Settlement sought in Florida-Georgia water war

A court official appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered attorneys for Florida and Georgia to try again to settle a yearslong dispute over water use in the region. The dispute focuses on a watershed in western Georgia, eastern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. See the case management order from Ralph Lancaster, a Portland, Maine, lawyer who is serving as the special master, here. Also read more at the AP, the Gainesville Times, and WJXT

Florida ranks 29th in nation on education quality on annual report card

Florida ranked 29th and earned a grade of C on an annual report on education quality in the United States released today. The report ranked and graded all 50 states. The Sunshine State's showing was slightly better this year than last -- when it was ranked as 30th in the nation. More from the Orlando Sentinel and Education Week.

State experiments with carpool apps to cut traffic

Florida is launching pilot tests this year for a ride-sharing application that will match drivers up with others travelling the same commute to promote carpooling. Using GPS technology, the application will match potential carpoolers by tracking the direction of separate drivers. [Source: Miami Today]

'Human error' derails Florida Supreme Court's death penalty ruling

Just hours after declaring prosecutors could not seek death sentences under existing state law, the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday rescinded the order, an uncommon move that casts fresh uncertainty on the state's death penalty. Spokesman Craig Waters said in a statement, "The error occurred because today's order should not have been released until the opinions in those separate cases actually have been issued." See the court statement about the error, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.

The MoneyShow conference comes to Orlando next month

Attend The MoneyShow Orlando, February 8-11, where top investing and economic experts, including Steve Forbes, Larry Kudlow, Peter Schiff and dozens more, will show you how to minimize your risks and maximize your gains, ensuring that your investment portfolio is positioned to benefit from the political and economic changes that lie ahead. [Sponsored Event] Read more here.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jim Dean leaving Busch Gardens to be president of Seaworld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove [Tampa Bay Times]
After six years as park president, Jim Dean is leaving Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island to become park president of SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove in Orlando.

› Flight training centers around Miami International Airport lure thousands [Miami Today]
Flight training centers around Miami International Airport bring thousands of pilots, mechanics and engineers to the area every month, airline officials say, with a local economic impact of millions of dollars.

› Collier County's workforce is diverse, but the issue is complex [Fort Myers News-Press]
Collier County’s workforce was Florida’s most diverse in the second quarter of last year, according to an FGCU report, but that’s not necessarily as stellar as it sounds.

› Florida bowls seeing decline in attendance [Florida Times-Union]
When the Outback Bowl in Tampa announced an attendance of 51,119, it became the sixth college bowl game among the eight in Florida to have a decline in attendance from the previous year.

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› Coyote sightings increase as wilderness diminishes in Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, coyotes are present in each of Florida's 67 counties. They were first reported in the Panhandle in the 1960s, and were sighted as far south as Key Largo in 2011.

› UF to receive nearly $10 million to support new agricultural safety and health center [Gainesville Business Report]
The University of Florida has received a grant of nearly $10 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a five-year project to explore the occupational safety and health of people working in agriculture, fishing and forestry.

› Florida Gov. Scott wants to hire counterterrorism agents [Florida Times-Union]
Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to spend nearly $6 million to boost the number of state agents dedicated to counterterrorism efforts.

› Port Everglades gets OK to deepen, widen channels [Government Security News]
The Port Everglades Navigation Improvements Project has received federal authorization for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with deepening and widening the Port's navigation channels.