U.S. businesses add 257,000 jobs, most in a year

Payroll processor ADP said Wednesday that companies added 257,000 jobs in December, the most in a year. Construction companies added 24,000 jobs, while retailers and shipping firms added 38,000. The figures suggest that employers are still hiring at a healthy pace, even as overseas economic weakness and the strong dollar have hit U.S. manufacturing. Factories added just 2,000 jobs last month, ADP said. See the report from ADP here. Also read more at the AP, USA Today, and CNBC.

Gov. Scott to launch $1 million TV ad campaign for tax cuts

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is launching an expensive television ad campaign to convince state legislators to back his tax cut package. Scott's political committee will start airing ads next week in the state's media markets. More at the AP.

Brazilian travel tech firm to open office in Orlando coworking space

CEO Bruno Santiago of Biz Airlines, a mobile app that helps executives travel efficiently by mixing and matching private jets, commercial airlines and airport-transfer data, said the city’s economic climate helped him choose it over more expensive areas such as New York City or San Francisco. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

Environmentalists say oil exploration will damage Big Cypress

Plans by a Texas company to deploy massive thumper trucks to seismically explore for oil in the Big Cypress National Preserve are being challenged by more than a half dozen environmental groups. More at the Miami Herald.

Florida to set passing scores on state's high-stakes test

The State Board of Education will meet Wednesday and vote on what students should earn on tests in reading and math, as well as end-of-course exams given in algebra and geometry. The results will be used to assign school grades. More at the AP and the Tampa Bay Times.