Hurricane Irma swells Florida job cuts in October

Hurricane Irma affected job cuts in October, with Florida employers trimming 2,363 jobs, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said its monthly job report Thursday. That’s a three-fold increase from 561 job cuts in the same month a year ago. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

In final year, Gov. Rick Scott will seek more money for human services

In his final year in office, Gov. Rick Scott will ask the Florida Legislature for more money for child abuse investigators and improved adoption services, he said Thursday. Scott was the lead-off speaker at the annual Associated Press legislative planning event at the Capitol in Tallahassee. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

See also:
» Gov. Rick Scott: Special member projects should pay for Hurricane Irma
» Gov. Scott proposes $21 million in aid to Florida citrus industry

Alligator removals at Disney more than double

State wildlife officials removed more than twice as many alligators from Walt Disney World properties in the six months after a toddler was killed last year when a gator pulled him into the water. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida ranks #4 on Kiplinger’s list of Most Tax-Friendly States

Kiplinger’s fifth annual Tax Map reveals income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, “sin” taxes (for products such as alcohol and tobacco) and other tax rules and exemptions across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Read more from the Gainesville Business Report and see Florida's profile at Kiplinger's.

South Florida, out of beach, wants to buy sand from the Bahamas

For years, Florida beach managers have raced to find convenient sources of cheap, offshore sand. But the good stuff is running out. So Florida engineers and politicians want to do with sand what Americans do for other commodities that are expensive to buy domestically: buy it abroad. [Source: Slate]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› AutoNation announces deal with Alphabet's self-driving technology company [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Fort Lauderdale-based auto retailer said it has a multi-year agreement to support Waymo's autonomous vehicle program. AutoNation said it will offer strategic capabilities to maximize the life of Waymo's vehicles across the United States.

› Okaloosa to discuss potential sales tax [Northwest Florida Daily News]
On Tuesday, the Okaloosa County Commission could set the date of a public hearing at which it would decide whether to approve an ordinance that establishes the referendum and ballot language for the county’s proposed local option half-cent sales tax.

› Fantasy Fest just wasn’t the same this year for some Key West businesses [Miami Herald]
Fantasy Fest 2017, which came six weeks after Hurricane Irma devastated parts of the Florida Keys, didn’t bring the type of crowds and sales of festivals past, says Duval Street shop owner Samantha Steele.

› Drone developers show off latest technology for SOCom at Ybor City ‘rodeo’ [Tampa Bay Times]
SOCom, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, spends billions each year on commando goods and services so innovators use the event to impress those with the checkbooks.

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› With Metrorail so costly, mayor touts a Miami commuting on high-tech buses [Miami Herald]
Mayor Carlos Gimenez made Metrorail a prominent part of his reelection campaign last year, but on Wednesday he ramped up a new transit crusade: winning support for Chinese-made “trackless trains” running on dedicated lanes north and south of Miami.

› Darden-EEOC age bias trial delayed until March [Orlando Sentinel]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s nearly three year old lawsuit against Darden could last even longer, as the trial date in the case has now been pushed back by four months until March.

› Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s million-orchid plan slowed [Miami Today]
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Million Orchid Project, which aims to repopulate Miami with exotic plants that have disappeared over the years, hit a minor road bump in September after many trees were damaged due to hurricane Irma.

› Hurricane Irma rains on what would have been Tampa International Airport’s record year [Tampa Bay Times]
Hurricane Irma kept Tampa International Airport from breaking a 10-year-old record for total passengers, but the count for the 12 months ending in September was still up 1.6 percent.