Recent Business Stories

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  New Generation Coined 'Just-In-Time' Users
  
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  Redlaser Allows You to Scan Product Info
  
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  Cybercrimes Up in 2011
  
• Tracking Your Bank's Health
  
• IPOs
  
• Coffee Companies Dropping Prices
  
• Despite Facebook Hoopla, Stocks Fall
  
• Feds Subpoena Chipotle Over Its Hiring Practices
  
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  Classic Autos More for Hobbyists Than Investors
  
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  Despite Records, Facebook's IPO Disappoints Some Investors
  
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  Decline in OJ Imports Not Necessarily Good News
  
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  Polk Jobless Rate Down Amid Mixed Job Growth
  
• The Insider: Investors Turned Out in Force for a Lakeland Real Estate Auction
  
• CFDC Board to Discuss Reorganization at Monday's Meeting
  
• Facebook Closes Up 23 Cents on Its First Day
  
• Warren Buffett Buying Media General, But Not the Tampa Tribune
  
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  Investing in a Restaurant a Risky Labor of Love
  
• Fruit, Vegetable Farmers Work To Keep What They've Sown
  
• Wal-Mart's 1Q Profit Up 10.1 Percent; Bribery Scheme Investigation Looms
  
• US 30-Year Mortgage Rate Falls to Record 3.79 Pct.
  
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  New Manufacturing Process Could Revitalize Phosphate Industry
  
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  New Impreza: Practical But Not as Fun to Drive
  
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  Consumer Confidence Down in Florida Despite Fall in Gas Prices
  
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  Construction Of Homes in Polk Enjoys An Increase from ‘11
  
• Home Foreclosures on the Rise in Polk
  
• Proposed Citrus Commission Budget Cuts Marketing Funds
  
• The Insider: Leon's Tanning in Dixieland Scheduled for Demolition
  
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  The Ledger Names Two to Executive Positions
  
• Personal Finance: Consumers Show Restraint as Credit Ratings Improve
  
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  Beverage Makers Start Looking Beyond Sugary Treats
  
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  Seniors Swindled: Retirees Can Take Steps to Protect Against Fraud
  
• Skechers Shoes Settles False Advertising Claims for $40 Million
  
• Social Security: Wounded Warriors Get Expedited Processing
  
• Travel to Florida Rises 2.4 Percent
  
• Food, Fashion Help Boost Target's Profit Outlook
  
• More Consumers Paying Credit Card Bills on Time
  
• Skechers Agrees to Settle Over Advertising
  
• Euro Crisis Continues to Roil Markets
  
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  National Bike Month: Enthusiasts Tout Advantages of Biking to Work
  
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  JPMorgan CEO Dimon Survives Shareholder Vote
  
• Falling Gas Prices Leads to More Spending
  
• The Insider: Office Center at 1818 Harden Blvd. Finally Filled
  
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  Speaker Says Cost of Divorce, Other Social Ills Totals Tens of Billions
  
• Community Leaders Honored by Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce
  
• Buffett's Firm Buys 10 Million-Share Stake In General Motors
  
• Virgin Atlantic Allows Cell Phone Calls
  
• Judge: Apple Statements Damage Lawsuit Position
  
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  SunTrust Team Talks to Kids About Handling Money
  
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  Florida Citrus Organization Appeals Revocation of OJ ‘Dump' Order Against Brazil
  
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  Q&A: Downtown Director Now At Home in Lakeland
  
• Verizon Beefs Up Wireless in Polk
  
• The Insider: Publix Celebrates Milestone in Plastic Bag Reduction
  
• Best Buy Founder Stepping Down as Chairman After Scandal
  
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  Coca-Cola Will Try Marketing Mid-Calorie Sprite, Fanta Sodas
  
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  Cultural Phenomenon: Facebook Isn't Just the Year's Hottest Stock Story
  
• Job Fair at PSC Campus Wednesday
  
• Drugs, Debt Bind Laborers in Slavery, Men Say
  
• Chief Investment Officer At JPMorgan to Retire
  
• 86 ‘Pink Slime' Layoffs
  
• LightSquared Files For Bankruptcy
  
• Stocks Skid After Greece News
  
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  Current and Potential Employers Check Your Social Media
  
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  TD Bank Program Educates Auburndale Students About Finances
  
• Jobless Young Find Their Voice in Tough Times
  
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  Class of 2012 Leaving College To Find Improving Job Market
  
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  Several Polk County Gun Shops Report Sky-High Sales
  
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  No Real Point To Foursquare, Yet Addictive
  
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  iMapMyRUN Great For Figuring Stats, Routes For Runners
  
• Decline Muted, Despite Bank Slump
  
• Business Agenda
  
• People & Changes
  
• IPOs
  
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  Baby Boomers Buying Majority of New Cars Sold
  
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  Most Videogame Companies Report Losses
  
