Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, December 23

Dec 23, 2009

 

To view a complete story, click on a headline below:

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  Citizens Hurricane Mitigation Program Draws Suit  

An “emergency” contract to a private vendor by Citizens Property Insurance to determine whether homeowners getting discounts for hurricane upgrades actually made the upgrades has drawn a lawsuit from a Georgia company that wants the business.

 

Peiso Named CFO at United Insurance Holdings

Florida-based insurer United Insurance Holdings Corp. has appointed Joseph R. Peiso as chief financial officer.

 

Liability in the way of Jacksonville Beach new 11-mile natural gas line

After working a decade to bring natural gas to the area, the city is close to signing a contract with Tampa Electric Co. to manage and operate the system. But it’s not close enough.

 

Florida Senate report urges blood business to open up

Legislative committee targets nonprofit blood banks

While asserting that Florida’s blood supply is safe and adequate, a state Senate committee recommends that nonprofit blood collection centers open up about their business practices to increase competition and reassure the public that they are ethically and fiscally sound.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:  State looks at adding more kids to insurance rolls

Childrens health care programs in Florida could attract millions more in federal dollars with a few changes aimed at easing enrollment.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Census–FLA Population Grows Despite Outflow of Residents

Despite an exodus of nearly 32,000 residents to other states, Florida’s population rose by 114,091 during the year ending July 1, 2009, because of immigration, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Wednesday.

 

Fla. congressmen rescind Crist endorsement

Lately, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has been having a tough time in his bid for U.S. Senate, and things just got worse.

 

Blog:  Kemp qualifies for state House race by petition

Democrat Pat Kemp has qualified by petition to run in the special election for the District 58 state House seat.

 

Governor Crist Praises Interstate-75 Road Expansion Project

Six lanes open six years ahead of schedule due to innovative contracting methods

Governor Charlie Crist today applauded the successful completion of the Interstate-75 Road Expansion Project at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new third southbound lane at the I-75/Daniels Parkway rest area. 

 

Florida gets $2.5M to gather broadband data

Florida will receive $2.5 million through the federal stimulus package for broadband data collection and mapping activities over five years.

 

Blog:  FPL gets a fraction of its rate increase request

In a 518-page opus, the staff of the Public Service Commission today recommended that Florida Power & Light be allowed to raise $357.2 million, about $1 billion less than the $1.3 billion in revenue it is seeking through a base rate increase.

  • To view the PSC recommendation, click here.

 

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Do Roaming Gnome and Priceline Negotiator Owe More Tax?

Florida lawmakers are trying to get in front of federal attempts to prohibit taxes on Internet travel companies while also bolstering a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bill McCollum against industry leaders.

 

Blog:  Audit Florida lobbyist disclosures

Businesses and other special interests spent an estimated $116.5 million last year trying to influence the Florida Legislature.

 

Southwest starts Orlando-Panama City route

Southwest Airlines plans to begin nonstop flights from Orlando to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City Beach next May.

 

Feds offer aid to Chinese drywall victims

The federal government said for the first time Tuesday that it will offer financial aid to homeowners with defective drywall from China.

  • Click here to read the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Press Release.

 

Blog:  Property and auto insurers’ profit triples

Private U.S. property and automobile insurers’ net profit more than tripled to $16.2 billion for the first three quarters of this year compared $4.4 billion the year before largely due to a drop in claims costs. That’s according to a report released Tuesday ISO and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

 

Texas Sets Workers’ Comp Interest and Discount Rate at 3.85%

The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation has set the interest and discount rate for the first quarter of 2010 at 3.85 percent.

 

Workers’ comp boards rule for obese workers wanting weight-loss surgery

A cook at an Indiana restaurant suffered a job-related back injury, and a workers’ compensation board said the employer must pay for a medical procedure.

 

SEC sues Heisman co-sponsor Triton Financial

Triton Financial LLC, an investment firm that co-sponsors the Heisman Trophy Trust, was sued by regulators who say it defrauded investors in an insurance venture.

 

William H. Stander:  2009 Property & Casualty Market Review  

Dim the lights, turn on the projector, and cue the voiceover: “In a world gone mad, when everything was crumbling around them, one industry stood strong – INSURANCE!”

 

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