Cuba works to join the global economy, and IT sees a golden opportunity

Warming relations between the U.S. and Cuba could be a boon to the tech industry here in the U.S., giving companies looking to add to their IT staffs access to highly skilled, inexpensive labor and offering tech vendors a fresh crop of customers eager for the latest gadgets and services. [Source: Computerworld]

See also:
» Study finds low brand awareness among Cubans — but they do know Adidas
» Foe of Cuban government sees increased opposition since U.S. opening
» Beautiful buildings consumed by jungle: Cuba's forgotten art schools
» Caribbean hoteliers look to Cuba following challenging winter season

Related Florida Trend Archived Content
» Cuba: How much opportunity?
» Politics and Cuba

With Congress deadlocked, Scott wants Obama to act on Zika

With Congress in a two-week recess with no agreement on funding to combat the Zika virus, Gov. Rick Scott is requesting funding from President Obama for more personnel, pesticides, spraying equipment and traps for Florida’s local governments and mosquito-control districts. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the AP.

Higher taxes don't scare millionaires into moving, after all

A new study based on 13 years of tax data finds that most millionaires don’t rip up their roots and move just to avoid a tax bill. It turns out that the superrich, while perhaps different from the rest of us, aren’t all that mobile. [Source: Nasdaq]

South Florida has most properties at risk of storm surge

A report by CoreLogic found that South Florida has the most properties in the nation at risk of storm surge. The study is a reminder that property owners and businesses should prepared for hurricane season, which started this week and runs through Nov. 30. More from the South Florida Business Journal and News4Jax.

See also:
» See how much Florida home value is threatened by storm surge
» Storm surge imperils 455,000 Tampa Bay homes, report says
» CoreLogic storm surge analysis

People unsure about ability to pay for long-term care

Demand for long-term care is expected to increase as the nation ages, but the majority of Americans 40 and older lack confidence in their ability to pay for it. The annual cost of long-term care expenses range from $17,680 for adult day care to more than $92,000 for a private room in a nursing home,. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Governor declares financial emergency in Opa-locka [Miami Herald]
With Opa-locka on the edge of bankruptcy, Gov. Rick Scott declared a financial emergency for the city on Wednesday, calling for a special oversight board to take over the city’s finances.

› Regulator: 'Shame on us' if we approved illegal card games [WJXT]
Even if state regulators signed off on a popular type of card game years ago, that doesn't make the games legal, a Department of Business and Professional Regulation attorney told an administrative law judge on Wednesday.

› Nurses top ‘demand list’ in new report [Fort Myers News-Press]
Which Southwest Florida occupation has the largest gap between the number of workers demanded by employers and the available supply in the labor market? This is the question studied by Workforce Now and answered in the just-released report, “Southwest Florida’s Workforce Strong, in Flux.”

› Former OfficeMax director takes lead on Office Depot board [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Former OfficeMax director Warren Bryant is succeeding Nigel Travis as lead outside director at Office Depot in Boca Raton, the company disclosed in a securities filing late Tuesday.

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› Florida's courtroom sunshine gets some congressional attention [Times/Herald]
For Floridians, having access to live coverage of oral arguments before the state's highest court is nothing new -- the court has allowed cameras in the courtroom since 1979 and live coverage since 1997.

› Commentary: Cane farmers, not subsidies, important in Florida’s economy [Naples Daily News]
While Florida remains a global tourism destination and has benefited from foreign investment, its farming industry still serves as the backbone of its economy by providing thousands of jobs in every corner of the state.

› Hundreds of thousands lose food stamps in Florida [Marketplace]
During the recession, it was easier to get food stamps if you needed them. But now that the economy is improving, it's becoming harder because certain states like Florida, Alabama and South Carolina are again requiring people to show that they’re working. Listen to the full story here:

› Entrepreneurial youths invent Isladentro, the Cuban Yelp [Miami Herald]
The talents of two young Cuban entrepreneurs came together to create Isladentro, a cell phone app that mimics Yelp but can be used without an Internet connection.