Unemployment itself can be biggest obstacle to getting a job
Robert Spidella, an accountant in Pinellas Park who has been unemployed nearly three years, thought he'd be a perfect fit for an opening advertised by staffing agency Aerotek. An e-mail from the company set him straight. "Sorry Robert, but we are looking for someone who has experience in the past year with Accounts Receivable," recruiter Angela Griffin wrote. Spidella's "jobless" status always seems to trump his 30-plus years of experience. Even when he lands an interview, the job invariably goes to someone who already has one. It's one of the great ironies of the Great Recession: Those most in need of a job are least likely to get one. Advocates of the long-term unemployed say employer bias against hiring an out-of-work person has grown into a form of discrimination that's not only persistent and pervasive but downright blatant. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
Bill would steer money to restoration projects in Gulf
n an unusual show of bipartisanship, nine Gulf Coast senators from both parties joined forces Thursday to introduce a bill that would require at least 80 percent of penalties from last year's BP oil spill paid under the Clean Water Act to be directed to restoration projects in the five Gulf states — Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.
Publisher's Column: Educating Florida |
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Those who consider "jobs, jobs, jobs" the immediate solution for Florida might also agree that "learn, learn, learn" is key to the state's long-term health. In fact, it's hard to find anyone — student, parent, executive, elected official, even retiree — who doesn't acknowledge the importance of education for Florida's future. Continued... |
 Andy Corty, Publisher |
Fla. taxpayers pick up the security tab when other governors visit
When Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana visited Jacksonville to campaign for Rick Scott last fall, state law enforcement agents provided extra security — and Florida taxpayers picked up the tab. Jindal's one-day trip last September cost $3,137 and was one of 51 visits by out-of-state dignitaries in the past fiscal year, costing the state about $77,000. For years, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has provided security and transportation to visiting presidents, governors and foreign leaders. State law says failure to do so could put a high-profile visitor in danger "or could result in public embarrassment to the state." Whether they're here on business, for meetings, or simply to golf or fish. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
Why one good teacher decided to quit
This is Linda DeRegnaucourt's last summer off. When school starts in August, it will be her last year to think about high school classes, advanced placement tests and calculus.
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Feds investigate Florida congressman on casino contract
Federal investigators have opened a second criminal probe of U.S. Rep. David Rivera, examining undisclosed payments from a Miami gambling enterprise to a company tied to the Republican congressman.
Agents with the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service have begun interviewing witnesses knowledgeable about a $1 million consulting contract between Flagler Dog Track — now known as Magic City Casino — and Millennium Marketing, a company co-owned by Rivera's 70-year-old mother and her business partner, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
[Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› West Palm Beach based Quepasa to acquire myYearbook site
Quepasa Corp. (NYSE Amex: QPSA, $9.16), owner of Latino social network Quepasa.com said Thursday it has reached an agreement to merge with Insider Guides, New Hope, Pa.
Insider Guides Inc., a private company, operates myYearbook, a social networking website geared to teens. The $100 million deal is technically an acquisition by West Palm Beach-based Quepasa that includes about $82 million in Quepasa common stock and $18 million in cash.
› City of Sarasota to bring back paid parking
The bagged meters lining downtown streets will tick back to life in a couple of months to accept your coins, cash and credit cards.
But drivers will pay less for half the year, and there will be more free parking downtown.
With ears tuned to merchants who say the machines have scared away customers and quieted downtown, city commissioners agreed Thursday to lower rates and relocate meters to dull the pain and lure shoppers.
› Health plan a huge problem for Jackson Health System
The JMH Health Plan, the insurance wing of the Jackson Health System, has become a huge money-loser that must be fixed quickly, board members were told Thursday.
So far this year, the plan has lost $30.4 million — almost half of the $71.7 million that Jackson Health System has lost for the entire fiscal year.
"We have to fix this no matter what," Chief Executive Carlos Migoya told the Financial Recovery Board. "Even if we decide we don't want to be in the health plan business, we need to fix it in order to sell it."
› FPL solar rebates: Cash is running out
Florida Power & Light has run out of cash for rebates for solar panels but customers can still apply for other rebates.
The state's largest utility has money left for customers who want to install solar water heaters: As of Thursday morning, just over $3 million was available for homeowners and $448,183 for businesses.
The amount of money left is updated in real-time on FPL's website. As people apply, funds are reserved and subtracted from the tally kept on the residential and business pages of its solar rebate website.
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› Tampa City Council approves incentives to keep finance firm from moving jobs
In an unusual vote, Tampa City Council members Thursday joined a city-county partnership aimed at keeping an international financial services firm from moving jobs out of town.
With the vote, the city and county have agreed to offer a total of $1.2 million to the yet-to-be-identified company, which says 1,633 local jobs are at risk.
The city's contribution would total $610,000 — $550,000 approved Thursday to entice the company to stay, plus $60,000 approved in June as an incentive for the firm to create 200 new jobs.
› Hotel bosses advised not to get into price wars
It's time to quit leaving money on the table.
That's the message a national research firm has for Southwest Florida hoteliers.
"Demand is coming back. Supply growth is slowing. It will be up to the hotelier to get that (room) rate back up," said Brittany Baldwin, sales executive for Tennessee-based Smith Travel Research.
Baldwin spoke Thursday to the regional chapter of Hospitality Sales and Marketing International. It held a luncheon meeting at the Holiday Inn-Fort Myers Airport, near Gulf Coast Town Center.
› Shuttle contract workers head out
On Thursday, Mark Nappi greeted the final four shuttle astronauts on Kennedy Space Center's runway as they climbed out of Atlantis in a triumphant end to a 13-day mission and the 30-year shuttle era.
Today, the leader of United Space Alliance's Florida operations has many more hands to shake but for a less happy occasion.
The end of the final mission means the end of shuttle careers today for 1,510 local USA employees who will arrive in waves at a Cape Canaveral facility to process layoff paperwork and receive parting gifts.
› Record retail price sends OJ sales plummeting
In the Florida Department of Citrus' continuing mission to boost domestic orange juice sales, it will change the way it reaches out to the nation's supermarket chains.
And not a moment too soon, according to another grim report on U.S. orange juice sales from Bob Norberg, an economist and deputy executive director.
› Minkow gets 5 years in fraud involving Lennar
A federal judge in Miami has sentenced convicted con man Barry Minkow to the maximum five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to fraud involving homebuilder Lennar Corp.
Minkow had sought leniency at Thursday's hearing. But U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz said the scheme cost Miami-based Lennar more than $580 million in lost stock value.
› Free tickets for Harry Potter fans after less-than-magical Tampa experience
The Muvico Centro Ybor theater will offer a free ticket to Harry Potter fans who were left in the dark last week when a power outage delayed the midnight premiere of the popular series' final installment.
In an e-mail sent Thursday to movie patrons, Muvico chief operating officer James E. Herd apologized for the lack of communication during the event. A power line fell and knocked out a grid, he said, resulting in long lines and a nearly two-hour wait for hundreds of Potter devotees.