Census: Florida Households Saw Earnings Inch Up
Households in the Sunshine State beat the odds and slightly improved their earnings in 2009, a year in which nationwide census data show that many families suffered amid the recession. Floridians reported a median household income of $45,631 last year, a $774 increase from 2008, according to survey data released Thursday by the Census Bureau. That increase was attributed to people 65 and older, who saw larger Social Security checks under the federal stimulus. The national average was $49,777 in 2009, a 0.7 percent decrease from the last year. [Source: Florida Today]
OPINION: LeMieux Showed Leadership in Backing Lending Package
Republican George LeMieux of Florida entered the U.S. Senate last year as a stand-in. This week, he played the role of statesman. LeMieux was one of just two GOP senators to break with his party and clear the way for Thursday's passage of a plan to make more credit and tax breaks available to small businesses. Unlike previous economic-relief measures, the Small Business Jobs Act won't add to the federal budget deficit. Mr. LeMieux didn't have to compromise his position against deficit spending to support it. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Ed Smith Stadium Challenge Could Be Costly
The latest legal move from two citizen groups using the Sunshine Law to fight against public money being used to renovate Ed Smith Stadium might end up costing local taxpayers $6 million in federal stimulus funds. Back in July, a local judge ruled against the groups in a lawsuit alleging open-government violations by the county, refusing to strike down a $31 million deal between local officials and the Baltimore Orioles. Now that decision is being appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, a move county officials say all but kills chances for issuing $28 million in revenue bonds before the end of the year to take advantage of federal stimulus programs. The $6 million lost would be from federal reimbursements of interest paid on the bonds over 30 years, county officials estimate. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Electricity-Generating Window Unveiled at USF
New Energy Technologies, Inc. debuted its SolarWindow technology Thursday at the University of South Florida in preparation for eventual full-scale production. This first-of-its-kind, spray-on technology is capable of transforming everyday surfaces, such as windows, into energy-generating devices. The demonstration was led by Dr. Xiaomei Jiang, lead researcher at the Department of Physics at the University of South Florida, whose work with small, organic solar cells helped her generate electricity on transparent glass. Until now, most solar modules have remained opaque, preventing them from being used in glass windows. [Source: Florida Trend]
Obama Taps Orlando Mayor Dyer for Trade Committee
President Barack Obama has appointed Orlando Mayor John “Buddy” Dyer to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN).
The ACTPN, the President’s premier private-sector advisory panel on international trade, is a 45-member group appointed by the President to provide advice on matters of trade policy and related issues, including trade agreements.
Mayor Dyer was the only U.S. Mayor selected to serve on the ACTPN.
[Source: Florida Trend]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› To Save Taxes, Holy Land Experience Will Be Free on Oct. 5
Holy Land Experience, the biblical theme park alongside Interstate 4 in south Orlando, will waive its $35 admission fee this year on Oct. 5, according to the Orange County Property Appraiser's Office.
The park is required to offer free admission to the public one day each year, under a state law that guarantees Holy Land a property-tax exemption as a religious entity. The exemption saves the park roughly $300,000 a year in Orange County taxes, according to property appraiser records.
› State Suspends $1,500 Air Conditioning Rebate Program
The state of Florida has suspended a newly-launched program that would give $1,500 rebates to residents for purchasing Energy Star air conditioning units.
The state started the rebate program on Aug. 30 using $15 million distributed to Florida by the federal government — enough for about 10,000 rebates to be give on a first-come, first-serve basis.
But the rebate program lacked budget approval by the state Legislature to make payouts.
This week, the top legislative leaders said Legislative Budget Commission — a panel of state lawmakers — could not act on Gov. Charlie Crist's request to make a budget change that would enable rebate payments.
› Tampa Bay Boasts Two of Rolling Stone's 25 Best Record Stores
The Tampa Bay area doesn't usually land in the pages of Rolling Stone unless some pop star is getting arrested or a new drug epidemic has broken out.
So it's exciting to see two Tampa Bay area landmarks profiled for something other than crystal meth or lewdness arrests; both Bananas Music in St. Petersburg and Vinyl Fever in Tampa have been listed among the 25 best record stores in the U.S. by Rolling Stone.
› Rick Scott Company Gets More Stimulus Bucks
Although Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott has frequently lambasted President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, a telecommunications company he has invested heavily in continues to reap financial rewards from the federal program.
Scott was criticized by his primary opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum, for saying he would "fight all of the stimulus money" even though he had invested nearly $5 million into a company called XFONE, Inc. that had received $63 million in stimulus loans and grants to build fiber-optic networks.
