Tuesday's Afternoon Update
Florida Supreme Court to hear case challenging public schools' quality
The Florida Supreme Court said it will take up a long-running legal battle about whether the state has met its constitutional duty to provide a high-quality system of public schools. Justices issued a brief order agreeing to consider the nearly decade-old case spearheaded by the group Citizens for Strong Schools. The court tweeted this:
FloridaSupremeCourt @flcourts
School funding case, Citizens for Strong Schools v. Florida Board of Education, accepted for review by Florida Supreme Court. Arguments to be scheduled at a later date.
See the brief filed in 2012 by Citizens for Strong Schools, here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times and WJCT.
Boeing to acquire KLX for $4.25 billion
The world's largest aerospace company has agreed to purchase Wellington-based KLX Inc. in a $4.25 billion deal announced early Tuesday. Boeing Co. plans to buy the local company at about half a billion dollars above KLX's reported market value. See the full company announcement here. Also read more at the South Florida Business Journal.
AutoNation sees 2 percent revenue increase as earnings decline on used-car store investments
AutoNation’s used-car focus and one-price strategy is working, CEO Mike Jackson said Tuesday, following a first-quarter revenue increase of 2 percent and same-store gross profits up 9 percent. Autonation statement is here, and read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Kratos expands workforce, footprint in Orlando
A growing need for high-tech flight simulators and weapons trainers has helped grow a defense firm’s Orlando workforce, with employment expected to surpass 300 by the end of the year. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Growing North Carolina tech firm acquires Florida-based software company
Charlotte area-based SentryOne announced Monday it has acquired Jacksonville, Fla.-based Pragmatic Works Software. The acquisition will add two U.S. office locations and about 20 employees to the technology firm. More from the Charlotte Business Journal.
Out of the Box
Free beer returns to Busch Gardens
After almost a decade of drought, Busch Gardens will once again offer free beer samples to visitors, at least for the summer. On Monday, the park announced that free beer sampling is back beginning Tuesday through Aug. 5, giving visitors two free 7 oz. beers from a rotating list of seasonal brews.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.
Profile
Brent Burns
Brent Burns has been announced as the next chief executive officer of JM Family Enterprises, effective July 1, 2018. Burns was promoted to chief operating officer in 2014 and became president last year. Prior to his current role, Burns was JM Family’s chief financial officer for six years and president of its subsidiary World Omni Financial Corp. for seven.
» Read more from Florida Trend.