Gov. Rick Scott orders lists of critical state needs, hints at possible shutdown

Gov. Rick Scott directed all state agencies Thursday to draw up lists of "critical service needs… in the event Florida is forced into a government shutdown on July 1." Scott's memos to agencies carry an alarming tone and were released the day after the Legislature's chief budget-writers struck a hopeful tone. More at the Times/Herald, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and CBS Miami.

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State looks to give military firefighters a boost to civilian jobs

Most members of the military, whether medics, firefighters or infantrymen, share a common roadblock in transitioning to civilian life: translating their skills honed in the military to an equivalent job outside of it. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

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USDA develops first government label for GMO-free products

The Agriculture Department has developed a new government certification and labeling for foods that are free of genetically modified ingredients. USDA’s move comes as some consumer groups push for mandatory labeling of the genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. [Source: AP]

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What will your college degree do for you? Big data could answer the question

Not long ago, parents and students evaluating colleges turned to U.S. News rankings, the only game in town. No longer. Rating colleges is now, if not a booming business, at least a surging sideline. The most dramatic recent entrant may be the White House. [Source: Deseret News]

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Scott steps up pressure on Florida hospitals

Gov. Rick Scott has stepped up his pressure on Florida’s hospitals by directing them to provide detailed spreadsheets on their finances and activities over the last eight years by Monday. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Electric bike maker uses 'foreign trade zone' to boost local production [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Robert Provost's Prodeco Technologies, makes electric bicycles mainly from components imported from Asia. The parts require import duties that range up to 10 percent. To slash those duties, he set up a "foreign trade zone" in his Oakland Park facilities.

› Health startups compete for attention to huge tap senior market [Miami Herald]
15 health startups duked it out before a panel of venture capitalists in Thursday’s AARP Health Innovation50+ LivePitch, one of the events at the advocacy group’s annual conference in the Miami Beach Convention Center.

› Florida Reps. seek to block oil drilling off of Florida's Atlantic coast [Jacksonville Sun Times]
A coalition of Florida representatives have aligned to block testing for oil drilling off of Florida’s Atlantic coast. There are no laws on the book to protect Florida’s Atlantic coast from drilling, though there is one for the Gulf Coast.

› The Underground Artists of Naples [Naples Herald]
Behind the paintings on museum walls, behind the stage curtains of a jazz performance and behind the trendy shops of Naples, Florida, is a group of gypsy artists who paint, play music and inspire creativity.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› From wedding planner to funeral planner? [Orlando Sentinel]
Many University of Central Florida students study hospitality management and dream of becoming a wedding planner or running their own grandiose hotel someday. But some head down an unexpected career path: planning funerals.

› First round of cuts next week as South Florida hopes to end Super Bowl drought [Miami Herald]
The Dolphins are about a quarter of the way through their $400 million overhaul to Sun Life Stadium, a renovation project paid for by private funds. The good news for team owner Stephen Ross, who’s footing most of the bill: He might soon get the first return on his hefty investment.

› Florida's Lt. Gov. moves closer to US Senate bid [AP]
Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is taking steps that could help him run for the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Supporters of the Miami Republican announced Thursday they're creating a super PAC that could assist Lopez-Cantera once he officially jumps into the 2016 race.

› Madeira Beach seeks to ease rules on selling public land [Tampa Bay Times]
Voters may be asked next year to give up their right of approval for vacating alleys and sale of city-owned property. The reason, city officials say, is that it will make it easier for hotel and other developments to happen in the city.