Florida lawmaker seeks to require active shooter training for teachers
A new generation of teachers could be required to get active shooter training before their first jobs. The proposal filed this week would make that training a requirement to get a teaching certificate. “It is the unfortunate reality of where we are today,” Rep. Dan Daley, (D) Coral Springs, said. “I think we need to do a better job of training our teachers.” Rep. Daley is proposing that future teachers get training on preventing tragedies before they get their certificates. The proposal expands a program Indian River State College in South Florida has in place as part of classroom management courses. [Source: WCTV]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida's resiliency
This season, FLORIDA TREND personally felt the wrath of Hurricane Milton. I am sure that most everyone is familiar with the crane that fell on the building in downtown St. Pete and became a national news story. That building that the crane smashed into was where FLORIDA TREND’s corporate offices resided. In fact, a portion of the crane was positioned directly in my personal office. Falling in the middle of the night when it did and landing on a commercial property rather than a residential building was a godsend, as no one was injured. However, the sheer force of the impact broke water lines and piping, setting off the building’s fire sprinklers, which I am told ran for nearly 24 hours. Unfortunately, we believe FLORIDA TREND has lost most everything in the office — if not from the damage from the crane’s collapsing, surely the damage from the water. [Source: Florida Trend]
City of Miami could eliminate recycling, scale back bulky waste pickup. Here’s why
The city of Miami is considering eliminating recycling and scaling back its bulky waste pickup, citing “high contamination rates” for recycling and an aging fleet that needs to be replaced. On Thursday, the Miami City Commission is scheduled to take a preliminary vote to allow the Solid Waste director to “have the power to establish the type, frequency and amount, if at all, of City-serviced recycle pickup in all areas” — a change that could give the city the authority to stop recycling services altogether. [Source: Miami Herald]
Developers eye Orlando's expanding university market
Student housing, once an afterthought of the development world, is ramping up in metro Orlando. Subtext is another developer entering Central Florida's student market. The St. Louis-based company in September bought the site of a Fairwinds Credit Union branch on Alafaya Trail that will become a five-story, 626-bed apartment building called Verve Orlando. Subtext buildings offer on-site management and community assistants, similar to Resident Advisors in dorms, as well as fitness centers, social events and other amenities. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]
National Park Service awards UNF grant to expand Florida and Georgia coastline restoration efforts
The University of North Florida and National Park Service announced the NPS has awarded nearly $800,000 to UNF to ramp up efforts to restore local coastlines and battle shoreline erosion at three national parks in Florida and Georgia. UNF President Moez Limayem, NPS representatives, members of the UNF Institute of Environmental Research and Education community council, and students and faculty made the announcement today at Kingsley Plantation at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, one of the project sites. [Source: UNF News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New Florida prison policy on trans health care is 'like conversion therapy'
Earlier this fall, Florida officials ordered transgender women in the state’s prisons to submit to breast exams. As part of a new policy for people with gender dysphoria, prison medical staff ranked the women’s breast size using a scale designed for adolescents. Those whose breasts were deemed big enough were allowed to keep their bras.
› Dear Reader, USF’s first Taylor Swift course just wrapped a semester of puns and poetry
The LIT3301 course was offered for the first time in the fall semester, with more than 90 students signing up to study Swift's work as a poet and lyricist. Psychology freshman Madison White was certainly ...ready for it.
› State eyes possible bear hunt
On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directed officials to bring forward proposals for a possible bear hunt. The proposals are expected to be completed by a May commission meeting, giving staff members time to compile data from ongoing studies about bear populations and gather more public input.
› Palm Beach County's 'Wall Street South' initiative to expand to Boston, Chicago
Palm Beach County's Business Development Board plans to expand its "Wall Street South" initiative to Chicago and Boston to lure more financial companies to the area.
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› After three hurricanes, Floridians could experience post-traumatic stress reactions
Experts say symptoms could be related to depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress.
› Mobile home park nabs $110 million loan, faces redevelopment
A 94.5-acre mobile home park in Sweetwater could be redeveloped after the property owner secured a $110.5 million construction loan.
› Paychex founder awards $85 million in major gifts to Southwest Florida nonprofits
Paychex founder Tom Golisano recently announced a second series of major gifts totaling $85 million to 41 nonprofit organizations across Southwest Florida, including Easterseals Southwest Florida, The Haven, American Red Cross of Southwest Florida, Animal Rescue Coalition and more.
› Farm Credit merger in Florida, Georgia and Texas court halts Corporate Transparency Act
Farm Credit of Central Florida and Southwest Georgia Farm Credit have announced the board of directors from both associations have unanimously agreed to pursue a merger of the two organizations.