Tuesday's Daily Pulse

Posted 9/13/2016

Updated 8 yearss ago

Two Florida schools among finalists for 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

Florida’s Broward College and Indian River State College were named today as two of ten finalists for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s preeminent recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges. [Source: Florida Trend]

Battle lines set amid tighter budget forecast

With a budget shortfall looming in future years, lawmakers began setting the stage Monday for a fight over state spending during the 2017 legislative session. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, a panel of House and Senate members charged with supervising spending while the Legislature is out of session, approved a long-range financial outlook for the state Monday. [Source: WJXT ]

Citrus growers: We’re not going to roll over to greening

Florida’s orange crop fell 132,363 acres to 441,628 acres between 1984 and 2015, a precipitous decline that has some worrying about the future of Florida’s signature crop. But growers and others in the industry say don’t write that obituary yet. [Source: Bradenton Herald]

Technical certificate programs grow in popularity in Florida as path to employment

Technical programs and certifications have grown in popularity in Florida, even as the economy has rebounded and more jobs are now available. They meet the needs of students wanting jobs and of employers seeking workers with updated skills as fast as they can get them. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Supreme Court Justice James Perry forced to retire

Florida Supreme Court Justice James Perry is stepping down from his post because he has reached the mandatory retirement age. Perry sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott on Friday telling him that he would leave the court on Dec. 30. More from the AP and the Tampa Bay Times.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Blue Origin to launch 'New Glenn' rockets from Cape Canaveral [Florida Today]
The rockets Blue Origin builds and launches on the Space Coast will be some of the world's largest, the company announced Monday, while also hinting at plans for eventual moon missions.

› South Florida's 'zombie' foreclosures fall 20 percent in third quarter [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Distressed homes known as "zombie" foreclosures have declined sharply in South Florida over the past two years, according to a recent report.

› Orlando Tech Association names interim director [Orlando Sentinel]
Jim Thomas, who is also executive director of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, becomes interim director for the Orlando Tech Association on a voluntary basis.

› Collier aims to kick-start Florida Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee [Naples Herald]
Collier County is reaching out to local farmers, chef entrepreneurs, juicers and others who want to take their product or recipe to the next level, a successful business.

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› Gainesville trainer has fitness, nutrition businesses - and TV show [Gainesville Sun]
Chris Marhefka began by training his parents, then college pals. He now has a growing slate of fitness businesses that includes a gym, nutrition service and a television-training gig.

› Florida State College at Jacksonville to help ITT Technical Institute students [Florida Times-Union]
Soon after ITT Educational Services announced it would close all of its more than 130 campuses, Florida State College at Jacksonville started looking for ways to help the school's displaced students

› Autumn gas-price declines under way in Florida, nation [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Average prices for a gallon of regular unleaded in the United States and Florida declined to $2.18 on Monday, 4 cents less than a week ago in Florida and 2 cents under the previous Monday's national average.

› Florida theme parks take inspiration from video games [Orlando Sentinel]
Theme parks are constantly seeking new technologies to make experiences more immersive, more interactive — and more like video games.