› A Failed Condo, or a Plot to Save Millions?
Both sides in the legal battle over unpaid construction bills on a failed Miami condominium project agree on one thing: This is a simple case.
While lawyers representing the project's developer and mortgage holders maintain it's as simple as a condo project falling into default in a troubled market, the legal team representing the construction companies believes it's a simple case of scheme to defraud.
Caught in the balance are dozens of construction contractors, who say they were not paid for work performed on The Filling Station Lofts between August and December 2008 and may never see those wages if the project goes into foreclosure.
› Author Links Finances to Dieting to Lure Women
How do you draw disinterested women into seriously thinking about their finances? Make it relevant on relatable terms, says Susan Hirshman, author of "Does This Make My Assets Look Fat? A Woman's Guide to Finding Financial Empowerment and Success." Hirshman, a financial adviser and consultant, who spent nearly 12 years as an adviser and managing director at JP Morgan, turned to a common experience for many women - dieting.
"I started thinking about the concepts of dieting and the similarities were astounding to me," she said. "It's about balance, it's about moderation, and it's about goals."
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› 'Can You Hear Me Now?' Guy Really Does Exist
Bart Palladino is Verizon Wireless' real-life "Can you hear me now?" guy, the bespectacled character made popular by the company's commercials.
On most days, Palladino crawls into a supped-up 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and drives miles around Orange, Volusia and Brevard counties to test Verizon and other major mobile carriers voice and data quality.
"The basic concept has been around for years," said Verizon spokesman Chuck Hamby. "But as the technology has changed, we've had to change the equipment, cars and how we test."
› Ocala to Discuss Dining Doggies
Depending on how the Ocala City Council votes Tuesday, dog owners may soon be able to bring Fido with them when they dine in restaurants in the city that allow pooches in outdoor areas.
If the ordinance is enacted as written, restaurant owners who wish to allow dogs on outdoor premises would have to get a permit. The applicant would have to supply a diagram and description of the outdoor area where they would allow the dogs and provide the days and hours of operation dogs will be allowed.
“We support anything that allows animals on leashes to be out and about in the community,” said Cory Pool, chairman of the Humane Society of Marion County.
As may be expected, a number of restrictions would apply.
› COLUMN: Jobs of the Future Are at Florida's Doorstep
Students have returned to college campuses across the state to begin another academic year. For those students nearing the completion of their studies, this year likely brings with it some added angst as they assess what their job prospects will be after graduation. The next wave of graduates could face an employment landscape that remains the most challenging in generations. The good news is there are some early signs Florida is positioning itself to capture this opportunity, particularly in technology, transportation, renewable energy and water management. Organizations in these industries need systems engineers to solve myriad challenges associated with the next generation of systems that make up our daily lives.
› KSC helps launch job search
Don Stephan was more of a curious observer at the first Kennedy Space Center job fair he attended in June.
On Thursday, the 47-year-old father of three from Merritt Island arrived at the latest fair knowing he had just two weeks left in his shuttle quality control job with United Space Alliance.
"It definitely caught me totally off guard," he said of the July notification that he would be laid off Oct. 1. "It started sinking in a little more. I better start looking a little harder."
Stephan was one of about 200 people who attended the fair at the Radisson Resort at the Port to meet with more than 30 potential employers, which included local and out-of-state companies and federal agencies.
› St. Petersburg City Council Backs Off
Revising Land Use Map
The City Council voted Thursday to shelve a controversial plan to nullify the effects of a November ballot measure that would let residents, not elected officials, decide future growth changes.
For weeks, city officials had promoted a simplified map that would limit the number of land use changes that would require public approval if Florida Hometown Democracy's Amendment 4 is passed in November.
But before the public hearing, Mayor Bill Foster said he no longer supported the map and that he would consider vetoing it if the City Council approved it. He said the state was likely to overturn the vote.
› Chamber Says 'Never Mind,' Endorses Scott Despite Raw Primary
The Florida Chamber of Commerce may have spent millions to defeat him in the primary but, when it comes to the general election contest, they've decided to give some love to Republican Rick Scott.
The chamber endorsed an all-Republican line up in their November ballot endorsements announced today, supporting both Scott for governor over Democrat Alex Sink and Pam Bondi for attorney general over Democrat Dan Gelber. The choice of Scott is the most interesting one. Since the Chamber entered into the endorsement game for the first time this year, they spent $3 million in the primary and directed it half of it to prop up the struggling candidacy of Attorney General Bill McCollum in the final weeks.
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