Tuesday's Daily Pulse
Florida online job listings reach all-time high
Job demand in Florida for February was up 13,005 openings, or 4.7 percent, compared to January, and up from the prior-year period by 22,628 openings, or 8.4 percent. Data for online job openings is provided by the national not-for-profit association The Conference Board, in its Help Wanted Online index. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WTVY.
» See also: Press Release from Gov. Rick Scott
It's a good time to buy a house, unless you're an investor
Although home prices are rising across South Florida, buying still makes sense for consumers, according to a study released Monday by three professors at Florida Atlantic and Florida International universities. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida’s death penalty rules get Supreme Court review
The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of Florida’s system for imposing the death penalty, agreeing to hear an appeal from a man convicted of killing a coworker at a fast-food restaurant. [Source: Bloomberg]
Florida ranks No. 6 for video game development
Thanks to video game development hubs in Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville and Miami, Florida was ranked No. 6 on Fortune's 10 Most Successful States for Video Game Development list. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]
Appetite for risk -- South Florida's restaurant industry
The food business is an important source of jobs in the hospitality-dependent South Florida economy. As the regional job base has grown through the years, the share of accommodation and food service jobs has remained steady. About one in every nine jobs in South Florida is in the field. [Source: WLRN]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Environmental group wants to stop people from swimming with the manatees [Tampa Bay Times]
An environmental group wants to stop all the "swim with the manatees" businesses that for the past 40 years have been the foundation of Citrus County's tourism industry.
› Seminole Tribe of Florida urges legislators to extend gambling compact [South Florida Business Journal]
Seminole Tribe of Florida says the state will lose out on $260 million and 15,000 jobs if their gambling compact is not extended. The agreement, signed in 2009, gives the tribe exclusive rights to conduct card games like blackjack at seven of its casinos across Florida.
» See also: Two Major Business Groups Back Seminole Compact
› Consultant sounds alarm on Florida's housing risk [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Jack McCabe became something of a media darling for his very early warnings that the torrid Florida real estate market was going to boil over and burn everybody, even consumers and investors who had never set foot in the state, in one way or another. He's been sounding an alarm again.
› Gas prices halt their climb [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Are we at another inflection point for gas prices? The state and national averages for a gallon of regular fell ever so slightly on Monday -- the first decline in 40 days.
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› Five Questions About Florida's Testing Problems [WUSF News]
Last week, dozens of Florida school districts had to postpone state testing because of problems with the new Florida Standards Assessments.
› After Orlando City’s incredible 62,000-plus crowd, can MLS thrive in Florida? [NBC Sports]
On Sunday, Major League Soccer arrived back in Florida after a 14-year absence. Boy, did it come back with a bang as 62,510 fans crammed into the Citrus Bowl.
› Jupiter biotech company raises $2 million [South Florida Business Journal]
Jupiter-based biotech firm Dyadic International raised $2 million for research and development, the company announced Monday.
› Port Canaveral gambling ship nears 1M passengers [Florida Today]
Gloria Roundy lives in Daytona Beach. But, once or twice a week, she shows up at Port Canaveral’s Cruise Terminal 2 for a day aboard the Victory I gambling ship. It’s customers like Roundy who have help Victory Casino Cruises approach a major milestone — 1 million passengers sailing from Port Canaveral within their first four years of operating at Port Canaveral.