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Monday's Daily Pulse

Florida Trend Exclusive
Teaching in Florida vs. around the world

A decade ago, FLORIDA TREND interviewed high school students in foreign countries, looking for a sense of how their school lives compared with those of Florida students. This year — as pay and working conditions for teachers nationwide draw increasing attention — TREND set out to do the same with teachers in foreign countries. We asked them about their training. Class sizes. Pay. Working conditions.

See the first installments of the series, Teaching -- A World View:
» Finnish Line: Teaching in Finland
» Five Stories: Teaching in Brazil

Commentary: Florida is supposed to be retirement heaven, but for many senior citizens it’s a private hell

Life’s no beach for many senior citizens in Florida, according to the latest America’s Health Rankings senior report. Instead of enjoying golf courses, senior villages and sunshine, too many of our older Floridians are suffering from social isolation and depression. Out of 50 states, Florida came in at No. 29 for America’s most physically and mentally healthy seniors. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

'Airbnb for cars’ is here, and renting will never be the same

Under the radar, peer-to-peer car-sharing services have emerged around Florida as alternatives to traditional car rentals and even to ride-share apps such as Uber and Lyft. Customers can download smartphone apps and rent privately owned cars, usually parked a short walk away in urban areas or residential neighborhoods. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida Democratic Party says it has a plan to beat Trump in 2020. Florida Democrats aren’t so sure.

Florida Democrats from across the state huddled in Orlando this weekend to regroup after the 2018′s devastating losses and to plan for 2020. There is an anxiety hanging over the three-day summit, with Democrats fearful the country’s most important swing state will help President Donald Trump win another four years in office. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

NASA is opening the International Space Station to businesses and private citizens

The International Space Station is open for business. Picture it: A few years down the road, the station may no longer be completely under NASA’s purview, but instead run by a myriad of Earth-based businesses that test their technologies and manufacture things in space, all while sending their private astronauts — regular citizens like you and me, but with deep pockets — for stays on the orbiting laboratory. See the announcement and read more from the Orlando Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Unemployment drops, but job creation slows in Sarasota-Manatee
Job creation has slowed recently in Southwest Florida, tracking the latest U.S. employment report. While the unemployment rate in the Sarasota-Manatee region fell to a six-month low of 2.8% in April, the region added 4,500 net jobs over the year, a 1.5% growth rate that failed to match the 2.4% percent statewide increase. In March, the region posted a modest 0.8% increase in non-agricultural payrolls in Sarasota-Manatee — a total of 2,600 jobs over the year — which also was well short of the Florida growth rate.

› Florida farm company faces proposed $95,000 OSHA fine for ammonia release incident
OSHA cited Belle Glade company Duda Farm Fresh Foods for, among other things, not having an ammonia release employee alarm that would let employees escape; inadequate safety and health training for employees working with the ammonia refrigeration system; and not properly medically evaluating employees who have to use full face respirators.

› New bylaws could split UF, IFAS citrus research group
When the Citrus Research and Development Foundation was created in 2009, the aim was to channel resources and money to the University of Florida to help beat the devastating citrus greening virus. But about 10 years later, the group’s decision to funnel some of its money to research at entities other than UF has the university ready to pull the plug.

› Florida business's products will be in MTV awards swag bags
Coffee is a fairly common item to find in gift baskets. But when that coffee comes in the form of a skin-care product and shows up in the gift baskets for attending celebrity nominees, presenters and performers at the MTV Movie and TV Awards to be held June 17, it becomes a much bigger deal. That is the case for Melbourne-based Star Body Espresso Yourself, whose Espresso Bronzing Body Oil will show up in those gift baskets.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Florida native brings his custom apparel printing business to Nevada
Terry Scott, originally from Florida, says he loves Iowa and the people in the Nevada area, so he’s happy to call Nevada home for his new business. In addition to doing custom printing, Scott said he also displays for sale in the store a few original designs on sportswear that he’s done that are for sale, and he also has contracted with another local person who does custom embroidery.

› A fix for Tampa’s I-275 bottleneck pits planners against neighbors. Key vote is near.
The state has a grand vision for Interstate 275 through Hillsborough County that includes toll lanes, a rebuilt West Shore Interchange and a wider highway. But a decision this week could play a role in how those things get done, or whether they get done at all.

› Consumer advocate strikes deal with FPL over Hurricane Irma costs
Florida’s Public Counsel has filed a settlement with Florida Power & Light Co. on its claimed $1.3 billion cost recovery for 2017′s Hurricane Irma. The proposed settlement was filed Thursday with the Florida Public Service Commission ahead of the scheduled regulatory review of the expenses that begins Tuesday.

› Grand plans are in store for Angie’s Subs in Jacksonville Beach
Ed Malin, owner of the Jacksonville Beach institution Angie’s Subs, hopes to convert his property into a new building that would feature a barbecue restaurant and a bourbon distillery — while still keeping the sub shop there. His plans go to the city’s planning commission Monday.