Florida hiring strong in February

Florida added 20,200 private-sector jobs in February, a 13 percent jump from the previous month, according to reports from human resources firm and payroll processor ADP and economists at Moody’s Analytics Inc. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

How robots will kill the 'gig economy'

A new study predicts that logistics companies — from start-ups like Uber to tech giants like Amazon — will soon replace drivers and delivery workers with autonomous vehicles and drones. Highly skilled workers, such as lawyers and accountants — no longer guaranteed jobs at big firms — will be the new gig economy workers. [Source: CNBC]

See also:
» Here’s who is winning in the gig economy
» Finding financial health in the gig economy

Marijuana is on the march in Florida

Marijuana is on the march in Florida. Volusia County made it legal to carry small amounts last week. South Florida counties did it last year. Tampa is preparing to do it next week. Plus, a statewide campaign to legalize medical marijuana appears poised to pass this fall. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida not the best place to retire, Bankrate says

Forget Florida's reputation as a retirement haven. A new report from Bankrate.com says we're just middle of the road. Florida ranked 28th on a list of the best states for retirement. Wyoming was first. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Renters' rise extends beyond big U.S. cities to suburbs

In the American imagination, suburbs are places to buy a house and put down roots. But a growing percentage of suburbanites rent, according to a new study. About 29 percent of suburbanites living outside the nation's 11 most populous cities were renters in 2014, up from 23 percent in 2006. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Georgia company, Florida success [Sponsored Report]
The company may officially be called Georgia-Pacific, but a fair share of its manufacturing output is actually Florida specific. With two large plants in North Florida, GP has an outsized impact on the two communities where it conducts business, Palatka and Perry.

› Florida Legislature sends 3 tax proposals to voters [Florida Politics]
Florida voters will be asked to vote on three constitutional amendments dealing with taxes. The Florida Legislature on Wednesday approved three amendments for the ballot.

› White House taps Miami-Dade for program to create tech jobs [South Florida Business Journal]
The White House named Miami-Dade County a TechHire community, making it part of an initiative to train people for technology jobs.

› Florida reports 1st case of sexually transmitted Zika virus [AP]
Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong's office announced Wednesday that two new cases of Zika had been confirmed in Polk County. Officials say one case was travel-related and in the other case, the virus was sexually transmitted.

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› Tampa Bay banks appear strong after industry was battered during recession [Tampa Bay Times]
The vast majority of Tampa Bay area banks are healthy and prospering seven years after a rough recession forced several of them to fail or be acquired by stronger institutions.

› Diplomacy, election could decide fate of 28,400 Cuban felons facing deportation [Miami Herald]
With President Barack Obama formally re-establishing relations with Cuba last year, thousands of convicted Cuban citizens in the United States could now potentially face so-called final orders of removal to their homeland.

› Judge to decide if farmworkers can march in Palm Beach [AP]
A farmworkers coalition will try to persuade a federal judge that the wealthy town of Palm Beach is effectively barring the group from holding a protest near the home of a billionaire fast-food executive.

› Huge Norwegian ship extends Port Canaveral stay [Florida Today]
The Norwegian Epic will winter at Port Canaveral for a second consecutive year in 2017-18, Norwegian Cruise Line has decided. The Epic, one of the world's largest cruise ships, will debut at Port Canaveral this November.