Construction training and apprenticeship programs grow

A growing shortage of construction workers is occurring as new projects gain steam. Many construction workers left Florida because work dwindled during the recession and housing crisis. Some took jobs in the oil industry while others drifted into other fields altogether. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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First we didn't trust government, now we don't trust each other

A new article’s important finding is that the decline of trust in government has been accompanied by a decline in trust in each other."Between 1972 and 2012, Americans became significantly less trusting of each other and less confident and trusting in large institutions, such as the news media, business, religious organizations, the medical establishment, Congress, and the presidency," the article states. Read more at the Naples Daily News and see the report.

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Florida Supreme Court: Secret redistricting documents should be made public

The state Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that secret documents used in the high-profile redistricting case should be made public. "We affirm the trial court's ruling requiring production of the 538 pages of disputed documents," the justices wrote in a rare unanimous ruling. [Source: Times/Herald]

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7 startup habits worth keeping no matter how big your business grows

Your startup is not meant to be a startup forever. Eventually, it’s meant to become a larger company with a more sustainable plan of action. And as you move further along that road, you will undergo a lot of changes. [Source: Entrepreneur]

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Group calls for overhaul of Florida prison system

Florida's prison system needs a massive overhaul to stem the tide of corruption, mismanagement and inmate abuse that has plagued the agency not just of late, but for decades, a report issued Thursday says. The Project on Accountable Justice, a think-tank based at Florida State University, contends that the state could save taxpayers billions by cleaning up the Florida Department of Corrections. [Source: Times/Herald]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Venus Williams turns designer for Delray apartments [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Venus Williams isn't just a tennis icon with five Wimbledon titles in tow. She's also an interior designer. Her latest project: developer Jorge Perez's new apartment community in Delray Beach.

› Companies looking at wearables technology [Florida Today]
Many pundits see wearables as the next computing frontier. The recent announcement of the Apple Watch is just the latest is a long line of attempts to make computers part of our extended digital bodies.

› Startup Weekend cancelled due to technical difficulties [Florida Today]
Startup Weekend Space Coast, a 54-hour business competition for local entrepreneurs, has been cancelled due to serious technical malfunctions which made it impossible for event coordinators to plan or oversee the contest.

› Wawa moves ahead with expansion into Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, plans to open three locations in Sarasota County. Wawa has been aggressively expanding throughout Florida. Executives previously said they wanted to open a dozen stores in the Orlando and Tampa markets.

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› Sarasota's Invisa becomes holding company for 2 firms [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Following a $55 million stock deal, Invisa Inc. of Sarasota has become a holding company for two related firms that dominate the coated fabric industry.

› Explorer of the Seas joins Port Canaveral lineup [Florida Today]
Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas cruise ship, which will start sailing from Port Canaveral on Saturday, brings with it a new itinerary with destinations not typical of a locally based ship.

› State, feds close Orlando-based robocall center [Orlando Sentinel]
Nine companies and four people part of an allegedly fraudulent robocall center based in Orlando were shut down today by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Federal Trade Commission.

› Gov. orders drop in cost of hunting licenses [AP]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ordering a drop in the cost of the state's lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. But the catch is the break will only last for a brief time and it is available only for state residents 21 years old or younger.