Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, November 21

Nov 21, 2008

 

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Fla. to waive penalties for corporate tax glitch

Taxpayer penalties that may result from a glitch in a new corporate tax law will be waived, the state’s revenue director told Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet on Thursday.

 

Red-light cameras:  2 1/2 months, 6,025 tickets, $310,000 collected

Orlando drivers leave court red-faced over tickets

Orlando has nabbed 6,025 red-light runners since it installed automated cameras at a handful of intersections just 2 1/2 months ago — and so far, only one driver has beat the rap.

 

Deltona residents seek flooding answers

How do you know if you live in a flood zone?

Many Deltona residents sought an answer to that question in the weeks and months after Tropical Storm Fay dumped record rains in August, damaging homes and other property in the city.

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:  Citizens customers have a right to choose Nov. 15, letter

Underhanded maneuver

If Citizens is serious about preserving its policyholders’ right to choose their insurance provider, then it has the opt in/out process 100 percent backwards.

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:  Insurers should refund portion of premiums

We continue to hear the federal government review and incorporate stimulus packages to feed the economy.

 

3 doctors sentenced to prison in health care fraud

An orthopedic surgeon and two chiropractors were sentenced Thursday to federal prison for cheating insurance companies out of $3 million by mislabeling treatments for back pain.

 

Sorting Out Part D

The great hunt for the most beneficial Medicare Part D program has begun. Between now and Dec. 31, Florida’s 3 million Medicare enrollees will be trying to decide which one of the insurance plans that help pay for brand-name and generic prescription drugs is best.

 

State economists to announce $2 billion budget deficit

It was a surreal setting for talks about taking a meat cleaver to Big Government.

 

Conference sobered by economic projection

David Darst, Morgan Stanley’s chief investment strategist of its Global Wealth Management Group, shared this forecast as the afternoon keynote speaker at the ACB conference:

 

State is emptying cash reserves to fill budget holes

Even Florida’s rainy-day fund is drying up.

 

Fla. open record laws often violated, media finds

TaMaryn Waters walked into the Jefferson County School District offices with a simple request: She wanted a copy of the most recent e-mail the superintendent sent school board members about the district budget.

 

Florida Department of Children & Families supervisor gets 17-year sentence for stealing public funds

For two decades, she worked for the state helping Florida’s neediest. Colleagues considered her a mother figure. Bosses respected her. She got promotions.

 

Freshman lawmakers feel their way in D.C.

Don’t expect Alan Grayson to lose the cowboy boots when he walks the halls of Congress. Orlando’s newest lawmaker says he plans to continue sporting his signature footwear after he takes the oath of office in January — although the pink pair may temporarily disappear.

 

New center to support Florida’s aerospace future

Experts in aerospace, aviation speak at kickoff

University, government and industry officials on Thursday officially launched the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion, a technical, research and academic consortium that will help shape the future of the state’s aerospace industry.

 

GRU solar plan given city approval

The city of Gainesville moved one step closer on Thursday to adopting a solar energy incentive plan that would be the first of its kind in the nation.

 

Banks, Not Insurers Need Tighter U.S. Laws, Says Hartwig

Property-casualty carriers must convince Congress they are far better at risk management than their banking counterparts to avoid onerous federal regulation by lawmakers contemplating expanded financial services oversight-including insurance-the p-c industry’s top spokesman warned.

 

Transportation Insurance Numbers Point To Steady Declines

Pricing for transportation insurance continues to point to a steady decline, marking no material change from the last quarter, according to a brokerage firm survey.

 

Texas Governor Blasts FEMA, Creates Hurricane Recovery Commission

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has established the Governor’s Commission for Disaster Recovery and Renewal, an advisory panel of public and private sector experts who will create a plan to assist Texas communities with recovery efforts after a natural disaster, according to a release issued by the governor’s office.

 

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