Transportation and school construction make up the bulk of the current stimulus plan, which also includes $20-million for advertising to lure back tourists scared away by recent terrorist attacks.

Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, said recent storms have battered Florida's beaches and local projects to repair them have become mired in red tape. "Both of us are critically aware of the linkage between healthy beaches, tourism and Florida's economy," Pruitt wrote Tuesday. "Rather than allow Florida's beach management program to become the subject of budget cuts at this critical juncture, I urge your recognition and leadership in repairing our beaches as part of any economic stimulus package." Pruitt urged Bush to work with state and federal environmental regulators to speed projects that have been in the works for years.

Skydiver misses target; fall onto house is fatal

SEBASTIAN -- A 23-year-old British skydiver died Thursday after crashing into the roof of a house in this southeast Florida beach town.

Craig Chesworth, of London, was skydiving shortly after noon Wednesday when he missed the drop zone and landed on the house. The parachute then carried him to the ground. A neighbor saw him and called paramedics.

Chesworth was flown to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he was taken off life support around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Indian River sheriff's Detective Chris Gregory said.

Gregory said Chesworth, who was in Sebastian on vacation, had made 165 previous jumps.

Court sets arguments on proposed amendments

TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court has set oral arguments for Feb. 7 on two proposed constitutional amendments sponsored by petition drive.

One measure would force smaller class sizes; the other would ban smoking in restaurants and workplaces.

Sponsors of citizen initiatives must collect half a million signatures to reach the ballot. When 10 percent of that total has been collected the proposed constitutional amendment is sent to the Supreme Court, which considers only two questions: Does the measure deal with only one subject, as required, and is it clearly explained on the ballot?

The class size proposal calls for no more than 18 students per class in kindergarten through third grade, 22 students in fourth through eighth grades and 25 students in high school. The requirements would be phased in.

The smoking ban measure would do away with smoking areas in all Florida restaurants. The only exceptions would be tobacco shops and stand-alone bars.

Nurse shortage deepening in Florida, says report

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's hospitals are hurting for nurses, with a vacancy rate approaching 16 percent.

That's the worst shortage since 1989, says a report by the Florida Hospital Association.

Hospitals are desperately trying to lure nurses, with some advertising signing bonuses as high as $6,000.

As factors in the shortage, the study cited Florida's growing population; nurses leaving the profession due to burnout; and fewer women becoming nurses, instead finding work in fields once largely closed to women.

Florida has the third-worst nursing shortage in the United States behind California and Virginia, according to the American Hospital Association.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk