March 29, 2024

Wednesday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/12/2014

Florida housing market gains momentum

Florida's housing market ended 2013 with higher home sales and higher median prices compared to the year before, according to Florida Realtors. However, going forward the Florida housing market faces obstacles that could impede a stronger recovery, such as limited inventories of homes for sale, overly-restrictive mortgage credit, increasing interest rates and flood insurance costs, the report states. More at WPC and the Orlando Business Journal.

See also:
» Orlando near top for home-price gains in Florida
» Who bought a Florida home in 2013? The answers might surprise


Solar jobs rose in Florida in 2013

The number of solar jobs in Florida grew 60 percent in 2013, raising the state's nationwide rank from 12th to 7th, according to a study released Tuesday. Florida now employs 4,000 solar workers, though the state has struggled to keep pace with other states in the number of solar installations. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]


Florida Chamber issues legislative wish list

The Florida Chamber of Commerce released its 2014 legislative agenda Tuesday, calling for changes to the state legal system, elimination of a tax break for Internet merchants and no expansion of casino-style gambling. The state's highest-profile business lobby claimed that Florida has the potential to add 198,000 jobs in 2014 if the state continues to nurture a business-friendly environment [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


Lights, camera, lobby! 5 minutes with Film Florida's president

Leah Sokolowsky, the current president of Film Florida, says that states with funded incentives are seeing an increase in their workforce. Florida, though, where all the incentives have been accounted for, is seeing a flat or slight decrease in the number of workers in the film industry. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]


4 things we know about the high-stakes Florida special election

In exactly four weeks, voters will choose their next member of Congress in Florida's 13th district. And around the country, the political world will be watching with a very close eye. The race is shaping up as a harbinger of the midterms and is increasingly seen as a must-win opportunity for both parties. [Source: Washington Post]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Drive to legalize medical marijuana has cost millions
The legalization of medical marijuana will go before Florida voters this year, but for its backers, getting to this point has come with a heavy cost. People United for Medical Marijuana reported Monday that it had spent roughly $4.6 million through the end of January.

› World affairs conference returns to St. Petersburg
Former CIA officials, ambassadors and war commanders are descending on St. Petersburg this week for a second-annual summit on international affairs.

› NASA Explores 3D Printing: 5 Cool Projects
What if there were a more efficient -- and less expensive -- way to develop tools and science instruments for space missions? NASA may have found the answer with 3D printing. The agency has introduced a number of programs focused on prototyping tools using this manufacturing technique.

› Startup mentors launch crowdfunding campaign
Founders of the Starter Studio in Orlando unveiled a crowdfunding campaign Tuesday to attract sponsors and raise money for its tech-business mentoring program. The non-profit initiative set a goal to raise $10,000 over the next 30 days through kickstarter.com.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

Tags: Daily Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns

New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.