March 19, 2024

Wednesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/22/2017

Tourism carrying state's economic growth

Economists from the Legislature and the governor’s office met Tuesday to discuss the fact that Florida’s economy is growing faster than predicted in November. Despite a slight drop in real estate and construction, tourism will pick up the slack, said Amy Baker, coordinator for the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research. [Source: Naples Daily News]

Florida wins flower sales-tax flight when Supreme Court declines case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to take up a constitutional challenge to Florida collecting sales taxes on flowers that are ordered online from a Palm Beach County company but are delivered out of state. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Drop in Florida home ownership but gains in some regions

Homeownership dipped slightly in Florida statewide last year, but there were gains in southwest Florida. New Census figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that the home ownership rate in Florida dropped from 64.8 percent in 2015 to 64.3 percent last year. [Source: AP]

Now that Cuba is open, Americans aren't going

America, did you miss the travel industry's memo declaring Cuba the hottest new destination? Apparently. While the rest of the Caribbean is hopping with the U.S. winter break crowd, Cuba has some unique problems. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Forest Service releases new app

A new mobile app has been released that aims to inform the public about drought, wildfire danger and wildfire activity. The "FLBurnTools" app was developed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service. [Source: WPTV]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jacksonville-based CSX to lay off 1,000 management-level employees; top executives retiring
CSX will be laying off 1,000 management-level employees, the Jacksonville-based railroad confirmed Tuesday. The majority of layoffs will come in Jacksonville, company spokesman Gary Sease said, but the exact numbers are not known yet. In addition, the company announced that Fredrik J. Eliasson will be their new President as former CEO Michael J. Ward and President Clarence W. Gooden are retiring. Full statement from CSX here.

› Seaworld Orlando offers $5,000 scholarship to Florida students
SeaWorld Orlando’s Environmental Scholarship Program is now accepting applications from Florida high school seniors who share the organization’s passion for protecting and preserving the natural world.

› Florida House panel votes to kill Enterprise Florida, decimate Visit Florida
Over the last two weeks Gov. Scott toured the state, launched campaign style robo calls, and penned a sharply worded letter in newspapers statewide all in a bid to pressure House Republicans out of backing a bill to kill the state agency that has been central to his job creation programs. But on Tuesday the House Appropriations Committee responded with an unmistakable rejection.

› Magic Leap acquires Zurich company's 3D division
Magic Leap, the mixed reality company headquartered in Broward County, has acquired the 3D division of Zurich-based Dacuda, the Switzerland company announced in a posting on its website.

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