Florida businesses optimistic as retiree migration bounces back

Florida businesses are feeling positive and for good reason. The migration of retirees to southern states, which slowed in the aftermath of the Great Recession, has started to rebound. And more than half of Florida businesses (53 percent) are feeling optimistic. [Source: Small Business Trends]

Florida home sales take an October dip

Single-family home sales in Florida in October fell 5.3% to 20,194 from the same month last year, and townhouse-condo sales dropped 12.3% to 7,955 during the same period, the Florida Realtors® reported Tuesday. The group said shortfalls in inventory continued to impact sales statewide. At the same time however, Florida’s housing market reported higher median prices. Read the report from Florida Realtors® here.

See also:
» South Florida home sales frightfully low in October
» The price of homes in the Tampa Bay area continues to soar
» Southwest Florida residential sales drop
» October sales of Naples homes fall 7 percent
» Miami-Dade home sales plummet again in October

Where will Florida's medical marijuana dispensaries go?

Florida has legalized medical marijuana. But one big question: Where will those dispensaries go? And how much control will local governments have to regulate medical marijuana? [Source: WMFE]

Floridians expected to spend an average of $900 on gifts

The holiday shopping season officially begins on Black Friday and according to the Florida Retail Federation people in the Sunshine State are expected to spend an average of $935 on gifts this year. That includes $590 on gifts for family, friends and co-workers, $207 on decorations, flowers and greeting cards, $140 on themselves. [Source: WJXT]

Earlier:
» Report from the Florida Retail Federation is here.

Florida Senate leaders scoff as Corcoran calls for change in Capitol

Under new leadership, the Florida Legislature entered a strange new world Tuesday as the House speaker condemned the entrenched power of lobbyists and called for major changes in spending sure to be opposed by the Senate and Gov. Rick Scott. [Source: Times/Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida PTA drops out of school choice lawsuit [Florida WatchDog]
The Parent Teacher Association has dropped out of a lawsuit against a scholarship program that helps children attend a private school even if they don’t have the financial means.

› Florida CHAIN, health consumer group, lays off all staff [Health News Florida]
Florida CHAIN, the state's most active group urging health care for all, says it will lay off all five staff members at the end of next month because it has lost a key source of funds.

› University of Miami loses $70M, investment performance sags [South Florida Business Journal]
The University of Miami flipped to a loss for its 2016 fiscal year largely due to lagging performing by its investment portfolio. The nonprofit university moderately improved on its operating profits during its first year under President Julio Frenk.

› Meet the oldest corrections officer in Florida, and perhaps the strongest [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
At 81, Yong is the oldest certified corrections officer in Florida, the state's oldest law enforcement officer and the most senior lieutenant at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. He's also still a strongman.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Clothes that soak up sun could power phones, UCF professor hopes [Orlando Sentinel]
A University of Central Florida professor says his research could lead to the day when you can charge your phone by slipping it into your shirt pocket.

› Mud from PortMiami dredge spurred coral die-off, study finds [Miami Herald]
A new study has confirmed what federal wildlife officials long suspected: dredging at PortMiami to make way for massive new ships killed far more coral than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicted.

› Florida phone repair shops broaden their reach, stay current [Orlando Sentinel]
The phone repair shop is growing and maturing as a business model. It's a trend that saw its early days with Best Buy's Geek Squad, which debuted 22 years ago.

› Uber, Lyft on hold in St. Pete while city tweaks business tax [Tampa Bay Times]
The St. Petersburg City Council has decided to defer a vote on an ordinance legalizing ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft after a dispute emerged over those companies should be subject to the city’s business tax.