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Thursday's Afternoon Update

Florida students achieve gains in national test

Florida's fourth and eighth graders continue to inch upward in math and reading, but their performance compared to students in other states was mixed, according to this year's National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as "The Nation's Report Card." More from the Tampa Bay Times and StateImpact Florida and see the full report here.


Publisher's Column

50 years later...reflections

andy corty
Andy Corty

When I began reflecting on the Kennedy assassination, I expected to conclude that the acrimony and dysfunction of today is worse than ever. But I’m not so sure.

The fervor around today’s issues often may seem over the top, but America, throughout our country’s history, has always been defined by people standing up for their beliefs, however stridently.

» Read Andy Corty's full column

St. Joe Co. selling 382,834 acres of timberland in northwest Florida

The St. Joe Co. is selling 382,834 acres of forest and rural land in northwest Florida to AgReserves, a Utah-based tax-paying affiliate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The price is $565 million. The land to be sold includes the majority of St. Joe's timberland in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties. More at the Tampa Bay Times. Read the press release here.


MindTree celebrates first successful year in Gainesville

MindTree, a global information technology solutions company with over $435 million in revenues, celebrated the first successful year of its U.S. Delivery Center in Gainesville in October. MindTree Gainesville General Manager Joelle Smith said that the office has been very busy with new projects, new hires, training and knocking milestones off of the first year checklist. More at the Gainesville Business Report.


Facebook joins Hispanic marketing bandwagon

It seems like every day a new company is looking to target the growing Hispanic market. Now add Facebook to the list. The social media giant has opened an office in Miami's Brickell business hub. More at the AP.


Art world convenes for Art Basel Miami Beach

Where can you find pieces by Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso mixed in with Spanish tapas, painted pianos and Google Glass artwork? The international art world convenes for Art Basel Miami Beach Dec. 5-8 for a taste of modern and contemporary art, historical work and pieces by emerging artists. More at Businessweek.

Education Trends
Spanish university to offer first business program in Miami

condoSpain’s IE University will launch an executive education program in Miami next year in both English and Spanish. IE, which stands for International Excellence, is a for-profit institution founded in 1997. This will be the school's first program offered out of Florida. The program will be taught in IE University’s office in the Blue Lagoon area, as well as online. More at the South Florida Business Journal