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  Producer Prices: Cheaper Gas Drives U.S. Wholesale Index Lower
  
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  Calls to Toughen Regulation Follow Colossal JPMorgan loss
  
• The Insider: Froyoz Frozen Yogurt Shop Coming to Lakeland and Winter Haven
  
• Q&A Attempts to Explain How JPMorgan Chase Lost $2 Billion
  
• Legoland Guide Helps Parents Prepare Kids For Park's Thrill Rides
  
• Consumer Confidence Rises as Gas Prices Fall
  
• Canada's 2-Month Jobs Gains Best in 31 Years
  
• $2 Billion Loss by JPMorgan Revives Call for Tougher Regulations
  
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  Remembering Mom: Retailers Expecting a Boost in Mother's Day Spending
  
• Orange Crop Forecast Mostly Unchanged
  
• The Insider: DogVacay.com Will Help Provide Care For Your Dog While You Get Away
  
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  New Rules Would Cover Puppies Sold Via Internet
  
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  Americans Are Increasing Their Travel to Foreign Destinations
  
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  Stock Prices Rise, but Amount of Trading Falls
  
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  With Apple in, Stock Market Would Have Set Record a Long Time Ago
  
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  Dodge Scores With Its New Compact Dart
  
• Trade Deficit Outpaces Export Gain
  
• Mortgage Rates Hit New Lows
  
• Under The Hood: With Care, Your Car Can Endure
  
• Ford Recalling 32,400 Windstar Minivans
  
• USDA Expects Food Prices to Drop This Fall
  
• Bankruptcies
  
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  New Translation Services Bridge Language Barriers
  
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  Lakeland Costume Shop Owner Seeks Business Women's Association Top Award
  
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  Balance Paying for College With Retirement Planning
  
• Dean Saunders Lauded for Sales
  
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  U.S. Hispanics Expected to Have Increasing Economic Impact
  
• Chase Tests Alternative To Checking Accounts
  
• Social Security: Members Of Congress Pay Into The System
  
• Stalled Internet Name System May Resume
  
• Personal Finance: Decide What Kind of Cellphone You Need
  
• The Insider: Dermatologist Moving into Former Winter Haven Office of Dr. Perez
  
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  Hairstylist Vidal Sassoon Dead at 84
  
• AAA Members Get An Early Peek at Legoland's Water Park
  
• Macy's Quarterly Profits Exceed Expectations
  
• Shareholders OK Pay for Bank of America Chief
  
• Stocks Drop on European Debt Fears
  
• Bankruptcies
  
• Homeowners Notified of Principal Reduction Offer
  
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  Carol, Barney Barnett Donate $1 Million to Florida Aquarium
  
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  Summer Hiring to Be Better Than During Pits of Recession
  
• Turmoil in Europe Pushes Stocks Lower in U.S.
  
• The Insider: An A+ for Racetrac?
  
• Kinney to Retire As Chief Executive Of Fla. Citrus Packers
  
• Ford to Boost Factory Output by 40,000 Vehicles
  
• McDonald's Sales Rise But Miss Expectations
  
• Disney's 2nd-Quarter Profit Beats Forecasts
  
• Bankruptcies
  
• Agricultural Conglomerate Cargill Inc. Sells Auburndale Plant
  
• Q & A: Economic Conditions Lead to Rise In Sales of Motorcycles
  
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  Startup Potential: Here's What Looks Promising Among New Services
  
• Banks of All Sizes Boosting Dividends in Sign of Recovery
  
• Credit Cards Were Used More in March
  
• The Insider: Former Hotel on Memorial Blvd. in Lakeland is For Sale
  
• Publix Ranks No. 106 On Fortune 500 List
  
• Self-Driving Cars to Be Tested Soon on Nevada Streets
  
• Kodak Online Photos to Go to Shutterfly in July
  
• Markets Recover From Early Stumble
  
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  Floor-Covering Business Has Been Through Many Recessions
  
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  Growers Fertilizer Committed to Supporting Community Events
  
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  Graduates Get Crash Course in Finding a Job
  
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  Florida Man Promises Debt Collecting With a Heart
  
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  Drought Has Buoyed Home Prices Throughout the County
  
• Tech Q&A: Flash Drive Has Long, Long Life Ahead
  
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  App Reviews: Gesture Search Helps Navigate Android Phone
  
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  Web Winners: Accounting For Inflation
  
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  Internships Lure More Grads to Unpaid Work
  
• On The Business Agenda
  
• People & Changes
  
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  'The Landings' Celebrates Ground Breaking; Could Include Apartments
  
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  Local Gas Prices Down After Brush With $4 a Gallon
  
• Highland Packing's Decision to Leave Polk Was Hard
  
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  Upscale Eateries are Retooling to Attract Younger Diners
  
