Settlement talks are underway between FAMU and Michael Brown, the former inspector general who was canned by then-interim President Castell Bryant last year. Brown, who filed suit in Leon County last December, was shown the door after he began investigating allegations that Bryant and other top FAMU officials were distorting the true picture of university finances.

Brown's removal helped fuel a backlash against Bryant, and is one of several decisions that seemed to turn the tide of public opinion against her interim presidency. Even Florida's Auditor General took issue with some of Bryant's claims in the Brown affair (see St. Petersburg Times  story here). FAMU trustees recently voted after a closed session to continue settlement talks, but it's unclear how close the parties are to a final deal. We'll keep you posted.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter