Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Gov. Rick Scott signs elections bill to fix long voter lines
Gov. Rick Scott has finished the fix of the flawed election law that relegated Florida to a late-night joke in 2012 by signing an elections cleanup bill passed on the final day of the legislative session. The measure, signed by Scott late Monday before he left for a trade mission to Chile, reverses several provisions implemented in 2011 by GOP lawmakers in anticipation of the 2012 presidential election. More from the Times/Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Are workaholics good for your business?
Research by Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Business Administration in Florida State’s College of Business found that 60 percent of workers in professional and administrative careers considered themselves to be workaholics. Workaholics often present a mixed bag for managers, but with the right management, companies can minimize negative effects and highlight the positives that workaholics bring to the workplace. [Source: FOX Business]
Sales tax holiday to extend to computers, tablets, e-readers
Anyone in the market for a tablet, laptop, e-reader or non-recreational software might want to wait a few months. For the first time, the state is expanding its annual back-to-school sales tax holiday to cover certain electronic products selling for up to $750. This year's tax holiday is Aug. 2-4. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Cruise chasm in Key West
Few subjects touch a nerve in Key West quite like cruise ships. The city is heavily debating whether to even study widening the main channel leading to the city’s ports. A wider channel would accommodate larger cruise ships than Key West can currently handle. Full story...
Banks' billions in robo-signing settlement not yet a done deal
Banks say they have given Florida homeowners $8.6 billion in relief, more than they agreed to as part of a nationwide "robo-signing" settlement — but they're not off the hook just yet. That's because data on their payouts over the last year, released Tuesday, has yet to be reviewed by someone independent of the banks. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa Port Authority rejects Channelside deal [Tampa Bay Times]
The Tampa Port Authority's governing board voted unanimously Tuesday morning to kill Liberty Channelside LLC's attempt to take over Channelside Bay Plaza. Liberty had struck a deal with an Irish bank to buy the lease for the troubled retail center. But the Tampa Port Authority owns the land beneath the center, so the board has the final say on any deal.
› Florida charities accepting donations for Oklahoma tornado victims [Miami Herald]
South Florida charities are collecting donations to help victims of the massive tornado that struck Oklahoma. Organizations including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami are taking donations online and through the mail.
» Related: How to help Oklahoma tornado victims
› South Florida dealt a Super Bowl shutout [Miami Herald]
Miami’s attempt to host an unprecedented 11th Super Bowl was derailed Tuesday when NFL owners awarded Super Bowl 50 to the San Francisco Bay area and Super Bowl 51 to Houston.
» See also: NFL, MLS avoid Florida after stadium bill fails
› Orlando foreclosure toll is $720 million, report says [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando has lost an estimated $720 million in wealth, particularly among low-income families, as a result of the wave of foreclosures, according to a report released today by a national housing nonprofit.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Orange leaders cool to I-4 financing plan [Orlando Sentinel]
State transportation officials have less than two weeks to convince a skeptical Orange County Commission that a complex finance plan to add four toll lanes to Interstate 4 through Metro Orlando is a good idea.
› First South Florida Technology Summit to be held Wednesday [South Florida Business Journal]
The first South Florida Technology Summit will offer attendees an opportunity to learn about the hottest gadgets and to prepare for future tech advancements with workshops, tutorials, presentations, keynotes and exhibits.
› State to finally replace ancient jobless-claims computer [Orlando Sentinel]
In good news for the jobless and employers alike, the state's 1970s-era computer that processes unemployment claims is finally getting replaced. The new system is coming this fall, five years after the computer almost ground to a halt.
› Facebook for your business [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
It’s never too late to learn how to use social media tools for your company. Two Boca SCORE workshops will address using Facebook to grow your business and engage with consumers, guided by local Internet and marketing specialists, Kate Volman and Jennifer Schnipper, of Parkland-based Marketing Divaz.