Has Florida found the secret to saving the economy?

Florida is surging because tourism leaders massively reinvested in their businesses throughout a recession that took statewide unemployment to 11.4%. When consumers had money again, Orlando and Miami had new stuff for tourists to do, from Harry Potter to Legoland, with new attractions opening every season. [Source: Marketwatch]

---

SunRail is one of the commuter rail projects underway in Florida. » Report

Florida TasWatch Report
The rise of commuter rails in Florida

Florida has been making changes to its traditional transportation system in order to decrease vehicle congestion, and to provide new transportation and recreation amenities to residents and visitors alike. Full story.

---

Light vetoes predicted when Gov. Rick Scott signs Florida budget

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's veto pen is looking more like a scalpel as signs point to him trimming a fraction of spending in a record-high $77.1 billion election-year budget. [Source: Times/Herald]

---

One in five Floridians say they would not leave for a hurricane

Nearly one in five Floridians say they would not evacuate for a hurricane, and of those who say they would evacuate, they won't go until a Category 3 or higher is on the way, AAA said today. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

---

Florida tops in completed foreclosures

Florida continues to lead the nation with the number of completed foreclosures while maintaining the second-highest percentage of distressed homes. A total of 121,338 foreclosures were closed in Florida during the 12-month period ended in April. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

---

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami nonprofit hopes to raise $100,000 for public graffiti project [Miami Herald]
Josh Stutt wants to see Miami’s most prominent neighborhoods filled with graffiti. Stutt has seen the local art scene flourish during the last few years, and he’s always wanted to support the city’s graffiti artists.

› Miami leaders to discuss doing business with India after historic elections [Miami Herald]
Indian chamber leaders plan to hold a seminar on Friday to discuss how to do business with the Asian country after historic elections.

› State prepares to spend $2.5 million on Stauffer Chemical Superfund site [Tampa Bay Times]
Now, after a $21 million cleanup and containment effort, the former home of the Stauffer Chemical plant is open for business. The state is preparing to spend millions of dollars on improvements to the property.

› Lockheed to acquire Astrotech's Space Coast unit [Orlando Sentinel]
Lockheed Martin Corp. has signed a deal worth $61 million to acquire Titusville-based Astrotech Space Operations, a longtime satellite payload processing subcontractor for the Space Coast's launch industry, the companies said Thursday.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Tampa electronics recycling operation to close, cutting 74 jobs [Tampa Bay Times]
Creative Recycling Systems, an electronic equipment recycling operation, is closing its Tampa facilities, eliminating 74 jobs.

› Physician services company to be sold for $2.35 billion [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Sunrise-based Sheridan Healthcare, a provider of physician services to health-care clinics and other operations, has agreed to be acquired by Amsurg Corp. for $2.35 billion in cash and stock, the companies announced Thursday.

› Portable shelters being tested as storm season nears [Orlando Sentinel]
They unfold like pieces of paper into pop-up buildings. They can be used as emergency command centers, medical treatment facilities and even temporary housing for firefighters, paramedics and police. And two such units have been purchased by the Broward Sheriff's Office just in time for the start of hurricane season Sunday.

› Tech Data shares slump on earnings report [Tampa Bay Times]
Shares in Tech Data Corp. slumped Thursday after the Clearwater-based company missed analysts' expectations for first-quarter profits.