Friday's Daily Pulse
Florida outpaces U.S. on charitable giving
Floridians' donations to nonprofit organizations have increased faster than those of the rest of the nation in 2014. Charitable giving was up 12.2 percent in Florida from January to November, compared to a 9.1 percent increase nationwide. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
See also:
» How to Turn Your End of Year Charitable Contributions Into Tax Savings
Finding clarity, growth, balance in 2015
As 2014 comes to a close, many small business owners are searching for clarity around finding the right business or growing an existing one. Some are digging deep to define a narrower niche that will bring greater profits. Others are pondering how to charge more and work less. [Source: Miami Herald]
“Do-nothing” Congress did little for Florida
The "do-nothing" Congress lived up to its billing, as the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-run Senate found little common ground on substantive issues. Of the 366 roll call votes taken this year in the Senate, about 70 percent dealt solely with nominations. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida lobsters find a market in China
The US lobster trade with China is growing rapidly, especially for a species called the spiny lobster that is harvested in the Florida Keys. In 2013, the US exported about $7.3 million of spiny lobster to China, up from about $3.2 million the previous year. [Source: China Daily USA]
Economic hopes kindle as Florida puts New York in rear-view mirror
New York boasts a whopping 54 Fortune 500 headquarters. Florida has only 16. But experts predict more departures than arrivals in New York headquarters. Some will land in Florida. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Russian ruble’s skip hits Miami realty market [Miami Today]
Residential brokers who help Russians find homes in Miami say the plunging value of the ruble will probably affect their clients in a variety of ways, including apprehension over buying and renting here alongside higher motivation to place their money in a more secure country.
› Jordache buys Setai Hotel on Miami Beach for $90 million [Miami Herald]
The Setai is the latest acquisition by Jordache, which bought the Versace Mansion last year for a reported $41.5 million, and also owns five other hotels in the area, including the Breakwater Hotel and the Hotel Victor.
› Jacksonville's ParkerVision gets $7 million in funding for patent lawsuits [Florida Times-Union]
Jacksonville’s ParkerVision Inc. wireless technology firm got a major infusion of funding to continue its legal fight to protect its patents.
› Florida doctors bracing for Medicaid cuts [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Florida primary care doctors who treat Medicaid patients will see their reimbursements cut in half in the coming year. That’s because a two-year rate hike in Medicaid reimbursements to physicians will expire, dropping payments to Florida primary care providers by more than 50 percent.
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› AutoNation's CEO Jackson on target with bullish U.S. auto market forecast -- again [Orlando Sentinel]
AutoNation's Mike Jackson has done it again — nailed the annual forecast for the U.S. auto market. Jackson, the chief executive at the country's largest auto retailer, predicted last year that total U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks would reach about 16.5 million for 2014.
› Detente spawns Cuban worry on US migration rights [AP]
Across an island where migrating north is an obsession, the widespread jubilation over last week's historic U.S-Cuba detente is soured by fear that warming relations will eventually end Cubans' unique fast track to legal American residency.
› Florida clerks won't give gays marriage licenses [AP]
Most of Florida's 67 clerks of court don't plan to issue marriage licenses to gay couples on Jan. 6 because they are paralyzed by confusion over whether a same-sex marriage ban is being lifted across the whole state that day, according to an Associated Press survey.
› Keys tourism bureau has slogans ready for post-embargo Cuba [Miami Herald]
How prepared is Key West for the end of the tourism embargo on Cuba? The Conch Republic already has a slogan ready: “Two Nations. One Vacation.”