowds and shop at their convenience." See the full report here. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Florida scores big gains in Forbes' 'best states for business' list but still does not crack top 10
Forbes' recently released its 11th annual "Best States for Business" list, which finds that Florida climbed more spots in the rankings than any other state, rising eight places to No. 12 from No. 20. From the findings:
"Between 2006 and 2011, the bursting of the housing bubble crushed Florida’s economy, with home prices sinking 47% statewide. The decline catapulted Florida into having a surge of business closures. Florida’s economy is, however, on the rebound. The state’s projected job and population growth are both expected to be second best in the country over the next five years and income growth fourth fastest. Florida ranks second among larger states in the Kauffman Foundation’s Index of Startup Activity."
» Read more at Forbes and the Tampa Bay Times
Shorter Florida citrus crop brings later season, smaller volume
Florida citrus grower-shippers started their fall season a little later than normal with smaller volumes than previous seasons. Through early November, shipments increased and packers expect to harvest adequate volumes for most items. [Source: The Packer]
See also:
» Total sales down but OJ in smaller sizes growing in popularity
» Insight welcome on Florida agriculture’s state of the industry
Florida officials move forward with genetically modified mosquitoes, despite bitter foes
In a 3-2 vote on Saturday, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District approved a trial of genetically modified mosquitoes designed to curb the spread of infectious diseases, such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. More from Ars Technica and the Verge.
U.S. businesses to pressure Trump to keep ties to Cuba
A powerful coalition of U.S. companies is preparing to appeal to President-elect Donald Trump's business instincts and drop his vow to reverse one of President Obama's signature achievements: renewed relations with Cuba. [Source: USA Today]
See also:
» Trump adds Cuba embargo supporter to transition team
› Orlando grapples with Airbnb, other rental networks
Orlando is one of many cities across the country grappling with how best to regulate services such as Airbnb, HomeAway and FlipKey, which help homeowners rent out their property on a short-term basis to travelers seeking an alternative to traditional hotels.
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› Sarasota company offering shares in REIT
A Sarasota-based company says it wants to raise up to $30 million to acquire and manage properties leased to federal government agencies.
› Miami-based Norwegian debuts new Harvest Caye resort-style cruise port in Belize
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line's newest private-resort destination, Harvest Caye, has officially opened.
› New House rule underscores the need for more flights to South Florida
The rule prohibits members from flying on private planes owned by lobbyists, even if they pay for the ride. The House will vote Tuesday on the rule along with several other new rules meant to lend more transparency to the legislative process,
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