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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida legislature may not reach health care deal
Saying that the "sand is running out of the hourglass," the Republican leaders of the Florida Legislature said Wednesday it appears they will end their annual session on May 1 without reaching a deal on health care and a new state budget. More at the AP, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Lawmakers show little desire to keep a familiar development tool — enterprise zones
Florida's enterprise zone program, which offers state and local incentives to entice businesses to set up or expand in poor and blighted areas, is in jeopardy. The program sunsets on Dec. 31, and a Senate bill that would extend it is stalled with less than two weeks left in the legislative session. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
America’s patchy same-sex marriage laws hurt businesses, and corporate America is fighting back
When the Supreme Court this month hears arguments over whether gay and lesbian couples can marry in all 50 states, one audience will be paying especially close attention: American businesses, which say they spend more than $1 billion a year navigating the nation's complex patchwork of same-sex marriage laws. [Source: Washington Post]
Members of Congress urge feds to release hospital aid
Six Republicans in Congress are asking federal officials to release hospital funding that is now caught up in a legislative battle over Medicaid expansion. Florida was warned a year ago that it could lose more than $1 billion in federal aid used to pay hospitals for treatment of the poor and uninsured. [Source: AP]
Robotics inventors are trying to take the 'hard' out of hardware
The kinds of futuristic products promised for years by conventional engineering are now being made real by a handful of low-budget inventors with an unusual vision: They want to replace traditional brawn and metal with unconventional materials to create cheaper and more effective soft machines. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Brevard poised for big growth in restaurant industry
Strap on the feedbag, as they say. More eateries are popping up all over Brevard County and it doesn't look like the local restaurant industry is going on a diet anytime soon.
› Blueberry markets in flux during transitions
Blueberry markets were in flux in mid-April as Florida and Chilean deals wound down and California and Georgia ramped up. With April has come a big increase in volumes of Florida blueberries.
› Strong dollar lures U.S. visitors to Miami
Strengthening of the dollar is bringing more domestic travelers to Miami, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau confirms, though it notes that the number of international visitors remains high.
› Siesta Key getting a mermaid store
It was nearly a year ago when Jayde Morgan and her daughter headed to Siesta Key Beach, dressed as mermaids. A year later, Morgan, 28, is poised to open a retail store in Siesta Key Village for her mermaid business.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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