Monday's Daily Pulse
Florida's Freshman Lawmakers
The confluence of term limits and redistricting contributed to significant turnover in the Florida Legislature, which welcomed 59 new lawmakers — including members who shifted chambers. We profile them all. Each profile includes party, district, net worth and notable news. Full story...
Two years in, Rick Scott's biggest challenge remains himself
Rick Scott casts himself as a problem solver, but after two years as governor of Florida, his biggest challenge remains unsolved. Himself. Midway through a four-year term, a time when governors traditionally take stock of their highs and lows, Scott remains a polarizing figure, a leader who's still awkwardly learning the ropes. [Source: Times/Herald]
» Rick Scott at Midterm
Florida company provides electrical power for the world
More than 4,000 miles from its home base in Doral, Energy International is helping keep the lights on and the power grid humming in Gibraltar, the British territory on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida Gun and Knife Show draws record crowds
In the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman killed 20 students and six adults, gun owners nationwide are preparing for possible restrictions on certain weapons and ammunition. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
» Newsmakers of the year: Gun owners
Population growth likely to push Florida past New York
It was startling news for a state that gains about 3 million residents each decade. As the recession dug deep in 2007, more people were leaving than entering Florida. Now, with the economy showing signs of life, people are flocking back to the Sunshine State. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Executive pipeline from Jacksonville to Tampa revs up [Tampa Bay Times]
Look out, Jacksonville. You may call yourself the First Coast, but the Gulf Coast is giving you a run for your money. Or at least for your executives.
› The disabled struggle to find employers who will accept them [Florida Today]
People who have been out of work because of disabilities are finding hope through internship programs, such as those provided by Brevard Achievement Center.
› Tampa Bay tech hookup has big upside [Tampa Bay Times]
It may not be the biggest business merger in Tampa Bay history or the sexiest. But the recent deal that combines two area technology firms — Vology of Oldsmar and Bayshore Technologies of Tampa — is a good-news story for this new year on several levels.
› AutoNation predicts strong year in 2013 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation, the country's largest vehicle retailer, on Friday reported a 15 percent gain in December new vehicle sales and predicted strong gains to continue through 2013.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Florida jobless may need email account to get benefits [Orlando Sentinel]
The state of Florida, which already has some of the tightest unemployment rules in the nation, may demand that all applicants have a working email account to receive jobless benefits. The provision, worker advocates say, would add a stumbling block to the application process.
› Wawa to debut two new Orlando-area stores in January [Orlando Business Journal]
The Pennsylvania-based fuel and convenience retailer, whose expansion into Central Florida was selected as one of Orlando Business Journal’s most transformational deals in 2012, will open two new stores in January.
› After surviving fiscal cliff, Florida still faces budget ax [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
You may already know your taxes are going up this year, even if you're not in the top 2 percent of money makers. But more bad news from Washington could hit Floridians in the pocketbook soon, including lost government jobs, fewer defense contracts and smaller raises for Social Security.
› At new Miami train station, too-short platform to require costly fixes [Miami Herald]
State engineers are blaming Amtrak for a problem that will require a costly fix at Miami Central Station, the big new passenger-train hub under construction near Miami International Airport.