Florida International University

Seven FIU students scored a major free speech victory over their university, days before the start of the fall semester.

Dozens of students and faculty members protested Florida International University's immigration policies at an event with President Jeannette Nuñez on Friday. Protesters said they were also frustrated after a leaked group chat showed campus Republicans advocating for killing Black people.

Florida International University officials also announced a new initiative aimed at supporting Cuba's transition to democracy.

The team is using digital stethoscopes and machine learning to analyze heartbeats, similar to how a musician picks up an off-key note. Models have high accuracy in predicting issues doctors may miss.

With the appointments approved, five of the state’s 12 public universities will be led by former Republican lawmakers or lobbyists with ties to DeSantis.

Nuñez is slated to receive a five-year contract with a base salary of $925,000 and annual performance bonuses of up to $400,000.

On "The Florida Roundup," Andrew Atterbury of Politico digs into all the changes at the top of the state's universities.

Nuñez was Florida's lieutenant governor until she was named interim president in February. She is the sole finalist for the permanent job after a presidential search this month.

Nuñez, who left her role as lieutenant governor to become interim president, has been selected by the search committee due to her proven leadership and qualifications.

It also shows a stark division: those who have been in the U.S. for 15 years or longer tend to remain supportive of Trump.

The state law was part of a package of changes that the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved targeting China. DeSantis said in May 2023 that the package was part of a “commitment to crack down on Communist China.”

Jeanette Nunez, a former House member from Miami who was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ running mate in 2018 and 2022, will make an annual base salary of $850,000 at FIU, her alma mater, and Adam Hasner will make a base salary of $875,000 at FAU.