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Wednesday's Daily Pulse

NASA, industry likely to team up

Call it opportunity. Call it cold reality. The nation's space program is increasingly reliant on private partners to send astronauts into space as its slice of the federal budget diminishes. And an industry report issued Tuesday suggests that trend must continue if the U.S. wants to maintain its global leadership in space exploration. [Source: Florida Today]


Column: Is ‘always on’ the new normal?

For those of us with any level of responsibility, a 9 to 5 work day just isn’t a reality. As Miami publicist John David points out: “Work starts the moment you look at your phone in the morning.” Now, more of us who feel like we are working longer hours than we used to are asking, what is an average work day or work week, anyway? [Source: Miami Herald]


Todd Powell
“This has an opportunity to be a model for the rest of the state,” says Todd Powell of Plum Creek. » Story here

Florida Trend Exclusive
Building buy-in at Plum Creek

The undeveloped land owned by Plum Creek Timber in east Alachua County is four times bigger than the borough of Manhattan. Currently, the company — the largest private landowner in the country — leases most of its 65,000 acres to hunters who prowl for deer and turkey. Alachua County officials knew the property wouldn’t remain undeveloped indefinitely. Full story...


New chamber offers holistic practitioners a way to build businesses

It isn't often that a chamber of commerce meeting includes a lesson in Chinese meditative breathing exercises. But the practice of qigong is on the agenda for the Holistic Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night, along with a short seminar on business development. The new Central Florida group aims to promote holistic solutions while helping practitioners improve their businesses. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


Florida to offer reverse mortgage help

Florida’s $1 billion program to help prevent foreclosures in the wake of the housing crisis continues to diversify. The Florida Housing Finance Corp. announced Tuesday it would earmark $25 million of its Hardest-Hit Fund to help elderly homeowners with reverse mortgages. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› State senators want to increase Florida's speed limit to 75 mph
State Sens. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, say they will propose an increase in the state's maximum speed limit from 70 to 75 miles per hour.

› Office Depot appoints new CEO
Boca Raton-based office supply retailer Office Depot announced late Tuesday that it has appointed former supermarket and fast-food chain top executive Ronald C. Smith as its new chairman and CEO. Smith formerly was CEO and president of Delhaize America, LLC, the U.S. division of Delhaize Group.

› Pinellas commercial properties can get green loans, but homes can't
Pinellas County business owners, but not homeowners, will soon be able to apply for loans for solar panels and other green technologies that are paid back through property taxes. Pinellas County commissioners voted down a proposal to include homeowners in the energy-saving program.

› From teenage immigrant to CEO
"Decide what you want." "Discover what the customer wants." "Deliver plus one." Those aren't just principles from one of Cristina Allan's favorite books. They're signposts in a career path that's taken her from teenage immigrant to her current post as the first female and first Hispanic president and CEO of AlphaStaff, Inc.


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› Florida court rules teacher data is a public record
A Florida appeals court says that data used to prepare teacher evaluations is a public record. The 1st District Court of Appeal on Tuesday sided with The Florida Times-Union in a lawsuit the newspaper filed against the Florida Department of Education.

› Criser top choice for next university system chancellor
A search committee for the Florida Board of Governors voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend Marshall Criser III, a member of the University of Florida Board of Trustees and president of AT&T Florida, as the next chancellor for the State University System.

› Disney to base three cruise ships at Port Canaveral in 2015
Disney Cruise Line will base three of its four ships at Port Canaveral during early 2015, the cruise line announced this morning, continuing its strong commitment to Brevard County’s seaport.

› 'Extreme Entrepreneurship' seminar Thursday in Melbourne
People interested in becoming entrepreneurs can get a healthy dose of ideas and enthusiasm when a national program rolls into Melbourne on Thursday. What’s more, it’s free.