Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, September 17
Sep 17, 2010
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Citizens Suspends Commercial Inspections
On September 10, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. sent a letter via its Agency Direct E-Mail system notifying recipients that it was suspending its commercial lines inspection program.
Mike Colodny: Is Florida at the Portal of a Stronger Insurance Market?
Although legislative efforts at comprehensive Florida property insurance reform were ultimately vetoed this year, actual passage of SB 2044, along with other recent developments, may indicate a growing understanding by Florida lawmakers of underlying problems that continue to debilitate the state’s property insurance market.
News Release: CFO Alex Sink Names Terry Butler as Interim Insurance Consumer Advocate
Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today that Terry Butler has been tapped to serve as Interim Insurance Consumer Advocate.
Opinions mixed at Plant City meeting on dry wells, sinkholes
Longtime strawberry grower Carl Grooms listened to all the complaints about dry wells and sinkholes before he took his turn at the podium
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards Florida $12.1M
Florida will receive $12.1 million out of $130.8 million in grants to strengthen and expand the health professions workforce.
Florida GOP releases audit of party finances
The long-awaited “forensic” audit of the Republican Party of Florida’s books has found that hundreds of thousands in spending on travel, meals, and other luxurious living racked up by indicted former chairman Jim Greer was inappropriate. The GOP could even opt to go to court to get its money back.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Senate staff shuffle continues
A pair of longtime Senate staff directors were let go by Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos this week, bringing to 11 the number of high-ranking, and high-salaried employees axed by the Merritt Island Republican.
Meek, Rubio, Crist debate Friday night on Univision
The first debate between Florida’s three U.S. Senate candidates during the general election campaign occurs Friday at the WLTV Univision 23 studios in Miami.
Scott cancels NBC debate, making USF event likely
A statewide broadcast debate on NBC between Alex Sink and Rick Scott planned for Oct. 25 has been canceled because Scott declined, saying moderator Chris Matthews is “a known Obama liberal.”
- Florida Chamber of Commerce endorses Rick Scott, Pam Bondi
- Column: Endorsements likely don’t have much impact in statewide races
- Rick Scott company gets more stimulus bucks
Florida Supreme Court gets class size amendment case
As expected, the Florida Supreme Court has received a challenge to a ballot proposal that would loosen Florida’s class size limits.
Florida unemployment rises to 11.7 percent in August
South Florida’s unemployment spiked in August, along with the state jobless rate, which rose to 11.7 percent in August, the state work force agency reported Friday.
Fitch: Fort Lauderdale-based BankAtlantic ‘highly vulnerable’
Fitch Ratings downgraded the corporate debt for BankAtlantic Bancorp to CC, a non-investment grade that means the rating agency considers the company highly vulnerable to defaulting.
Florida health department inspectors return to child care centers
State health inspectors are again checking food services at child care centers.
First Broward West Nile Virus Case Since 2004 Documented
Broward County health officials have confirmed a case of the mosquito borne illness West Nile Virus Fever. It’s the first case in the county since 2004.
Florida freezes $1,500 rebate program for air conditioners
It didn’t get approved by the Legislative Budget Commission
Like a central air conditioner that suddenly conks out, Florida’s $1,500 rebate program for the purchase of Energy Star units was suspended this week because state lawmakers didn’t approve payout of the rebates.
Hernando County Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Threatening Rep. Brown-Waite
Eric Pidrman had left a menacing voice mail during a drinking binge
The Hernando County man who admitted to leaving a threatening voice mail for U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite during a drinking binge will spend more than two years in federal prison.
Realtors not sold on share from oil spill
Agents happy to see the cash, but many say it barely covers their losses
The statewide Florida Realtors association has started divvying up the $16 million it received to compensate real estate agents and brokers who lost business after the oil spill.
Blog: FPL parent company sells $350 million in equity
FPL’s parent company, NextEra Energy, announced this week it will sell $350 million of equity units to Credit Suisse Securities.
Tax cuts carving a divide in Florida
The national debate over ending or extending Bush-era tax cuts is creeping into Sunshine State election campaigns.
Blog: Louisiana Governor Jindal joins Scott in Florida flyaround
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a veritable rock star among hard core GOP’ers, will join Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott on three campaign stops tomorrow.
Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Snitker may decide Florida race
You have to hand it to Alexander Snitker. The Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate is almost unknown, has little money – $1,861 cash on hand as of June 30 – and even less chance of winning. But the guy is talking like a young Muhammad Ali.
Blog: Congressional candidate Allen West doesn’t live in the district he’s running in
Some voters aren’t sure where congressional candidate Allen West lives.
Travelers Finds Water Damage Ten Times More Likely Than Fire
While fire may be a common worry among homeowners, claims data from Travelers suggests their homes could be as much as 10 times more likely to be damaged by water than by fire.
National Flood Insurance Program wind damage coverage bill unlikely to pass again
In Pascagoula, Miss., on the Gulf Coast, agent Laverne Nelson has to get windstorm coverage for her personal property from the state wind pool.
NAIC picks representative for U.S. systemic risk council
The National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners has chosen Missouri’s top insurance regulator as its representative on the new Financial Stability Oversight Council.
Louisiana property insurance assessments unclaimed
Louisiana policyholders will lose millions in special property insurance assessments if they don’t act before the year is over to reclaim them.
Michigan Attorney General sues Blue Cross, regulator over rates
The Michigan attorney general’s office has sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and a state regulator over rate changes for some customers who buy insurance coverage to supplement Medicare.
90,000 Coloradans to share in insurer’s $20 million settlement
About 90,000 people who have been insured by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield this year will share in a $20 million settlement.
Group Health Enrollment Plummets
New Census Bureau health insurance figures suggest that the number of U.S. residents in employer-sponsored plans plunged 3.7% between 2008 and 2009.
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