Suit challenges 'core' of Florida's workers comp system

The latest workers compensation case accepted by the Florida Supreme Court may pose the biggest challenge yet to the state's exclusive remedy provision. [Source: Business Insurance]

See also:
» Florida reduces workers-comp rates by 4.7 percent

Students nationwide protest skyrocketing loan debt

Students held demonstrations on university campuses across the United States on Thursday to protest ballooning student loan debt for higher education and rally for tuition-free public colleges. [Source: Reuters]

State faces second challenge on ‘Amendment 1’ spending

Land and water conservation money shouldn’t pay for salaries and state-owned vehicles, according to a second lawsuit filed over the Legislature’s controversial use of Amendment 1 dollars. More from TCPalm and CBS Miami.

Congress considers bringing in more foreign workers to fill seasonal jobs

Congress is considering legislation to allow U.S. employers to bring in thousands more unskilled foreign workers for seasonal jobs that last as long as 10 months at a time. [Source: USA Today]

Seniors staying on the job for health insurance

Not every American 65 and older is worrying about Medicare's open enrollment period, now underway. Some who are eligible for the government insurance plan are staying on the job, and gaining access to employer-based plans they say are a better option. [Source: Health News Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Southeastern Grocers one of the country's largest private companies [Florida Times-Union]
Southeastern Grocers, based in Jacksonville, is the parent company of Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo and Harveys grocery stores. The company is No. 58 on a new ranking of the largest 100 private companies in the United States.

› 7,186 solar panels to power part of Daytona speedway [Bright House Networks]
More than 7,100 solar panels will provide power to areas of Daytona International Speedway and 400 Florida homes per year, speedway and Florida Power & Light officials said Thursday in an update on the project.

› Staples-Office Depot merger review could be delayed until March [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Staples' and Office Depot's plan to merge will be put on hold until March as the European Union says it won't complete its antitrust review until then.

› Here's what Wawa could mean for Jax convenience stores [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Wawa — a cult favorite convenience store rapidly growing its Florida presence — might be coming to Jacksonville, which could prove to be a major disruptor for the established brands in Northeast Florida.

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› State College of Florida considers 2 new campuses [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The State College of Florida may build two new campuses in the near future — one online and one on a yet-to-be-determined site in Sarasota or Manatee counties.

› Final tally in October's bear hunt: 304, including 36 mother bears [Tampa Bay Times]
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released a report on the hunt Thursday that noted that the final number of bears that were killed totaled 304 — not the 298 the agency originally reported.
» See also: Most bears killed on private land in Florida hunt, data shows

› 'Personalized medicine' drives better outcomes for certain heart patients [UF News]
In the weeks and months after a patient gets a heart stent, blood clots can pose a major threat to recovery. Now, University of Florida Health researchers have found that a quick genetic test can tell doctors early on whether a crucial anti-clotting drug will work.

› Scott budget chief: State can afford tax cuts [Daytona Beach News Journal]
The state has more than enough money to cover Gov. Rick Scott's push for business incentives and tax cuts while funding agency requests, his budget chief said in a memo this week.