March 29, 2024

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today.

Will Short Gorham | 2/14/2012

State ponders Internet sales tax

For those who shop online, one of the benefits is not having to pay state sales tax. But for some Florida legislators and brick and mortar retailers, “no tax” makes the playing field uneven and is contributing to the demise of small businesses trying to compete. Calling it an “e-fairness” bill, SB 7206, drafted by Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff (R-Fort Lauderdale), is currently moving through the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax. Read more from the Citrus County Chronicle and the Tampa Tribune and see two views:

» Florida would be wrong to collect sales tax on web purchases
» Use sales taxes for jobs, children


Three Valentine’s Day scams you should know about

Isn’t romance complicated enough without having to worry about scammers? Unfortunately, Florida officials are warning that fraudsters and other low-lifes are using V-Day as a way to take advantage of people online. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is warning residents of these three popular schemes: [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Sunshine State spotlighted in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue

When your honey finds you lustily staring at the 2012 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which hits newsstands today, you'll have a brand new excuse. You weren't feasting your eyes on flesh. Not on the women. No. You were looking at Florida! The untainted beaches of St. George Island. The glorious wharf in Apalachicola. An oyster boat at sundown on Apalachicola Bay. The magazine's annual skin issue, which reaches some 60 million sets of eyeballs, has returned this year to the Sunshine State, which practically invented bathing beauties. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]


The sweet smell of inventions

A device that uses UV light to kill smelly and potentially dangerous bacteria on kitchen sponges, a holiday tree watering system disguised as an ornament and a easier way to charge smart phones were the winning inventions Friday at the University of South Florida Young Innovator Competition. [Source: USF News]


Florida Trend Exclusive
Hive Creations finds 'ground and pound' marketing works best

When Justin Noyes and his wife, Rachel, opened their Bradenton Beach jewelry store and art gallery in 2007, they had "a great two or three months," Noyes says. Then, as the economy began to sag, so did their sales. Eventually, Noyes says, the shop they called Hive Creations "hardly had a pulse." They resisted altering their business plan to cater more to beach tourists looking for inexpensive souvenirs. Continue reading...

Justin Noyes
Justin Noyes and his wife, both graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design, wanted their shop to reflect their artistic backgrounds. [Photo: Alex Stafford]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Rural Keys residents: We don’t want electricity
The never-ending battle over whether to allow commercial electricity on No Name Key has taken yet another turn. As expected, five No Name Key homeowners on Feb. 4 filed a notice that they'll appeal Monroe County Circuit Court Judge David Audlin's Jan. 31 ruling that puts a final decision on No Name electricity in the Florida Public Service Commission's hands.

› Plan for small distillery approved in Hernando
The Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved plans for a small distillery on acreage surrounded by the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area.

› Aerospace project may come to Titusville
An aerospace company is considering developing rocket propulsion systems in Titusville, a project it says will employ 1,357 people, as well as create 883 spinoff jobs for the economically struggling community.

› Winter Park to try on-street dining
Over the objections of some residents, Winter Park city commissioners agreed Monday to allow restaurants in the Hannibal Square district to operate café-style, on-street dining for a trial period. At the end of the trial period, commissioners will decide whether to allow the street closings to continue. Hannibal Square, on the west side of the city, is a historically black area of Winter Park that over the past 15 years has been redeveloped with stores, offices and residences.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

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Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
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