Florida leading way in recovery

Florida's economy is more than holding its own within the context of a lackluster, 6-year-old U.S. recovery, University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith told a group of Sarasota leaders Friday. "There was a hell of a recession in Florida, so the turnaround is that much more remarkable," Snaith said. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

See also:
» In Florida job growth, Tampa Bay lags among larger metros
» Lee looks for economically diverse future

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Florida Trend Exclusive
Is Florida's restrictive travel law about to unravel?

For nearly a decade, Florida has barred its universities and community colleges from spending any money to send students, faculty or researchers to Cuba. But that law may be about to unravel. That’s because the prohibition is based upon Cuba’s designation by the federal government as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”

Read the full story from Florida Trend, here.

Related:
» State higher ed board blocks opening for university research trips to Cuba

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Capitol meltdown leaves Gov. Rick Scott's agenda in shambles

As the 2015 legislative session stumbled to a close Friday, Gov. Rick Scott's agenda lay in shambles, another victim of the Capitol's worst political breakdown in decades. Scott's goals weren't grandiose. But every one became a casualty of the dysfunctional Capitol and what lawmakers describe as a disengaged style that has alienated Scott from many in his own party. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» Gauging the political fallout from Tallahassee gridlock: Will it matter?
» Timeline: How Florida's Medicaid expansion fight paralyzed lawmakers
» Legislative stalemate puts Florida school districts in a budgeting bind
» How the Florida Legislature crashed and burned
» Where’s Gov. Rick Scott amid state budget crisis?
» Column: Give Gov. Rick Scott credit; he has some nerve

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Weak Canadian dollar drives vacation-home sales

Advantageous exchange rates and fast-rising prices are driving Canadians, Central Florida's prime international buyers, to unload properties they picked up during the depressed housing market. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

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Under U.S. law, Cuban refugees don't have to be from Cuba

A unique immigration law meant to give refuge to Cubans fleeing the Communist regime has become a fast track to the United States for immigrants who never even lived on the island. A single clause in the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 has enabled Venezuelans, Mexicans, Brazilians and others to enjoy its extraordinary benefits. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Seminole Tribe calls for state to begin 'good faith' gambling negotiations [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Tribal Council Chairman James E. Billie sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Friday requesting that the state obey the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which was created in 1988 to regulate gambling on Indian lands.

› Feds help small, midsize growers to replace diseased trees [Lakeland Ledger]
A U.S. Department of Agriculture program to encourage Florida citrus growers to replant diseased trees has drawn the most interest in Polk County, but USDA officials want to share the love — and cash — more broadly.

› Romancing the drone: Demand takes off in South Florida [Miami Herald]
Step inside Animusoft’s Kendall offices, and you’ll see drones everywhere — large ones, little ones, drones that inspect, drones that pick fruit, and a few just for fun. Some are half-built; 3D printers are working 24/7 to create new parts.
» See also: Western Miami-Dade puts out welcome mat for drone industry

› Small-business owner raises everyone's pay [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Andrew Green considered what he paid his workers and felt ashamed. His business, Green Solutions, has only three employees, but he decided he could do more to improve their lives in pricey South Florida. So he gave them all raises — 35 percent to 50 percent.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Robotic strawberry picker could be tool of the future [AP]
One Florida company is developing technology to replace farm workers with robots. Harvest CROO Robotics LLC, hopes to see their strawberry-picking robotic machines in Florida fields by 2016.

› Secret menu items a hidden delight at Central Florida restaurants [Orlando Sentinel]
For many of Central Florida's most popular restaurants, there's a regular menu and a secret menu, available only to patrons in the know or armed with passwords.

› While effects are in question, vaping grows in Brevard [Florida Today]
Popping up along with the Space Coast with regularity are retail shops like Pure Cigs, the Funky Buddha and others, not to mention enterprises like MNG Vape in Melbourne, a company founded by Tony Childers that makes hundreds of gallons of liquid that is shipped across the United States for electronic smoking devices.

› At Publix, robust grocery earnings, fresh North Carolina expansion [Tampa Bay Times]
Maintaining its No. 1 market share among grocery stores in Florida, Publix on Friday reported a solid 6.8 percent gain in revenues and a more robust 11.2 percent bump in earnings for the first quarter.