Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, July 1
Jul 1, 2009
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Many of the new property insurance companies in Florida are unregulated
New companies coming to Florida may not be available to typical homeowners.
The influx of new property insurance companies that have added $4.3 billion to the pool of capital available on the Florida market, consists mostly of so-called surplus insurance lines that typical homeowners can’t use.
New insurers not much help to typical Floridian
The influx of new property insurance companies that have added $4.3 billion to the pool of capital available on the Florida market, consists mostly of so-called surplus insurance lines that typical homeowners can’t use.
Emergency preparedness consultant gives advice to non-profits on coping with disaster
Nearly 60 non-profit directors, emergency response workers and volunteers from across the Treasure Coast crowded into Tradition Town Hall Tuesday to learn how to keep their organizations up and running in the midst of a disaster.
Hurricane forum stresses planning, preparation
Scores of residents crowded a conference room at a Cocoa Beach hotel this evening to find out from federal, state and local agencies how best to prepare for the hurricane season.
Orlando may be the center of tourism in the U.S., the home, even, of the next NBA champion — but the hub for hurricane research?
Former MLB Pitcher Metheney Joins Florida’s Lassiter-Ware Insurance
Nelson Metheney has joined the team of Lassiter-Ware Insurance as a bond producer.
Florida health care quality rated below average
Quality of health care in Florida is rated “weak” or “very weak” on five of a dozen measures in a new federal report, with the worst scores going to diabetes and respiratory care.
FDIC approves merger of Southwest Florida banks
First National Bank of the Gulf Coast, a bank in organization, has received preliminary approval for deposit insurance that will allow it to move ahead with its proposed merger with Panther Community Bank NA.
McCollum: Florida Joins FTC, Other States in Effort Targeting Economic-Based Scams
Operation focuses on “business opportunity fraud,” debt relief scams
Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other state authorities to announce a coordinated effort targeting scammers capitalizing on the current economic climate.
Crist signs controversial water-management bill
Angering conservationists and siding with developers, Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday signed a controversial bill that would give water management district staff working behind closed doors more power to grant lucrative water rights.
Sixty-five new state laws go into effect today, including the $1-per-pack increase in cigarette taxes.
Census: Manatee County areas lead population growth; Miami population grew by over 6,000
Manatee County’s population growth slowed down last year but it still remained concentrated in the county’s unincorporated areas, according to estimates released today.
Consumer confidence falls in Florida, nation
Florida consumer confidence fell slightly in June, but it’s not expected to fall much further in the months ahead, a survey’s director said Tuesday.
McCollum leads Sink in Florida governor’s race poll
Attorney General Bill McCollum has a comfortable lead over his chief rival in the governor’s race, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Tuesday.
Blog: Pat Patterson to make CFO candidacy official
Veteran state Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, will formally announce his campaign for Chief Financial Officer Thursday evening at the Grant Bly House in DeLand.
State Sen. Dockery Backs Ross for U.S. House
Move fuels support for Lakeland legislator to run for governor
State Sen. Paula Dockery ended speculation about a possible bid for a congressional seat by announcing Tuesday her backing of former state Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland to fill the post of U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, who wants to be Florida’s commissioner of agriculture.
Ex-Dem chairman to take on Rehwinkel Vasilinda
Leon County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Minor resigned and began a campaign to unseat state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda on Tuesday.
State Sen. Victor Crist vies to be supervisor of elections in Hillsborough
State Sen. Victor Crist said Tuesday he will seek to replace Phyllis Busansky as Hillsborough County’s supervisor of elections, making him the best known of eight candidates who have officially applied for the position so far.
Mechanic shifts Congressional sights from Stearns to Brown
The political newcomer now says he will run for Congress in District 3.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns apparently proved to be too big a target for one challenger.
Lagoon, wildlife refuge gain $6.7M in stimulus money
$1.1M set aside for restoration of refuge marshes
The Indian River Lagoon will get a $6.7 million federal stimulus, of which $1.1 million will go toward restoring marshes in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Column: Why the latest oil drilling bill has a good shot of passing
Don’t assume that the latest push for oil drilling off Florida’s Gulf Coast is destined to be turned back because of the seemingly annual – almost routine – fight against it.
Could slot machines be on their way to Miami International Airport?
Miami-Dade County said it needs new sources of cash to meet rising airport costs — and that could come in the form of slot machines.
Are slot machines a cure for Miami International Airport’s financial woes?
Most Insurance Exempt From U.S. Consumer Unit Proposal
Insurance products would be mostly exempt from oversight by the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency under legislation submitted to Congress this morning by the Treasury Department.
Upward pressure on property-catastrophe reinsurance rates in the United States eased at the July 1, 2009 renewal, as capacity in the market remained sufficient without being abundant, according to a briefing published today by Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC.
Guy Carpenter names Henry Keeling CEO of International Operations
Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist, today announced that it has named Henry Keeling as President & Chief Executive Officer of International Operations, effective August 1, 2009.
PCI Asks Louisiana Governor to Veto Workers’ Comp Bill
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) has asked Gov. Bobby Jindal to veto House Bill 658, workers’ compensation legislation that PCI believes would increase the likelihood of fraudulent claims, an insurer’s exposure to lawsuits, and the need for insurers to maintain higher reserves. Such conditions could lead to higher workers’ compensation rates for businesses, the insurance company trade association says.
Mississippi Again Subsidizes Wind Insurance Pool Rates
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has signed legislation to help control insurance costs for coastal property owners.
Georgia Warns Insurance Agents of Possible Identity Theft Scam
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine said insurance agents in several states have been called by scammers posing as insurance regulators in order to collect personal data that would make I.D. theft possible.
North Carolina House Insurance Committee Advances Beach Plan Reforms
The North Carolina House Insurance Committee has unanimously approved legislation that attempts to spread the pain should a major storm cause losses that exceed existing private and public insurance funds.
Corps of Engineers unveils new Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet website
The Army Corps of Engineers has launched a new website designed to help the public track restoration efforts in the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet ecosystem.
Chinese Drywall: Pinpointing the Problems
The odors, respiratory complaints and corrosion blamed on drywall from China used in American homes may have been caused by the failure to remove sulfur and other contaminants from synthetic gypsum, some Chinese experts in building materials say.
Editorial: No climate debate? Yes, there is
In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama saluted the House of Representatives for passing Waxman-Markey, the gargantuan energy-rationing bill that would amount to the largest tax increase in the nation’s history.
Global Insurance Premiums Fall For First Time Since 1980
World insurance premium volume fell for the first time since 1980 by 2 percent after years of expansion, according to a report released by Swiss Re.
Insurers Could Question Jackson Pre-Concert Physical Results
An event cancellation claim by the promoter of Michael Jackson’s planned London concerts could be complicated by medical questions surrounding his death, a legal expert said.
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