Obamacare delay for small business exchanges

In the latest setback for the rollout of Obamacare, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that small businesses in 36 states can’t enroll their workers into health coverage through the new federally run insurance marketplaces until at least Nov. 1 – one month later than previously announced. More from the AP, CNNMoney and the New York Times.

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South Florida hiring above average

South Florida outpaced the nation in job growth at the start of 2013, but didn’t fare as well when it came to higher wages, according to new federal data covering a period before Miami-Dade’s hiring market seemed to lose steam. [Source: Miami Herald]

See also:
» Signs emerge that US job market may be picking up

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Conservation amendment headed to Florida 2014 ballot

The Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for voters to decide in November 2014 if the state Constitution should be amended to require a portion of existing stamp tax revenues set aside to preserve natural areas. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]

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Space Rocket Mogul Fight: Elon Musk Takes A Swing At Jeff Bezos' Rocket Company

SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk lashed out at Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance Tuesday night, accusing the two companies of trying to stymie SpaceX’s expansion plans with a “phony blocking tactic” that has stalled the lease of an old space shuttle launch pad SpaceX wants to take over. More at Business Insider and Space News.

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State insurance consumer advocate resigns

Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott has resigned from her job effective Nov. 1 to take a job with a non-profit insurance industry group. Her resignation letter does not say why she is leaving after two years, but she told The Palm Beach Post she is taking a position of vice president of government affairs for the American Association of Insurance Services. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Scott promotes entrepreneurship while honoring Cade as 'Great Floridian' [Gainesville Sun]
Gov. Rick Scott visited the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention Thursday morning to present the Great Floridian Award to the family of the late Dr. Robert Cade, lead inventor of Gatorade, on what would have been his 86th birthday.

› Enterprise Florida working on 'big opportunity' involving UCF [Orlando Business Journal]
University of Central Florida Vice President of Government Relations Dan Holsenbeck, speaking to the UCF board of trustees Sept. 26, said there are a few big projects on the horizon for the nation's second-largest university.

› N.Y. businessman buys Florida Panthers [AP]
Vincent Viola grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from West Point, is a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and after the Sept. 11 attacks founded a center devoted to combating terrorism. He's now the new owner of the Florida Panthers.

› An online boom at CF; more courses and more flexibility [Ocala Star-Banner]
College of Central Florida officials say the demand for online courses is skyrocketing, even though overall enrollment continues to decline. The number of online courses has risen by 21.6 percent during the past two academic years, while overall enrollment declined by 6.3 percent during that period.

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› Harris nets $140M Army radio contract [Florida Today]
Melbourne-based Harris Corp. announced it has been awarded the Mid-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio contract from the U.S. Army. The indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract has a potential total value of $140 million.

› Young professionals plan block party to mark 10th year [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Sarasota Young Professionals Group hits the 10-year mark in 2013, and members say some partying is in order. The YPG, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, intends to celebrate with a block party from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

› Exec Jet Club expands to Ocala airport [Gainesville Sun]
Gainesville-based Exec Jet Club recently opened an aircraft maintenance, management and charter operation at Ocala International Airport.

› Jaguars won't sign Tim Tebow but will give away free beer to snag fans [Orlando Sentinel]
The Jaguars won't sign Tim Tebow, but they will give away free beer to attract more fans to support arguably the NFL's worst team Jacksonville, which is 0-3 so far this season, tried a unique promotion for three hours Thursday morning.