Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, August 21
Aug 21, 2008
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Florida Gov. Requests Federal State of Emergency as Fay Pours Down
As Tropical Storm Fay remains relatively static over northeast Florida, a tropical storm warning remains in effect from Fort pierce, Florida to the border between Georgia and South Carolina.
Tropical Storm Fay floods hundreds of Fla. homes
Calling the flooding ‘catastrophic,’ Gov. Charlie Crist requested an emergency disaster declaration from the federal government to defray rising debris and response costs. The White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was reviewing the request.
Florida storm experts plead for more funding
Top hurricane scientists from Florida are leading a charge to lobby Congress to sharply increase funding for research into predicting, modeling and preventing damage from nature’s deadliest storms.
Many face recovery without insurance
Less than 30% of homeowners in county have flood coverage
With widespread flooding in Brevard County from Tropical Storm Fay, many homeowners are facing the harsh reality of not having flood insurance.
Citizens moves claims center from Naples to Jacksonville
Citizens Property Insurance, the state-run insurer, closed its mobile claims center in Naples and will send it to Jacksonville. The insurer has received 518 claims so far, with 29 claims coming from a mobile park in Brevard County that was hit by a tornado Tuesday.
Crist to speak on final day of GOP convention
Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez will address Republicans on the fourth and final day of their party’s presidential nominating convention, organizers reported today.
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that he has increased the number of deployed teams of sworn law enforcement to a total of seven Florida counties to check on residents of the state’s nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other care facilities.
Major storm could bankrupt Florida
Tropical Storm Fay is driving home the point once again that Florida is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms.
COLUMN: Couple says ordeal with FEMA is ‘nonsense’
Joan Clay, 85, and her husband, Tom Comita, 75, are being harassed daily by collection agencies about money they say the couple owes.
Purse tightens on children’s health
Families are being turned away because of budget cuts
Budget cutbacks saved Florida taxpayers $150,000 but thrust the future of 100 newborns, and counting, into question.
Healthy Kids cuts 22,000 from WellCare, stiffens penalties
Florida’s Healthy Kids Corp. is cutting back its business with WellCare Health Plans Inc., offering WellCare’s subsidiary HMOs as an option in 11 fewer counties in the year that begins Oct. 1, according to a contract filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Wednesday afternoon. The contract says Healthy Kids will enroll 22,000 fewer children in the WellCare plans.
Self-employed can buy insurance now– if they’ve got $$
August in Florida: hot, muggy, one storm after another. But there’s one thing to recommend August; it’s the only month that self-employed Floridians can buy “group” health coverage. It’s the only time of the year that they can’t be turned away because they’re too old or too risky.
Florida Legislature Requests Voice in Redistricting Standards Ballot Placement
The Attorney General has filed a citizens’ initiative on legislative redistricting standards for the Court to determine whether it meets legal standards for placement on the ballot.
Study: Tribal casino income up slightly
A national report on Indian gaming sheds light on Seminole and Miccosukee gambling income, which grew modestly in 2007 and is expected to grow this year. The Seminole compact with Gov. Charlie Crist opens the door for the state to share in gaming revenue.
Florida’s tribal casinos, which includes the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, generated revenues of about $1.6 billion in 2007, the study reported.
Haridopolos fights government spending, takes government salaries
State Sen. Mike Haridopolos has crisscrossed Florida this summer, warning voters of the evils of a proposed tax swap that could be on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Three Republicans vie for state committeeman
As Manatee’s 87,000-plus Republicans fill out their primary ballots, they’ll notice a race for state party committeeman that may not be all together familiar.
State Senate ‘stealth’ campaign ads getting nasty
South Florida’s most competitive state Senate primary is rapidly becoming its nastiest thanks to shadowy third-party groups with a reputation for stealth attacks.
Accusations abound in Senate District 31 — South Florida’s most competitive Senate primary. Here is a sampling of the accusations being tossed — and a look at what’s true and what isn’t.
Hillsborough Dems query District 56 candidate’s party status
It should have been good news for the Democrats when Rep. Trey Traviesa, a darling of the Republican right and a strong favorite to win re-election to his Hillsborough County state House seat, unexpectedly announced he was dropping out.
Nelson endorses Jennings, vows to block offshore drilling
Democratic congressional candidate Christine Jennings on Wednesday picked up the endorsement of Sen. Bill Nelson, a fellow Democrat who also vowed to prevent any expansion of oil drilling off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Proposal for green energy puts Florida on slow track
Gov. Charlie Crist will be 94 years old by the time his goals for green energy production are met – 30 years later than he wanted – under energy standards proposed by Florida’s Public Service Commission.
Lawsuit that Led to Mississippi Tort Lawyer Scruggs’ Downfall Settled
A settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit that led to a bribery conviction for Mississippi-based anti-tobacco lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs and several associates, an attorney said.
Senate Gets NAMIC Letter On State Insurance Regulation
Charles Chamness, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, has written the Senate urging it to reform rather than replace the state-based insurance regulatory system.
Big Jump In Health Coverage Lowers Mass. Uninsured Costs
Massachusetts is experiencing a big jump in health insurance and a big drop in payments for the uninsured under the state’s health care law.
Flood Recovery Efforts in Iowa Slowed by Government Estimates
Victims of record flooding are paying mortgages, taxes and repairs on houses that might need to be destroyed, and some are blaming federal and state officials for a slow response.
Marsh & McLennan Names Wittman Chief Financial Officer
Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. (MMC) appointed Vanessa A. Wittman as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Chinese Hurdler Liu Xiang Will Forgo Insurance Claim
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang will not make a claim against a 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) insurance policy after an injury forced him to pull out of the Olympics, a team official said Wednesday.