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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Why the holiday shopping season is so important for Florida's small retailers
You probably know that many small retail businesses rely on the holiday shopping season to survive. Just how important is it? Consider this: In 2017, the best shopping day of the year was Black Friday, which brought in a little more than $3,000 in sales for the typical small retailer in Florida, compared to $1,706 for an average day. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Column: Thanksgiving without the sides -- Lack of farm labor could make fruits, vegetables unaffordable
As a third-generation family farmer with decades of experience, Gary Wishnatzki has spent years grappling with the impact of this worker shortage. Unless something is done about the lack of qualified agriculture workers in Florida, we are headed down a path where the average American will not be able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables. [Source: USA Today]
Florida Chamber: State needs to adapt
Florida’s population will continue to explode, technology will disrupt every industry and the best and brightest residents will leave for better opportunities unless the state works cohesively to prepare for its future. That was the message of a Florida Chamber Foundation “Florida 2030” workshop this week. [Source: Jax Daily Record]
The Florida Bar seeks non-lawyer board member
The body that licenses and regulates the state’s nearly 107,000 lawyers is looking for a non-lawyer to be a member of its governing board. The replacement is for Lawrence W. Tyree of Orlando, whose second two-year term expires next June. See the announcement from the Florida Bar and read more from Florida Politics.
Watch your doorstep: South Florida is one of the worst areas for porch pirates during holidays
It’s that time of year for Thanksgiving meals, Black Friday deals and porch pirate steals. A new study by Safewise found that Miami-Fort Lauderdale ranked third among U.S. metro areas where packages are swiped the most between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Tampa-St. Petersburg came in No. 9. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› TECO’s Chuck Hinson reflects on 40 years in the lobbying game
How is a lobbyist like playing a professional sports team? “You have a season, then you take a break, then you do the spring training, then take a little bit of a break, then you come back for the pre-season, and there’s the season,” veteran Tallahassee lobbyist Chuck Hinson says.
› Miami-based Ryder places order for 1,000 electric trucks
Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, announces today the largest commercial electric vehicle (EV) purchase in the United States, which enables broader adoption of commercial EV technology on a large scale.
› Office Depot to buy back $100 million in stock
Boca Raton-based Office Depot, which has been on a journey to reinvent itself as a business services company, announced Tuesday it will buy back $100 million of its stock beginning Jan. 1 and reduce debt — actions aimed at improving the company’s financial outlook and boosting its stock.
› Central Florida's SunRail is a train with an unknown future, but Osceola gives it a ridership boost
SunRail’s expansion into Osceola County this summer – going from three counties to four, from 12 stations to 16 and from 32 miles to 49 – is giving the commuter train a measurable boost in rider numbers.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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