AHCA GAUGES INTEREST IN LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM

Teachers would grade not just students, but the students' parents, too, under a bill that cleared its first House committee Wednesday on a party-line vote.

The measure, which gained national attention when it was filed last year, would have teachers of students up through grade 5 evaluate each parent's involvement in their kids' education, and require districts to report on parental involvement to the state.

A quartet of Senate Republicans made the $100,000 club in the third quarter to lead their chamber in fundraising efforts for the three months that ended Sept. 30.

Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, topped all candidates by taking in $154,725 for the latest campaign reporting period, according to reports filed with the Department of State. Latvala, a freshman legislator in name only, has been talked about as a possible future Senate president. He served eight years in the Senate from 1994 to 2002 and then after leaving returned in 2010.

Florida officials say the three trade deals currently awaiting passage by Congress could mean thousands of jobs for Florida over the next several years, and several major industries in the state are looking forward to their approval.

Gov. Rick Scott said during an Internet radio interview on Monday morning that the passage of the trade deals with Panama, Colombia and South Korea would create many jobs here, particularly in the pacts with the two countries in the Americas.