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Wednesday's Daily Pulse

U.S. to delay healthcare employer mandate to 2015

The U.S. administration on Tuesday said it will not require employers to provide health insurance for their workers until 2015, in a move that delays a key provision of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law by a year. The delay of part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents the administration's response to widespread complaints about the reporting requirements for employers with more than 50 workers who are subject to the mandate. More from Reuters and Forbes and the Washington Post.


David Leiman
“Companies are no longer going toward the low-price products,” says Coaxial Components founder David Leiman.
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Story here   [Photo: Steve Martine]

Florida Trend Exclusive
An appetite for American Made

Stuart-based RF microwave component maker Coaxial Components is capitalizing on the favorable perception of American products abroad. Coaxicom, which has seen a 500% increase in sales to Chile, for example, is not alone in benefiting from the trend. Between 2000 and 2011, exports manufactured in Florida grew 143%, and small businesses like Coaxicom account for 67% of the state’s exports. Full story.


14 Florida hospitals to pay $11 million

Fourteen Florida hospitals have reportedly agreed to pay about $11 million to settle charges of Medicare fraud in a whistleblower case involving a back procedure called "kyphoplasty." The settlement announced on Tuesday involved 55 hospitals in 21 states. [Source: Health News Florida]


Era ends: Jobs program for homemakers cut

In a sign of changing times, state programs designed to help homemakers find work are losing their homes. The Displaced Homemakers Program for 37 years has helped mostly women seeking jobs after being out of the workforce for long periods. But now, most of its 18 locations will shut down. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Florida Park Service to allow advertising on 7 paved trails

A year after lawmakers agreed to allow advertising on state greenways and trails, the Florida Park Service has announced that sponsors are being sought for seven multi-use, paved trails from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Senior arcades sue Dave & Buster’s, Boomers
Owners of senior video arcades, frustrated at what they say is selective enforcement of Florida’s sweeping new prohibition of video gambling, are orchestrating a systematic campaign of lawsuits seeking to have the law applied to upscale arcade chains.

› FPL seeks small rate increase to meet clean-air standards
Florida Power & Light plans to make $822 million in power-plant upgrades to comply with federal clean-air standards and will seek to recover costs from customers, according to a recent request filed with the Florida Public Service Commission.

› Tech merger: Tampa's Tribridge acquiring Intelladon
Tribridge, a Tampa technology services firm specializing in Microsoft business applications and cloud solutions, said it will acquire Intelladon, a Tampa-based talent management solutions consultant and integrator.

› Sarasota phone company is a rising star
Star2Star Communications was launched in 2006 on a simple premise: Eventually, the Internet would allow cheaper, quality telephone calls that businesses and individuals could depend on.


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› Tourism bureau kicks off sixth annual Miami Spa Month

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Seeking to drive business to Miami-Dade hotel spas, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is once again organizing Miami Spa Month. In its sixth year, the deal-driven promotion actually spans two months, stretching from July 1-Aug. 31.

› OPINION: Florida’s gambling genie
With the Florida Lottery among the biggest in the nation, casino-like games at pari-mutuels and jai alai throughout the Sunshine State, casinos run by the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes and those gambling cruises to nowhere and back, the thought that a destination casino resort will destroy Florida’s family tourism image seems almost quaint.

› Ex-FBI director to review BP settlement program
A federal judge has appointed former FBI Director Louis Freeh to conduct an independent investigation of alleged misconduct by a lawyer who worked for the court-supervised administrator of BP's multibillion-dollar settlement along with a team of private attorneys.

› BankUnited to take more space in Miami Lakes
BankUnited said Tuesday that it has signed a lease with the Graham Companies to add 20,000 square feet to its Miami Lakes corporate headquarters. BankUnited’s current complex occupies five buildings in the Miami Lakes Business Park West and 120,672 square feet.