Economy gets jolt from auto sales and manufacturing

The economy got some good news Tuesday. Auto sales in June held their own for another month, and American factories received some of their strongest orders in years. The uptick suggests that the 2.9 percent drop in GDP in the first three months of year was an aberration, not the start of another recession. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

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Florida Trend Exclusive
Mergers, acquisitions and IPOs in Florida

Three of the top five merger and acquisition deals in the Southeast last year had Florida-based targets. The state accounted for 189 deals involving a total of $34.7 billion, according to the Mergermarket Group. In this article, you'll see some of the top deals in Florida during the past 12 months. Access full article.

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CDC report lauds Florida for crackdown on 'pill mills'

A federal report released Tuesday says Florida became the first state to make a significant dent in prescription drug overdose deaths when it cracked down on pill mills and shady doctors four years ago. A report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 23 percent reduction in prescription drug deaths in Florida from 2010 to 2012 [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

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Florida's legal leaders... ...chosen by their peers. • Full list of 1,165 Legal Elite • Legal Elite Hall of Fame • Top Government and   Non-Profit Attorneys • Up & Comers

Friday Fourth of July means big fireworks business

Every Fourth of July means a run on sales for fireworks shops and tents that dot the Sunshine State. But when the holiday falls on a Friday, many of those retailers say it’s an extra boom to business. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

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Brazilian tourists leapfrog Britons visiting Florida

Forget those stay-at-home, World Cup soccer-obsessed Brazilians. Feeling flush in a growing economy, Brazilian tourists have dethroned the British as Florida’s largest group of overseas visitors by country of origin. [Source: Reuters]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Fewer science-related job openings in Lee County [Fort Myers News-Press]
Fewer job openings in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area required science, technology, engineering and math skills last year than almost every other large community in the nation, according to a new study.

› Illegal immigrant steps closer to Fla. law license [AP]
A Florida man seeking to practice law even though he was brought illegally to the U.S. from Mexico by his parents as a young boy is a step closer to becoming an attorney.

› Company with over 1,300 employees moves HQ to Miramar [South Florida Business Journal]
Univita Health, which has over 1,300 employees nationwide, has moved its headquarters from Minnesota to Miramar.

› Businesses hope to cash in on Arthur [Florida Today]
Nobody knows what Tropical Storm Arthur will bring, but Brevard County surf shops are preparing for a possible surge in business this weekend.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Gainesville native helps guide MRMC from nonprofit to for-profit hospital [Gainesville Sun]
After a month on the job as Munroe Regional Medical Center's new chief operating officer, Philoron Wright is helping oversee the transformation of the hospital from a nonprofit operation to a for-profit enterprise.

› Evolucia trying to avoid bankruptcy [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
In a letter to shareholders, Evolucia Inc.'s interim chief executive says he would like to avoid bankruptcy protection for the struggling company and remains optimistic about its products.

› New online tool matches people to right Florida beach [WTSP]
There's nothing quite like a trip to a Florida beach during the summer time. Now, Visit Florida hopes to help you find the one that fits you best.

› MasTec makes $126M acquisition [South Florida Business Journal]
MasTec acquired infrastructure contractor Pacer Construction Holdings Corp. for $126 million plus a potential bonus based on the company’s performance over the next five years.