Florida now has school vouchers for all

With the stroke of a pen Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis made it possible for every school-aged child in Florida to get a taxpayer-funded education voucher or savings account. His signature on HB1, which passed its final legislative stop on Thursday, creates one of the nation’s largest school choice programs. Already, about 1.3 million children receive their education from someplace other than their assigned public school, DeSantis noted. That includes private schools, home education and charter schools, as well as the largest segment — school district programs like magnets. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Tech trends: Skeleton crew

The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition’s robotics team is making significant advancements in two new exoskeleton projects: Quix and Eva. Quix is the fourth exoskeleton prototype developed by the institute’s exoskeleton team. Quix is designed to increase the mobility and independence of people with lower-body paralysis. The team is now investigating potential applications for rehabilitation therapy. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida's education fight heads to federal appeals court

A challenge to a 2022 law restricting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation has gone to a federal appeals court, as state lawmakers and education officials look to expand the restrictions. Attorneys for students, parents and teachers filed a notice of appeal at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal after U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor last month dismissed — for the second time — a lawsuit arguing the law is unconstitutional. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Civil case filings surge before DeSantis signed sweeping lawsuit reform bill

Insurers and attorneys are warning about a deluge of lawsuits filed by plaintiffs’ attorneys ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing on Friday of a sweeping list of tort reforms. DeSantis signed the reform bill the day after it was passed by the Senate. The House passed it last week. It took effect immediately upon DeSantis’ signature. Court systems throughout the state have seen large increases in new case filings since the legislative session opened, as it became evident that the reform package pushed by the insurance industry and large business interest was likely to become law. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and City and State Florida.

Antisemitic incidents surge in Florida, growing more than nationwide. ‘More bold, more egregious and more attention-grabbing.’

South Florida incidents from the early weeks of 2022 were at the beginning of a surge that produced the highest annual number of antisemitic incidents ever recorded in Florida and nationwide. The number of antisemitic incidents increased 41.5% in Florida to 269 last year compared to the year before. Florida’s total was more than triple the 76 recorded in 2018. Nationally, the report showed a 36.1% increase in antisemitic incidents to a total of 3,697 — an average of 10 a day. The U.S. total was almost double the 1,879 recorded four years earlier. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jaxport receives $35m refund for harbor deepening project [News 4 Jax]
The Jacksonville Port Authority received a $35 million refund Monday in unused payments from its harbor deepening project. The project began in February 2018 and was anticipated to be completed in 2023, but construction wrapped up ahead of schedule and under budget in 2022. The refund was distributed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

› What to know about new Port Canaveral cruise ship, including why locals can't sail [Florida Today]
Marella Cruises is scheduled to start service out of Port Canaveral on May 7, when the Marella Discovery begins sailing from there. But Space Coast residents generally won't be able to book a cruise on the Marella Discovery. Here's are answers to why that's the case, plus other information about the ship and its cruises out of Port Canaveral, the world's busiest cruise port.

› Electric bikes coming to St. Petersburg bike share program in April [Tampa Bay Times]
The city is swapping out manual bicycles in its bike share program for electric bikes. The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a new three-year agreement to replenish the city’s existing bike share program with 300 e-bikes. These bikes will be out on the streets in mid- to late April, though there will be a short lapse between vendors.

› Cape Coral residents needed for blue-green algae bloom research [WBBH]
Researchers are looking for those living near Cape Coral canals for a new study. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are currently seeking participants for a study evaluating the potential impacts of exposure to harmful algal blooms. With another grant from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), they will continue a first-of-its-kind evaluation of the short-term and potential long-term health effects among Florida residents.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› A train derailment in Brevard could put thousands at risk. Here's how [Florida Today]
Thousands of people along the Space Coast live within a one-mile line of potential fire and/or toxic fumes, were a train to derail here in similar fashion as what happened last month in East Palestine, Ohio, or more recently in Manatee County, a FLORIDA TODAY analysis has found. What's more: in Brevard County a derailment could involve tons of volatile rocket fuels en route to NASA or military launches at the Cape. Rail managers and first responders assure they're ready.

› Tampa Bay tiny home village offers buyers a ‘piece of heaven.’ What’s the cost? [Tampa Bay Times]
When Wisconsin-based company Escape announced it was building a tiny home village in Thonotosassa, all 10 homes sold out almost instantly. That was three years ago. Now the company is building 23 new homes adjacent to the original village. The pint-sized properties range between 240 and 500 square feet. They start at $100,000 and go for as much as $240,000. It’s an additional $625 a month to rent a lot in the village.

› Orlando Fringe launches The Collective, for up-and-comers, at ArtSpace [Orlando Sentinel]
The seeds of Orlando’s future arts scene are being planted today with the birth of The Collective, a new initiative announced Monday by Orlando Fringe. The Collective will be an 18-month mentoring and training program to help strengthen emerging arts organizations in preparation for taking their productions and practices “to the next level,” the Fringe’s announcement said.

› Florida Cotton Growers Association To Host Meeting Wednesday In Jay [NorthEscambia.com]
The Florida Cotton Growers Association is hosting a series of meetings for cotton producers to learn more about policy, research, education and promotion of Florida cotton. A meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 29 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Jay Community Center, 5259 Booker Lane in Jay. Florida Cotton Growers Association is organized for promotional, educational, scientific and agricultural purposes.