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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
The timeshare industry is 'in a war' with exit companies in Florida
Over the past several years, the timeshare industry has been increasingly suing timeshare exit companies. Some exit companies promise to get you out of your timeshare - for a large up-front fee. The Florida Office of the Attorney General has received about 500 consumer complaints every year for the past few years related to timeshare relief-type companies. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
When it comes to business, it’s booming in Carrollwood, Wesley Chapel
Over the past year, northern Hillsborough county and southern Pasco county witnessed consistent retail growth and expansion. The once vacant land surrounding the Tampa Premium Outlets continues to add stores and restaurants, and in Hillsborough County, many large plazas with vacancies saw renewal with the addition of new businesses. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida has eighth highest home vacancy rate in nation
The number of vacant homes in Florida was more than 144,000 in the third quarter of the year, a 3 percent decrease over what it was a year ago, according to new real estate numbers reported by ATTOM Data Solutions. More from Florida Watchdog.
Clinic for Apopka farmworkers gets boost from Florida Blue grant
Dr. Heather Peralta, an Apopka native and a member of the UCF College of Nursing faculty, helped set up the first clinic in the Farmworker Association of Florida’s office in the city two years ago expecting about 40 patients to show up. Instead, more than 80 came to seek care. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Indian River Lagoon shellfish have world's highest-known numbers of microplastics
Indian River Lagoon shellfish have the highest-known numbers of microplastics in the world, and researchers want to know why. University of Central Florida Biologist Linda Walters says the results were shocking. “There were an average of over 16 pieces of plastic per oyster, which is really disgusting if you think about it.” More from WMFE.
Florida International University's decade of progress
Florida International University's ranking among America’s top 100 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, as well as the school’s No. 2 ranking among all Florida’s State University System institutions for student retention, four-year graduation rates and career placement of new graduates, confirms what supporters, alumni and the South Florida business community have long known: FIU competes among the state’s and nation’s best institutions. Read the full sponsored report here.
Editor's Page
Slimed
It’s been quite a year, environmentally. Along with a devastating hurricane in Northwest Florida, red tide affected a huge chunk of the Gulf Coast. Businesses along the beach got hammered. Tourists’ fear of red tide began affecting sales even before red tide actually arrived.
Out of the Box
At Barter in Miami, you can trade antique clocks for cocktails
Money is entirely optional at Barter, a new Wynwood cocktail lounge and kitchen where thrifty patrons can trade old keepsakes for anything on the menu. The 9,200-square-foot space opened on Dec. 21, luring in some 1,000 drinkers and hagglers over the Christmas holiday weekend.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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