Friday's Daily Pulse
Men struggling to regain jobs lost to recession
The recovery needs to man up already. Women have regained all the jobs they lost during the financial crisis, but men are still lagging behind. After losing more than 6 million jobs, men have gained only about 70% of them back, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More from CNNMoney and the Orlando Sentinel.
Some GOP governors embracing Medicaid expansion
The health-care fight consuming Washington looks a little different at the state level where a handful of Republican governors have embraced a central tenet of the new law: expanding Medicaid to cover the poor. Read more at the Wall Street Journal and see also:
» Report Claims Florida In 'Secret' Medicaid Expansion Talks
» Few Floridians to lose health plans under Obamacare, report says
Florida unemployment to be released Friday
Florida's unemployment rate for September and October is scheduled to be released at 10 a.m. Friday. It was delayed due to the federal government shutdown. We'll also learn how many jobs have been added during those two months in the state. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida delegation blames FEMA for moving too fast on flood insurance rate hikes
Feeling heat from constituents over rising flood insurance rates, Florida lawmakers Thursday redirected some to FEMA, saying the agency has moved too fast with changes Congress approved. Republicans and Democrats alike said they would have never voted for the legislation, designed to shore up the $24 billion-in-debt national flood insurance program, had they known it would cause substantial increases for many Florida property owners. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Related:
» The effect of changes in the national flood insurance program on Florida [special report from Florida TaxWatch]
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South Florida income growing faster than U.S.
As a sign of the surging local economy, Broward and Palm Beach counties enjoyed a robust increase in job-related income in 2012, outpacing both the state and nation. Palm Beach County's job-related income jumped 6.3 percent from 2011 compared to the state and nation's 4.3 percent annual increase, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis said. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Vegetables are big business in Southwest Florida [Fort Myers News-Press]
Southwest Florida’s commercial vegetable harvest is ramping up in time for Thanksgiving week. The region is a major player in Florida’s fresh market vegetable industry, which in 2012 ranked second to California in the total farm gate value, with $1.1 billion worth of veggies produced.
› Rail company unveils plans for downtown Lauderdale station [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A largely ignored area at the north edge of downtown Fort Lauderdale could be transformed into a new city center, with housing and retail rising around a landmark rail station that connects people to trains, buses and streetcars.
› Jacksonville one of best places for retirees and snowbirds to rent [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville is the seventh-best city in the country for retirees or those escaping northern winters to rent an apartment, according to a new ranking.
› World-renowned equestrian moves to Ocala [Ocala Star-Banner]
Sylvia Zerbini says she can communicate with her horses with just a look or a nod of her head. If that's not enough, she speaks to them in French. "Everything sounds better in French," said Zerbini, who recently announced that her world-renowned equestrian show, Liberte, will move its headquarters to BG Equestrian Resort in Marion County.
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› Info Tech Brings Local Solutions to National Problems [Gainesville Business Report]
Info Tech, Inc. was established in 1977 by University of Florida professors James McClave and Thomas Rothrock. Now, Info Tech has 240 employees and 44 of the 50 U.S. state transportation agencies use its software to manage road construction projects, according to Info Tech marketing manager Valerie Riley.
› Jabil cuts 670 jobs in Hungary as it winds down BlackBerry business [Tampa Bay Times]
Jabil Circuit is cutting 670 jobs in Hungary in December, leaving the St. Petersburg-based contract electronics manufacturer with about 8,000 workers in the Eastern European country. The company said the pullback was a direct result of its decision to sever its relationship with troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry.
› Activist investor hires advisers to push change at Darden [Orlando Sentinel]
An activist investor group said Thursday it has hired advisers to help it push for changes in Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. Barington Capital Group LP said in a news release it has retained investment bank Houlihan Lokey to undertake an independent review of its recommendations for Darden, which owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other chains.
› Legoland Florida unveils plans for new hotel [Orlando Business Journal]
Legoland Florida is taking the next step in making itself a multi-day destination with plans for a new four-story hotel property. The Lego-themed hotel will be located on-site at the park, which opened in 2011.