Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, May 13

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Dozens of homes lost as Florida battles wildfires

Relentless wildfires burned into the early morning Tuesday across Florida’s Atlantic coast, taxing firefighters and overwhelming residents trying to save their homes with garden hoses.

Updated: Crist praises firefighting efforts in Central Florida

Strong winds, low humidity stoking wildfires in South, Central Florida

Gov. Charlie Crist this morning thanked the scores of crews fighting thousands of acres of wildfires in Central Florida and urged Floridians to be careful in tinder-dry conditions.

South Florida spared extensive blazes after thousands of acres charred in ’07

While residents of Brevard and Volusia counties fled their homes Monday as firefighters battled to keep flames away from subdivisions, South Florida has largely been spared extensive wildfires this season.

Network aims to get businesses back on track after storm

After a hurricane, workers are repairing roofs, social agencies are handing out food and water, and bulldozers are clearing roads.

Hurricane center chief says forecast accuracy is urgent

The director of the National Hurricane Center says the rapid pace of development along hurricane-prone coasts is adding a new level of urgency for forecasters.

Unmanned drones head into hurricanes’ core to get data

Government scientists believe a fleet of small unmanned airplanes sent to hurricanes’ cores could lead to revolutionary advances in storm forecasting and measurement.

Florida officials respond to and help seniors prepare for hurricane season

Bob and Clare James refused to leave their condemned condo at the Village Royale on the Green retirement community after 2005’s Hurricane Wilma, so a police SWAT team forcibly removed the elderly couple.

COLUMN: Insurance mess causes a lot of grief

Don Dow says he had an auto insurance policy in place and current during the time the state Department of Motor Vehicles said he was uninsured.

Advocates to warn Medicaid patients of pending change

Some health care providers and advocates are mobilizing to warn mentally and physically disabled Medicaid clients about a new state requirement that could force them into HMOs.

EDITORIAL: Strike The Strike-All Amendments

Speaking of CSX, when House members finally gathered to discuss the transportation bill, the measure looked nothing like it had.

Cabinet to vote on land buy

Brevard clerk of court disputes price for 40 acres

A top state official with the Department of Environmental Protection has said two properties that Gov. Charlie Crist and the state Cabinet will vote today on buying “have long been” on a priority list of land that the state wants to buy for conservation.

Canker jury decision disappoints homeowners

For many Broward homeowners, the jury’s verdict last week in the closely watched canker trial was an unhappy end to a long legal battle.

The trucks pulled up in front of Tim Farley’s home like a military platoon.

Expert foresees powerful rebound

Growing up on a farm in Missouri, the only kind of engineers Dale Klein knew of were the kind who worked on trains.

Nelson backs Superfund cleanup

Two miles from a 140-acre site contaminated with known carcinogens – U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson stood atop Gainesville’s water supply, throwing his support behind the Cabot/Koppers Superfund cleanup.

EDITORIAL: Who’s really opposing national disaster plan?

Last week, the campaign in Congress for national disaster insurance enjoyed a strategic defeat.

Nearly Half of Americans Unprepared for Disasters, New Survey Reveals

What You Need to Know About Insurance Before Disaster Strikes

As the nation braces for the hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods that accompany the spring and summer disaster season, nearly half of U.S. consumers are insufficiently prepared — in terms of their insurance coverage — to deal with potential losses, according to new research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

Allstate Insurance to refund Texas customers $51.6 million

Allstate Insurance agreed Monday to refund $51.6 million to its Texas customers for overcharges in homeowners insurance, but the company will not have to return another $19.2 million in overcharges under a settlement with state regulators.

 

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