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  Canadian Media Mogul Conrad Black Released From Prison, Returns Home
  
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  Shareholder Seeks Exit Of Yahoo's Chief Exec
  
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  A Recipe for More Jobs: Stronger Economic Growth
  
• The Insider: New Gift Shop Opened on Cleveland Heights in Lakeland
  
• Retailers, Publishers Plan to Give Away 3.5 Million Comic Books
  
• Groupon Has Lost Half Its Value Since Going Public
  
• Facebook IPO Solidifies Zuckerberg's Wealth
  
• Stocks Tumble Following Hiring Report
  
• Downtown Lakeland's Farmer's Market's Wednesday Operations To Be Halted
  
• Attendees Learn About Job Opportunities at CSX Open House
  
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  Homeowners Insisting Buyers Let Them Stick Around
  
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  Canada Dominates List Ranking The World's 20 Strongest Banks
  
• Fewer Sought Jobless Benefits Last Week
  
• Retailers Report Lackluster April Sales
  
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  Lights, Camera, Invest! Put Filmmaking in Investment Portfolio
  
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  Prius Poised to Meet Mileage Demand
  
• Highland Packaging Relocating Operations; Polk to Lose More Than 215 Jobs
  
• McDonald's Serving Up Short-Time Offerings
  
• The Insider: Tsunami Sushi Owners to Open a Third Location
  
• Florida Rises to Second Best State for Business in Execs' Poll
  
• April Job Cuts Outpace Figures From a Year Ago
  
• Pepsi Signs Deal to Use Michael Jackson's Image
  
• Fixed-Rate Mortgages Fall to Record Lows
  
• Stocks Close Lower on Mixed Picture
  
• Florida's Unemployment Compensation Being Reduced
  
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  Legoland, Airport Director, Chamber Official Win Awards
  
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  Student Loans 101: Interest Uproar
  
• The Insider: Entertainment Center With Billiards and Bowling Opening in Winter Haven
  
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  Publix Receives Two United Way Honors at Conference in Tennessee
  
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  Partnership Promotes Foreign Tourism to the U.S.
  
• Government Speeding Up Tracking of Meat E. Coli
  
• Anti-Tobacco Activists Protest Family Dollar Selling Cigarettes
  
• Social Security: Help Mom Save $4,000 Per Year in Drug Costs
  
• Report: Facebook's Initial Public Offering Set for May 18
  
• Private-Sector Payrolls Show Small Growth Rate
  
• Census: Home Ownership Drops to 15-Year Low
  
• Stocks End Mixed After Hiring Report
  
• First Quarter Profits Up 2.8 Percent for Publix
  
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  The Ledger's Sunday Circulation Rises 4 Percent Over Last Year
  
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  Changing Tastes: New Consumer Habits Giving Dark Meat a Leg Up
  
• Dow Rises To Highest Close in Four Years
  
• The Insider: Circle K at State Road 60 and Alturas Road Planning Expansion
  
• Polk Works to Have Oversight from County Commission
  
• State Approves Winter Haven's Enterprise Zone to Attract New Businesses
  
• Chrysler Leads Among Automakers in Exceeding Estimates
  
• Social Security Cuts Back on Mailed Estimates
  
• New Revenue Streams Help Boost CBS Profits
  
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  Kickstarter: Big Money Can Quickly Be Raised to Start New Business
  
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  Jason Miller's Childhood Passion Becomes Career as Master Model Builder
  
• OJ Sales Staying in Sour Trend
  
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  Legoland Florida Seeks Permission to Sell Beer and Wine
  
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  Independent Lake Wales Jeweler Has Loyal Customer Base
  
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  Progress Energy Grants Help Florida Education Projects
  
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  Minds at Work Program Helps Managers See, Fix Their Flaws
  
• The Insider: The Stanford Inn in Bartow Closing Its Tea Room
  
• Publix Stock Edges Up; First-Quarter Results Are Expected Today
  
• Canada's Economy Shrinks as Output Falls
  
• Coca-Cola Denies Monster Sale Rumors
  
• Humana Inc. Sees Drop in Quarterly Profits
  
• Market Dips Moderately
  
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  Last Year, Polk Retailers Saw First Annual Sales Increase Since 2006
  
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  Boom Times for Florida Cattle Ranches
  
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  Veterans Return to an Unwelcoming Job Market
  
• Why Can't an iPad Be Read in the Sunshine?
  
