Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Workers' comp insurance market remains strong

An annual report says Florida's workers' compensation insurance market remains strong and competitive. The report issued Wednesday by the state's Office of Insurance Regulation notes premiums paid by employers have declined 56 percent since passage of a 2003 law designed to reduce rates. More at the AP.


Why your paycheck is getting smaller, no matter what

For middle class Americans, there will be no escaping higher taxes in 2013. Congress was able to pass legislation to keep broader middle class income taxes from rising. But workers will still have to pay at least 2% more in payroll taxes. More at the CNN Money.


Report: NASCAR gets $70M in fiscal cliff deal

Small Business Advice

Resolutions for 2013

jerry osteryoung
It seems we all make resolutions this time of year, but few – including myself – end up keeping them. I think one of the reasons resolutions fail so often is that the person either does not really want the outcome or they lack the passion needed to keep the fire burning once the novelty wears off. A second reason is that they do not have a clear plan of action for achieving the goal.

» Full column from Jerry Osteryoung.

According to a report by ABC News, Daytona Beach-based NASCAR will receive $70 million in the fiscal cliff deal because the legislation extends a “seven-year cost recovery period for certain motorsports racing track facilities.” More at the Orlando Business Journal and ABC News.


Firm introduces Florida sinkhole research tool

FloodInsights, a national provider of flood-zone determinations for real estate, has added a Florida sinkhole report service based on the locations of more than 15,000 sinkhole and subsidence events across the state. More at the Tallahassee Democrat.


Florida cracker cattle to be next cash cow

Florida Cracker Cattle is a rare and historic breed with a lineage that can be traced back to Juan Ponce de Leon. A few decades ago, these cows were almost gone as Florida ranchers switched to producing commercially popular breeds, such as Angus and Brahmin. Today, just a handful of ranchers around the state still keep cracker cattle, but that could be changing. More at the Florida Today.

In Memoriam
Florida's Fallen Soldiers

fallen soldiersThis year’s Floridian of the Year issue includes 19 American soldiers from Florida who died serving their country in 2012 and three other Florida soldiers who died in 2011 after Trend’s 2011 list went to press. All were killed during the war in Afghanistan.

» The list in chronological order