Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
FLORIDA ECONOMISTS TO DRAW UP NEW BUDGET FORECAST
Florida economists are drawing up new forecasts on how well the state’s finances are doing. State economists meeting Thursday will predict how much money the state is expected to collect in taxes over the next few years. Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders rely on these forecasts to determine whether or not the state has a budget surplus.
UF PROHIBITS MARIJUANA RESEARCH DUE TO LEGAL FEARS
After seeking legal advice on whether to grow marijuana for use in medical or agricultural research, the University of Florida is steering clear of any pot-related research over concerns about its federal funding. With Florida voting this November whether to authorize medical marijuana, the state’s largest research university is deciding to forego any work involving the plant because it is still illegal under federal law.
WOMAN CHARGED WITH KILLING GRANDSON
A 63-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her 7-year-old grandson. Martha White was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday. A Leon County Sheriff’s Office spokesman says deputies were still trying to figure out a motive in the slaying. Mason Rhinehart was stabbed multiple times on Tuesday. White was babysitting Rhinehart and his older brother.
MAN GETS LIFE FOR KILLING EX-GIRLFRIEND
A central Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend inside a Burger King, where she worked. As part of a deal with Volusia County prosecutors to avoid the death penalty, 44-year-old Jesus Morales pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder and burglary while armed.
REGULATORS OK HOTTER WATER FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS
Federal regulators have granted Florida Power & Light permission to operate cooling canals around its Turkey Point facility at higher temperatures, despite an algae bloom that has clogged the waterway, made water hotter and threatened to shut down two reactors. A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the agency expects to finalize the new operating restrictions in the next few days.
