Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, August 25, 2014
Aug 25, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Why Are There So Many Sinkholes in Florida?
As pieces of the Sunshine State collapse in on themselves, new technology offers hope for early warning
The state that’s well known for hurricanes and alligators has another high-profile natural worry on its list: the possibility that the Earth could, at any moment, gobble up a whole neighborhood. One technology that could help: a new remote sensor from NASA to predict sinkhole formations, reports Christopher Balogh for The Atlantic.
PolitiFact Florida: Florida GOP claim on Obamacare rated Pants on Fire
Charlie Crist’s vow to change Florida law about health insurance regulation during a Facebook Q&A on August 6 was not liked by the Republican Party of Florida. Politifact Florida explores the claims.
SeaWorld Relents, Ends Trainers Swimming with Killer Whales
SeaWorld Entertainment has dropped an appeal of citations it received after the drowning of a trainer who was pulled under by a killer whale, ending any chance of trainers ever again swimming with orcas during shows, Associated Press’ Mike Schneider reports via Insurance Journal.
Court approves Legislature’s fix for congressional map, orders no special election
Florida’s flawed congressional districts may remain in place for two more years and newly drawn boundaries for seven north and central districts don’t have to take effect until 2016, a Tallahassee circuit court judge ruled late Friday. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Charlie Crist vs. Nan Rich, a Democratic primary devoid of a campaign
After running for governor for nearly a year, Charlie Crist has resolutely ignored fellow Democrat Nan Rich, and voters will render their verdict Tuesday on whether it was a sound strategy. Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo analyze the race.
- Crist-Rich snoozer ends Tuesday with only the margin in doubt
- Scott camp on lookout for “enthusiasm gap” among Democrats
- Democrats plan post-primary unity rallies
If anything, the House District 74 GOP primary could be one for the ages, as the soon-to-end battle between Richard DeNapoli and Julio Gonzalez experiences one last volley of campaign cash, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida sees record number of prescribed burns
The Florida Forest Service reported prescribed fires covering more than 2.5 million acres. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says that’s one of the highest numbers ever reported by any state in the country, the Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Public Records Questions Dog Governor’s Office
Gov. Rick Scott launched Project Sunburst two years ago to give the public easy access to his emails and those of his staff and promised it would become a “unprecedented, transparent window into how state government works.” The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Meetings with former legislator could put bond seller’s job in jeopardy
The new Central Florida Expressway Authority is considering a policy change, making it difficult for a lone salesperson to dominate the way the agency raises money for maintenance and expansion of its 109-mile network, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Peter Schorsch notes the Orlando Sentinel story.
Bitcoin is taking root in St. Pete, but what in the blazes is it?
The St. Petersburg Bowl is now the bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl and business leaders in the area are hoping it could mean big things for the city, Janelle Irwin reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Tower Group blames New York regulators for collapse
Tower Group International, a giant New York insurance company, has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the past two years, sending its net worth to negative $11 million. In a recently filed lawsuit, the founder of a small insurance company blames the state for the collapse of the once-mighty firm, James Odato reports for the Albany Times-Union.
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