Snowbirds still flocking south

The low Canadian dollar and higher real estate prices in the United States don't seem to be deterring snowbirds from going south in search of the sun and deals. Canada is Florida's number one source of international tourism with more than four million visits by Canadians - a figure that is growing by four per cent a year. [Source: The Canadian Press]

See also:
» Cold weather up North good for FL businesses
» Strong U.S. dollar hurts Canadian tourism
» Sports tourism boosts Brevard economy

Amid Cuba opening, Havana quinceanera biz booms

Cuban reforms permitting small-scale, private businesses and the re-establishment of U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations have encouraged new photo and event planning businesses for events such as girls’ 15th birthdays. [Source: AP]

Manatees could lose endangered status

The sea cow morphed into a sacred cow of sorts over the past half century. But Florida's most iconic creature could soon flop down a peg from the lofty status it's held since America's original list of endangered species was created in 1967. [Source: Florida Today]

A growing holiday pastime: Returning those unwanted gifts

Returns, an increasing headache for retailers, are spawning a huge industry of middlemen, technology firms and discount sellers dedicated to figuring out what to do with all those goods. The weeks after Christmas are their busiest time. [Source: LA Times]

One third of U.S. homes located in high risk zip codes for manmade environmental hazards

According to RealtyTrac's second annual Manmade Environmental Hazards Housing Risk Report, over 25 million U.S. homes are in zip codes at high risk or very high risk for manmade environmental hazards -- representing 38 percent of the 64 million homes in all zip codes analyzed. [Source: World Property Journal]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› 3 reasons Florida schools should focus on STEM education [Orlando Business Journal]
As more people talk about the idea of robots doing the bulk of the work for certain jobs in the near future, there's one piece to the puzzle that's missing: Who's going to program those robots to perform the task?

› Opinion: Don't gut Florida's sunshine law [Orlando Sentinel]
Over the years, Florida lawmakers have steadily chipped away at their constituents' constitutional right of access to government by approving hundreds of exceptions to the state's open-records and open-meetings laws. B

› Cheers! South Florida’s spirited startups serving up innovation [Miami Herald]
South Florida startup companies are creating concepts in just about every aspect of the spirits industry, including brewing and distilling, packaging, selling and dispensing — even creating the perfect ice for each glass.

› 2015 emerges as a big year for philanthropy dollars aimed at Florida universities [Tampa Bay Times]
To say it has been a very good year for philanthropic giving to certain Florida universities would be an understatement.

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› A majority of Florida’s school districts have no policy on the use of social media [Gainesville Business Report]
Only 32 of the state’s 68 school districts have a dedicated social media policy, and none is comprehensive enough to adequately address all the key elements of Florida’s case law concerning public school employees’ use of social media.

› Lauderdale losing battle against aging water lines [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Water main breaks are becoming a Christmas tradition in the city. For the third time in five years, part of the city lost water service during the holiday and was under a boil-water order because a water pipe broke.

› Cuban Immigrants Flow Into The U.S., Fearing The Rules Will Change [WGCU]
In an agreement announced late Monday, Costa Rica and Guatemala will be two of the nations cooperating on an airlift that will allow as many as 8,000 Cubans to continue north toward the U.S.

› Solar amendment now at 75 percent of needed signatures [Florida Politics]
A proposed constitutional amendment has crossed the 500,000 signatures line on its way to being approved for voter consideration on the 2016 ballot. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.”