Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/30/2015

Florida continues to be a top national job creator

Florida continued its strong job-creating streak between June 2014-June 2015, according to a mid-year update from Florida TaxWatch. Florida added 266,600 new jobs in the latest 12 month period.

"Florida's economy is rebounding from the Great Recession," said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. "By focusing our resources on investments guaranteed to result in positive returns and grow Florida's economy, our state's leaders are making it easier for Floridians to get a job."

Read the full report, here.

U.S. economy bounces back in second quarter

The U.S. economy bounced back in the second quarter on strong consumer spending, exports and home construction, and its performance in the first quarter wasn't as feeble as initially believed. More at USA Today, the AP, and the Wall Street Journal.

As Medicare turns 50, big challenges await

Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, has come a long way since President Lyndon Johnson signed it into law on July 30, 1965. In the 60s, half of all seniors were uninsured. Now the program covers 55 million people, providing insurance to one in six Americans. With that in mind, Medicare faces a host of challenges in the decades to come. Here’s a look at some of the major challenges (from Kaiser Health News).

» Also, take a quick poll: Your opinion of Medicare?

RNC adds three top staffers in Florida

The RNC is solidifying its presence in Florida, adding a staff director and two other top operatives to work on the 2016 elections. Brian Barrett will serve as state director, Alex Garcia as deputy state director and director of Hispanic initiatives, and Ben Shankle as data director. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald.

St. Augustine pizza restaurant named No. 2 in the country

A popular website has named a St. Augustine restaurant as the second-best pizza place in the country. TripAdvisor.com, which calls itself the world’s largest travel site, went through its user reviews to determine the 10 best pizza joints in the United States. More at the Florida Times-Union.

Florida Trend Archived Content
» Pie in the sky: Contemporary pizza restaurants

Publisher's Column
Generational diversity

A successful enterprise may succeed by marketing to one specific group and hiring people who most resemble and understand that group. Or they may succeed through diversity, welcoming people of all ages, colors, faiths and skills and helping them work together. I think flexibility is the operative word these days.

» Read Andy Corty's full column.

Florida Dining
Food trucks evolving into brick-and-mortar

Remember when food trucks were a hot new trend? The trend is evolving again. An increasing number of those mobile vendors are using their food trucks to build a client base and refine a concept before launching brick-and-mortar restaurants.