Can U.S. Remain an Island of Stability in the Global Economy?

Seven days in, 2016 is shaping up to be a chaotic year in global economics and geopolitics, with profound challenges nearly everywhere. Except, for now at least, in the world’s largest economy. The American economy is acting as a steadying force in a volatile world. More from the New York Times and CNBC.

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» Wall Street eyes bounce after China shares rise

Florida layoffs fell 65 percent in December

Fewer employees got the boot just before the holidays. Florida's private-sector employers announced 515 layoffs in December, down a whopping 65 percent from the same month a year ago, outsourcing firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

The gig economy by the numbers

How big is the gig economy, a.k.a. the sharing economy or the on-demand economy? Whatever you call it, it’s growing. A poll says 44 percent of U.S. adults who are Internet users have participated in it, and 22 percent have offered goods or services in this economy. [Source: Silicon Beat]

How Florida's new district maps could give Democrats an edge

Now, six years after voters approved Constitutional amendments aimed at curbing gerrymandering, the courts say maps for Florida's congressional and state Senate seats at last comply with the law. [Source: NPR]

Why you may have to wait longer for your tax refund this year

In less than two weeks, taxpayers will be able to file their tax returns. But many taxpayers will have to wait longer to cash out their tax refunds thanks to new efforts from the IRS and state tax authorities to catch tax fraud. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Wynwood artists sue celebrity pastor for using artwork without permission [Miami Herald]
What started as a good deed for a Miami-Dade school has turned into a legal battle. On one side: eight street artists who donated their talent to paint striking murals at Jose de Diego, a struggling middle school in Wynwood. On the other: Rich Wilkerson, Jr., the handsome celebrity pastor who married Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

› Jacksonville Suns look to double workforce for baseball operations [Florida Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Suns baseball team wants to double its workforce for the upcoming baseball season and seek candidates for seasonal jobs at the organization’s job fair Saturday.

› Legislature to consider allowing alternatives to controversial FSA [Times/Herald]
Although Florida lawmakers don't plan to revamp the beleaguered Florida Standards Assessments this session, they're likely to consider a related proposal to let students take other standardized tests -- like the ACT or SAT -- instead.

› Manatee County reinstates impact fees [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Over the objections of builders, the Manatee County Commission voted 5-2 on Thursday to reinstate impact fees on home construction to pay for new and expanded schools.

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› For South Florida auto dealers, 2015 a banner year [Miami Herald]
From luxury brands like BMW and Bentley to stalwarts Toyota and Honda and budget-friendly Kia, 2015 was a banner year for sales at South Florida auto dealerships. But while more cars were driven off the lots, some of the sales came at a discount.

› Lockheed Martin lands 2 contracts for work to be done in Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
Defense giant Lockheed Martin has landed a pair of contracts to upgrade and maintain the targeting systems in the U.S. Army’s Apache helicopter, the company announced this week.

› New high-tech pill bottles will report back to your doctor [Orlando Sentinel]
Imagine a pill bottle that would telephone your doctor and tattle on you if you skipped a dose of important medicine. It's not a strange dream or science fiction. It's exactly what a new startup company in Orlando is making.

› Florida manatees will lose ‘endangered’ species tag [Times/Herald]
Federal officials on Thursday said they will move to remove Florida’s manatee, the whiskered lumbering icon that came to represent the fight to save the state’s vulnerable wildlife, from the endangered species list.