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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Auto dealership group shutters and lays off hundreds, including Bradenton employees
Palm Beach County-based used car retailer Off Lease Only has shut down its five Florida dealerships and laid off 466 employees after failing to find a buyer and filing for bankruptcy. The closures include a dealership at 3230 14th St. W. in Bradenton. According to a letter to the state, 49 employees lost their jobs at that store.
› Pharma giant GSK partners with StartUP FIU again to host student-targeted Innovation Challenge
Impressed by the innovative spirit, hard-work and dedication shown by FIU students last semester, GSK and StartUP FIU have joined forces once again to offer the immersive GSK Innovation Challenge to a new cohort of students this Fall. “The results from our first event were so inspiring that we had to do it again,” said Maya Martinez-Davis, President U.S., GSK.
› North Port city commissioners give preliminary approval to proposed $251.6 million budget
North Port city commissioners gave preliminary approval to a proposed $251.6 million budget for the next year – despite the pleas of several residents, who wanted to see the commission roll back the property tax rate to provide some financial relief. Because of a 16.9% increase in property values, the current tax rate of 3.7667 mills – or about $3.77 per $1,000 of taxable property value − would generate about $4.3 million more than it currently does.
› Brevard's first 3D-printed affordable housing to be built by robots in Melbourne
Habitat for Humanity's third 3D-printed home construction project in America will take shape just north of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Melbourne, thanks to "Frank," a futuristic 2,900-pound long-armed robotic printer that scoots along on tank tracks. “Now, Frank can operate around the clock. But due to local ordinances, we’ll likely be printing from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.," Trevor Ragno, Apis Cor director of construction, explained to a groundbreaking ceremony crowd.
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