• Jacksonville University has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Colleges” for the seventh consecutive year in the “U.S. News & World Report” America’s Best Colleges 2011 list for regional universities in the south. JU is ranked No. 44, up five spots from last year.
• Nationwide, bankruptcy filings rose 20 percent in the 12-month period ending June 30, said the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. During that time, 1,572,597 bankruptcy cases were filed in federal courts, up from 1,306,315 in the 12 months ending June 30, 2009. It’s the most bankruptcy filings for any period since many of the provisions of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 took effect.
• Looking closer at bankruptcy filings nationwide, Chapter 7 liquidations were up 25 percent to 1.1 million; Chapter 13 individual reorganizations were up 10 percent to 424,242; Chapter 11 reorganizations were up 2 percent to 14,272; and Chapter 12 farmer and fisherman reorganizations were up 56 percent to 660.
• As the Daily Record has reported, the Middle District of Florida, including Jacksonville, is on track to set a record for filings, as well. Also, the district leads the nation in Chapter 12 filings.