Scott's budget boosts schools, hits hospitals
Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday put forth a state budget for next year that boosts public school spending by $1 billion, partly by sharply cutting what Florida pays hospitals to treat patients in the highly expensive Medicaid program. In a $66.4 billion budget he says makes "tough choices," Scott proposes to cut 4,500 state jobs, raise monthly medical premiums for highly paid state employees and legislators, increase bonus money to high performing schools, continue privatization of the prison system — despite legal obstacles — and close up to six state prisons and work camps because of a shrinking inmate population. [Source: Times/Herald]
See also:
» Highlights of the budget, the budget in slide presentation form and the complete budget.
» Opinion: To add jobs, improve Florida's quality of life
» Brevard effect: Space Florida skirts cuts in Scott's plan
Robots may soon be part of our lives
The University of Florida's robotics fair Wednesday gave a glimpse of how robots might be used from the battlefield to the backyard. The fair showcased a robot car developed for a Defense Department-sponsored competition and robot submarines that have won international awards. There also were robots that are able to mow lawns, bring a barbecue and cooler for tailgating and ensure heavy sleepers are awoken from their slumber. "In five years, everyone's going to have a robot of some kind in their home," said Eric Schwartz, associate director of UF's Machine Intelligence Lab. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Unemployed could be forced to upgrade skills to receive benefits
Unemployed Floridians who don't take free training to upgrade their skills could lose their benefits for any week they don't comply, in proposed legislation by Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota. The bill passed the Florida House's Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee this week and moves on to the Economic Affairs Committee. Holder was the sponsor of the state's unemployment compensation overhaul in the last legislative session. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Florida getaways: Christmas warm-up
It's not quite over the river and through the snow now that grandma has a condo on the beach, but Florida has its own Christmas joys. Even on Christmas, the beaches and many of the trails are open. Take a walk in the sun and breeze for a mile or five. You'll feel a slight chill and be able to brag to your northern friends that you went hiking Christmas Eve or took a boat out and landed some mullet on Boxing Day. They'd have to cut a hole in the ice to do that. Read about some Florida holiday traditions.
 Three Kings Day in Miami [Photo: C. M. Guerrero/El Nuevo Herald] |
One Florida veteran's search for a job
She served 21 years in the Army, was a battalion commander in Iraq, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and holds a masters' degree in administration. Yet, after five months, Marlene Carter is still looking for a job.
Carter starts every morning, including most weekends, at the computer searching websites and checking email for any leads.
"It's no longer the little 'help wanted sign' in the window where you could go in and meet your future employer and dazzle them with your personality and hunger for a job," Carter said. "You're on a computer and you're having to use words and hopefully the right words they're looking for to get that job."
Read more from WUSF.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Nineteen Florida hospitals agree to union contracts
SEIU announced Wednesday that its healthcare workers at 19 HCA-owned hospitals in Florida have approved "landmark agreements" — the latest development in a recent surge of union activity that has included the organizing of two South Florida hospitals.
"In the last 12 months, we've been working pretty hard," said Monica Russo, regional director for SEIU Local 1199. "We've organized at 18 hospitals in Florida. I don't know of any other private sector where there have been that kind of victories in a Southern state."
› The french fry wars: Burger King cooks up a new recipe
Burger King has rolled out fatter, fluffier fries.
The Miami-Dade hamburger chain is billing its reformed french fries as fluffy on the inside, crunchy on the outside — a formula that keeps them hotter for longer. Burger King, which introduced the pencil-wide fries this week, says the new recipe has 20 percent less sodium.
› Flagler considers ad sales on school district website, fields
Flagler County school officials are hoping to turn space on the district's website, athletic fields and other property into dollars for the district. Advertising on this scale is a new frontier for Flagler schools -- the board voted earlier this year to change policies to allow ads on district websites, newsletters, newspapers, school supplies, uniforms and district vehicles. Officials hope selling ads can help recoup lost funding from the state.
› Eduardo Padron to chair Miami Fed branch
Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron has been elected chairman of the board of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Padron, who has served at Miami Dade College president since 1995, also will be honored Feb. 24, 2012, with the Sand in My Shoes Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
» Eduardo Padrón, Floridian of the Year
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› Don't wait to cut back if facing a layoff or reduced work hours
Faced with a job loss? Reduced hours at work?
It's time to immediately look at your expenses and start making cuts. "Many people underestimate the time it will take to financially recover from a job loss. People continue living a lifestyle that they had while they were working and often use credit cards to fill in the gaps,'' agree Howard Dvorkin, founder of the nonprofit Consolidated Credit that is based in Fort Lauderdale. "Debts can quickly add up, becoming unmanageable if it takes longer than expected to land a job at their previous pay."
› Study: Miami-Dade lacks a competitive economic edge
Miami-Dade County badly trails competitors when it comes to innovation, young professionals, technology firms and an educated workforce, leaving the county to depend on boom-and-bust cycles to get ahead.
That's the conclusion from a study commissioned by the county's economic-development agency as it tries to plot a strategy to move Miami-Dade beyond its reliance on tourism and construction. The 134-page report by a Texas firm gives Miami-Dade low marks in the kind of criteria that companies evaluate in selecting new locations, adding up to a fairly dim assessment of Florida's largest economy.
› Report: Regulators using flawed data to push PIP changes
State leaders and regulators are relying on faulty data to develop legislation to fight automobile insurance fraud, according to a study released this week by the Florida Consumer Action Network.
The report examined statistics used to support changes to laws on personal injury protection insurance and found flaws in most of the data. The consumer group that commissioned it said part of the problem is that regulators are too close to the insurance industry.
› Orlando library will rent office space to workers who want to collaborate
At the Orlando Public Library, Internet access helps the unemployed apply for jobs, student groups meet in rooms to prepare for exams and patrons take classes on everything from Spanish to software.
Starting next week, the downtown library will add discounted office space to the mix of services.
› ALF watchdog: I was dumped for doing my job
Volunteer watchdog Bill Hearne predicted he'd be fired when he told a roomful of colleagues that their program was being deliberately dismantled by Tallahassee bosses who had become too cozy with the nursing home and assisted living facility industries they oversee.
Within six weeks, he was proved right.
› Three things you should know before giving sporting, concert tickets as gifts
Who wouldn't want tickets to see the Miami Marlins or next Shakira concert in South Florida stuffed into their holiday stocking or given as a holiday gift?
But there could be problems. For instance, if you use your credit card to buy the tickets, your gift recipient might not be able to claim them at the venue without you there to show ID and the credit card used to purchase them. Bummer.