Friday's Daily Pulse
Florida's deficit of registered nurses on the rise
If you’re one of the thousands of people in Florida who needs a job, the nursing field might be a good place to start looking. A survey conducted by the Florida Center for Nursing revealed that Florida is in dire need of nurses and will face a shortage of more than 15,000 registered nurses in 2012. A report released by the F.C.N. stated that because of the combination of the economy recovery, the glut of Baby Boomers entering their golden years, and health care reform; the need for nurses has grown but the supply has decreased. Read more from CBS Miami and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
There's money to help Florida's housing market but no consensus on how to spend it
Florida's sputtering housing market has produced one silver lining: enough home sales to generate $98 million in tax revenue for an affordable housing account created to repair foreclosed homes and place more middle- and low-income families into houses. But there's one problem: Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida House want to sweep the money into the general revenue fund to balance the state budget. On Thursday, the Senate voted to restore $29.6 million of the money into the affordable housing account. [Source: Times/Herald]
Need for skilled workers remains strong
President Obama last week shared some good news — for a change — about U.S. manufacturing. Master Lock in Milwaukee had brought jobs back to America, a boost for the president's plan to restore American manufacturing. Closer to home, though, some Florida manufacturers wonder where we'll get all the skilled workers to fill the factories. [Source: Tampa Tribune]
Florida among top states for app jobs
A new TechNet-sponsored study suggests that Apple’s App Store ecosystem has generated nearly 500,000 jobs for the US economy in under five years’ time. Florida ranked 10th on the list of app economy jobs. [Source: Florida Technology Journal]
The Impulsive Traveler: In Florida, a taste of tropical fruits
Everyone knows that Florida grows fruit: It produces about 70 percent of U.S. oranges and grapefruit, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. But growers here in the Redland agricultural area near Homestead also cultivate smaller quantities of less-well-known fruits, some of which don’t grow anywhere else in the continental United States: carambola (starfruit), mamey, sapodilla, jackfruit, lychee and many others.
[Source: Washington Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› HSN sales up 4% but TV network sales stagnate [Tampa Bay Times]
Sales at HSN Inc. rose a respectable 4 percent during the Christmas holiday quarter but were flat at the St. Petersburg e-commerce company's TV shopping business.
Overall, the quarter ended Dec. 31 "was positive," said Mindy Grossman, chief executive officer. "But the final weeks (of the holidays) did not live up to our (sales) expectations."
› Florida families among many who face adoption heartbreak [NBC Miami]
Some families in South Florida have waited for years to adopt children from foreign countries.
The process is often mired with bureaucracy and red tape.
Chris Cruz, an administrator at Miami-Dade College, knows how painful international adoption can be. For four years she spent many sleepless, tearful nights worrying the Guatemalan newborn that she says she fell in love after seeing his picture for the first time, would never be coming home
to Miami.
» International Adoption:
Whose Standards?
U.S. Bound Adoptions |
› Mild winter boosts Darden's sales [Orlando Sentinel]
A mild winter helped boost sales at Olive Garden, Red Lobster and other chains owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants during its third quarter, the company said today.
Darden pre-released some earnings information ahead of its annual conference for investors Friday in New York. Darden's third quarter ends Sunday, and it will give a full earnings report next month.
› Tax break would help commercial airport bases [Orlando Sentinel]
The Florida Legislature this year is advancing tax breaks for private airplane repairs, aircraft engine manufacturers, onshore oil drillers, citrus packers and even the parking garage at the Miami Marlins’ baseball stadium. Now add to the list: Commercial airport bases.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Two studies show many of us aren't saving enough [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Two recent studies show many of us aren't saving enough -- to the point we don't have enough stashed away for an emergency or for a comfortable retirement.
One survey released this week show that just barely half of Americans have more emergency savings than what they owe on their credit cards.
Bankrate.com, that is based in Palm Beach County found that one in four Americans actually has more credit card debt than emergency savings.
› Couple plans trip to Anaheim, Florida Disney parks in 24 hours [Orange County Register]
Randi Teague got excited about the prospect of going to a 24-hour party at Walt Disney World in Florida after it was announced on New Years Eve.
But her husband Andy Bullard said that wasn't good enough: The couple should go to both California and Florida parks on the same day. Teague's response: "That's brilliant."
› The story behind the ManningtoMiami.com billboard in Fort Lauderdale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
If Peyton Manning doesn't feel wanted in Indianapolis, there are a couple of fans in South Florida who would love him down here.
Will Casino and Robert Hoffman, founders of ManningtoMiami.com are stepping up their efforts to bring the Indianapolis Colts quarterback to the Miami Dolphins.
› Before you nip & tuck, you may want to hear this
[Miami Herald]
Dozens of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and other health professionals will participate at a Cosmetic Surgery & Wellness Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Saturday.
The free, one-day event is geared to help individuals find the right provider and treatment for their cosmetic surgery and wellness needs, said Dr. Adam Rubinstein, an Aventura-based board-certified plastic surgeon, who is organizing the expo.
› New tax cut carved out for Canadian billionaire's slaughterhouse in Marion Co.
[Miami Herald]
A proposal to give a tax break to slaughterhouses was tacked on to a tax cut meant for fruit growers Thursday, and is basically an incentive for a company looking to plant its stakes (steaks?) in Marion County.
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