High-flying Florida GDP downshifts in latest quarter behind 29 other states

Florida's once soaring gross domestic product fell back to earth in the third quarter of 2015, dropping to a 2 percent growth rate from 5.1 percent in the second quarter of last year, according to new data from the U.S. Commerce Department. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» All but three states see their GDP increase

Publix one of Americas best places to work, again

Publix Supermarkets is the only Central Florida headquartered company on Fortune's Best Companies To Work For list. The employee-owned grocery store chain was praised for its low employee turnover, it's employee-stock program and its promotion from within program. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

What can the government can learn from industry?

The Secretary of Defense recently announced the creation of an advisory board to the Pentagon, to “bridge the gap” between how the government and the technology industry operate. Google’s former CEO, Erich Schmidt, will lead the board. [Source: Florida Today]

Financial sector is struggling, but some bargains are available

The financial sector was expected to perform well this year, amid hopes that a strengthening housing market and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike would help the bottom line of banking stocks. It hasn't quite worked out that way. [Source: U.S. News & World Report]

Florida's back to school tax holiday scaled back this year

Florida's back to school sales tax holiday will be scaled back this year. A key Senate panel on Thursday approved a bill that would cut back the tax holiday from 10 days to just three days in August. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Rotten tomatoes? Farmworkers sue Palm Beach over protest ban [AP]
A U.S. farmworkers coalition is suing Palm Beach, alleging the wealthy town's ordinances effectively bar the group from its constitutional right to hold a protest near the home of a billionaire fast-food executive.

› Ernst & Young to add more than 400 jobs in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
Financial services company Ernst & Young announced Thursday they will develop a client services center in Jacksonville that will add 450 jobs to the area over the next four years.

› Harris gets Nunn-Perry honor [Florida Today]
Melbourne-based Harris Corp., and its protégé, Spatial Data Integrations Inc., recently were awarded the Nunn-Perry Award by the Department of Defense.

› Disney will build 2 cruise ships, bring fleet to 6 by 2023 [Miami Herald]
The Disney Cruise Line fleet will grow by two ships by 2023. The company announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement with a German shipyard to build two 2,500-passenger ships, bringing its fleet to six.

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› Florida lawmakers send death penalty fix to Gov. Rick Scott [AP]
The Florida Legislature on Thursday sent to Gov. Rick Scott a bill that would require that at least 10 out of 12 jurors recommend execution in order for it be carried out. Florida previously only required that a majority of jurors recommend a death sentence.

› Pitch competitions give tech companies practice [Orlando Sentinel]
It’s no secret: tech startups need money. But some experts say helping them find it, whether through competitions or support services, will keep them in Orlando as they grow.

› Florida business leaders push to cut rent tax on businesses [WEAR]
Florida paints itself as a business friendly state, but employers could be getting a mixed message. It's the only state in the country that charges companies a sales tax on their rent.

› USF President Judy Genshaft awarded contract extension, raise [Tampa Bay Times]
Judy Genshaft's status as one of the top-paid public university presidents in the country was preserved Thursday morning as the University of South Florida's Board of Trustees approved a hefty raise in her new contract.