Friday's Daily Pulse
Florida's unemployment rate remains flat at 7.1 percent
Florida's unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 percent in June – unchanged from May – as the state added about 9,300 jobs, Gov. Rick Scott's office said Thursday as it released the numbers a day early. Surprisingly, government jobs grew by 7,000, reversing a long-term trend that has seen fewer workers on the public payroll. The finance sector, meanwhile, added 5,800 jobs. Read more at the Orlando Sentinel, the AP and the Naples Daily News.
Florida Trend Exclusive
 Kimberly Hendrix is one of 10 designers profiled in » Haute in Florida [Photo: Gina Marie] |
Haute in Florida:
Designer boutiques and
high-end fashion
Referring to the new Louis Vuitton Maison store in Aventura as a boutique is like calling Buckingham Palace the queen’s house. This is indeed the travel destination that it was conceived to be by Peter Marino, the architect who designed the two-story haven for luxury lovers. All of this serves as the backdrop for the main attraction: The Louis Vuitton brand’s signature goods.... continued.
Go to full story - includes photo gallery with fashions from 10 designers
The rise of young farmers in Florida
Young farmers running small farms are a growing trend across the sunshine state and the nation as a whole. Many of these small farmers have not grown up on farms, distinguishing themselves from the historic trend of farming being an ancestral trade passed down from one generation to the next. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Why only six on Florida juries? Legislator to push for 12
With all eyes on Central Florida for the George Zimmerman trial and its aftermath, one question keeps surfacing: Why are juries made up of just six people? Throughout most of the country, 12 jurors determine the guilt or innocence of suspects in felony trials. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
In recent years, scores of businesses and government agencies have started to take space weather more seriously. Electric-grid operators are devising plans to reroute currents through their systems to brace for solar storms. Airlines such as Delta have developed plans to reroute flights in the case of emergency. The U.S. military has begun to realize that space-weather blips can disrupt communication in the heat of battle. [Source: Washington Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Lost government jobs a bigger problem for Miami than lost construction jobs [Miami Herald]
Think Miami-Dade’s employment rebound is taking too long? Blame the government. Specifically, blame local government and its extended streak of shrinking payrolls.
› Bristol-Myers Squibb, major drug maker, picks Tampa for 575 jobs [Tampa Bay Times]
One of the world's major pharmaceutical companies, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., announced late Thursday that it plans to open a "North America Capability Center" in Tampa. The 70,000-square-foot center is expected to open in January 2014 with plans for up to 575 jobs by 2017.
› Attempt at record-setting food truck rally creates some drama [Tampa Bay Times]
On Aug. 31 more than 100 food trucks will assemble at the Florida Fairgrounds in Tampa in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest rally, and word on the street is Miami is mad. If successful, this will trounce the record set in April in Miami when 62 trucks convened at Magic City Casino.
› Florida DCF head David Wilkins resigns [Miami Herald]
David Wilkins, Florida’s top child welfare and social service administrator, resigned Thursday amid an escalating scandal over the recent deaths of four small children who had a history of involvement with child abuse investigators.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Port of Tampa signs deal aimed at boosting import of Mexican-made cars [Tampa Bay Times]
Mexico is making more and more cars for the U.S. market. But actually getting those vehicles from that country to this country could become a very lucrative business for U.S. ports. The Tampa Port Authority knows this well.
› Alachua-based AxoGen reports record revenues in second quarter [Gainesville Sun]
AxoGen reported record revenues of $2.86 million in the second quarter of the year, up 42 percent from $2.01 million in revenues for the second quarter of 2012 as more medical facilities used its products and existing customers used more products.
› Contractor holds event for companies interested in working on Embraer facility [Florida Today]
Calling all local contractors and building trades. The company hired to build the Embraer Engineering & Technology Center USA at Melbourne International Airport, Orlando-based Barton Malow Co., is hosting a pre-bid conference/subcontractor local outreach event for all construction trades interested in working on the project.
› After More Than Year, JDCPhosphate Has New Technology Ready to Go [Lakeland Ledger]
After more than a year of planning, construction and testing, JDCPhosphate will start production next month at its demonstration plant in Fort Meade. It will begin slowly and ramp up to full production, 12,000 tons annually, by the end of the year.