March 29, 2024

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/2/2018

Two new rankings place Florida as a top state for business

For the sixth straight year, Texas and Florida sit atop the list of the best states for business in Chief Executive magazine's 14th annual Best & Worst States for Business survey. The Sunshine State placed seventh on the list of most entrepreneurial states, with focus on small and medium-sized businesses per capita, in a list compiled by Amazon. Read more:

» Texas, Florida top list in Chief Executive magazine's "Best & Worst States for Business"
»
Amazon study of "Most Entrepreneurial States" ranks Florida #7

See also:
» A push in advanced manufacturing illustrates Florida’s progress

Osceola unemployment remains low, but so do wages

The recession hit Central Florida hard, and as the economy began to improve, state and local lawmakers set sights on job growth. Osceola County has shrunk its unemployment rate 63 percent since 2010, but the average weekly wage for workers has remained nearly static in the last several years. More from the Osceola News-Gazette.

Fort Lauderdale pulls out of Wave streetcar project

The city of Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday walked away from more than 14 years of support for a new streetcar system downtown, voting 3-2 to withdraw from the controversial Wave project. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Roque 'Rocky' De La Fuente running for U.S. Senate in Florida, California

A California businessman wants to be elected to the U.S. Senate and he's trying to do it by running in two states at the same time. Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente qualified Tuesday to become a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida. He'll face Gov. Rick Scott in the Aug. 28 primary. More from the AP.

Orlando deal with Ring security gives police broader access to crime-fighting tool

Orlando Police are hoping further access to the network of about 10,000 Ring users in Orlando will help the department solve burglaries, mail thefts and other crimes. The City Council on Tuesday OK’d an agreement with Ring to give authorities access to post alerts in the platform’s social media-like neighborhood network. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Urban Revitalization
Mural City

 Artists far and wide have stayed busy the past few years in Gainesville, turning boring gray and brick walls into colorful works of art. In less than three years, the city’s 352walls and Urban Revitalization Project have been responsible for more than 100 murals going up throughout Gainesville.

» More from the Gainesville Sun.

 

Public Health & Safety
Mosquito season could get longer and more hazardous to your health — especially in Miami

floridaMosquito season has officially arrived in Florida, although many would argue it never left. That perception may soon become reality, according to new studies that show the higher temperatures brought on by climate change are already increasing the range and biting season for many mosquitoes, including the Aedes aegypti — the infamous carriers of viruses like dengue and Zika.

» Read more from the Miami Herald.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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