Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, September 1
Sep 1, 2010
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UCF climate study: Is our weather getting wacky?
If the Australian pine and the cabbage palmetto are to be believed, Florida’s winters and springs have grown a bit cooler during the past half century — even as the state’s summers and autumns have heated up a touch.
Odd malpractice defense up today
The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a Palm Beach County medical-malpractice case that boils down to this tricky question: When is a father not legally a father?
Commentary: Florida’s medical dustup
At a meeting in Tallahassee recently, Florida Medical Association members fumed that their parent, the American Medical Association, isn’t adequately representing Florida’s private-practice doctors. After talk of secession and forming a new group, they settled for writing a stern letter urging the AMA to straighten up.
Blog: Chiles officially out, will support Sink
Bud Chiles has officially said he will get out of the governor’s race and plans to endorse Democrat Alex Sink tomorrow at a press conference in Tallahassee.
Blog: It’s official — Oil spill special session off the table
There’s no need for a special session to address the fall-out from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig blast that pumped millions of gallons of hydrocarbons into the Gulf of Mexico, House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater have decided.
State Representative Ambler sues primary foe Norman
State Rep. Kevin Ambler, who lost a bitter Republican primary election to Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman for the state Senate District 12 seat, has named his opponent in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
Losing U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene sues newspapers for libel
Failed Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene is suing the St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald for libel over articles Greene claims cost him votes.
Medfly quarantine zone in Palm Beach County to be lifted
A little more than two months, 57 flies and $5 million later, state and federal officials have declared Mediterranean fruit fly eradication in southern Palm Beach County a success.
Report may aid Everglades land buy
An advisor’s report may help Gov. Charlie Crist’s controversial U.S Sugar land buy clear a major legal hurdle
Forcing water managers to build a massive abandoned reservoir would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars but still not do enough to clean up the Everglades, according to an advisor to a federal judge.
VA wants 2 more cemeteries in Florida
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants to build two more national cemeteries in Florida.
Flagler County development tax supporters set to launch campaign
Asking people to accept higher taxes is hard enough, but asking them to impose a tax increase on themselves is a much taller order. Still, proponents of an economic development tax think it’s worth the effort.
Sunshine State News: Rep. Jennifer Carroll Reportedly is Rick Scott’s Choice for Lt. Gov.
As speculation builds over Rick Scott’s choice for running mate, Florida newspaper blogs are warming to Rep. Jennifer Carroll’s chances.
Blog: Gubernatorial candidates to discuss children’s issues at debate in October
Representatives from The Children’s Movement of Florida and the University of Miami announced today they will host a debate with Florida gubernatorial candidates Oct. 16 to discuss issues affecting children in Florida.
- Alex Sink unveils plan for school changes
- Hispanic lawmakers urge Rick Scott to focus less on illegal immigration
A first look at Bogdanoff vs. Skidmore for state Senate
Florida Reps. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Republican, and Kelly Skidmore, Democrat, are running for the District 25 state Senate seat vacated by Republican Jeff Atwater, who is running for Chief Financial Officer.
Tom Arnold spent part of his last day at the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration talking about the Medicaid “reform” pilot and potential budget cuts.
Editorial: Legal smackdowns should send politicians a strong message
In wrestling terms, Florida politicians have suffered a pile-driver, full-nelson and double-knee gut-buster.
Column: Report — Floridians relatively energy efficient
In spite of the scorching summer heat, Floridians are relatively energy efficient, according to a report from energytrends.org.
Feds revise indicators for tainted drywall
Forget the strontium. So says a federal task force, which said elevated levels of the metal no longer is a reliable indicator of corrosive drywall.
Nebraska Director of Insurance Frohman to Leave Post in October
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has announced that Ann Frohman, Director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance, is planning to step down from the post she has held for nearly three years to pursue other opportunities in the private sector.
State Farm, Nationwide Among Property Insurers in Hurricane Earl’s Path
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. are among insurers with the most at risk from Hurricane Earl, which threatens to graze North Carolina on Sept. 3.
California Legislature Addresses Workers’ Comp Measures
The California Legislature took action on several workers’ compensation measures recently, passing bills that, among others, would extend death benefits until the youngest child reaches 19 if the parent died while serving in certain law enforcement services (AB 1696); and require a physician who conducts a utilization review of workers’ compensation medical treatment to be licensed in California (AB 933).
Fitch: Reinsurers Under Pressure from Low Premiums, Catastrophes
The reinsurance sector is vulnerable to a significant insured loss from the Atlantic storm season as their reserve capital has been used to offset low premiums, Fitch Ratings said, as Hurricane Earl threatens to hit land.
Missouri Insurance Department Joins Lawsuit Against US Fidelis
The Missouri Department of Insurance has joined a pending consumer fraud lawsuit filed by Attorney General Chris Koster against service contract seller US Fidelis. US Fidelis sold motor vehicle extended service contracts, sometimes called auto extended warranties, which are regulated by the Department of Insurance.
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