Recipes for victory in Florida's 2012 election
Florida Trend spoke with two political operatives who gave opposing views on how to win the Sunshine State. Steve Schale was state director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign and is a volunteer on the 2012 re-election campaign. Brett Doster is Florida senior adviser for the Romney for President campaign. Click the picture below to see what they had to say.
 |
Step aside, Florida: Biggest home price gains now in the West
Housing prices have turned around in the past year. Last July, asking prices nationally were falling; in October they stabilized; and since February have been rising. Comparing year-over-year gains with the most recent quarter-over-quarter gains, it’s clear that the housing price recovery has shifted from Florida to Arizona, California and Nevada. Read more at Forbes and see the latest findings from Trulia.
Disney reports largest quarterly earnings in its history
The Walt Disney Co. reported its best-ever quarterly earnings Tuesday, as the entertainment giant began harvesting profits from new theme-park investments and scored a global box-office hit with The Avengers. Disney said it turned a profit of more than $1.8 billion during its fiscal third quarter, up 24 percent from the same period a year ago. Revenue climbed 4 percent to $11.1 billion for the period, which ended June 30. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida phosphate update
Mosaic Co. mines 10.3 million tons of phosphate each year, getting most of it from land that stretches from Polk County south through Florida’s interior. Streamsong, a golf and conference resort the fertilizer company is building on formerly mined phosphate land in Polk County, is on schedule to start opening in stages later this year. Full story...
 Mosaic’s Streamsong development is being built on formerly mined phosphate land between Orlando and Tampa. [Photo: Larry Lambrecht] |
Fitness routines don't take a vacation
Christine Davlin works as an education and training manager for the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. But it’s a different kind of training — fitness — she seeks when she is out of town, whether for business or pleasure. She is one of a fairly new breed of travelers for whom a hotel reservation is only slightly more important than access to a gym. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Bar now says nothing disqualifies immigrant
The Florida Bar now says there's nothing that would disqualify an illegal immigrant from getting a law license. But the Board of Bar Examiners said in a letter to his lawyer, former Florida State University President Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte, that it still wants an advisory opinion from the Florida Supreme Court before taking final action.
› OPINION: A way to protect Florida's treasures
Tough economic times and a penchant in Tallahassee for “easy solutions” to close budget gaps have left the state’s environmental treasures and wildlife programs in the dumps. What these recreation and conservation lands need is a stable, dedicated source of funding.
› "Fiscal cliff" could close St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport
If America falls off the so-called "fiscal cliff" on Jan. 2, one of the first victims could be St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. If St. Petersburg-Clearwater International were to close, officials there said the bay area would take a big economic hit. According to a 2010 state report, the airport generated $924 million in economic activity and 8,200 jobs while serving more than 360,000 passengers.
› Miami mansion sells for a record $47 million
A South Florida home that originally listed for $60 million has sold for $47 million, a record for a single-family home in Miami-Dade County. The high-end market in South Florida has picked up in recent months, with a number of sales well above the $10 million mark.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Cargo airline considers moving headquarters to Orlando
A New York-based cargo airline may move its corporate headquarters and 105 jobs to Orlando, according to documents filed recently with the city and with Orange County. National Air Cargo Inc., a large, military-oriented transport contractor, is looking at a commercial complex as the potential site for an expansion and a consolidation of its existing operations.
› NASA hopes recent successes will boost its support in Congress
The Curiosity rover’s impressive arrival on Mars couldn’t have come at a better time for NASA. The agency, facing budget cuts, increased congressional scrutiny and questions about its direction since the shuttle program ended last year, has worked to remind skeptics the U.S. space program deserves continued support and investment.
› Bioheart close to approving $2 million investment deal
Bioheart, a Sunrise-based biotechnology company, said Tuesday that its board has agreed to the terms and will soon formally vote on a $2 million investment from Grupo Vitalmex in Mexico, which would give Bioheart much needed capital to resume its clinical trials.
› Compensation package drops for Darden CEO
Orlando-based Darden Restaurants' chief executive officer Clarence Otis saw his total compensation package dip 4.7 percent last year to $8.1 million, the company reported Tuesday.