Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, May 28
May 28, 2008
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Local insurers writing policies, but avoiding some areas
The last two hurricane seasons have been kind to Florida.
Stakes mount in fight over ‘insurance scoring’
A five-year battle over whether insurance companies in Florida should be allowed to charge higher rates or even deny coverage to people with poor credit histories is headed back to the courts.
OPINION: Asleep at the switch: It’s an emergency; we’re not prepared
Disaster is bearing down on all sides of late.
Floridians Urged to Make Emergency Communications Plans in Preparation for 2008 Hurricane Season
As the 2008 storm season is set to begin June 1, Floridians are urged to prepare an emergency communications plan to be ready for hurricanes and other crises.
There’s more than one way to protect your screens
A hurricane approaches and what’s the first thing to go?
To reduce damage to your home and property, it is important to protect the areas where wind can enter.
Beware of misinformation whirling through the Web
When it comes to hurricanes, surf the Web to your heart’s content but remember to consider the source — and always return to the National Hurricane Center’s site.
The hurricane season is nearly here and experts hope you will not join the growing corps of Internet wishcasters who become overly anxious about fish spinners and veggiecanes.
Florida gets $9.5-million from drug-switching settlement
Florida has joined a multistate, $9.5-million settlement with Express Scripts Inc. over a drug-switching practice that often led to higher rebates for the company and higher costs for the patient.
Jindal staff gets leadership tips from Jeb Bush
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s starting a regular monthly speaker series for his Cabinet secretaries and staff, and the first guest Tuesday was former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
COLUMN: Florida’s Crist will get chance to remake Supreme Court
A scary thing is about to happen.
Charlie Crist will soon have the chance to remake the Florida Supreme Court.
Lawsuit halts Everglades restoration project
A delay in an $800 million water quality project goes to mediation next week in an attempt to ensure the work helps restore the Everglades while avoiding an extra $14 million charge to South Florida taxpayers.
Crist plans for European economic trip
Gov. Charlie Crist will travel to the United Kingdom, France, Russia and Spain beginning July 12 to meet with senior government officials and business representatives.
Navy Veteran Challenges Putnam for U.S. House
Democrat Doug Tudor will face GOP incumbent in November.
A retired Navy master chief petty officer who completed eight years of duty at Central Command and favors bringing the troops home from Iraq is challenging U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow for the 12th Congressional District seat.
Law may help curb stealing of copper
The bill on the governor’s desk would make it harder for thieves to sell wire from AC units.
The law may be catching up with elusive copper-wire thieves who have been stripping the metal from streetlights, pipes and air-conditioning units around the state.
House to probe Kreegel complaint
House Speaker Marco Rubio on Tuesday named five House members to look into an election-related complaint against Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda.
Study ranks Florida 50th in health care for children
Florida ranked a dismal 50th in an analysis of children’s health issues released today.
Federal judge set to hear arguments in Fla. delegate lawsuit
The legal dispute over Florida’s Democratic delegates continues in a federal courtroom in Tampa.
EDITORIAL: Tax reform a necessity that legislators ignore
On April 14, the Florida Tax and Budget Reform Committee conducted its final public hearing in Tallahassee prior to voting whether to pass the much debated Taxpayer Protection Amendment to be included on the November ballot for a decision by voters.
Nelson to push for Florida in water wars
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Tuesday held threatened Gulf sturgeon and mussels while he heard about how they and the economy of the Apalachicola River are struggling with lack of water flowing from Georgia.
Aon Says Property Reinsurance Rates Will Dip
The low severity of property-catastrophe hurricane losses since 2006 will result in more favorable pricing for traditional property-catastrophe reinsurance midyear renewals, according to Aon Re Global.
More Detail Reported On Greenberg Wells Notice
A second questionable reinsurance deal is involved in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s consideration of civil charges against former American International Group Chairman Maurice Greenberg, it was reported.
Consumer Rep Demands Role in NAIC Regulation Confabs
A consumer advocate is criticizing the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for not asking consumer representatives to participate in a meeting held here last week to discuss the future role of states in insurance regulation.
U.S. near record tornado year; officials don’t know why
Another week, another rumbling train of tornadoes that obliterates entire city blocks, smashing homes to their foundations and killing people even as they cower in their basements.
Lifelong illnesses feared for children in Katrina trailers
The anguish of Hurricane Katrina should have ended for Gina Bouffanie and her daughter when they left their FEMA trailer.
Time, money press La. storm project
Despite new flood walls and re-strengthened levees, some of the areas most devastated by Hurricane Katrina remain perilously exposed to a repeat of the 2005 disaster, according to city leaders and hurricane experts.