Tuesday's Afternoon Update
State to see short-term boon from baby boomers
Baby boomers retiring to Florida will be a boon to the state's economy and its budget through the end of this decade, according to a report by the Legislature's economic research arm. However, greater numbers of retirees may put a strain on the state after 2020. More at the Jacksonville Daily Record and see Florida's Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
Florida homeowners getting a chance to take a breath
The housing market is giving many Floridians time to catch their breath, something many of them haven’t been able to do since the economic nosedive began in 2007. Not only are more homes being constructed and sold, but the increase in home values is also giving some homeowners more choices. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
National tennis center coming to Fort Lauderdale
The nation's oldest black amateur tennis association wants to build its first permanent home and training center in Fort Lauderdale's historic black Sistrunk Boulevard community. Once completed, the estimated $6 million facility — excluding land, with a specific site still to be determined — will add luster to an area that has been undergoing a renaissance in the past several years. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Most governors paid less than state execs
Governors hold the most glamorous title in state government, but they don't always get the fattest paycheck. State executives overseeing solid waste management, education or public utility regulation have higher salaries than their governors in some cases, according to a survey by the Council of State Governments. More at USA Today.
Japanese culture gets boost in South Florida
South Florida's Japanese population may be tiny, but its influence is large and growing, from comic books to crafts to karaoke. And now two universities are part of a new South Florida Partnership in Japanese Studies, which includes a $550,000 grant to be used throughout the region. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.