rssPosts by Bianca Fortis
Bondi selects former co-worker for statewide prosecutor
Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi has chosen a former co-worker at the Hillsborough state attorney’s office to be Florida’s next statewide prosecutor.
South Florida ruling may hamper pill mill prosecutions
The Sun Sentinel reports that an appeals court has thrown out drug trafficking charges against two Broward County men who obtained excessive amounts of pain pills by visiting multiple doctors.
Florida follows nationwide trend of fewer executions
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida is executing fewer death row inmates, according to a year-end report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
University of Miami featured in investigative report on pharmaceutical companies
National investigative group ProPublica reports that faculty at several medical schools across the United States were paid by pharmaceutical companies to give promotional talks — often in violation of the schools’ policies.
Scott asks Crist’s team to stay on board longer
Gov.-elect Rick Scott has reportedly asked most of Gov. Charlie Crist’s administration to rescind their resignations and continue working for up to three months, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Florida high schools outsmart state grading system
The Miami Heralds reports that some Florida public high schools have been able to improve their state-sanctioned grades by outsmarting the system.
Florida unemployment rate rises
The unemployment rate in the state of Florida hit 12 percent in November, a seven-month high, reports the St. Petersburg Times. That rate reflects the fact that 1.1 million Floridians are without a job.
Public schools will see largest enrollment increase in six years
Florida public schools will face their largest enrollment spike in six years, reports the Orlando Sentinel. An additional 16,946 students are expected to enroll next fall. This marks the third consecutive year of rising enrollment counts.
Miami judge fined for violating campaign contribution law
The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a public reprimand and a $5,000 fine for Yvonne Colodny, a Miami judge who admitted to election law and financial disclosure violations, reports the Associated Press.
More than half of Florida’s school districts fail to meet class size demands
Thirty-five of Florida’s 67 school districts — more than half — failed to meet class size requirements, state education officials annouced Wednesday.
Education Commissioner Eric Smith notified 35 districts and three laboratory schools that they violated the class size limits.…
