Wednesday's Daily Pulse

› City of St. Petersburg wins $10.4 million verdict against big bank [Tampa Bay Times]
In a major victory for St. Petersburg, a federal jury ruled Tuesday that Wachovia Global Securities breached its contract and owes the city $10.4 million for failing to notify it sooner of an investment going bad.

› Discovery en Espanol posts strong quarter [Miami Herald]
Spanish network Discovery en Español posted its best quarter on record in prime time among Hispanic households and viewers aged 18-49. The Miami-based Discovery en Español captured the No. 1 ranking at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. These increases are attributed to top performing series in the 10 p.m. time slot, which drew 2.4 million viewers throughout the quarter.

› Researchers use game to change how scientists study disease outbreaks [UF News]
It may seem like a macabre game of tag, but it’s actually an innovative tool for teaching the fundamentals of epidemiology — the science of how infectious diseases move through a population. University of Florida biologist Juliet Pulliam is among an international team of scientists who teach a workshop annually in South Africa that helps epidemiologists improve mathematical models they use to study outbreaks of diseases like cholera, AIDS and malaria.

› Florida, other states target retail tax-cheating software [AP]
Cash-strapped state governments that are searching every crevice for money have found a new target: computer programs that enable businesses to keep two sets of books simply by plugging a flash drive into their cash registers.

› Jupiter boy, 13, wins NASCAR driver’s first go-karting scholarship [Palm Beach Post]
A Jupiter boy has been awarded the first AJ Allmendinger Karting Scholarship, created to help propel young racers into motorsports careers. Kyle Kirkwood, 13, has already won several championships throughout Florida and the United States, and 2012 marks his first year of junior-level competition. He currently competes in the Florida Winter Tour.