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  Splashtop App Allows Control Of the Computer
  
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  Car Buying Made Easier, Simpler
  
• Amazon Shares Rise On Positive Quarterly Report
  
• Ford's 1st Quarter Profit Falls by Nearly Half
  
• Dow's Growth Makes Up Month's Losses
  
• Recalls
  
• On The Business Agenda
  
• Initial Public Offerings
  
• People & Changes
  
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  Lakeland-Based Heacock Insurance Stays Local
  
• Print Supplies Distributor XPEDX Completes Lakeland Expansion
  
• U.S. Economy Continues Slow, Steady Expansion
  
• Bill To Stagger Terms Of Citrus Commission Gets Scott's Signature
  
• Landings Development to Hold Ground Breaking for First Tenants
  
• The Insider: More Cheese At Publix
  
• FPL Cuts Estimate Of Rate Hike
  
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  The Shadow Market: Some Homes Sell Without Being Formally Listed
  
• Beef Industry Responds Quickly to Mad Cow
  
• Men's Wages Slower to Rebound
  
• Open House on CSX Project Will Have Job, Business Information
  
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  Sales Ram Chrysler To Best Profit in 13 Years
  
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  Some Investors Moving to Self-Directed IRAs
  
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  Mercedes Fills Several Luxury SUV Niches
  
• Under The Hood: Anti-Theft System Can Delay Starting
  
• Ben Hill Griffin III Snaps Up More Than 4,000 Acres Near Frostproof from Alico
  
• Exxon Mobil Profits Down; First Time Since 2009
  
• The Insider: Landmark Scottish Rite Temple in South Lakeland to Become Business
  
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  Polk Delegation: Business Was Big Winner During Florida Legislative Session
  
• Starbucks Brews Up An 18 Percent Increase In Quarterly Income
  
• Wal-Mart Will Take Cash In Stores for Online Buys
  
• Senate Farm Bill Would End Some Subsidies
  
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  Fertilizer Plant Proposal Upsets Housing Charity
  
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  Pilots, Other Professionals Use Tablets to Gain Efficiency
  
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  Burger King Pledges to Use Only Cage-Free Eggs, Pork by 2017
  
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  Wal-Mart Lobbied Against Law
  
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  Boomers Defy Expectations on Retirement
  
• Coca-Cola Seeks First Stock Split In 16 Years
  
• Social Security: Doctors Review Disability Applications
  
• The Insider: Proposal to Build a McDonald's on Shepherd Road in Lakeland
  
• Wet ‘n Wild Planning a Family Water Playground
  
• Bernanke Signals Possible Fed Action
  
• Harley-Davidson Revs Up Profitable First Quarter
  
• Apple Surge Powers a Boost in Nasdaq
  
• Mortgage Foreclosures
  
• Bankruptcies
  
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  OJ Imports to U.S. Fall 37% in February
  
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  Asparagus Farmers Expand Production to Meet Demand
  
• Google Launches Storage Service for Personal Files
  
• Americans Remain Confident In April
  
• U.S. New Home Sales Off 7% in March
  
• Wal-Mart Hiring Global Compliance Officer
  
• The Insider: San Francisco Based United Growth Capital Management May Open in Lakeland
  
• Scott Reappoints All Nine Members of the Fla. Citrus Commission
  
• Case of Mad Cow Disease Surfaces in California
  
• Sweet First Quarter For Hershey Company
  
• Higher Spirits in Europe Propel U.S. Stocks
  
• Southeastern University's Students Look at Financial Literacy
  
• World-Class Padua Stables Preparing Florida Properties for Buyers
  
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  Polk Business Barometer: February Home Building and Tourism Activity Up
  
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  Networking Group Helps Young Polk Professionals
  
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  Stay-at-Home Mothers' Work Adds Up to Significant Worth
  
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  Little-known Division of Disney Teaches How to Connect With Consumers
  
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  Hasbro, Like Mattel, Sees Disappointing First Quarter
  
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  Social Security to Go Broke Faster Than Expected
  
• Climate Change Effect Foreseen for Corn Prices
  
• Winter Haven Commission Proposes Expedited Permits For Smaller Developments
  
• The Insider: Try It Again Thrift Store in Downtown Lakeland
  
• Nestle to Purchase Pfizer Baby Nutrition Unit for $11.9 Billion
  
• Wal-Mart Defends Itself After Bribery Report
  
• Starbucks to Open In Each Disney Park
  
• News Out of Europe Sends Shares Down
  
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  Workplace Friendships: Expert Says Maintaining a Close Bond Takes a Lot of Effort
  
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  Hill Nissan Supports Children, Education and Animals
  
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  Exit of Walt Disney Studios Film Chief Leaves Unit Adrift
  
• Four-Year Degree Becoming A Must for Nursing Candidates
  
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  1 in 2 New Grads Jobless Or Underemployed
  
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  Swing-State Unemployment Down, Obama's Re-Election Chances Up
  
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  Winter Haven Manufacturing Company Celebrates 40 Years
  
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  PocketCloud App Helps Make Life a Lot Easier
  
• Youths Can Apply for Summer Jobs
  
• Senft Will Mentor New Development Director
  
• Construction Starting On Dixieland 7-11
  
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  People & Changes
  
• IPOs
  

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