Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, Nov. 19

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Casino suit accuses Crist of power grab

House Speaker Marco Rubio asked the Florida Supreme Court Monday to invalidate a gambling compact Gov. Charlie Crist signed with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, arguing that it ”blatantly usurps legislative power” and violates the Constitution.

 

Holloway picked for Dade School Board opening

Outgoing state Rep. Wilbert ”Tee” Holloway will fill the vacancy on the Miami-Dade School Board, Gov. Charlie Crist announced Monday evening.

 

Two public servants square off Tuesday in state House race

Matt Hudson and Linda McDonald aren’t particularly interested in pointing out similarities between them as they run to represent District 101 in the Florida House of Representatives.

 

CFO: State’s fiscal outlook not so rosy

Even the sunniest optimist would admit the economic times in Florida are turbulent. On Thursday, the Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce tried to offer a clearer picture of the state’s economy with its annual peek into the financial future.

 

Restoring the trust
 
In the end, state Rep. Bob Allen bowed to reality.  He resigned from office Friday, one week after he was found guilty of soliciting sex from an undercover Titusville police officer in a scandal that drew national attention.

Fee flap to cost title company $5 million

One of the country’s largest title companies agreed to pay a $5 million fine for creating 87 insurance agencies throughout Florida in order to funnel kickbacks to the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, banks and home builders who referred business.

 

Michael Peltier: Florida holds $2 billion in junk bonds

TALLAHASSEE — Think private investors are the only ones affected by the recent sub-prime mortgage fallout? Think again.

 

Swiss Re hit by $1 bln credit market insurance loss

ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss Re reported a shock 1.2 billion Swiss franc ($1.07 billion) writedown due to the subprime crisis, sending its shares down sharply and making it the first reinsurer to suffer a big, direct hit from the crisis.

 

Tightening scrutiny of insurance rate filings

Complete Forecast Insurance companies operating in Florida often complain about the regulatory system in the state. Their view: There’s too much regulation.

 

Fasano targeted in ethics complaint

A New Port Richey man said he has filed a complaint against state Sen. Mike Fasano with the Florida Ethics Commission, alleging Fasano misused his position in a flap over state’s driver safety handbooks.

 

Long brush fire season expected for SW Florida

Though the winter morning air is bringing a crisp, welcome bite for heat-weary Southwest Floridians, area firefighters are bracing for the heat of what they anticipate to be relentless brush fires in the coming months.

 

Will Florida regain sales-tax money?

The finance committee of Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform Commission has decided unanimously that the Legislature should have to review hundreds of sales-tax exemptions and exclusions, and revamp Florida’s sales-tax system.

 

Actuaries Have Special Role To Play In Explaining Association Of Credit Scores And Insurance Losses

LAS VEGAS, NV – By explaining why there is an association between credit scores and insurance losses, insurers and actuaries can promote a better understanding of why credit scores are a useful underwriting tool, attendees of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) Predictive Modeling Seminar heard.

 

Katrina-ravaged vehicles still circulate, far from U.S.

COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA – The bathtub ring of mold on the ceiling of Colleen McGaw’s Mini Cooper marks how high Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters rose inside the sporty red coupe.

 

Mahoney sets image as feisty freshman

It’s 10:15 p.m., and U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney has been waiting an hour for the final vote of a long day in Congress.

 

Mistakes made in New Orleans flood maps

NEW ORLEANS –A system of flood gates and pumps built since Hurricane Katrina to help alleviate flooding in several New Orleans neighborhoods may not be as much help as authorities first said.

 

Protect your assets by taking inventory inside your home

NEW YORK – To keep a fire, burglary or other disaster from devastating your assets, make a thorough inventory of everything you have in your home this week, so that you can document the value of any possession you lose.

 

Defaults may spark big loss for insurers: Barclays

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bond insurers may suffer ‘an appreciable loss’ due to their exposure to subprime mortgage debt, putting at risk their top rating that is critical to their business, Barclays Capital said on Friday.