Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Billion-dollar problem for Medicaid in Florida
A problem is brewing in Florida for Medicaid patients. State lawmakers recently discovered a gaping, billion-dollar hole in the budget to cover those costs. About $1.3 billion budget deficit will be created if Florida's "Low Income Pool" program is not extended. The money is set to expire on June 30 with no agreement in place that it be renewed. Gov. Rick Scott's budget could be thrown into disarray. More at Bay News 9 and the Tampa Bay Times.
More help-wanted ads suggest better economy
Florida's economy — and employment picture — continued to brighten in January, with significant gains in consumer sentiment occurring amid an uptick in the number of online help-wanted advertisements. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Radical change in retail driven by surge of online shopping
Online shopping has changed the retail industry forever. In 1997, there were 14 million people working in the national retail industry, about on par with the number of people working in business and professional services. In 2014, over 19 million people worked in business and professional services, while retail employed about 15 million workers. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
Feds promise $30M to fight citrus greening
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to spend $30 million fighting citrus greening, the disease that has decimated Florida's most famous fruit crop. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday in Orlando that the funding will be split between long-term research and shorter-term measures. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Tech jobs grow 4.2 percent in Florida
Florida's tech industry added 12,500 net jobs between 2013 and 2014, an increase of 4.2 percent, according to Cyberstates 2015, an analysis of the U.S. tech industry published by CompTIA on Tuesday. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› SeaWorld hiring hundreds of seasonal workers [Orlando Sentinel]
SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica are hiring hundreds of people for positions that can last through the summer season, the company has announced.
› SpaceX, Air Force sign deal for landing pad at Cape Canaveral [Florida Today]
SpaceX and the Air Force have reached an agreement to use a former Atlas launch pad on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as a landing site for returning Falcon rocket boosters.
› Baseball’s All-Star Game coming to Marlins Park in 2017 [Miami Herald]
The 2017 All-Star Game will be played at Marlins Park. Officials are expected to announce within the week that Miami has been awarded the Midsummer Classic for the first time, multiple sources with knowledge of the agreement confirmed Tuesday.
› Animal welfare groups target greyhound tracks [AP]
Two animal welfare groups are trying to bring about the end of greyhound racing, which has been declining for years, with an aggressive effort to change laws and public opinion in the states where dogs still race.
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› Office Depot CEO could walk with $39 million after merger [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
After less than two years on the job, Office Depot CEO Roland Smith could receive $39 million if the Staples-Office Depot merger is approved and Smith isn't retained by the combined company, executive pay experts say.
› Revel Casino moves to scrap sale to Florida developer [Wall Street Journal]
Revel Casino Hotel on Tuesday sought to terminate a $95.4 million deal to sell the Atlantic City, N.J., boardwalk resort to Florida developer Glenn Straub.
› Spirit Airlines tops Street 4Q forecasts [AP]
Spirit Airlines Inc. on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations as revenue from ticket sales and fees rose. Its shares rose in morning trading.
› Poll finds that Gov. Rick Scott still isn't popular [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Republican Gov. Rick Scott rallied supporters in November to grab a come-from-behind victory over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist in one of the nation's fiercest gubernatorial races. But that doesn't mean Scott is popular with voters.
» See also: Poll shows Gov. Rick Scott's job approval slipping