• Michael G. Tanner was elected to The Florida Bar board of governors Fourth Judicial Circuit Seat 2, defeating Reginald Luster in a runoff. Tanner is senior principal with the Tanner Bishop firm.
• Florida Times-Union reporter Jessie-Lynne Kerr died peacefully this morning at the Earl Hadlow Center for Caring, part of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. Kerr, who was battling cancer, turned 73 on Tuesday. Times-Union Assistant Managing Editor Marilyn Young distributed an email this morning. “During her 47-plus years here, Jessie-Lynne’s work was a smooth blend of aggressiveness, integrity and grace,” said Young.
• Tampa attorney Gwynne Alice Young was elected president-elect designate of The Florida Bar, defeating fellow board of governors member Walter G. “Skip” Campbell in a close election. Young will be sworn in on June 24 at the Bar’s annual convention in Orlando when current President-elect Scott Hawkins, of West Palm Beach, becomes president. Young will begin her term as Bar president in June 2012.
• Gov. Rick Scott made two appointments Wednesday to the Fourth Judicial Nominating Commission. Henry “Chip” Bachara Jr. of Bachara Law Construction Group and Richard “Kyle” Gavin of Liles Gavin Costantino George & Dearing.
• McDonald’s said the company and its independent franchisees hired 981 employees, filling a combination of full- and part-time positions in more than 100 restaurants in Northeast Florida. The hiring event was part of a nationwide initiative for McDonald’s and its franchisees to hire up to 50,000 new employees at restaurants across the country.
• Congratulations to retired Florida Times-Union Publisher Carl Cannon. He will be presented the “President’s Call to Service Award” today at a meeting of the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community for having served more than 20,000 volunteer hours in his lifetime.