March 19, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/24/2017

Bill would protect religious expression in schools; more stories in Legislative roundup

Students, their parents and school employees would be guaranteed wider rights to openly pray in public schools under a bill approved Thursday by the Florida Senate. Legislators opposed to the bill say it could open the door from everything from cracking down on science teachers who teach evolution to allowing Christian students to intimidate those of other faiths. [Source: AP]

Everglades projects

Other news from the Florida Legislature:
» House approves state worker health change
The proposal, headed to the Senate, would provide workers four options of coverage at different price points. Any savings produced would be split with workers and the state.
» Bill to limit job guarantees for annual contract teachers advances in Florida House
The Florida House Education Committee on Thursday moved to limit guaranteed yearly job renewals for teachers. On a split vote, the committee favored a bill (HB 373) prohibiting school boards from awarding any contractual terms beyond what's provided in law.
» Florida bill will help foster children get driver’s licenses
Children in foster care would get help obtaining a driver’s license and auto insurance under a bill unanimously passed by the Senate. The idea is to help children in state care become more independent.
Related political headlines:
» Caught in crossfire between Rick Scott and Richard Corcoran, Florida Defense Alliance fights for survival
» Corcoran criticizes Constitution Revision schedule

Florida teacher test scores not improving, new state numbers show

At a recent college education conference in Tampa, college Deans of Education programs across the state were talking about how teachers across Florida are failing the Florida Teacher Certification Exam at unprecedented rates. "We have a real crisis," said Dr. Gloria Pelaez, St. Thomas University Dean of the School of Arts which oversees its College of Education. Many are blaming the test itself. [Source: ABC Action News]

Disney, Universal, SeaWorld fight tax bills

Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld are battling a Florida property appraiser over the assessed value of their theme park empires. To cut tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars, the specialists at Orlando's famous theme parks have employed methods from the creative — placing cows on undeveloped land and claiming an agricultural exemption — to the traditional — negotiating or appealing to a county board. [Source: AP]

Related, from Florida Trend's archive:
» Universal Studios' high-crime zone incentive money grab

Pursuing a rail expansion, Miami-Dade mayor polls voters on increasing transit tax

Miami-Dade voters are narrowly divided on a higher sales tax to improve transit, according to a poll commissioned by Miami-Dade’s Mayor Carlos Gimenez as he pursues a historic, costly expansion of rail. Gimenez is floating the idea of increasing the county’s half-percent transportation sales tax to a full percent in order to fund a rail expansion expected to cost about $6 billion. [Source: Miami Herald]

See also:
» It takes money to fix Tampa Bay's transportation woes. But our state lawmakers aren't asking for it.

Dwayne and Mary Helen McCay inducted into Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

Florida Institute of Technology President T. Dwayne McCay and First Lady Mary Helen McCay have been inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. They are the first scientific couple recognized by the Tampa-based institution. The McCays hold 15 joint U.S. patents in the area of metallurgical engineering. Their patented work involving laser-induced surface improvement has contributed to increased patient safety and improved medical outcomes in facilities nationwide. Full story from FIT, here.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Accardi brothers buy historic building in downtown Tampa's Channel district
Twin brothers Jason and John Accardi have purchased a warehouse at 223 N. 12th St., known as the Artists Unlimited Inc. building for when it served as a collaborative space for local artists.

› Is Gainesville Florida’s biotech hub?
Gainesville is one city that has seen its biotech economy grow. “The region’s culture of innovation has been a defining characteristic of the local economy, businesses and overall identity for the past two decades and beyond," explains Susan Davenport, CEO, Gainesville Chamber of Commerce.

› Trump's cut to Corps of Engineers' budget could slow Everglades restoration
Supporters of Everglades restoration are worried that President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash $1 billion from the Army Corps of Engineers’ budget next year could derail hard-fought progress on Florida’s massive, decades-long water project. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the proposed cut would come at a crucial time, given Congress’ recent passage of water bills authorizing key elements of a complex plan for the Everglades.

› Drought conditions identified in parts of Florida
The U.S. Drought Monitor and the Florida Drought Index, both released this week, have identified parts of Florida as being in drought or pre-drought conditions. On the Suncoast the normal amount of rainfall since the beginning of the year is down over 5 inches.

See also:
» Fire danger maps for Florida

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