Thursday's Daily Pulse
Florida lost construction, gained health care jobs during recovery
There were winners and losers as Florida’s economy emerged from the doldrums of a half-decade ago. Florida lost 340,000 manufacturing and almost 150,000 construction jobs. The loss of jobs in those sectors was offset by healthy gains in health care, hospitality, professional and retail workers. More from CBS Miami and the AP.
Citizens Property Insurance expects to grow in 2017, entering ‘different stage’
After years of jettisoning customers, Florida’s last-resort insurer expects to get bigger in 2017 — returning to more than half a million policies. Citizens remains one of the state’s two largest property insurers. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Invasive species wreak havoc on Florida ecosystems
Florida is the unwelcome home to many non-native species including marine life, insects, reptiles and mammals. According to a recent report, Florida is at great risk for invasive bugs wiping out trees and causing billions of dollars in damage a year. [Source: Click Orlando]
See also:
» Spread by trade and climate, bugs butcher America's forests
House members get crash course at ‘Legislator U'
There were no sorority rushes or intramural sports, but Florida House members returned to Tallahassee this week for "Legislator University," a two-day series of courses meant to discuss the finer points of maneuvering the Capitol. Full story is here. Also read more at WJXT.
Florida homemade-food entrepreneurs call for less-restrictive regulations
Florida’s relatively restrictive laws on home bakers and other food makers should be loosened, including allowing individuals to earn more money from sales, advocacy groups said. [Source: Florida Business Daily]
› Charles Reed, former Florida university system chancellor, dies at 75 [Orlando Sentinel]
Charles Reed, a high-profile figure in Florida who presided over two of the nation's largest public university systems, died Tuesday at age 75. Reed served 13 years as chancellor of the Florida university system after working as chief of staff for former Gov. Bob Graham.
› Magic Leap hires new chief marketing officer [South Florida Business Journal]
Magic Leap has hired a replacement for Brian Wallace, who stepped down as chief marketing officer just three weeks ago. The Dania Beach-based company announced that Brenda Freeman will be taking over the position.
› Florida Panther killed on highway sets grisly new record [Tampa Bay Times]
Somewhere out there in Florida is a driver who set a disturbing record Tuesday but may not know it. The driver ran over a Florida panther, breaking the all-time record for how many of the endangered cats have been killed by vehicles.
› Miami’s biggest condo builder is looking overseas for its next projects [Miami Herald.]
Repeating a strategy from the last time Miami’s luxury home market cooled down, the Related Group — South Florida’s biggest condo builder — is announcing plans for two new residential projects in Mexico.
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› Naples Council tables downtown development parking plan [Naples Daily News]
The Naples City Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to table its consideration of a parking plan for a downtown redevelopment after the project’s developer said the plans could become part of an injunction sought in a lawsuit against the city.
› Florida part of two-year strategy to help gopher tortoise [Southeast AgNet]
As a part of an ongoing effort to help the gopher tortoise rebound, USDA recently released a new two-year implementation strategy to help restore, enhance and protect longleaf pine forests not only in Florida, but across the Southeast.
› Medical marijuana expected to create demand for Central Florida warehouses [Orlando Sentinel]
Florida voters' passage of a medical marijuana amendment last month is expected to create demand in Central Florida's lower-tier warehouse spaces, according to industrial broker Wilson McDowell.
› Miami Beach is moving forward with plans for light rail, but how? [Miami Today]
Miami Beach is moving forward with plans for light rail on the island, but if, how and when it will connect to the mainland remains to be seen.