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Friday Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Floridians can’t get ahead on wages. Blame inflation and a gut punch from Great Recession.
Today, despite years of economic expansion and job growth, the state's inflation-adjusted wages have yet to reach their 2007 highs. The country as a whole is doing better than Florida, but those gains can hardly be described as stellar. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida's population has grown 11 percent since last Census
A new estimate shows Florida's population grew by almost 11 percent in the past eight years. The estimate released this week by the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research puts Florida's population at 20.8 million residents as of this past April. More from the AP.
GOP voters edge Dems with 2 million Florida ballots cast
More than 2 million voters in have already cast their ballots in the battleground state of Florida, and so far, Republicans have the edge. New statistics released Friday by the state Division of Elections show that nearly 560,000 people have voted early this week. Additionally, nearly 1.48 million people have voted by mail. More from WKMG and the AP.
BrandsMart USA to open in Dania Beach, adding 625 new jobs
BrandsMart USA is scheduled to open a new branch next week in Dania Beach. In South Florida, BrandsMart has stores in Deerfield Beach, Sunrise and West Palm Beach, and three in Miami-Dade County. There is also a clearance store in Davie. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Train car restaurant and shipping container park planned for downtown Sanford
A developer plans to move a 95-year-old train car and 16 shipping containers into downtown Sanford for a new dining and shopping project. DeLand builder Mitch Menaker said he has purchased the 1923 train car and has a deal for a lease on a 9,000-square-foot parking lot. Construction could start on the project in spring and be finished in summer. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Transportation
Underline
Miami’s answer to the High Line breaks ground this week. On Thursday, a contractor is scheduled to break ground on the first phase of the much-anticipated Underline, which will eventually extend from downtown Miami to Dadeland under the Metrorail’s elevated tracks.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida 500
Shelley Broader
Shelley Broader PRESIDENT & CEO of CHICO’S FAS says, “It’s great to work at a company that focuses on women’s empowerment. With over 65% female representation on our executive committee and over 55% representation on our board of directors, our commitment to women’s development is ongoing and indisputable."
» Read more from Florida 500.
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