Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, Dec. 18

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New head of raided investment pool readies response to county ultimatum

Less than a week into his new job as interim executive director of the State Board of Administration, retired Marine Corps Gen. Bob Milligan faces a frontal assault — the threat of a lawsuit by one of the agency’s largest banking clients, Hillsborough County.

 

$43 million deposited into state-run investment pool

The trustees of a troubled state-run investment pool are likely to tout good news when they meet this morning to discuss the latest developments.

 

State fund’s manager rakes in big fee

One reason local governments invested billions of tax dollars in a now-struggling state fund was because of the low management fee.

 

State commits $94 million to Max Planck research in Jupiter

Gov. Charlie Crist committed $94 million to bring the Max Planck Society to Palm Beach County, clearing the way for the German bio-research giant to set up headquarters alongside Scripps Florida in Jupiter.

 

Guard control

Until a year ago, there was never any question that governors had full authority to activate the National Guard in the face of a stateside emergency.

 

Editorial:  Hurricane preparation project wastes $151 million

A year ago, still amid the hurricane season panic created by the storms that ripped up Florida in 2004 and 2005, the state Division of Emergency Management invested $151 million worth of state and federal dollars in a storm preparation program.

 

Naples state legislators look ahead to 2008 issues

It’s always easy to talk about what the Legislature could accomplish before it goes into session.

 

Haridopolos urges business leaders to back tax reform

You might think a state ballot initiative to cap property taxes on nonhomesteaded properties and reduce tangible personal property taxes would be a no-brainer with the business community.

 

Florida state of mind could set tone for U.S.

In typical Floridian fashion, the squat condominiums of Carrollwood Lane encircle a tiny man-made lake. The water is green, cloaked in ducks and lilies, with a fountain in the middle. The condos are white, stucco and quiet on a weekday afternoon.

 

Editorial: Avoiding disaster

It’s difficult to tell which disaster was worse. The impact of Hurricane Katrina’s ruthless wind and water on New Orleans or the debacle that followed due to the incompetence of federal, state and local officials.

 

UPDATE: Governors agree on water meeting in January

The governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia said they made progress today in resolving their differences over water after a meeting today at the Governor’s Mansion.

 

New Year Holds Potential For Damage To The Everglades

A severe drought, forecast for 2008, could further damage the fragile Everglades ecosystem at a time when officials are scrambling to save the state’s River of Grass.

 

Storm cleanup starts at jail

Heavy machinery creaked and rumbled, the debris pile slowly shrank and officials went about weighing dollars against damage. That was the scene Monday at the Pasco County jail, where a tornado brought destruction a day earlier.

 

3 sentenced in fraud scheme

A Kissimmee man was sentenced to 20 years in prison and his brother received 13 1/3 years for operating a scheme that defrauded investors of nearly $88 million.

 

Aon sells 2 insurance units for $2.75B as part of restructuring

Insurance brokerage Aon Corp. is selling two underwriting units for $2.75 billion in separate cash deals to focus on more profitable lines of business in the face of falling insurance rates.

 

Jacksonville to pay IRS $140,380 in back taxes

Jacksonville has agreed to pay $140,380 to the Internal Revenue Service after a recent audit uncovered record-keeping flaws.

 

Catlin agrees $225 mln catastrophe bond deal

UK-listed insurer Catlin Group Limited said on Tuesday it had bought a catastrophe bond to give it protection worth $225 million for U.S. natural disasters. 

 

2007 insurance disaster claims $25 bln – Swiss Re

Insurers faced total claims from catastrophes of $25 billion in 2007, Swiss Re said, making it a comparatively inexpensive year despite warnings that global warming is causing more natural disasters.

 

Lawmaker wants $10B for shuttles

The United States should invest an extra $10 billion in NASA during the next five years so the nation does not become reliant on Russia to launch American astronauts, a local lawmaker said Monday.

 

Key legislators craft Florida charter-school reform

A push to make charter schools more academically and financially accountable gained powerful support Monday as the state House education leader announced that he will team up with his Senate counterpart to drive the reforms.

 

2 from Orlando among 6 candidates for federal judgeships

Orange Circuit Judge Frederick Lauten and Orlando personal injury lawyer Roy “Skip” Dalton Jr. were among six names that will be sent to U.S. Sens. Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson for consideration in filling two federal judgeships, a bipartisan screening committee announced today.

 

Ally of Raul Martinez requests voter records

Hialeah Housing Authority chief Alex Morales insists that it was his passion for politics that drove him recently to request a computerized list of every voter in the congressional district represented by U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart.