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What you need to know about Florida today
Florida urges appeals court to reinstate travel ban
Florida, Texas and a dozen other states are urging a San Francisco-based federal appeals court to reinstate President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. In court documents submitted to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Monday, the states say the ban falls within the president's authority to block foreigners from the U.S. [Source: AP]
More than 100 Florida wildfires scorch state, a sign of how dry we are
Last year Florida was waterlogged. This year Florida is on fire. More than 100 active wildfires are burning across the state right now, according to the Florida Forest Service. Twenty-five of them are scorching more than 100 acres each. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
See also:
» Map of current wildfires burning in the state
Florida winter bar exam passage rate now at lowest point in 8 years
The number of first-time Florida Bar takers who pass the February administration of the exam has plummeted to its lowest level in eight years. Of 751 first-time takers, 433 passed the bar, or 57.7 percent, according to a Monday release from the state’s Board of Bar Examiners. See overall bar examination results, listed by law school, here. Also read more at Florida Politics.
'Opt out' parents appeal to Florida Supreme Court
Several parents who oppose standardized-testing requirements in public schools are taking their battle to the Florida Supreme Court. The parents last week filed a notice that is a first step in asking the Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida county considers special tax for President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago visits
Palm Beach County spends more than $60,000 a day when President Donald Trump visits, mostly for law enforcement overtime — almost $2 million since January. County Commissioners are so tired of spending this extra money when Trump visits his Mar-a-Lago resort, that some are suggesting turning Mar-a-Lago into a special taxing district and imposing a levy on the resort to pay the president’s security costs. [Source: AP]
› Three Florida media organizations honored in 2017 Pulitzer Prize awards
Miami Herald wins 2 Pulitzer Prizes and is nominated as a Finalist. The Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times were also recognized as Finalists.
› Two Jacksonville companies seeking incentives to add a total of 270 jobs
Two unidentified local companies are seeking incentives with the promise of adding a total of 270 jobs. The first company, identified only as Project Avalanche in the city legislation, is an IT company in Southeast Jacksonville that currently has about 300 employees.
› Ringling College plans new building as part of growth spurt
The new plans come as Ringling College has a record number of incoming freshman pushing the school’s enrollment to almost 1,400 this year and a slew of new major capital projects.
› Miami’s big schools makeover: Out with rows of desks, in with open space, digital tech
Four years ago, the Miami-Dade school district embarked on an ambitious project: a $1.2 billion investment in remodeling aging schools to create learning centers for the digital generation.
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