Florida exports up 10.4% in May

The latest international trade numbers show that $5.22 billion worth of goods left Florida for international markets in May, an increase of 10.4 percent from April [Source: Orlando Business Journal]

Contracts to buy U.S. homes slip in June

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index slipped to 102.7 last month, down 1.1 percent from May. The index remains 7.3 percent below its level in June 2013. [Source: AP]

Analysis: Florida 2014 legislation will reduce revenue by $550 million

All the bills passed by the 2014 Legislature have now been evaluated by the state's revenue estimators, resulting in a revenue reduction of more than $550 in the current fiscal year. [Source: Florida TaxWatch]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Q&A with Best Company HR Professionals

Florida Trend asked HR professionals at some of its Best Companies to Work For to answer three questions:

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Crist And Scott could make history by being so unpopular in Florida

In Florida, home to one of the nation’s marquee gubernatorial races, Democrat Charlie Crist and Republican incumbent Rick Scott are teetering on becoming the least-liked pair of candidates for any governor’s race in the past 10 years. [Source: FiveThirtyEight]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Long-distance consulting, in Finland [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
If you were in Finland looking for an architect, would you think first of a firm in Sarasota, where the average temperature is some 30 degrees warmer? You might if that firm had an international reputation for sustainable design.

› Florida Medical Association members vote to support Medicaid expansion [Tampa Bay Times]
For the first time, members of the Florida Medical Association have approved a resolution endorsing Medicaid expansion, a politically contentious issue that the group's leaders have generally avoided over the last two legislative sessions.

› Hiring among Miami small businesses rises, but pay falls [South Florida Business Journal]
Miami's small businesses aren't yet following a nationwide trend of rising pay, according to a report from SurePayroll, an online payroll service.

› IndieGalactic likely to become an annual event [Orlando Sentinel]
The first IndieGalactic Space Jam, held at the Orlando Science Center over the weekend, drew more than 100 game developers and engineers from NASA, SpaceX and Titusville-based Rocket Crafters.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Darden completes sale of Red Lobster [Orlando Sentinel]
It's official: Red Lobster no longer belongs to Darden Restaurants. Orlando-based Darden's sale of Red Lobster to San Francisco-based Golden Gate Capital closed Monday morning.

› LECOM medical schools having an impact in Southwest Florida [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Over the past few years, the college has quietly built a set of schools that turn out physicians, pharmacists and dentists from two buildings that cost $88 million to develop in Lakewood Ranch in 2012.

› Florida Small Farms Conference honors three innovators [The Grower]
The University of Florida and Florida A&M University's Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Focus Team recognized three producers for their innovative practices.

› Q&A with Dan Levy, Facebook’s global director of small business [Miami Herald]
Facebook is serious about small businesses. And for Dan Levy, Facebook’s global director of small business, that means starting each day with a laser-like focus on how the social media giant can help small-business owners.

Sustainable Florida Seeks Nominations for Best Practice Awards
These annual awards are presented in several categories including:
Leadership, Large and Small Business,
Non-Profit, Government, Green Building and Business Partnership. The nomination deadline is August 1.
Get the recognition you deserve:
Find out how to enter HERE.
  (Sponsored Content)