Thursday's Daily Pulse
Florida to pull back on mandated school tests
In response to a testing investigation and growing concern across the state, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is recommending the state reduce the number of standardized tests public school students are required to take. More from the Bradenton Herald, the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times, and the AP.
See also:
» Florida Department of Education Assessment Investigation Report
» Parents planning to "opt out" of Florida tests
» Politifact: Teacher group says Florida students take standardized tests up to 45 days a year
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush on Wednesday promised to chart his own course on foreign policy -- even as he announced a campaign braintrust associated with policies of his brother’s and father’s presidencies. In spite of that, Jeb Bush said his approach to the world would be shaped by ‘‘my own thinking and my own experiences.’’ More from the Boston Globe.
Florida Scientists Announce Anti-HIV Agent
Florida scientists are calling it a "remarkable new advance" against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have announced the creation of a drug candidate they say is so potent and universally effective, it might help the body stop, or neutralize HIV. More from the South Florida Business Journal, Scripps, and see the article in Nature.
Florida beer battle is at a turning point
The taproom tug of war is just the latest squabble in an increasingly-heated dispute between small brewers and entrenched interests in the beer industry, but it may be a turning point in the debate. Heading into the 60-day legislative session that begins March 3, the effort to limit taprooms has created a backlash that could translate into a broader push to help small breweries. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
You have a great product -- now what?
Four years ago, after a career designing equipment for conglomerates such as Combustion Engineering and Raytheon Corp., William Merritt patented a coffee-cup holder that attaches to laptop computers. It presented the biggest challenge of his working life. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Greening research money crucial for local agriculture [Daily Commercial]
Citrus growers intrepid enough to remain in business are hoping a $30 million aid package announced last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin to turn the tide in their fight against a scourge that has decimated crops statewide.
› Final ACA enrollment tops 1.6 million in Florida [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Enrollment in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans topped 1.6 million in Florida and totalled about 11.4 million nationwide through the February 15 deadline, according to data released by the federal Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.
» See also: Florida has highest number of enrollees under health law
› All Aboard Florida to lose millions annually, economist says [Orlando Business Journal]
A group fighting the $2.5 billion All Aboard Florida intercity passenger rail said a new economic analysis of the project shows it could lose more than $110 million a year.
› Northeast storms drive homebuyers to Miami [Miami Today]
Residential brokers have long known the Northeastern winters draw people to South Florida but say this year, with a brutal winter, they’ve seen an unprecedented number of migrating homebuyers.
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› Siesta Beach ranked No. 1 by TripAdvisor [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Siesta Public Beach was named the No. 1 beach on TripAdvisor.com's 2015 Travelers' Choice Awards. Siesta was chosen by travelers who wrote vacation reviews on TripAdvisor.com. Twenty-five beaches were included on the "best of America" list.
› Skateboard business is teen’s higher education – for now [TBO.com]
When 19-year-old Austin Anderson graduated from a Texas high school last year, he not only needed a job, but also wanted to return to Tampa, where he had previously lived. His mother, Michelle Marcum, had a solution.
› How Florida panther 191 helped save the species [Fort Myers News-Press]
Called Florida Panther 191 by biologists, she was part of a generation that took panthers from the brink of extinction to upwards of 180 big cats in the wild today.
› XG Technology has new CEO [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
XG Technology Inc., the Sarasota based wireless telecommunications company, said its chairman is taking over the CEO role.