Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Florida schools in session, but teachers absent
Schools have been open for a couple of weeks across much of Florida, but not all of the students know who their teachers are yet. There's typically a lot of teacher turnover during the summer break, and schools can't always get vacant teaching positions filled by the time school starts. [Source: NPR]
» Florida DNC delegates call Charlotte good host
» Newark Mayor Cory Booker excites Florida delegation with breakfast speech
» President Barack Obama to appear at rally Saturday on St. Petersburg College's Seminole campus
» Charlie Crist will address DNC on Thursday night
» DNC forces Carolina Panthers temporary move to Florida
In Florida’s employment recovery, minimum-wage jobs lead the way
Florida’s employment recovery hasn’t brought back many well-paying jobs. That’s the conclusion of a new study timed for Labor Day showing the gaps of the Sunshine State’s slow but unmistakable bounce back in hiring. And it reflects a national trend, driven largely by the ripple effects of the collapsed housing market. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida Trend Exclusive
The Amendments
Florida's GOP-dominated Legislature has packed the November ballot with 11 proposed amendments dealing with everything from taxes to abortion. 
Florida Trend has broken each amendment down into what it is and what it does. You'll also find out who sponsored the amendment, learn who its proponents and opponents are, read a background of the amendment and hear about budget ramifications if the amendment passes. Amy Keller reporting.
FEATURED TODAY:
» See all of Florida's 2012 Amendments here.
COLUMN: That's not weird, that's a Florida election
I told a friend the goofy new Will Ferrell-Zach Galifianakis comedy, "The Campaign," is hilarious -- although it could never happen in real life. "And you've been watching Florida politics for how long?" he shot back. [Source: Florida Voices]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› South Florida program teaches artists how to become art-preneurs [Miami Herald]
Sixty-four South Florida artists are now at work on a new creation — their lives as successful artist entrepreneurs.
› Phil Lewis, former Florida Senate president, dies at 82 [Palm Beach Post]
As a longtime legislator and president of the Florida Senate from 1978-80, one of Phil Lewis’ proudest achievements was helping create the South Florida Water Management District. In addition to working to create the state’s water management districts, Lewis founded the nonprofit Florida TaxWatch.
Related:
» Florida TaxWatch Statement on the Passing of Phil Lewis
» Services for Phil Lewis to be held Sunday, Monday
› Software firm has jobs it can't fill [Orlando Sentinel]
At a time when legions of people are looking for work, Richard McNeight has an unusual problem. The president of Modus Operandi, a Melbourne-based software company, McNeight has eight job openings he can't fill. He has been looking for months, but hasn't found the right candidates.
› Culinary schools offer big taste on a budget [Miami Herald]
It’s back-to-school time for South Florida’s aspiring chefs and restaurateurs, who get hands-on experience working in student-run kitchens — to the delight of foodies on a budget.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Space Coast snaps up prescription discount card [Florida Today]
Local response to the program, a partnership between the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Caremark, is so great that Brevard regularly ranks among the top users of the card in the country.
› Analysts ask: Does Darden have too much on its plate? [Orlando Sentinel]
Darden Restaurants wrapped up its latest purchase of another chain last week, but some analysts are starting to wonder whether the world's largest casual-dining company is getting too big for its own good.
› Latin media confab set for Miami Beach [Miami Herald]
A Miami Beach conference will try to measure the effectiveness of one of the hottest niches of the moment: Latin American media. “Is Latin American media fit to compete?” is the theme for this year’s Festival of Media LatAm conference, which is set for Sept. 23-25 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
› No bounce for Romney in Florida [Public Policy Polling]
Public Policy Polling's newest Florida poll, conducted completely after the Republican convention, finds no change in the Presidential race there. Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney 48-47, exactly as he did on the last poll of the state five weeks ago.