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A new bill presented by Florida state representative David Simmons amending the state's minimum wage bill is being berated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an organization for low-income families. The bill seeks to impose a liability on the employee to furnish a 15-day notice to the employer before suing for any unpaid wages etc. Many are also opposing a growth management bill presented before the senate, as it would give powers to local governments to raise funds through taxes without any accountability.

A profile of the company Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is presented. The company is nation's largest employer and grocery retailer and has reaped fifty millions of dollars in government subsidies to expand its operations in Florida.

The fishing group BASS, ESPN Inc. and Walt Disney Co. are collaborating to promote Central Florida as a fishing destination. If their plans come through, the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando will become a private-lake bass fishing hotspot, and ESPNEs large audience reach will help in drawing attention to all the lakes in the region. The Central Florida Sports Commission is bidding for the next two Bassmaster Classics to be held in the area.

Synopsis of QVC Inc.'s promotion of products of business entrepreneurs on television is examined.

Cathedral of Faith Orlando sold its property near Orlando International Airport for $1.2 million to payoff partial defaulted loan from SouthTrust Bank. The details surrounding the property sale and plans of pastor Peter Gammons to retain the church are examined.

Orlando-based Unicorp National Developments Inc. responsible for bringing to fruition the $100 million, 230,000-square-foot retail/dining section of the Baldwin Park Village Center, a mixed-use project, is more than one year behind schedule and millions of dollars over budget. Tenants were promised that by early 2004, shop owners would begin moving in but in 2005, the town center is 80% leased with only one store open, frustrating the business owners.

The federal report released by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services revealed that some Orlando area hospitals are lacking in providing facilities to patients suffering from heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. The purpose of the report is to help consumers decide which hospitals have the best quality of care.

Amendment 5 proposes increasing the minimum wage in Florida by $1 to $6.15 an hour and tipped employees also get rate increase, from $2.13 to $3.13 an hour. The minimum wage would be adjusted annually, based on changes to the Consumer Price Index.

Tupperware Corp. has sued five of its former distributors by claiming that they left the company before paying on the promissory note, and that they owe the full amount irrespective of the amount that had already been paid. The amount of suits ranged between $200,000 and $300,000 each.

Florida Power &Light Co. and Progress Energy had set aside $400 million as a special reserve fund to cover damages caused by hurricanes. This fund is wiped out completely due to the hurricanes and the company is appealing to the state regulators to add a short term surcharge to electric bills.

The Florida attorney general's office has opened an investigation on Orkin Inc. for possible unfair and deceptive business practices. The investigation followed a hundreds of other lawsuits filed by homeowners against Orkin alleging the company failed to properly inspect homes.

Oakland, Calif.-based Cost Plus World Market home furnisher recently opened its first Central Florida outlet near the Florida Mall, which is a part of the Orlando Square, a big-box retail plaza. A majority of the store's are imported from China, Italy, Thailand and Slovenia and the products range from gourmet food and wine, chocolates, bed and bath linens, kitchenware, and home furnishings.

The advertisements on the Orlando stations, as well as agreements with developers and plaza owners indicate that Kohl's Corp. is poised to enter into the Florida retail market with multiple stores. Kohl's Corp would target mothers who shop for their families and compete with other mass merchandisers that sell apparel and home goods.

The federal government passed the Terrorism Risk and Insurance Act of 2002, forcing insurers to cover terrorists acts that cause at least $5 million in damages and which are committed by, or on behalf, of a foreign interest. Businesses in Central Florida and across the nation, with federal government's contribution to help insurers pay for claims, are clamoring to get terrorism coverage where more than 44 percent of US businesses bought terrorism insurance in the first quarter of 2004.

Ron Jon Surf Shop has signed a licensing agreement with an Orlando based Jayram Inc. for opening six surf shops across Caribbean.

The legal case between Eckerd Corp. and some of its group of former managers on charges of unfair compensation for their work is discussed.

Edible Arrangements is a specialty retail franchise that sells fresh fruit arrangements, which are as appealing as flower bouquets. These fruit arrangements are edible too. A brief profile of the Franchise owner, Lisa Rosencrans is presented and prospects for the novel product are discussed.

The menswear designer, Auke Hempenius, is planning to open a new store in Park Avenue. The direct marketing efforts of the firm in promoting the store are mentioned.

The details on Rollins College, which started week-end master of business administration educational program for working employees in Orlando, are presented.

Hurricane Charley destroyed the blue and orange Howard Johnson Maingate East sign on U.S. Highway 192. Thus, the way in which Osceola County's is helping to fix up the damaged signs is described in detail.

Massachusetts-based gaming developer has hired seven former Disney animators to run Cecropia, a local animation studio explicitly for them. It is an opportunity for Cecropia to take the benefits of using Disney-trained animators for a new game design that its top brass hope that would change the face of gaming.

The article offers information on the 2014 International Music Camp along with the importance of summer camp for children's education including continued and varied learning provided to students, opportunity to meet new people and learning opportunities.

The article focuses on implementing modern design in traditional homes, which is seen in a 1925 detached single-family house in Queens, New York.