Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, July 17
Jul 17, 2009
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Condos in battle for years with insurer over hurricane repairs
For nearly four years, residents of an Aventura condominium who saw their balconies and hallways torn apart by Hurricane Wilma have been waiting for a check from their insurance company to make badly needed repairs.
Hope Yet for Homeowners Affected by Chinese Drywall
Electrocorp, an industrial air purification company, is receiving national attention after field testing by a Florida company showed levels of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and other gases, emitted from tainted Chinese drywall that was used to build hundreds of thousands of homes across North America, were reduced by 80% to 90% after only 24 hours of operating Electrocorp’s air purification equipment.
Crist urges senators to push for carrier dredging
Governor writes this is essential for Mayport to get nuclear carrier.
The U.S. Senate should stand firm in a battle over funding for the dredging of the St. Johns River near Mayport Naval Station, Gov. Charlie Crist wrote in a letter to two leading members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Bad drivers: 3 wrecks and you’re off the road
New state law will you off the streets for driving school and re-testing.
State Sen. Don Gaetz was driving down U.S. 98 in Northwest Florida on Wednesday when he saw another driver reading a newspaper while going 65 mph.
Dade, Blue Cross offer health plan
Offering what its creators believe could be a model for affordable health insurance nationwide, a unique public-private partnership announced Tuesday a plan aimed at helping the estimated 600,000 uninsured in Miami-Dade County.
Editorial: Funding formulas stiff Florida
It is no surprise that Florida is dead last in per-capita stimulus funding. Flawed federal funding formulas routinely shortchange the state. Florida leaders must resolve to end Washington’s neglect.
Citrus Grower Joins Race For Florida House Seat
Three Republicans are now competing to represent District 66. Ben Albritton may live in Hardee County, but he also is counting on his high profile in Polk and Highlands counties to help him win a House District 66 seat in the Florida Legislature.
Brogan’s record at FAU shows praise and doubt
In 2003, Frank Brogan dropped into the race for the presidency of Florida Atlantic University like the favorite cousin no one knew was coming for Thanksgiving.
3 GOP senators backing Norman in state Senate primary
Three Republican state senate leaders, including the future senate president, have taken sides with Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman over state Rep. Kevin Ambler in the Republican primary for a Tampa Senate seat.
Crist appoints two to Elections Commission
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed a Tallahassee public-relations executive and a South Florida lawyer to the state Elections Commission on Thursday.
Shoreline fishing not free any more in Florida
The tide is running out on the long-cherished right of Floridians to fish without a license from any of the state’s saltwater beaches.
A small victory for Sansom, Richburg and Odom
Judge orders state attorney to produce documents to help them defend themselves
A judge has ordered State Attorney Willie Meggs to provide Ray Sansom, Bob Richburg and Jay Odom more specific information about their charges of official misconduct.
New U.S. House bill includes $210M for Everglades
The latest round of renewed federal funding for Everglades restoration includes $210 million and has been approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
FP&L’s bid to build nuclear reactors made public
Florida Power & Light Co.’s applications to build two new reactors at the Turkey Point plant in Florida City have been made public by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Florida ranks No. 4 for innovation
Florida ranks fourth in the nation in terms of high-tech employment with 20,000 doctoral scientists and engineers and more than 276,000 high-tech workers, according to a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center.
SEC Files Insider Trading Complaints On Safeco Acquisition Include Floridians
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed insider trading complaints against five individuals in connection with Liberty Mutual’s acquisition of Safeco in U.S. federal courts in Orlando, Fla.; Seattle, Washington; and Springfield, Mass.
NCOIL Credit Scoring Model Revised
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators has amended its model credit scoring legislation to require that insurers give a break to people hit by extraordinary events such as job loss and serious illness.
OSHA fines Fla. contractor MasTec $75,000
Federal safety officials have fined an industrial contractor’s Minnesota operations $75,000 for alleged safety infractions relating to trench-digging.
National Academies panel blasts corps’ long-delayed New Orleans Category 5 flood protection plan
A National Academy of Sciences peer review committee has blasted the long-delayed Army Corps of Engineers draft “Category 5” hurricane protection study, saying its lack of a comprehensive long-term plan — and of projects that could be started immediately — “represent substantial shortcomings.”
Hartford Names Andrade To Head P&C Operations
Juan C. Andrade has been named president and chief operating officer of The Harford Financial Services Group Inc.’s property and casualty operations.
Economy means more help needed to flee hurricanes
Extra evacuation buses. More storm shelters. A guide to doing hurricane preparation on a budget.
Maryland Governor Seeks Private Help With Disasters
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) today announced the creation of Maryland’s “Civic Guard,” an initiative to tap private and nonprofit organizations for assistance during a major emergency — and one that should have minimal cost to the state during tight budget times.
NAIC Hails Reform Effort; Strongly Objects To Unnecessary Federal Preemption Of State Authority
States Say Federal Preemption Not Effective; Role of New Health Czar Is Excessive
While hailing reform efforts, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on Wednesday called on lawmakers drafting landmark health reform legislation to preserve the flexibility that states need to ensure that laws and regulations meet the needs of the individual states where consumers purchase coverage and receive medical care.
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