Education
5:31 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

Education: Obama And Romney Mostly Agree

Credit klootch1 / flickr
Candidates mostly agree on education

If there are any undecided voters left in Florida, just weeks before the election, chances are they're educators.

Many say President Obama and Mitt Romney have strong education platforms that differ so subtly it may take a teacher's practiced eye to tell them apart.

"They're both strong on testing and accountability," says Doug Tuthill, who runs a nonprofit in Tampa for low-income K-through-12 students. "They both believe that student achievement should be included in teacher evaluation systems.

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News
5:11 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

FAMU Hazing Trial Begins Monday, Champion's Parents Talk To Katie Couric

Credit Ida Asute/Disney-ABC Domestic Television
Katie Couric talks with Pamela and Robert Champion Sr.

Eleven people accused in the fatal beating of Florida A&M University (FAMU) drum major Robert Champion are scheduled to go on trial this Monday.

They’re facing felony charges of hazing resulting in death.

All are connected to FAMU’s famed Marching 100 band, which has been suspended indefinitely.

The hazing happened after a football game in Orlando last November.

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Take a look below for all the stories that the Public Insight Network has helped inform:

Dispatches From the Swing State
3:12 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

DISPATCH: One Sister, Two Sister, Red Sister, Blue Sister

Twin sisters Carrie Guise of Tampa, Fla., and Mindy Magrath of Raleigh, N.C., came to Key West to celebrate their birthday, not talk politics. But when #FLDispatches discovered the sisters had parted political paths, an impromptu debate was too good to pass up. Sisterly banter ensued and political persuasions were reassessed.

2:09 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

Updated: Reports Of Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez's Arrest

Lead in text: 
Reports that anti-Castro blogger Yoani Sanchez was arrested on her way to report on a sensitive manslaughter trial continue to come from secondary sources with no confirmation from the Cuban government. Supposedly, her husband and another blogger are also in custody.
(CNN) -- Dissident Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez was arrested as she traveled to cover the vehicular homicide trial of a Spanish politician for a Spanish newspaper, a human rights activist told CNN. A family member of the well-known blogger said that Sanchez, her husband, Reinaldo Escobar, and another blogger, Agustin Diaz, were arrested in the eastern city of Bayamo, activist and dissident Elizardo Sanchez told CNN en Español.

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Credit Kainaz Amaria / NPR

Tanya Ballard Brown is a Southern girl, an editor for NPR.org and a wild dreamer who laughs loudly and often.

As an editor for NPR.org, Tanya collaborates with editors and reporters from the national desk to create compelling Web content that complements radio reports; brainstorms and develops Web-only features; manages online producers, Kroc Fellows and interns; and, line edits stories appearing on the website. Projects she has worked on include the "Dirty Money" series, winner of a Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting, a Scripps Howard National Journalism Award and an Edward R. Murrow award; the "Friday Night Lives" series, winner of an Edward R. Murrow Award; and, "WASP: Women With Wings In WWII," winner of a GRACIE Award.

Tanya is former editor for investigative and long-term projects at washingtonpost.com and during her tenure there coordinated with the print and online newsrooms to develop multimedia content for investigative reports, including the creation of "Washington Post Investigations," the first definitive home for the Post's award-winning investigative journalism on washingtonpost.com.

Tanya also led production of the 2006 "Being a Black Man" series, which won numerous awards including the Peabody, Scripps Howard National Journalism award, Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism and a regional Emmy award. Other Web projects included "Silent Injustice" and "Walter Reed and Beyond."

A native of Charlotte, N.C., and an alumna of N.C. A&T State University, Tanya is a former congressional fellow with the American Political Science Association. She has been a reporter or editor at GovExec.com/Government Executive magazine, The Tennessean in Nashville and the (Greensboro) News & Record.

In her free time, Tanya sings show tunes and dreams of being a bass player. Or Sarah Vaughan. Whichever comes first. She lives in Washington, D.C.

South Florida Arts Beat
1:00 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest, Patrick Dupre-Quigley, Rock Of Ages, Florida Keys Calendar

This week on South Florida Arts Beat, Ibis Romero describes the swingin’ 5th Annual Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Festival. Multiple performance locations and Jazz styles will be offered this year. Guiding light of Seraphic Fire, Patrick Dupre-Quigley, speaks about their exciting, new season. Judith Bishop talks with the Miami native starring in Rock of Ages opening at the Arsht on the 9th. Our calendar features Andy Newman with enticing events in the Florida Keys. Tune in South Florida Arts Beat and catch the conversation and information Friday at 1:00pm. 

Dispatches From the Swing State
12:51 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

What Health Insurance Means To The Fire-Juggling Voter

Politics
12:21 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

Florida Supreme Court Will Rule On Nuclear Cost Recovery Fees

Credit eutrophication&hypoxia/flickr
Crystal River nuclear power plant

Utility companies in Florida are allowed to charge customers for power plants that may never be built.

It’s allowed under a law passed in 2006, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy wants the law overturned.

A legal challenge is now before the Florida Supreme Court.

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