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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Gov. Scott’s choice: to veto or not to veto?
Gov. Rick Scott must soon sign the new state budget, and he's getting intense feedback on all sides: from lawmakers protecting hometown projects, hospitals worried about losing money and a business-backed group criticizing pork-barrel spending. [Source: Times/Herald]
Bill would hand win to Georgia in water dispute with Florida
The Senate passed a public works bill on Wednesday that would give Georgia an important victory in a long-running water-rights dispute with Florida. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
FDLE: Crime rate down 6.5 percent across state
After boasting the lowest crime rates in 40 years in 2011, state law-enforcement agencies have reported even lower numbers for 2012. The overall crime rate fell 6.5 percent statewide, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Uniform Crime Report released Thursday. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida dining: Naples' Persian
Boulevardiers who stroll past the Irish pubs, euro bistros, English tearooms and all-American ice cream and fudge shops this season in Naples will find that Fifth Avenue South takes a new turn. It slyly becomes the Silk Road leading into the exquisite mysteries of ancient Persia, perfumed with the aromas of saffron, cardamom and mint and styled with modern chic of pomegranate crimson walls and swirling sand dune sculptures. Full story...
TaxWatch lists budget 'turkeys'
Florida TaxWatch identified just under $107 million worth of questionable spending _ known as “turkeys” in Tallahassee parlance - in the new $74.5 billion state budget that is awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s final review. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida craft beer guide and map
This is American Craft Beer Week, and you can celebrate it by drinking some great, fresh Florida beer. If you hear someone saying there’s not much good beer brewed in the state of Florida, welcome them back from the cryogenic freezer they’ve obviously been in for the last decade.
› Bradenton among best small U.S. downtowns
A business magazine considers Bradenton to have one of American’s best small-city downtowns. Southern Business & Development, a magazine that focuses on economic development in the South, based its picks on small towns that have vibrant downtown areas.
› Lee County business leaders more bullish about economy
Business leaders are optimistic that the economy will improve next year and they’re more bullish about improvements in the Lee County economy than they were in the first quarter of 2013, according to a local business climate report released Thursday.
› Teaching program gives helping hand to Miami students
Students laughed as paper airplanes flew through the air in Catalina Hidalgo’s eighth grade science classroom at Jose De Diego Middle School. This wasn’t just about having fun. The paper planes were part of a science lab report on velocity.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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