Florida finally hiring above its weight class
Florida is finally pulling more of its own weight in the national recovery. Federal statistics released Tuesday continue to show the Sunshine State having one of the worst hiring markets in the country, with only five states posting a higher unemployment rate than Florida's 9.9 percent. It barely budged from November's 10 percent rate, while 15 states are seeing sharper drops. But when it comes to hiring, Florida is starting to play catch-up after a lackluster year. [Source: Miami Herald]
Bill would make doctors, health centers post prices
Restaurants have menus, retailers have pricetags and soon, Florida doctors could have price boards. Legislation in Tallahassee would force doctors and some medical care centers to post signs of about 3-feet-by-5-feet in their waiting rooms showing the prices to be charged a person paying out of pocket. Charges for the insured vary by policy and wouldn't be posted. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Florida-based airline mostly shuttles vacation travelers between South Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America, but also serves cities in the U.S. Northeast and West. While traditional airlines have struggled to make money in recent years, Spirit has thrived by letting travelers choose the level of service they want. [Source: Investor's Business Daily]
"Hiring Florida's Heroes" launches across state
The state of Florida is launching a campaign to encourage businesses to hire more military veterans. Too many of those service men and women have had a tough time finding jobs when they return home. The unemployment rate among Florida National Guard soldiers is estimated at 17 percent. The state's current jobless rate is 9.9 percent. [Source: WTSP]
House takes step toward resolving water pollution feud
A years-long lawsuit-fueled dispute over the health standards for Florida waters moved toward resolution Tuesday after lawmakers approved a proposal put forth by the state environmental agency.
A House committee unanimously accepted a measure that would allow the state to apply individual health standards to each body of water.
The changes, which would allow Florida to override federal water protection rules, cannot take effect until the Environmental Protection Agency approves them.
[Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› More employers, optimism at UF Career Showcase
A growing number of employers are seeking University of Florida graduates to fill job openings, but different degrees are experiencing varying success in the slowly recovering economy.
› Orlando is the best city in the U.S. to find bargains
Orlando tops Forbes magazine's first-ever list of the best cities for bargain shopping.
Forbes cites Orlando's 500 outlet stores, 18 million square feet of retail space in major malls, and low tax rate. It also notes that Orlando has a dozen Walmarts. [Full list from Forbes]
› Pricier inmates shifted from prisons to be privatized
As the Legislature was steaming toward passage of privatization of a huge chunk of its prison system last spring, public records suggest the Florida Department of Corrections was removing its most violent -- and more expensive -- prisoners from the facilities slated to be outsourced.
» Related: Prison workers decry privatization
› Sun Hydraulics to start expansion in Manatee
Sun Hydraulics Corp. plans to start site preparation for a 60,000-square-foot plan near its operation at 803 Tallevast Road in southern Manatee County.
No decision has been made on when the building will be started.
The Sarasota-based screw-in hydraulic valve cartridges and manifolds maker said it would ultimately spend $16 million on the project.
» Community Portrait:
Sarasota County
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› First look: Legoland Florida's water park
A dried-up water park is just so wrong and sad. It has no splash, lacks panache.
Legoland Florida is in the process of turning Splash Island, the old Cypress Gardens water park, into a happy place again. But first, its wave pool, lazy river and assorted slides had to be drained to check their condition.[Photo Gallery]
› Grand jury: Florida tree cutting permits given in 'flagrant violation of the law'
The state's Department of Transportation was "in flagrant violation of the law" when it helped a Panhandle billboard company bilk the state out an estimated $4 million, a scathing grand jury report concludes.
The report, made public Tuesday, urges the department to recoup the money that Bill Salter Advertising should have paid for cutting down 2,000 state-owned trees to make room for billboards. The company was helped by state Sen. Greg Evers and then-Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos, who is now Clay County's manager.
› Miami-Dade commission reaches compromise, averts employee layoffs
By a margin of one, Miami-Dade commissioners voted to impose an additional 4-percent healthcare insurance contribution on county employees, and to tap into a health-insurance trust fund, to balance the budget.
› Regions Financial posts another loss from brokerage sale to Raymond James
Banking company Regions Financial Corp., based in Birmingham, Ala., reported it lost $215 million in 2011, related largely to charges taken on the sale of its Memphis brokerage firm Morgan Keegan & Co. to Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg.
› PETA wants O.J. Simpson's Florida home for murder exhibit
Just when you thought the life of O.J. Simpson couldn't be any weirder, along comes PETA.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals contacted Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, to ask if the bank would either donate or sell Simpson's home for a nominal sum once the foreclosure is complete.
› Hollywood to receive compensation for failed Wi-Fi system
It's been more than three years since Hollywood residents were promised a citywide wireless network as part of a project to install an automated meter reader system and solar-powered parking meters.
While the automated reader system is nearly complete and the parking meters are working, the system that would have allowed anyone to log onto the Internet from anywhere in Hollywood doesn't work.