Small towns lead Florida population growth

Population growth is considered a key indicator of economic vitality, especially in Florida, where there are few large employers and the economy revolves around smaller service-sector businesses that depend on new residents to expand. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and TBO.com.

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BP to ask Supreme Court to hear claims issue

BP PLC said Wednesday it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether businesses must prove they were directly harmed by the 2010 Gulf Of Mexico oil spill to collect payments from a 2012 settlement. [Source: AP]

Related, from Florida Trend:
» Cashing in at BP's expense

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Fresh From Florida exports increased to $4.1 billion in 2013

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released its annual international agriculture report this week, revealing exports increased to $4.1 billion last year, an increase of 2 percent from the previous year. Read more from Southeast Ag Net and the Jacksonville Business Journal and see the full report here.

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New college graduates seek flexibility as they look for jobs

With their notably high debt from student loans, you would think new college graduates would jump at any job they could get. Instead, some of this year’s crop are selective in their job searches, reluctant to be stuck in a cramped cubicle from 9-to-5 each day and looking to be wowed by the jobs they land, career experts say. [Source: Miami Herald]

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Study: Passenger rail would boost economy by $6.4 bil

Construction of the planned passenger rail line that links Miami and Orlando would generate more than 10,000 jobs during its two-year construction, according to a consultant's analysis released Wednesday. The project also would add $6.4 billion to Florida's economy over the next eight years. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Orlando Business Journal.

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› National Enquirer leaving Florida headquarters [AP]
A tabloid that has long prided itself on turning heads in supermarket checkout lines is heading back to its New York roots. The National Enquirer is leaving its Boca Raton, Florida, headquarters and in June.

› Report: Climate change threatens Florida's historic landmarks [WJCT]
The Union of Concerned Scientists says seven historic Florida landmarks are threatened by the prospect of rising seas, flooding and worsening wildfires. The sites include St. Augustine’s Castillo de san Marcos and Fort Matanzas.

› Half of Broward employers plan to hire [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
About half of Broward County CEOS say their companies plan to hire full-time employees in the next 18 months, according to a survey to be released Thursday. That's down slightly from 57 percent who said they expected to hire in 2013.

› Adventures in astronomy from the Florida Keys [Canada.com]
Dark skies are a rare commodity these days on the Eastern Seaboard. Wherever human activity goes, light pollution is sure to follow. But we’re happy to report that there’s a secret dark sky locale on the very southern tip of Florida, just an hour’s drive south of the Miami metropolitan area.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› 'Consumer Reports' likes Brevard's sunscreens [Florida Today]
Just in time for the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend, Consumer Reports magazine is reporting that two Brevard County products may be a good value when it comes to sunscreens.

› The highest paid university president in Florida [Gainesville Sun]
The highest paid public university president in Florida in 2013 was John C. Hitt of the University of Central Florida, according to a report released this week by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

› 'Tonight Show' taking first road trip to Florida [AP]
Late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon is taking the "Tonight Show" on a road trip to Florida. The show announced Tuesday that Fallon's first road trip since taking over for former host Jay Leno is to Orlando next month.

› New laws aimed at helping understand school progress [Tallahassee Democrat]
New laws should make it easier for parents to see how their children’s schools and districts are doing compared to others in Florida, experts told the state Board of Education on Tuesday.