Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
› Rivera ran secret campaign, Sternad tells FBI
Justin Lamar Sternad, whose failed congressional campaign became the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation, has told the FBI that U.S. Rep. David Rivera was secretly behind his run for office.
› Scott's education stance is nice, but advocates want specifics
It will take more than a listening tour to convince education advocates across Florida that Gov. Rick Scott is on their side. They are wary, skeptical even, of the man they've mostly seen as an adversary for the past two years. Now, they wait to see what kind of policies Scott proposes for the 2013 legislative session and budget and whether his decisions reflect their advice.
› Audit: Volunteer fire units may cost more than they are worth
The six volunteer fire departments cost Hillsborough County a total of about $1.5 million each year. That includes $49,950 paid to each company as well as equipment and the cost of sending in career firefighters when the companies don't have enough volunteers
› State pushes for safe houses for child-prostitution victims
Amid growing concern from Florida's capital to the White House over human trafficking, the head of the state's social-services agency outlined plans Tuesday to create a network of "safe houses" and long-term-treatment facilities where underage sexual workers and other children held against their will could seek refuge and protection.
› Astronauts, robots may team up to reach Mars goal
Despite severe budget cuts, an expert panel said NASA still could achieve the National Research Council’s top goal for planetary science — returning rock and soil samples from the red planet.
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