Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Florida State names state Sen. John Thrasher its new president
"I am honored to have been selected by the board of trustees to serve as Florida State University's next president," Sen. John Thrasher said. "I look forward to leading the university to even higher levels of excellence. My goal is to advance the faculty and the research, service and teaching mission of this university. I want Florida State to be the best place for students to receive an education, so they can realize their dreams."
On Tuesday, the Florida State University Board of Trustees appointed Sen. John Thrasher the school's new president. Supporters say Thrasher, 70, is the best person to help FSU reach its $1 billion fundraising goal and aspirations to become one of the top 25 public universities. Opponents say the fix was in from the start and no one else ever had a chance. Read more from the AP, the Tampa Bay Times and the Tallahassee Democrat.
Florida unveils new strategies for growing tourism
With a goal to reach 100 million visitors a year, Florida destination marketers are setting their sights on nature lovers, millennials, shoppers and a growing international crowd. [Source: Miami Herald]
See also:
» Soaring tourism will mean thousands of jobs
Groundbreaking research leads to Florida peaches
Move over oranges there may be a new fruit in town. Fifty years in the making, Florida researchers are breaking new ground by helping Bay area citrus growers produce the perfect peach. [Source: WTSP]
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Central Florida Roundup
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Sunshine aside, Floridians apparently not very happy
Apparently, our happiness factor is a little off these days. A new study by WalletHub to determine the most and least happy states in America ranked Florida No. 36 among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]
Marijuana legalization could mean millions in tax revenue
States like Alaska, Florida, Oregon and Washington, D.C. could make a combined $3 billion in marijuana tax revenue if they legalize the drug on Nov. 4. Colorado, the first state to allow the sale of recreational marijuana, is expected to take in $60 million to $70 million this year in taxes from legal pot sales. [Source: Christian Science Monitor]
Related:
» Marijuana businesses hope to blossom
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Research: Florida Everglades crocodile numbers up [AP]
A record number of American crocodile hatchlings were counted in Everglades National Park this year, providing hope that restoration efforts are helping the once-endangered species.
› Advocacy groups find flaws with Florida voter laws [Miami Herald]
The groups say Florida should encourage more people to register to vote, that voters are inconvenienced by changes in polling places and that voters are not always told about a new law that gives them a second chance to fix their absentee ballots when they forget to sign them.
› Homelessness in Florida resists national trend downward [WGCU]
Homelessness nationally is declining but not in Florida. That's the finding of a report out this week by the Florida Housing Coalition and Florida Realtors Association. The report finds the state's homeless population – more than 47,000 - is the third-highest in the country.
› Orlando City MLS opener tentatively set [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando City is set to open its Major League Soccer era on Sunday, March 8, 2015. Lions' president Phil Rawlins told the Orlando Chamber of Commerce that is the tentative date for the opener.
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› Orlando Brand Madness: Sports teams, banks show fierce competition [Orlando Business Journal]
As Orlando Business Journal readers get closer to narrowing down the top brands in Central Florida, some fierce competitors have emerged in this week’s matchups.
› Carnival raises full-year forecast after cruise bookings jump [Bloomberg]
Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise-line operator, raised its full-year earnings forecast after reporting third-quarter profit that beat analyst estimates as more passengers took trips.
› Financial tech trailblazers to headline Miami conference [South Florida Business Journal]
The Fintech LatAm conference will highlight how new technology could change Latin American finance and could help boost Miami as a hub for financial tech innovation.
› UCF moving ahead with plans for downtown campus [AP]
The University of Central Florida is moving ahead with plans for a multimillion dollar expanded campus in downtown Orlando. University President John Hitt announced the joint initiative with Valencia College Tuesday during a breakfast with community leaders.