Wednesday's Afternoon Update
Frank Brogan, chancellor of Florida's university system, leaving for Pennsylvania
University executive and former Florida lieutenant governor Frank Brogan was named the new chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which oversees 14 state-owned universities. The system's board of governors made the selection of Brogan, who was Florida's lieutenant governor from 1999-2003 under then-Gov. Jeb Bush, official in a unanimous vote Wednesday. More at the AP and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
» Full press release about Chancellor Brogan is here.
Florida debt drops for third year
For the third consecutive year, Florida has reduced its debt, dropping a record $1.6 billion in the recently concluded budget year, a state financial official told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday. The amount of money Florida has borrowed to pay for roads, schools and other programs declined to $24.6 billion as of June 30 and is $3.6 billion below the peak of $28.2 billion reached in 2010. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Rowing park seeks a higher profile
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Business Profile Dicapta
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With its preliminary selection as the site of the 2017 world championships, officials hope Nathan Benderson Park will cement a beachhead for rowing in the United States. If that vision reaches fruition, Southwest Florida and the U.S. would become ever-more competitive as a destination for global events against their counterparts in Europe. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Program aims to increase fruit imports directly to South Florida
Bite into an imported grape or blueberry in South Florida and you're probably eating a fruit that was shipped from South America all the way to the Philadelphia area before being trucked back down to your local supermarket. A business coalition wants to change that, so those imports can now come directly to South Florida seaports, saving time and money for importers and providing fresher produce to consumers. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Virtual schools are spending millions of taxpayer dollars on advertising
A new report found that virtual school operators are dealing with low enrollment numbers by spending public funds on advertising. While public schools will layoff staff when they see low enrollment, these online schools will spend millions of dollars on advertising towards young people. More from the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and USA Today.
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Out of the Box
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