TAMPA BAY TIMES The Florida economy created just fewer than a quarter million jobs over the past 12 months, an impressive number that represents the biggest annual April-to-April job gain since 2006. 

April new home sales, as reported by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, increased 6.4% from March 

ORLANDO -- PRNewswire -- Florida's housing market reported higher median prices, more new listings, fewer days on the market and a slight uptick in inventory during the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 50,251 in 1Q 2014, up 2.3 percent over the 1Q 2013 figure. 

TARPON SPRINGS This weekend, more than 200 artists and fine art craftsmen will set up along the banks of picturesque Spring Bayou in Craig Park, where they'll sell their wares and compete for a share of an $18,400 purse. 

Palm Harbor Celebrates Annual Citrus Festival 

Innisbrook Copperhead Course  

PRWEB - Winter Storm Rex continues to bring cold, snow, and spring fever to much of the country and baseball fans are taking the hint. A brand new season and the balmy Florida and Arizona temps have spring training tickets in the top of sports queues nationwide, according to Marta Ault at online ticket marketplace BuyAnySeat.com. 

Wall Street - A panel of top economists expressed generally optimistic views Tuesday about the U.S. housing market, predicting sizeable gains in home construction and new-home sales this year as long as interest rates don’t rise too quickly and job growth continues to advance at a moderate pace. 

TAMPA - More than 35,000 homes sold here last year, the most since 2005, a Tampa Bay Times analysis of listing data shows. And the median home sold for the highest price since 2008. 

December is running 3 degrees above normal and another week of 80-degree temperatures is in the forecast for South Florida. Six of the first eight days of the month were at 82 or above.