Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, June 4

Jun 4, 2008

 

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DeLand leaders agree to charge nonresidents for accidents

Out-of-towners take note: There’s another reason to avoid being at fault in an accident requiring police or fire response in the city limits.

2005 hurricane season still proving costly for Floridians

Whether you realize it or not, you’re still paying off the 2005 hurricane season every time you pay your auto and homeowners-insurance premiums.

Florida Mega-Cat Won’t Guarantee Market Turn

The size of the next catastrophe to impact property-casualty reinsurers won’t determine whether it’s a market-turning event, said global reinsurance executives, instead suggesting that the element of surprise would be a bigger factor.

Brown & Brown Acquires Calif. Agency

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brown Inc. said it has acquired Stockton, Calif.-based insurance agency Debock & Muth Insurance Agency Inc. Terms of the deal were not released.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. Subsidiary Completes 2008-2009 Reinsurance Program

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (‘UIH’) (UVE), a vertically integrated insurance holding company, announced the completion by Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company (‘UPCIC’), the Company’s wholly-owned regulated insurance subsidiary, of its 2008-2009 reinsurance program effective June 1 of this year.

In Road Rangers’ future, no more nights, weekends

Beginning next month, motorists traveling at night and on weekends won’t be able to count on the Road Rangers for help if they have a flat tire or run out of gas.

Taxpayers May Face Hurricane Tab

As hurricane season begins, Democrats in Congress want to nationalize a chunk of the insurance business that covers major storm-damage claims.

Expert updates hurricane forecast; active season likely

Noted hurricane prognosticator William Gray struck a familiar chord Tuesday, issuing an updated forecast that echoed his previous 2008 prediction for eight hurricanes, four Category 3 or higher.

OP-ED: Pay no mind to hurricane predictions

One of the great things about hurricanes – if anything, considering their potential for death and destruction – is you see them coming from miles away.

Emergency Officials Battle Complacency Over Hurricane Season

‘Hurricane Complacency’ are two words that just never will go together, Pasco County emergency officials say.

EDITORIAL: Floridians ought to be outraged at inattention to kids’ health care

OK, Floridians, it’s sad that your state ranks next to last in health care for children.

SBA offers help for fire victims

U.S. Small Business Administration team leader Jack Thomas looked a little like the Maytag repairman Tuesday, with only a few people showing up to ask for assistance after their home or business was damaged or destroyed in the Mother’s Day fires.

Casino files suit to stop Seminole Tribe games

Three weeks before the Seminole Tribe is set to start operating blackjack and other card games at its Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood, Pompano Park’s Isle Casino wants a federal judge to stop it, alleging the games are illegal.

Ros-Lehtinen: I’m no Bush `rubber stamp’

Facing a reelection challenge, veteran Rep. Ileana Ros–Lehtinen distanced herself from the president on domestic and foreign-policy issues.

With President Bush’s popularity hovering in the 30s, a little breathing room might be good for some Republicans.

‘Unsung heroes’ of Fla. government recognized with Davis Awards

The movies have the Oscars, TV the Emmys, Broadway the Tonys and Tallahassee has the Prudential Davis Productivity Awards to annually honor stellar performances by state employees.

SENATOR PAULA DOCKERY: Against CSX deal, not commuter rail

Much has been written about the CSX/FDOT Commuter Rail/Freight enhancement deal. Please allow me the opportunity to express my view.

U.S. Rep. Buchanan joins in opposition to pipeline

County leaders have gained a helping hand on the federal level in the battle against a proposed natural gas pipeline off the Anna Maria Island coast.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Benefits of ICF homes

Over the article in the Real Estate section May 18 about insulated-concrete-foam walls was the headline “Positive Reinforcement?” Instead of a question mark, the headline should have had an exclamation point!

There is no question that those who live in an ICF house will attest that the system provides positive reinforcement because their homes are still standing while their neighbor’s did not survive.

Start-up takes over abandoned ethanol project

An alternative-energy start-up setting up shop in Vero Beach will take over an ethanol project that agricultural giant Alico Inc. dropped this week.

OP-ED: A Market Solution to Hurricane Risk

Tens of thousands of people who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina and are still living in federally owned trailers will be forced to find a new place to live. After nearly three years, the federal government’s temporary housing is coming to an end.

NAIC Data Collection Stir Continues

A controversial proposal to collect insurance company data and store it nationally with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners continued to draw criticism even as regulators insisted it would be better for both consumers and insurers.

NAIC Considers What A Vote Really Means

The nation’s insurance regulators who revised their process to ensure model laws they promote have more success in state legislatures have discovered that their effort needs some fine tuning.

Insurers Blast Insurance Regulators as Closed to Open Dialogue

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is losing trust because it at times operates behind closed doors and is not open to dialogue with the insurance industry.

‘The Brazilian Insurance Industry Report’ Provides an Insightful Analysis into the Insurance Industry in the Country

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c93669) has announced the addition of ‘Brazilian Insurance Industry – Global Strategic Business Report’ to their offering.

‘Indian Insurance Industry Report’ Provides an Insightful Analysis into Insurance in India

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c93665) has announced the addition of ‘Indian Insurance Industry – Global Strategic Business Report’ to their offering.

Insurance Industry in the United Kingdom Report Provides Insightful Analysis, Market Overview, Industry Structure and Outlook of Life and Non-life Insurance Industries in the Country

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c93646) has announced the addition of ‘Insurance Industry in the United Kingdom – Global Strategic Business Report’ to their offering.

It’s Official: Insurance Conference Nixed at West Virginia Resort

A labor dispute has cost The Greenbrier a conference that’s been held annually at the four-star resort in West Virginia for more than 90 years.

Court Turns Maryland Condo Insurance Upside Down

A dispute over $6,400 in damage to a Maryland townhouse led to an unexpected court decision that has reversed 26 years of standard industry practice, and left insurers, agents, lawmakers and condominium associations unclear as to who pays when individual units in a complex are damaged.

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