Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, August 10
Aug 10, 2010
Above: Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Kendrick Meek and Jeff Greene held their second debate today in the studios of WKMG-TV in Orlando. The station will Webcast the event tonight at 9:00 p.m. To view the event, click here (viewing instructions to be posted).
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Florida Insurance Commissioner Defends Home Insurance Rate Hikes
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on Tuesday defended the dozens of home insurance rate hikes his office approved since January 2009.
Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., a vertically integrated insurance holding company, announced second-quarter 2010 net income of $10.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to $7.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.
Broward Obstacle Course Shows Texting While Driving Is Not Much To LOL At
With one hand on the steering wheel of her mom’s Mercedes-Benz and the other hand grasping a cell phone, Erica Krasne tried to text while driving.
Dog Bite Attacks Increase in Palm Beach County
Many Florida insurers turning down coverage for homeowners with ‘bully’ dog breeds
Kay-Lynette Roca gets the panicked call a handful of times each month.
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida’s Medicaid program will receive more than $3 million after reaching an agreement with Orthoâ€McNeilâ€Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to settle allegations that the company engaged in offâ€label marketing of its drug Topamax.
National Insurance Crime Bureau creates medical fraud task force in Tampa
The National Insurance Crime Bureau has established the Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force.
Outlook improves for state worker health care fund
The state fund that picks up the cost of health care bills for state workers won’t go insolvent as quickly as once projected.
Blog: House vote today will send $1.3 billion to Florida for teachers, Medicaid
The bill passed. Florida lawmakers voted party line. Florida is set to receive $554.8 million in aid to help schools retain or hire back teachers, as well as $784 million in Medicaid funding under legislation the U.S. House approved Tuesday afternoon.
Florida candidates barnstorm as early voting begins
Monday’s turnout was a far cry from the 2008 presidential race, but candidates for governor and Senate campaigned all over the state
As two weeks of early voting began in Florida on Monday, gubernatorial hopeful Bill McCollum barnstormed three crucial television markets, chasing Rick Scott with a Republican icon in tow: former Gov. Jeb Bush.
McCollum: Ban gays from being foster parents
Bill McCollum has made it clear he supports Florida’s ban on gay adoption. Now the Republican gubernatorial candidate is saying he doesn’t think gay people should be allowed to be foster parents, either.
Lawsuit filed to obtain Rick Scott deposition in health clinic chain case
Calls Rick Scott ‘a public hazard’
A Tallahassee trial lawyer has filed a lawsuit to obtain a Rick Scott video deposition in a case against a chain of clinics founded by the Republican front-runner for Florida governor.
Judge rejects Democrat Maurice Ferre’s plea to join U.S. Senate debate
A judge shot down longshot Democratic Senate candidate Maurice Ferre’s attempts to be included in Tuesday’s statewide debate, noting that Ferre has little support amid likely voters.
Jeb Bush taking a more visible campaign role
As early voting begins, he joins McCollum on a three-city tour
Looking to bolster his credibility among GOP voters, Bill McCollum on Monday embraced the coattails of the last popular Republican governor of Florida.
The party’s over for many voters, as more register independent
There’s only one party with steady growth this year in the Florida electorate: No Party.
Florida sales tax holiday returns but impact is unclear
After two years without one, the sales tax holiday is back in Florida.
Florida trying to cut driver license waiting times
Florida is trying to cut waiting times to obtain and renew driver licenses, which have increased due to new federal identification requirements and a budgeting glitch, the state’s top motor vehicle official said Tuesday.
Pennsylvania Commissioner Ario Steps Down
Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario has stepped down as the state’s top insurance regulator to take a position with the federal government as director of federal Office of Insurance Exchanges.
Kipper Named Deputy Commissioner in Louisiana Insurance Department
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has named Scott Kipper as the Louisiana Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Health.
Insurer sues client for blocking appraisal
An insurance company has filed suit against one of its clients, alleging the client refuses to participate in an appraisal process regarding the amount of damage caused to her property following Hurricane Ike.
California Supreme Court Prohibits Senior Citizens from Trebling Damages
The California Supreme Court has ruled that plaintiffs may not seek treble damages under the state’s Unfair Competition Law, and instead can only seek remedies to injunction and restitution.
Federal Reforms to Dominate NAIC Summer Meeting
The summer meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners — scheduled Aug. 12-17 — is happening in the middle of what may be the most hectic scramble to adapt to new federal laws that the industry has seen in generations.
Georgia Insurance Commissioner to be Decided Tomorrow
Voters in Georgia go to the polls tomorrow for a runoff election in which they will vote for one of two Republican candidates for state insurance commissioner.
RMS Terrorism Risk Model Includes More International Cities
Newark, Calif.-based Risk Management Solutions has enhanced its terrorism risk model, adding in more details for international cities and higher resolution hazard information and refinements to human exposure and building vulnerability based on data from recent attacks.
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