Florida layoffs down by more than 80 percent in November over year ago

Florida employers cut 581 jobs in November, but that was down more than 80 percent from 3,006 layoffs a year ago, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said in its monthly job-cut report on Thursday. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Thousands of cybersecurity professionals sought by Florida employers

Georgia-Florida water fight now in hands of special master

A monthlong trial aimed at settling a high-stakes water dispute between Georgia and Florida ended Thursday with a special master imploring both sides to negotiate a settlement. [Source: AP]

With workers in tight supply, Florida growers worry about immigration plans

More tomato growers in Florida are using the H2-A guest worker program, which allows them to bring in foreign workers legally for up to 10 months, but the rules and requirements are cumbersome. Farmers are hopeful Trump will loosen them. More from the Naples Daily News.

OPEC production cuts already driving up Florida, US oil, gasoline prices

Gas prices usually drop, sometimes a lot, in December. But they’re already rising this month. The average went up 6 cents in Florida in the past week, including 3 cents overnight. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

Obama to give final counterterrorism speech at Florida base

President Barack Obama will travel to Florida next week to give his final speech about U.S. counterterrorism strategy. The White House says Obama will go to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa on Tuesday. The base is the headquarters for U.S. Special Operations Command. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Broward to debut Hello Sunny TV network as part of new tourism marketing plans [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Broward County's official tourism marketing organization is launching its own digital TV channel this weekend, as part of several new initiatives rolling out in coming weeks and in early 2017 to promote the destination and woo travelers.

› University of Miami School of Business to train public health pros [Miami Today]
The Center for Health Sector Management and Policy at the University of Miami School of Business Administration has grown its faculty in the past year and continues to study issues relating to health care policy and patient safety.

› White House selects Tampa Bay as new TechHire community [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Tampa Bay has been selected as a national TechHire community, the White House announced on Thursday. With this designation comes funding to train approximately 1,000 people between the ages of 17 and 29 over the next three years.

› Find out what’s happening during Art Basel week with a new app [Miami Herald]
Art Week 2016 is officially here. Looking for the scoop on when and where to find the fairs and exhibitions? Want to know which events and fairs are free? Just download the ArtFinder Miami app from your app store.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Iconic Jacksonville Southbank office tower sold for $53.4 million [Florida Times-Union]
Riverplace Tower on Jacksonville’s Southbank has been sold for $53.4 million, its seller announced. Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners of Richmond, Va., purchased the 28-story building in 2014 for $29 million.

› Bradenton Blues Festival connected to downtown boom for Friendly City [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The annual Bradenton Blues Festival has coincided with tremendous growth for the city, especially as a destination and particularly in its greater downtown district that stretches from the south bank of the Manatee River to the Village of the Arts.

› FAU hopes to build $33 million brain science center at FAU campus [Palm Beach Post]
Florida Atlantic University President John Kelly said he’s hopeful that state lawmakers will approve $30 million for a new brain science building on the school’s Jupiter campus.

› Boca Raton hospitality-driven startup acquires Canadian company [South Florida Business Journal]
Boca Raton startup Cendyn announced today that it has acquired Guestfolio Communications, a customer relationship management marketing platform for boutique hotels.