Thursday's Daily Pulse
Feds approve disaster relief for oyster industry
 Oyster fisherman in Apalachicola Bay. [Photo: Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/MCT] |
Apalachicola Bay and Florida's oyster industry are going to get some financial assistance from the federal government. State and federal elected officials said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved $6.3 million in disaster assistance funding. More from the AP, WMBB and WTXL.
Lawmakers seek to roll out a red carpet for filmmakers
Blockbuster proposals that would double and triple the pool of incentives for those who want to create both big- and small-screen magic in Florida now sit before lawmakers. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]
See also:
» Florida Tourism Day efforts to help bring TV, films to Florida
UM researchers make small — but promising — breakthrough in quest for AIDS vaccine
Small advancements make big waves in the decades-long search for an HIV vaccine, and University of Miami researchers are optimistic that their latest findings are significant: They have developed a vaccine that triggers an immune system response strong enough to kill a model AIDS virus in mice. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida ranks in the middle of the pack when it comes to well-being
Places like the Dakotas and Nebraska might seem like boring places to live, but according to a recent study, those three states rank in the top of the well-being index. Florida moved up four spots since the 2012 results, coming in at No. 30 with a well-being index score of 66.2, which is also the national average. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Flood insurance fix vote postponed
House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday that the flood insurance bill has met "unintended consequences" and said a vote will not happen this week, as planned. Speaking a news conference, Boehner did not elaborate on what happened. Getting the votes is a likely culprit. More at the Tampa Bay Times and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Miami Realtors partner with Australian counterparts [Miami Herald]
The Miami Association of Realtors is partnering with the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, Australia’s largest professional organization for real-estate agents. The alliance is the first in Australia for Miami Realtors, which has 31,000 members.
› Legoland Florida builds on hit movie with new event [Orlando Business Journal]
Legoland Florida is capitalizing on the success of The Lego Movie by hosting a Lego Movie Weekend event starting March 8. The event should bring more tourists to the Winter Haven theme park to take part in special activities.
› Lennar takes niche housing route [Miami Today]
A lack of developable land in Miami-Dade County and a post-recession economy is forcing home builders such as Lennar to take a niche approach. That includes newly designed homes for parents living with their adult children; acquiring foreclosed or financially distressed lands; and demolishing existing buildings to create space for new housing.
› Florida wildlife officers want to talk about bears [Orlando Sentinel]
In the wake of the worst bear attack on a human ever documented in Florida, the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will begin meeting with the public to discuss black bears and the state's management strategy.
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› Florida Mayors gather for summit in central Florida [WTXL]
Mayors from around the state will gather for The Florida League of Mayors Millennial Summit. The event is February 27-28, in Orlando.
› International business magnate buys Northeast Florida island [Jacksonville Business Journal]
A transportation and business magnate who owns aviation, shipping and automobile operations around the globe has purchased Crane Island, near Amelia Island, for $9.9 million.
› Coral Gables a model of stability [Miami Today]
Coral Gables isn’t just home to great examples of historic Miami – it also houses one of the most stable office markets in the area. While it isn’t entirely immune to economic up- and downswings, the office market in Coral Gables tends to weather flip-flopping across the board.
› U.S. News & World Report names 'best' Orlando Metro nursing homes [Orlando Sentinel]
U.S. News & World Report today released its Best Nursing Homes 2014 report, highlighting the top nursing homes in every state and nearly 100 major metropolitan areas. In Metro Orlando, 16 nursing homes made the cut.