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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Lower budget surplus will create tough choices in 2015
Florida lawmakers are expected to have a small budget surplus when they come to Tallahassee in 2015. The small surplus allows for only minimal increases in funding for existing appropriations or creating new initiatives. Read the full Florida TaxWatch report here and see also:
» Lower budget surplus will make campaign promises hard to reach
Fangate overshadows sharp debate between Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist
The televised second debate between the candidates who want to lead the nation’s fourth-largest state for the next four years began Wednesday night with an empty stage. And voters will have to consider the reason for one of the oddest openings to any Florida governor’s debate in history: a fan.
 Former Gov. Charlie Crist; Gov. Rick Scott |
Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Tampa Bay Times, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
See also:
» Scott, Crist take different sides on gay marriage
» PolitFact Florida reviews debate beyond ‘fangate’
Statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that 22,755 undocumented Cubans arrived in the United States by land or sea during the previous fiscal year. The figure represents an increase of 20 percent compared to last year’s numbers, but it is double the number who came in 2012. [Source: Florida Watchdog]
Florida to spend millions on Ebola preparation
Florida wants to spend more than $7 million to help the state prepare for a possible outbreak of Ebola. State officials told the U.S. government they want to use federal grants to buy full body suits for health care workers who may have contact with any potential victims. [Source: AP]
See also:
» Nurses say Florida hospitals not prepared for Ebola; Scott calls for more training
Market indexes dive, slashing 2014's gains
Wall Street slashed much of its steep, early losses in late trading Wednesday as bargain-hunters stepped in to buy beaten down stocks and rescue a market threatened with losing 2014's gains. Read more from USA Today, Reuters, and Forbes and see also:
» Financial experts advise investors to stay in the market
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Will Disney's accelerator program include Florida?
The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is making headlines with its new accelerator program for startup companies, but so far the program is based in Los Angeles and includes no Florida companies or mentors.
› Gas prices in Florida headed to below $3 a gallon
Your calendar isn’t on the wrong page, it just feels like 2010. LeBron James is in Cleveland, U.S. warplanes are dropping bombs on Iraq... and gasoline is headed back to $3 a gallon — or less.
› David Siegel's $10 wage part of U.S. trend
By announcing his Westgate Resorts will start paying many workers at least $10 an hour, David Siegel is following other employers moving to that standard amid a tightening job market and national debate over the minimum wage.
› Google to invest in Magic Leap
Google and other investors are set to make a $500 million investment in Dania Beach-based Magic Leap, technology news website Re/Code is reporting.
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