Friday's Daily Pulse

Posted 4/10/2015

Updated 9 yearss ago

Florida House passes $690 million tax cut package

Cellphone users, widows and widowers, college students and small businesses are among the latest pawns in a showdown over Medicaid expansion in Florida. On Thursday, the Florida House overwhelmingly passed a $690 million tax cut package that could save those groups money, but only if the Senate signs off on the plan. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

Legislative Roundup:
» After backlash, Florida puts limits on standardized testing
» Open enrollment school choice bill clears final House committee hurdle
» House approves religious exemption to block gay adoptions
» Lawmakers pass gun evacuation bill, others appear uncertain
» Bill would let localities ban plastic bags

Florida leads in all-cash home purchases

Cash buyers still make up a large percentage of the home sales market, but their grip has slipped for at least two consecutive years now, data provider CoreLogic reported on Thursday. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune ]

Commentary: Time to be realistic about ballooning local government pension debt

Local and state government should keep promises to retirees without unfairly burdening the taxpayers of today and tomorrow. Read the full commentary from Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute and government watchdog.

One Spark crowd ignites in festival’s first two days

More than 50,000 people have attended the first two days of One Spark, putting the crowdfunding festival on pace to potentially beat the record crowd of 260,000 it drew in 2014. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]

Harry Potter's magic helps Orlando foreclosure glut vanish

Foreclosures, after devastating Central Florida property values during the U.S. recession, are making up the highest share of Orlando home sales since 2011 as they leave a clogged court system. Rather than causing a glut, the properties are providing fuel for a market starved for affordable listings. [Source: Bloomberg]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Packing house a sign of strength for Pasco, Hernando blueberry industry [Tampa Bay Times]
A river of blueberries flowed off a conveyor belt at the Spiech Farms packing house and into plastic clamshells that suggest this area's agricultural future may be a little like its glorious past.

› South Florida voters may get chance to vote on casinos [AP]
South Florida voters may get a chance to tell legislators whether they want Las-Vegas styled casinos. A Florida House panel on Thursday voted in favor of a stripped-down gambling bill.

› Cruise ships don't get older, they just get face lifts [Orlando Sentinel]
The cruise lines know they can get customers on their newest ships, but they also have ongoing plans to update their older vessels to keep people coming back.

› Marco Rubio gets a Super PAC, fueling 2016 money race [Tampa Bay Times]
Supporters of Sen. Marco Rubio on Thursday launched a political action committee that can take in unlimited donations, joining a trend that will have a profound effect on the 2016 presidential race.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› 'Body farm' research facility proposed for eastern Hillsborough County [Tampa Bay Times]
The University of South Florida and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are proposing a forensic science outdoor research facility, commonly known as a body farm, on three rural acres in eastern Hillsborough County.

› Bed Bath & .... beer? Aventura stores goes beyond homegoods [Miami Herald]
Customers of Bed Bath & Beyond in Aventura can soon purchase both Kate Spade china and and a bottle of Cabernet in one stop. It will be the chain’s first Florida location to offer groceries.

› Latest expansion by North Florida business takes food from farm to truck [Florida Times-Union]
Starting this week, Arlington-grown food can be found anywhere in Jacksonville — just look for Berry Good Farms On the Go’s food truck. This portable farm-to-table business model is the latest expansion for Berry Good Farms.

› NASA picks Oldsmar IT firm for contract potentially worth tens of millions [Tampa Bay Times]
Talk about winning the space race: Vology, a technology solutions company in Oldsmar, has been awarded a 10-year contract — and a potential slice of a $20 to $30 billion pie — to provide NASA with the latest in IT innovation.