Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Daily Pulse

Housing market draws an influx of real estate agents

Thousands of real estate agents statewide have either started new careers in the business or dusted off their state-issued licenses. The influx stands in stark contrast to the exodus of agents brokerages suffered through just a few years ago. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]


Florida leads nation in international real estate sales

Florida again topped the nation as the state of choice among international real estate buyers, capturing 23 percent of sales transactions, according to the National Association of Realtors. Nationwide, foreign buyers of real estate are on a tear, with purchases jumping 35 percent for the year ended in March. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Florida facing a pay day problem

State officials have been forced to stagger payments to schools and health care providers because Florida's accounting system can't process $1 billion or more in a single 24-hour period. The state has come up against the daily limit in the wake of changes to Florida's Medicaid program. [Source: NBC Miami]


Study: States that raised minimum wage had stronger job growth

The study, which updates a Goldman Sachs analysis to include data from April and May, shows that the 13 states that increased their minimum wages on Jan. 1 have had stronger employment growth than the 37 states that didn’t. [Source: USA Today]

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Dog tracks in Florida cornered by wagering woes and racing foes

Betting on live greyhound racing has fallen from almost $1 billion in 1990 to $258 million last year in Florida, home to 12 of the 21 tracks that regularly hold live dog races in the U.S. [Source: AP]

See also:
» A look at the states with live greyhound racing


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› New coalition forms LLC to fight All Aboard Florida
A new coalition of northern Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast communities has formed a limited liability company to fight All Aboard Florida, the proposed express passenger rail service from Miami to Orlando.

› SRT Group makes satellite systems in South Florida
In government circles, SRT Group long has been known for making customized satellite telephone and radio systems in South Florida for use in remote areas like deserts and war zones.

› Lockheed snags $200 million deal for advanced naval missiles
Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Orlando missiles group has reeled in a contract worth up to $200 million to fast-track its development of a new advanced naval combat missile.

› Florida judge won't dismiss Medicaid lawsuit
A Miami federal judge has refused the state's request to drop a years-long lawsuit alleging the state is providing inadequate care to children in its Medicaid program.


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› Southern Wine & Spirits contributes $30 million to Step Up For Students Scholarship Program
Step Up For Students is a nonprofit organization that administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, and provides scholarships to lower-income Florida students.

› Duke Energy plans hearing to tout its future power plant
The future of Central Florida's biggest electric utility hinges on a proposed power plant that Duke Energy will unveil Thursday during an open house 90 miles from Orlando.

› Quasar Aeronautics landing in marijuana support business
Donnell Vigil is in the midst of what might be a very dynamic business transition going from an aerospace development and flight school to a medicinal marijuana development company.

› State's long-awaited cruise ship study lays out options facing Tampa Bay
The state's long awaited, long delayed Tampa Bay cruise ship study was finally released Tuesday, laying out the local options for an industry that is increasingly turning toward mega-cruise ships that won't fit under the Sunshine Skyway.