Florida leads nation in job growth, but jobless rate goes up

Florida added 54,300 jobs during January 2017 and gained nearly 300,000 jobs over the past year. Florida added more jobs in that month than any other state in the nation. Texas added 51,300 jobs and New York added 28,700. During the same month however, Florida's unemployment rate crept upward, the first rise in nearly a year. Unemployment rose to 5 percent, up from 4.9 percent in December, a level it has been stuck at since last March. Read Gov. Scott's press release here, see full employment figures and read more at the AP.

See also:
» Jobless rate ticks up for Florida and Orlando metro region
» Unemployment rises in Broward, Palm Beach, falls in Miami-Dade

Wildfire season could be hot, damaging in Florida — thanks to La Niña

This wildfire season in Florida, Smokey Bear may be in for a workout. A warm, dry winter linked to the La Niña weather pattern has turned the state into a tinderbox. More from the Miami Herald.

A Florida dairy's family owned, farm-to-table success story

The ocean of milk produced at Myakka City's Dakin Dairy — more than 4.6 million gallons annually from 2,400 cows, milked three times per day — makes its way into 700,000 homes throughout Florida. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Legislation for medical cannabis research filed in Tallahassee

The first steps towards more research in the field of medical cannabis in the Sunshine State were taken recently in Tallahassee. Florida State Senator Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, filed Senate Bill 1472 that, if enacted, would effectively establish a marijuana research coalition. More from First Coast News.

Opinion: Space business an economic engine for Florida

Recovering from the downturn following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program six years ago, Florida continues to successfully expand the business of space. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.