Retailers hope 2014 is the year for growth

With retail sales up more than 4.1 percent compared with a year ago in April, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers trade group, analysts are hopeful that more new business is on the horizon. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

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Florida among top 10 states where people want to work from home

Florida companies looking to attract more job candidates may want to consider allowing employees to work from home, according to a new study by FlexJobs. The Sunshine State was ranked No. 3 among the top 10 states where job seekers are looking to find a job they can do from home or remotely. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]

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Private Firms Flock To Space Exploration

With a steady decline in federal funding for NASA programs, commercial companies are looking to fill a void through privately funded space exploration. Whether it's sending humans to Mars or using technologies to mine extraterrestrial minerals for medicinal purposes, the US space program is going through a major transformation. [Source: Information Week]

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Florida has highest rate of charity scams

A charity reform bill is awaiting the governor's signature – and legislators backing it say, it'll protect you from scams. WTSP spoke with State Senator Jeff Brandes, who drafted the bill, about what this means for citizens and charities in our communities. [Source: WTSP]

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Restaurants polish image with redesigned dishware

As casual-dining chains market their food in an increasingly crowded field, they're paying more attention to what they're serving it on. Smokey Bones, Hard Rock Café, Sonny's BBQ and other chains are introducing more modern dishware and adding flair with garnishes and paper wraps. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Legislature defends new ethics law to court [AP]
The Florida Legislature is defending a year-old state law that allows elected officials to place their assets in a blind trust instead of reporting each investment publicly.

› Millionaire returns to his dream of affordable housing in Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Harvey Vengroff has had a change of heart about leaving Sarasota for Belize. A phone call from a city official had a lot to do with it.

› Florida among worst states for banking in 2014 [Orlando Business Journal]
The Sunshine State receives a lot of accolades for being a great place to visit or start a business, but the state didn't fare as well on a new report by MoneyRates.com, which ranks Florida among the 10 worst states for banking in 2014 at No. 41.

› Broward "PAC Man'' hit with highest elections fine in history [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A Deerfield Beach man known for creating hundreds of political action committees — earning him the moniker "PAC Man'' — has been hit with the largest fine in Florida elections history.

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› Disney exec who led MyMagic+ will leave company [Orlando Sentinel]
The senior Walt Disney Co. parks executive who oversaw development of the company's billion-dollar "MyMagic+" technology project is leaving the company.

› Beckham moves forward with downtown Miami MLS site [Miami Heat]
Miami Beckham United announced Monday they'd met with Miami officials who recommended locating the stadium at a site near the AmericanAirlines Arena where the Miami Heat play.

› What Common Core Will Mean For Florida's Science, Social Studies And Other Courses [WLRN]
It makes sense that Florida’s new K-12 math and language arts standards based on Common Core will mean changes for those classes. But science, social studies – even gym classes – will also change when every grade starts using the standards this fall.

› JaxPort, Carnival Cruise Lines ink new deal [Florida Times-Union]
JaxPort has ensured the cruise industry will be sticking around a while longer with a new agreement reached a decade after Carnival began sailing out of the First Coast.