Asian influx drives surge in U.S. immigrant population

The sharp increase in immigrants, most of whom came from Asia, contrasts with a small net decrease in immigrants in 2008 during the depths of the Great Recession. The surge has been felt especially in states such as California and Florida. [Source: LA Times]

See also:
» Newest Immigrants Assimilating as Fast as Previous Ones, Report Says

Palm Beach woman files class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen, AutoNation

A Palm Beach County woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen and car dealer AutoNation over charges that the manufacturer rigged some vehicles to hide the level of harmful emissions they produced. More from the Miami Herald and AutoNews.

See also:
» How Will Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Impact South Florida?
» Volkswagen Says 11 Million Cars Worldwide Are Affected in Diesel Deception

How to recruit millennials? Pay their college loans

Along with competitive pay, employers offer a range of benefits in hopes of attracting the best and brightest workers. But few companies actually break out their checkbooks to help younger employees cope with what many experts say is a burgeoning financial crisis: soaring student debt. [Source: CBS News]

Cuban migrants caught in Florida Straits returned home

Over 100 Cuban migrants have been returned home by U.S. authorities within the past week. Since the fiscal year began Oct. 1, U.S. authorities estimate over 4,300 Cubans have been caught or intercepted in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. [Source: AP]

Feds target South Florida among top 5 regions for 2016 Obamacare outreach

The number of South Florida residents without health insurance dropped sharply during the first year plans were made available under the Affordable Care Act, but the region was still second-highest among the nation's largest metro areas in percentage of uninsured in 2014, newly released estimates show. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Healthcare costs rise again, and the burden continues to shift to workers

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Invictus Games for wounded vets will showcase Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
The chairman of the upcoming Invictus Games in Orlando says the event will be bigger than the previous one in London and will showcase Central Florida to a large part of the world.

› Modernizing Medicine to go on hiring blitz, break into telemedicine [South Florida Business Journal]
The co-founder of a Boca Raton medical technology startup said Tuesday his company is about to embark on a hiring blitz, adding at least 100 new employees to his 430-person firm.

› Toytown proposal would bring Atlanta Braves spring training to Pinellas County [Tampa Bay Times]
A group of sports partners are hoping to relocate the Atlanta Braves spring training facility to Pinellas County and are among the three groups that have submitted proposals to build on the former Toytown landfill site.

› Darden improves sales, gives rosier outlook in first quarter results [Orlando Sentinel]
Darden Restaurants boosted revenues and improved same-stores sales during its fiscal first quarter, the Orlando-based company reported Tuesday. Revenues for the parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn SteakHouse were up 5.7 percent to $1.678 billion.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida lawmakers bringing plastic bag ban to session [Bradenton Herald]
Long viewed with disdain by environmentalists, plastic bags could be banned under bills that will be considered during Florida's 2016 legislative session.

› Entrepreneurs see more opportunity in Cuba under latest U.S. rules [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Entrepreneurs looking to develop business with Cuba are cheering new U.S. rules that took effect Monday and further ease U.S. travel, trade and financial activities with the island.

› Latino influence on Catholic Church is a backdrop to Pope Francis' visit [Orlando Sentinel]
The bedrock of American Catholicism for generations was in East Coast strongholds from Boston to Baltimore, where Irish, Polish, German and Italian immigrants dominated the church. But the demographic fulcrum in recent years has moved sharply to the West and South.

› Gov. Scott Visiting Kentucky on Business Recruiting Trip [AP]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is visiting Kentucky on a two-day trip as part of his continued effort to lure businesses to relocate to the Sunshine State.