Ever hear of a private corporation that decides it can deal with a financial downturn by cutting millions from its own budget and giving the money to another company? That's virtually what the state of Florida will be doing if the legislature goes through with plans to cut $14.6 million in school readiness money. How? That money serves as a match to pull in another $11 million in federal funds earmarked for Florida that will otherwise go to other states.

Terry Cooper started the morning's first day-care inspection with a mental run through a safety checklist. 

A local nonprofit that had helped Southwest Florida families with subsidized day care for more than three decades has refocused its efforts.