Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, September 9
Sep 9, 2008
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New House speaker announces key leadership positions
Florida’s next House speaker announced key leadership positions today.
Ike prompts insurers to halt policy writing
Some Florida insurance companies have stopped writing new policies while Hurricane Ike plows on. The state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. went to “no bind” status at 11 a.m. Sunday. Citizens, the state’s largest home insurer, halts new business when any part of Florida is under at least a tropical storm watch. Others go to no-bind when a storm is inside a geographic “box” around the state. Real estate closings could be disrupted if insurance is unavailable.
Deadline nears for farms’ disaster help
Area farmers and agricultural operations affected by Tropical Storm Fay have until Sept. 16 to remit a buy-in fee that allows them to have coverage under the federal government’s disaster assistance program.
Florida insurance company enters Hawaii market
Hawaii homeowners will have another option when a Florida-based insurance company joins the Hawaii market for the first time Sept. 22.
Florida-based Comegys Insurance Acquires Jakhotia Insurance Group
St. Petersburg, Florida-based Comegys Insurance recently acquired Tampa-based Jakhotia Insurance Group. The employees of both firms will combine all operations in Comegys’ offices in St. Petersburg effective immediately.
Florida Gov. Appoints 5 to Public Task Force on Workplace Safety
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist appointed five members to the state’s newly created Public Task Force on Workplace Safety.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced the appointment of six additional members to the new Developmental Disabilities Compact Consumer Advisory Workgroup. The additional members were appointed as a result of an outpouring of interest following the announcement of the group’s initial members.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: In the money
Insurance Companies spend freely on TV advertising
It seems companies such as State Farm Insurance, among others, have the funding to sponsor NASCAR racing teams, nationally televised sporting events and national golf tournaments.
CFO Sink: Florida Treasury First to Review Climate Risk
Florida establishing new benchmark for climate risk and opportunity
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced today that Florida is the first Treasury in the nation to formally analyze investments for the financial impacts of climate change. In an effort to better protect the Treasury portfolio from emerging risks, CFO Sink has launched a semi-annual review process to assess how public fund managers incorporate climate risk in portfolio holdings as part of prudent investment management.
Energy seminar coming to Venice
State and national renewable energy experts will be in Venice on Thursday to hold a workshop on building communities based around clean energy.
Poll: Same-sex marriage ban falling short
A poll showed a proposed same-sex marriage ban falling short of the amount of support it would need to become part of the state Constitution.
The ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in Florida continues to be in trouble, a new poll released Monday by Quinnipiac University found, so promoters are now pinning their hopes on presidential politics to push them over the top.
Fla. officials convene to address gang problems
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is convening a group to address the state’s gang problems.
Employment study: Southwest Florida jobs outlook one of worst in nation
For job hunters, it’s a tough go.
As the year comes to a close, the outlook for employment in the Fort Myers-Naples market is expected to be one of the worst in the nation.
EDITORIAL: Lake Okeechobee–Big Lake, Bigger Problems
Lake Okeechobee is so big – 730 square miles – that astronauts can spot it from orbit. Down here at soggy ground level, though, Okeechobee’s most important dimension is measured not in miles but in feet: the distance between the lake level and the top of the old, earthen dike that is supposed to protect South Florida residents from a flood.
Biodiesel Plant in Dade City ‘At The Forefront’
If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, Bill Nelley is sitting on 80,000 gallons of liquid gold.
Group lobbies to raise minimum driving age
Taking aim at a longstanding rite of passage for 16-year-olds, an influential auto safety group is calling on states to raise the age for getting a driver’s license to 17 or even 18.
Lloyd’s-RMS Report Warns Of Rising Sea Level Danger
Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns could mean insurance losses for high risk properties in coastal areas could double by 2030 unless protection measures are taken, a new study warns.
New York Workers’ Comp Board Issues 1,000th Stop Work Order
Less than 14 months after it was granted the authority, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board has issued 1,000 stop work orders to New York businesses that have failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance.