Survey: Fla. employment weakest in U.S.
Florida employers expect to hire at a steady pace in the next three months but the state's employment outlook is one of the weakest in the nation, according to a survey by the Manpower employment services firm. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey shows that 17 percent of Florida employers interviewed plan to hire more employees from July to September, while 10 percent expect to reduce staffing for a net outlook of 7 percent. Another 70 percent expect to maintain staffing and 3 percent are not certain. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
» Manpower Employment Outlook Survey
Courtroom Drama:
Is it ethical to hire actors to portray witnesses?
During a car crash trial seven years ago, a policeman who helped investigate the accident couldn't attend, so Miami personal injury lawyer Marc L. Brumer asked someone else to read the officer's deposition to the judge and jury. "We're reading it, and the jury is falling asleep because it's so boring," Brumer says. "The jury didn't hear it. The testimony wasn't being delivered." The next time a crucial witness couldn't make a court date, Brumer didn't ask a legal secretary, paralegal or another attorney to read the deposition. He hired a professional actor — and was pleased with the difference. Thinking he might be on to something, Brumer teamed with Ellen Jacoby, a Miami casting director, and created Actors-at-Law, a company that connects lawyers with actors. Keep reading Courtroom Drama.
COLUMN: State's challenge is to create a sustainable job base
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The outcomes of the 2011 legislative session will have a long-term impact on the lives of all Floridians. The primary goal for the Legislature and governor was to use the current fiscal crisis to justify making dramatic cuts to state and ultimately local governments. Before the 2011 legislative session, indicators pointed to the conclusion that Florida's quality of life lags the majority of states with important quality of life issues, and, moreover, job creation emphasized by the state had not established a foundation of jobs with sustainable incomes. While Gov. Rick Scott is emphasizing job creation, citizens must question if the state job-development program is emphasizing quantity of jobs rather than quality of jobs paying a higher livable wage. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Pharmacists slam state Medicaid reform
Newly enacted legislation requiring Florida's 3.1 million Medicaid patients to receive their medications by mail order would be a disaster for small, independent pharmacies. That was the compelling message delivered Monday by more than 200 pharmacists, Medicaid patients and health care advocates attending an Agency for Health Care Administration public hearing at Pensacola City Hall. Charged with implementing the Medicaid Managed Care Program, AHCA officials heard from a succession of pharmacists who said forcing Medicaid patients to receive their drugs by mail would ultimately jeopardize patient health and put many pharmacies out of business. [Source: Pensacola News-Journal]
Teens out of school, flooding job market
Florida teens are about to flood an already oversaturated job market. The state's unemployment rate sits at almost 11-percent - about two points higher than the national average.
So whether at supermarkets or food service - the competition is tough.
"They're coming in to work and they're going to do whatever it is they can do and they will try to muscle out anybody to get that job. They will do whatever they have to do. So, as a teenager, yes, you have a fresh start. But you have a long line ahead of you," said Five Guys restaurant manager Ryan Parsons.
With 16-year-olds facing off against former business owners for jobs, they have to stand out. To start with - it's a numbers game.
[Source: WBBH]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› President Obama in Miami for 2012 campaign fundraisers
President Obama just landed in Miami where he's planning to pick up some campaign money and take a few potshots at Republicans.
The president's trip, on the same day that his potential Republican rivals debate on CNN, underscores the importance of the nation's biggest swing state. It's not just a cash cow, Florida is a must win due to the vagaries of the Electoral College.
"If president Obama carries Florida, he's re-elected for a second term," said Peter A. Brown, a pollster for Quinnipiac University, which released a survey in late May showing a majority of Florida voters approve of the job Obama's doing.
But how long Obama's approval ratings will last in the bleak economy is anyone's guess.
Related:
» Obama pushes jobs in trip fraught with politics
› Shands' new records system should simplify things
Shands patients will no longer have to fill out their medical history and prescription information every time they visit a Shands hospital, faculty clinic or emergency room. Doctors, nurses and clinicians will have instant computer access to all of a patient's X-rays and MRIs, lab results, discharge notes and operative notes from throughout the Shands system.
Shands launched its new $95 million electronic medical record system at Shands at the University of Florida, Shands Rehab and Shands Vista behavioral health on May 14, to be followed in September by Shands Jacksonville and next year by Jacksonville faculty practices. It was already implemented at 26 UF faculty practices and Shands HomeCare.
» Clay Tablets
» e-Prescriptions Would Save Lives
» Online Access
› Disney raises park tickets for second time in a year
For the second time in less than a year, Walt Disney World is raising ticket prices.
The base price of a one-day ticket is jumping 3.7 percent, from $82 to $85, said Bryan Malenius, Disney spokesman.
Those who purchase longer term passes — which is the majority of Disney visitors — will see even larger increases.
The cost of a five-day-ticket is increasing 5.9 percent, from $237 to $251. A seven-day pass is going up 8.1 percent to $267.
The new rates kicked in Sunday.
› Developer seeks land for solar complex
A plan for a self-sustained renewable energy complex proposes to power up to 10,000 DeLand homes through a solar-energy farm that could be the first in Volusia County and among the largest private ventures outside of the state's major utility providers.
ECOHOUSE Development, an Apopka developer and consulting company specializing in renewable energy applications, is about two years into its planning for the multimillion dollar complex that could add hundreds of jobs to the area.
In addition to the 50,000-panel photovoltaic solar farm proposal, the $30 million to $50 million project would feature a research center and a solar photovoltaic greenhouse to safeguard against farming losses from harsh environmental effects.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› SEC suspends trading in Solar Park Initiatives
The Securities and Exchange Commission last week suspended trading in 17 penny stocks, including Solar Park Initiatives Inc., because of concerns about the adequacy of available information about the companies.
Solar Park Initiatives was spun off from Ponte Vedra Beach-based Solar Energy Initiatives Inc. earlier this year. The companies said Solar Energy would focus on solar projects, solar education and distribution of solar products, while Solar Park would focus on developing land for large utility-scale solar projects.
Solar Park has filed SEC reports since the spin-off, but the regulatory agency is not satisfied. In its order suspending trading, the SEC said "questions have arisen concerning the adequacy and accuracy of press releases concerning the company's operations and revenue."
› Down to the core: Could you take it?
Lee County parks its buses, leaving as many as 20,000 people every day without a ride to work, to the doctor or to the grocery store.
The libraries close. That robs 288,000 cardholders of access to computers, books and movies.
Parks keep their gates chained. That means 4,000 children don't have summer programs, 10,000 recreation center members lose a place to go, and tens of thousands more lose their ball fields. That's the most extreme scenario Lee County leaders face as they struggle to draft a budget this summer that avoids a tax rate increase and helps fill a spending deficit set to grow to $60 million next year. It's called stripping the budget of all but core services — an idea that has been discussed, but worries even some of the most conservative spenders.
› For CSX's Spatafore, a clean railroad is a safe railroad
With a railway network spanning about 21,000 miles, it seems like a monumental job to keep track of all the debris that may be left along the tracks.
But Richard Spatafore has made it his mission to ensure CSX Corp.'s rail network is as clean as possible. He's even won a national award for his efforts.
"A cleaner railroad is naturally a safer railroad," said Spatafore, division engineer in Jacksonville for CSX.
› Developer: Cindi Hutchinson got cash and appliances too
Former Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Cindi Hutchinson received a lot more from a developer than the $14,000 in "thank you" gifts that she is criminally charged with accepting, according to a sworn statement from the developer.
Steven Goldstrom, who admitted he initially lied to investigators, said under oath he also gave Hutchinson thousands in cash and a brand new stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer while she was in office, according to court documents obtained by the Sun Sentinel.
› North Port moves forward on $4.3 million pool
City officials are moving forward on a plan to build a $4.3 million aquatic center in North Port and will pay $400,000 for its design.
The city commission on Monday voted to go ahead with the project despite concerns about how the city will afford the hundreds of thousands a year the new facility will cost to run.
An aquatic center with a 50-meter pool has long been on North Port's wish list, lobbied for by swimming enthusiasts and others who argue that Sarasota County's largest city should have an aquatic center.
› FedEx loses latest round in property tax dispute
FedEx lost another round in a fight to keep from paying county property tax on its cargo building at Tampa International Airport.
The facility on airport property has been exempt since FedEx first leased the land in 2000. Hillsborough property appraiser officials say they mistakenly granted the exemption until they caught the error last year. Two special magistrates reviewed the case and denied appeals by FedEx.
Attorneys for the company on Monday asked the county's Value Adjustment Board to request an opinion from the state Attorney General's Office.
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