Changes in law school accreditation eyed
A panel appointed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz issued a report this week that offered a series of possible ideas for moving away from what it described as the American Bar Association’s “near monopoly” on accrediting law schools. In most cases, Florida requires people to graduate from accredited law schools to be eligible to take the bar exam to practice law. The American Bar Association has served as the accreditor for decades. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Business Beat - Week of October 31st
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
When will SNAP benefits end? What to know, how to get help in Florida
If you're one of the nearly 3 million Floridians who rely on what used to be called food stamps to provide or supplement your food budget, that help is stopping as of Nov. 1 as the government shutdown continues and funding runs dry. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October was already covered when the shutdown began, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the program, has said there are no further funds available. [Source: The Daytona Beach News-Journal]
Elite universities are betting on South Florida’s future
South Florida’s transformation into the “Wall Street of the South” isn’t only attracting businesses. It’s also caught the attention of academia. The region is already home to several public and private colleges and universities, but in recent years, a new crop of prestigious institutions have made efforts to plant roots in the area. The migration of major financial companies, tech ventures and wealthy transplants has piqued the interest of out-of-state schools that say the economic opportunity in South Florida is too great to ignore. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]
West Palm nonprofit offering incentives for downtown businesses to use public transportation
The West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition (WPBgo) is giving away $89,000 to 50 employers who apply for its ACCESS WPB program. The money must be used to pay for mass transit fares such as Palm Beach County's public bus system, Palm Tran or South Florida's publicly funded passenger train, Tri-Rail. Employers can also use the money to help workers rent BrightBike bicycles provided throughout downtown West Palm Beach by privately run passenger train Brightline. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida Realtors strengthens Japan connection
Florida Realtors®, the state’s largest professional trade association, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan-America Real Estate Coalition Office (JARECO), strengthening international collaboration and expanding business opportunities for real estate professionals in both Florida and Japan.
› Florida Rep. Shane Abbott: How to fix the broken pharmacy reimbursement model
Most pharmacies struggle to make profits – if any at all – said Garrett Smith, owner of Equity Rx in the tiny Santa Rosa County town of Jay.
Smith explained that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the middlemen between insurance companies and pharmacies, often reimburse pharmacies less than the wholesale cost of the drug. Nearly half of all prescriptions are filled at a loss, making profit margins, if any, negligible.
State Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, who owns and operates two pharmacies, experiences these pressures firsthand.
› Miami 3D-printed battery maker wins U.S. Air Force contract
Miami-based Material uses 3D printing to make batteries that conform to the shape of the devices they power, rather than forcing devices to work around standard rectangular or cylindrical batteries.That eliminates the need for large battery compartments in wearable devices, tablets, phones and drones. Instead, the batteries can be seamlessly integrated into the body of a product.
› Larson named Florida Farmer of the Year
Woody Larson joined the family business, Larson Dairy Inc., in 1973 after graduating from The University of Florida. Starting as a barn manager, he advanced to general manager and led the operation’s growth to more than 12,000 milking cows. In 2001, Larson and his wife Grace, founded Family Tree Enterprises, a diversified agriculture business specializing in dairy and beef operations along with hay, sod and nursery sales.
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› Collier County nonprofit receives $200,000 donation to advance affordable housing
A charitable foundation in Southwest Florida has received a grant of $200,000 to support efforts in advancing affordable housing and developing small businesses in Collier County.
The KeyBank Foundation has awarded the philanthropic grant to Collier Community Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission "to improve the quality of life in Collier County by connecting donors with critical community needs."
› State Farm files 10% rate cut for auto insurance customers
In a news release on Thursday, State Farm said its latest rate cut would bring down premiums for its customers by an average of 10%.
Going back to October 2024, the company has cut its average rates by more than 20%, the release said.
All of the cuts are saving customers more than $1 billion or an average of $400 per vehicle, the company said.
› Florida gives backing to Musk
The State Board of Administration, which oversees Florida’s pension plan and other investments, is backing Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s proposed massive compensation package. The Board owns about $1.23 billion of Tesla stock as part of a more than $280 billion portfolio.
› How is Orange Lake Overlook Park’s new restoration project honoring McIntosh’s history?
Renovations of the abandoned citrus shop and packing shed at Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook (OLO) are expected to begin by early 2026 to reflect the land’s rich history.