'Economy and jobs' remains top issue for Floridians

This year's Sunshine State survey of what's important to Floridians again shows that the economy and jobs are the No. 1 issue. The good news is that 30 percent of those surveyed cited that topic as their top concern in the 2014 survey released Thursday. That's down significantly from 44 percent in 2012 and 56 percent in 2008. Read more from the Tampa Bay Times and see the Sunshine State Survey.

See also:
» Floridians divided on politics, less so on social issues

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Chef Chad Johnson whips up a meal in Epicurean's culinary theater.

Florida Trend Exclusive
The chef checks in at hotel restaurants

New hotels across Florida, from grand luxury brands to boutique properties, have put food forward as their chief attraction to both guests and local diners — who may well bring other guests. The emphasis fits the food obsessions of today’s consumers and the increased competition from free-standing restaurants. Access full story.

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Florida No. 1 for highest risk of property damage loss from natural hazards

Florida ranks as the U.S. state with the highest level of risk exposure to multiple natural hazards, according to new data released Thursday by CoreLogic. Of the top five riskiest states, Florida had the highest score at 94.51, followed by Rhode Island (79.67), Louisiana (79.23), California (75.56) and Massachusetts (72.12). [Source: Orlando Business Journal]

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Hospitals may help patients pay insurance premiums

A group of South Florida hospitals is trying to raise $5 million to donate to a foundation that would pay one year's worth of health insurance premiums for thousands of low-income consumers who bought insurance under the Affordable Care Act. [Source: AP]

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Job-based health premiums increasing slowly, deductibles faster

Average premiums for job-based family health coverage are up just 3 percent this year, while the cost of single coverage rose only 2 percent, continuing a sustained trend of moderate growth in insurance costs, according to a nationwide survey of more than 2,000 businesses. [Source: McClatchy]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami considers moratorium on puppy sales [Miami Herald]
The City of Miami may become the latest South Florida municipality to ban the retail sale of dogs. On Thursday, city commissioners gave tentative approval to a six-month moratorium on new stores selling dogs or cats in order to research an outright ban on the commercial sale of the animals.

› Workplace deaths becoming more common in South Florida [South Florida Business Journal]
Workplace fatalities increased in South Florida in 2013, despite a national decline. From auto crashes, to deadly accidents with cutting tools, to workplace shootings, employees have found more dangerous situations on the job here.

› Siemens to build All Aboard Florida trains [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Siemens announced Thursday that All Aboard Florida has selected it to build locomotives and passenger coaches for its planned high-speed rail line from Orlando to Miami.

› New York steals South Florida biotech company [South Florida Business Journal]
A Jupiter-based life sciences company will move its headquarters to New York after the state offered a half-million dollars in tax incentives.

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› Company to test cooling equipment at Sarasota-Bradenton airport [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
A spin-off of a Palmetto company plans to test aircraft cooling equipment at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and hire 14 workers in the next five years.

› Activist Group Wants Burger King To Keep Corporate HQ In South Florida [CBS Miami]
An activist group has made a whopper of a demand of Miami-based Burger King. Thursday afternoon they delivered more than 70,000 signatures to the burger giant from people who want them to abandon their plans to move their corporate headquarters to Canada.

› Florida ranked 15th worst state to have a baby [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The state of Florida is regarded as one of the best in the country when it comes to beaches, weather and vacation destinations, but according to a recent study, it is not regarded so high when it comes to giving birth.

› Titusville beer maker follows his dream [Florida Today]
It all started with a Facebook page. Titusville entrepreneur Bryan Scott knew he was taking a chance when he created the page called Playalinda Brewing Company, but what he didn’t know after he clicked “create” was what a huge response he would get in the days to come.