Tuesday's Daily Pulse
Hurricane season adds to convention unknowns
The Atlantic's newest tropical depression formed Tuesday morning on a path that could begin to threaten Florida or the Gulf of Mexico by early next week — with unknown implications for the Republican National Convention set to debut in Tampa. The development underscores the gamble that both parties took when they opted to hold their conventions in vulnerable cities near the peak of hurricane season. [Source: Politico]
Related:
» Tropical depression provides added anxiety as RNC nears
» Convention hurricane unlikely but plans are in place
» Could hurricane wreak havoc at Republican convention?
Handymen: Small jobs are their niche
Ubiquitous but a little hard to define, Southwest Florida’s handymen do the minor tasks just beyond a homeowner’s skill set. But the industry is more complicated than it looks at first glance. There are occasional run-ins with regulators and a budding effort to get recognized as a profession. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Food truck owners expand into restaurants
For some chefs in the making, a mobile food truck is an easy way to break into the food service business. And for others, it's just a stepping stone. No overhead, limited staff with business hours and a location that can change whenever you want them to sounds pretty good to some. But to others, the truck was just the beginning. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
» Meals on wheels: Food trucks are rolling across Florida
Aviation vs. avian
A proposed airport for light planes and corporate jets in west Orange County has sparked a debate over whether planes and birds can safely share airspace in one of the state’s avian hot spots. Full story...
 The airport plan calls for lengthening the runway at an old crop duster field in West Orange County. |
Brick and mortar stores aren't dead, even amid the rise of online retail sales
The trip to the store isn't a thing of the past, even as more shoppers go online to make their purchases. That was the message from Brad Hutensky, chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers, speaking Monday at the trade group's Florida conference at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. "The store will change, but it's not going away,'' he said. "Whenever there is change, there is opportunity.'' [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Politics on tap at Hard Rock [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is gambling that hard-edged political commentary can draw patrons that slot machines and poker tables can't. From the left, Hard Rock Live is offering comedian and HBO personality Bill Maher. From the right, it's serving up commentator and Fox News talker Bill O'Reilly.
› UNF economist says Northeast Florida economy stagnant [Florida Times-Union]
A tumultuous election year coupled with economic uncertainty overseas kept the First Coast’s economy stagnant in July, according to a University of North Florida economist.
› Three South Florida hospitals to add organ transplant programs [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
South Floridians in need of heart, liver or kidney transplants will soon have greater access to the lifesaving procedures, thanks to new programs approved at three Broward County hospitals.
› Sarasota County employees to get $1,000 bonuses [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
In what might be another sign of a strengthening economy or at least the expectation of one, Sarasota County commissioners approved $1,000 bonuses to nonunion staff at a cost of about $1.5 million, including taxes.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Social media in the workplace: Seven mistakes companies make [Miami Herald]
Whether from their own devices or company computers, most employees use social media at work — with or without permission. This could mean trouble and be very expensive for a company that does not take the right steps. Does your company have a social media policy in place? Is it well thought-out? Is it enforced? It better be.
› Jackson Health System explores outsourcing ER docs plus billing and collections [Miami Herald]
The Jackson Health System announced Monday it’s seeking proposals to outsource physician services in all its emergency rooms as well as looking for a company to handle its billing and collections. “We have not made the decision to outsource either of these service lines,” said Chief Executive Carlos Migoya in an email to county political leaders. “We are simply taking the common sense step of exploring and understanding all the available options in two important areas.”
› St. Petersburg to Tampa Bay Rays: Let's talk about a new baseball stadium [Tampa Bay Times]
It's official. The City of St. Petersburg sent a formal letter Friday to the Tampa Bay Rays, inviting them to a presentation next month by a private company pitching a new baseball stadium in Carillon business park.
› Full Sail launches YouTube channel [Orlando Sentinel]
Full Sail University launches a YouTube channel that showcases their students' projects, guest speakers, interviews with industry leaders, and other digital content. The school's in-house creative agency, Platinum Creative, designed and developed the channel, along with help from Google.