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Tuesday's Daily Pulse

Higher education in the post-recession world

In the United States -- where top schools have long championed a liberal style of learning and broad education before specialization -- higher education's focus is shifting to getting students that first job in a still-shaky economy. Tuition is so high and the lingering economic distress so great that an education not directly tied to an occupation is increasingly seen as a luxury. Elsewhere in the world, there is a growing emphasis on broader learning as an economic necessity. [Source: AP]

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Gas prices expected to inch up

Southeast gas prices remained relatively stable from last week after oil prices fell following an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar. Prices at the pump are expected to rise slightly as the July 4th holiday weekend approaches, experts say. [Source: Ocala Star-Banner]

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» Check current gas prices near you


Economist: Housing bubble talk "far off base"

Real estate observers arguing against a bubble say the current crop of investors is helping the market recover by purchasing, renovating and renting homes. No mad-dash flipping as there was during the boom. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Citizens Insurance weighs rate hike

As Citizens Property Insurance Corp. maneuvers to jettison hundreds of thousands of Florida homeowner policies to reduce its risk, its board is set to gather in Miami on Wednesday to weigh rate hikes for next year. Citizens is the state-run company created to shoulder windstorm insurance after many others fled the market. [Source: Miami Herald]


Supreme Court makes it harder to sue businesses for discrimination

A sharply-divided Supreme Court on Monday made it more difficult for Americans to sue businesses for discrimination and retaliation, leading a justice to call for Congress to overturn the court’s actions. [Source: AP]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Cities to sue Broward over $100 mil in garbage dispute
Cities are lining up to sue Broward County because they fear it could walk off with $100 million or more that they say belongs to them. For 25 years, the county and 26 of its cities have operated under a garbage pact where the cities paid the lion's share of dollars needed for landfills and other facilities.

› Chamber to explore next steps for Innovation Gainesville
The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its “iG What's Next?” Regional Economic Forum on Thursday to explore new opportunities as it starts the process of updating its Innovation Gainesville economic development plan.

› Tampa delegation takes soft sell approach with NYC financial firms
A delegation of local political and economic leaders traveled to New York City last week to visit the financial services firms that employ more than 74,000 workers in the Tampa Bay area. The delegation's message: Hey, we just wanted to say thanks, and in case you're hiring? Here's our number. So call us, maybe?

› Architects transforming South Florida
The South Florida real estate scene has become a hotbed for ambitious and cutting-edge designs from local and international architects. Projects both large and small have drawn the interest of the world's most important and controversial designers.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Are banks' overdraft fees unfair?
Profits are growing at financial institutions in Florida and nationwide, but at least some of those earnings are coming at the expense of consumers. Bank customers paid $32 billion in overdraft fees in 2012, a level that has prompted a federal consumer watchdog group to investigate overdraft practices in the financial industry.

› Dolphins owner forms super PAC, attacks Miami lawmakers
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has begun exacting his political revenge against state lawmakers who stood in the way of his proposed renovation to Sun Life Stadium.

› Anna Maria chef wins national pie contest for third time
Andrea Spring has a recipe for how to become the three-time winner in the professional division of the American Pie Council/Crisco National Pie Championships.

› Holiday weekend improves May results for Orlando hotels
Orlando hotels logged a better May this year than they did a year ago, helped along by a stronger Memorial Day weekend. Hotels in the Orlando area filled 67.6 percent of their rooms during the month, compared with 65.6 percent during the same month in 2012.