Wednesday's Afternoon Update
Florida the 5th most financially distressed state
Floridian households are among the nation's most likely to be in financial distress, according to CredAbility’s Consumer Distress Index for fourth quarter 2011. Florida scores a 63.06 on the index’s 100-point scale against a national average of 67.6, making it the fifth most-distressed of all 50 states. Florida’s fourth-quarter score was a slight improvement from the third quarter score of 62.73; however, for the year it fell from 63.55 in the first quarter. [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]Business Profile
In over 30 years, the three banks of Pensacola's Five Flags Banks group — Bank of the South, Warrington Bank and First Navy Bank — have foreclosed on only one loan among them. "We're pretty conservative," says Marilyn Hess, chairman of Warrington Bank and daughter of the late Charles P. Woodbury, who founded the banks between 1952 and 1973. "Our responsibility is not to get people in trouble, but to make sound and secure loans that borrowers have the ability to repay." |
You can now carry your gun at Florida State Fair
Following complaints by a gun rights group, and a law passed by the Florida Legislature last year, you can now carry your gun at the Florida State Fair.
"We have changed the policy to comply with the state law — it allows a person with a concealed weapon permit to come in with a firearm," said Charles Pesano, executive director of the State Fair Authority. "We've changed some signs to reflect that."
Instead of "No Weapons," the signs now say, "No Unlawful Weapons." [Source: Tampa Tribune]
Southwest Florida leaders propose goals to enhance education and business
Southwest Florida’s school superintendents and college presidents have agreed on a three-year plan to enhance education and business, and thus rebuild the region’s economy.
The Alliance of Educational Leaders, an informal group of five superintendents and six college executives, developed “One Community, One Goal: Preparing the 21st Century Workforce” in response to The News-Press’ Market Watch Education Summit in October. On Wednesday, the alliance unveiled four overarching goals.
[Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
State University System degree can mean huge boost in lifetime earnings
A new economic study suggests that having a degree from one of Florida’s 11 state universities can be a financial lifesaver — equivalent to more than $1 million in a worker’s lifetime earnings.
The State University System’s Board of Governors requested the economic study to update earlier figures, said Alan Hodges, an extension scientist with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The team included economists from UF and Florida State University.
[Source: UF News]
Support at home is good for careers
You come home after a stressful day at work, kick off your shoes, and continue to stew about the unrealistic demands of a customer or an insult from your jerky boss. If you’re married, chances are high that your spouse could come through the door soon with similar gripes.
But what happens next plays a big role in how well you bounce back after a rocky day on the job.
[Source: Miami Herald]
Health Trend |
