Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Daily Pulse

Affordable housing again in short supply

If prices continue to rise, experts believe working-class professions such as teachers, firefighters and law enforcement officers soon will be largely unable to afford housing — a phenomenon that could have wide-ranging economic repercussions. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

See also:
» Housing becomes a sellers' market
» Realtors analyze effect of improving housing market
» Foreclosure Deals Drop 22% as Rising Prices Delay Sales


Kim Small
HCH employee Kim Small » Full story
[Photo: Jon M. Fletcher]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Bearing down in Jacksonville

China-based bearing manufacturer HCH Bearing Americas opened its first U.S. location in Miami but ultimately settled on Jacksonville as its permanent U.S. home base. The move to Jacksonville in May 2012 brought the company closer to more of its customers, says Douglas Robbie, general manager of the Americas operation. Full story...


Appeals court rules on state employee drug testing

A U.S. Appeals court says Gov. Rick Scott's state employee drug testing program went too far, but so did a lower court order tossing it out completely. The 11th Circuit Court sent the case back to the U.S. District Court on Wednesday, saying some of the 85,000 employees that would have been subjected to the testing program can be tested. [Source: AP]


Mothers now top earners in 4 in 10 households

The findings by the Pew Research Center, released Wednesday, highlight the growing influence of "breadwinner moms" who keep their families afloat financially. While most are headed by single mothers, a growing number are families with married mothers who bring in more income than their husbands. [Source: AP]


When the boss controls your Facebook

Whether, and how, employers can control what their employees post on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter depends on many factors, experts say. It's a delicate balance between employees' right to self-expression and business owners' rights to protect their reputations and images. [Source: Miami Today]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Banco Sabadell acquires Lloyds' private banking business in Miami
Following the operation, Banco Sabadell's International Branch in Miami will have 5 billion dollars in assets under management in Miami, and over 12 billion dollars in the state of Florida, including Sabadell United Bank, the state's sixth-largest bank in terms of assets.

› Gov. Rick Scott signs Citizens reform bill then blasts insurer
Florida Gov. Rick Scott wasted no time signing a bill to reform Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which has seen a whirlwind of criticism since it approved a special $52 million deal for an upstart company with ties to top politicians last week.

› Pawnfellas reality TV show begins filming in Fort Lauderdale
Actors Tom Sizemore and Frank Vincent of "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Sopranos" fame, respectively, aren't too interested in your lawn mower. But that diamond ring or fur coat, they admitted, they want to know about. And they weren't joking.

› Chico’s attributes down quarter to cold spring in North
Cold weather cooled sales for Chico’s FAS Inc. in the first quarter. Still, the Fort Myers-based women’s specialty retailer weathered the storm with record quarterly sales from its four brands.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Miami to put sidewalk cafés in streets
Creative changes are coming to streetscapes throughout Miami as commissioners last week approved letting the Miami Parking Authority decorate the streets with parklets.

› Cuts could endanger legal aid agency's funding
A string of staff cuts and firings at Gulfcoast Legal Services' Sarasota office could result in a loss of grant funding and even possible closure of the office, say former employees who are worried about the agency's future.

› Hurricane forecasting: Which tracking model is best?
When forecasters from the National Weather Service track a hurricane, they use models from several different supercomputers located around the world to create their predictions. Some of those models are more accurate than others.
» Related: Your guide to 2013 hurricane season, from A (Andrea) to Z (Zoloft)

› Opposition to St. Petersburg's Lens design erodes
Support to stop the Lens from being built in place of the Pier seems to be falling even as officials validate petition signatures for a likely referendum in August, according to a new poll.