Tuesday's Daily Pulse
Port Canaveral's new cargo era is born
The port and a unit of a United Arab Emirates-based company signed a 35-year deal Monday for the company to operate a cargo terminal at the port. Port officials say the deal with privately-owned Gulftainer and its new U.S. unit, GT USA, would create 2,000 direct and spinoff jobs when fully operational, including 500 at the port itself. They said Gulftainer plans to make a $100 million investment locally in infrastructure, equipment and staff. Read more from Florida Today.
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Florida Legal Elite - 2014
Now in its eleventh edition, Florida Legal Elite presents a prestigious roster of 1,165 attorneys chosen for highest honors by their peers. Attorney lists include: Legal Elite Hall of Fame, Government and Non-Profit Attorneys, and Up and Comers. The lawyers listed here exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues. Access Special Section
'Mini-Silicon Valley' for health care sprouting in South Fla.
The doctor of the future has arrived, and his digital makeover has Florida's fingerprints all over it. From prescriptions and X-rays to patient consultations and bill collection, the physician's smartphone is doing it all, serving as a digital practice and usurping the stethoscope as the go-to accessory. The Boca Raton-based South Florida Technology Alliance even had a workshop last month that sought to answer a burning question: "What is it about South Florida that makes this the right time and place to grow a successful health-care technology company?" [Source: Sun-Sentinel]
Critics deride planned All Aboard Florida train
All Aboard Florida officials won praise throughout the state when they announced plans two years ago to build a passenger-train network that would link Orlando with Miami. But now, critics want to slow or stop the project. They contend the $2.5 billion operation that could start carrying passengers in late 2016 could harm the quality of life in towns along its path, serve as a front for gambling interests and suck up tax dollars for private gain. Gov. Rick Scott — a big supporter — has asked train backers to slow down the process by at least two weeks to allow for more public input. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Also
» $29M train station proposed for All Aboard in West Palm Beach
Citizens may cut insurance rates
A lot of customers think state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. charges too much. Now its own number-crunchers agree. The company is proposing to cut 2015 rates for many of its customers when its board meets Wednesday. It could mean lower bills for nearly seven out of 10 policyholders statewide with the rates falling by an average of 3.2 percent -- and as high as 7 percent in Palm Beach County. Mobile home owners would see average rates drop by 3.9 percent. [Source: Palm Beach Post and Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Miami looks to other cities in struggle with Lyft, Uber [Herald]
In the showdown between the taxicab industry and upstart car services, there are no Davids — just Goliaths. Burgeoning ride-for-hire companies led by Uber, whose worth has been estimated at $17 billion, have the deeper pockets. But established taxicab owners, with their decades-long foothold in the community, have a stronger grip on local politics.
› Judge Judith Hawkins faces removal from office [Democrat]
The Florida Supreme Court said Monday evening it intends to throw off the bench Leon County Judge Judith Hawkins as part of a judicial-misconduct case in which she was found to have used her office to promote her ministry.
› Commissioner’s dad keeps $225,000 no-bid job [Herald]
The father of Broward County Commissioner Martin David Kiar will stay on as attorney for the Value Adjustment Board for as long as five more years.
› Florida Trend wins seven Editorial Excellence awards [Florida Trend]
The Alliance of Area Business Publishers presented 108 Editorial Excellence awards to newspaper and magazine business periodicals on June 21. The annual competition recognizes excellence in journalism, photography and design achieved by regional business publications.
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› FSU's championship season fueled by GPS technology [Sentinel]
FSU started using the device on players several years ago to measure an athlete’s performance, manage fatigue and monitor health. The results have been extraordinary, according to coach Jimbo Fisher. He credits the technology for vastly cutting down on injuries, stating that preventable soft-tissue injuries are down by 88 percent the past two years.
› At Manatee school district, a $3 million mystery [Herald-Tribune]
The Manatee County School District is trying to determine where $3 million of a $45 million sales tax bond was spent and why proper documentation does not exist.
› Resort also serves as military test site [Florida Today]
To the tourists who frolic in the crystal-blue surf of this picturesque, white-sand beach, the Fort Walton Beach Holiday Inn Resort looks like, well, a Holiday Inn with a large beach ball statue on top. But to military officials, it is known as Eglin Air Force Range Test Site A5.
› Florida Lottery rebranding Mega Money game [AP]
There were concerns about player confusion after the state introduced Mega Millions last year.