Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, September 16
Sep 16, 2009
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Insurers facing losses in state
Despite Florida’s storm-free hurricane season, the state’s property insurance market remains on unsteady ground and may need to be bolstered by rate increases, a state regulator said Tuesday.
Insurance companies await fate of State Farm policies
Florida’s top insurance regulator said Tuesday that the market is improving, but he acknowledged that many challenges remain.
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has reached a settlement with a Palm Beach County business over the marketing of hurricane protection systems.
Designated driver who claims he was harassed for not drinking wins case against bar
The man who says he was roughed up and tossed out of a bar because he wouldn’t drink alcohol has won a $209,000 judgment against two people and the company that owns Carlie’s Lounge.
Governor Crist Urges Children, Students to Get a Plan
Visits Miami Elementary school to discuss disaster preparedness
Governor Charlie Crist today visited Toussaint L’ouverture Elementary School in Miami to encourage students to continue to remain informed about hurricane preparedness as the historic peak of Atlantic Hurricane Season has begun.
State adds blog, Twitter accounts for emergency information updates
Florida has been spared catastrophic tropical weather and fires so far this year, but, should a disaster hit the state, residents and visitors have new ways to get information.
Ex-House speaker wins primary for King’s seat
Overcoming a barrage of negative ads, former House Speaker John Thrasher won a Republican primary Tuesday night to replace the late state Sen. Jim King.
Florida Cabinet Halts Development Plan
In another sign that Florida’s historic economic reliance on home building is continuing to ebb, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet unanimously upheld a judge’s decision to bar a housing development in Marion County.
Growth management law heads to court
Legal sparring over the state’s new growth management law will take place in a Tallahassee courtroom on Sept. 21.
Report may usher in changes to Florida pension fund oversight
A report presented to Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet on Tuesday noted that Florida’s pension fund has fewer people overseeing it than most other states, and that annual independent audits may improve public confidence in investment decisions.
Florida revenue projections may come up short
State revenue projections are billions of dollars short of Florida’s scaled-down spending, and a major hurricane could add billions more to the problem, a joint legislative panel was told Tuesday.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Atwater sends Crist questions on Seminole deal
Senate President Jeff Atwater wants answers to questions about a gaming compact negotiated by the governor with the Seminole Tribe before the Senate gives the final OK on a deal that would significantly expand gaming in the state of Florida.
Florida utility regulators discuss steps to gain public trust
In an emotional appeal, a utility regulator apologized Tuesday for casting a cloud over the Public Service Commission, but insisted she broke no rules in dining with an executive of Florida Power & Light as it sought a $1.3 billion rate increase.
Space Florida choses former NASA official as next leader
A committee seeking a replacement for Space Florida’s former President Steve Kohler, who stepped down in May under a barrage of criticism, has unanimously chosen former NASA deputy administrator Shana Dale to be the next leader of the state aerospace development body.
The Price of Outdated Federal Flood Insurance Policies Is Measured in Wrecked Homes
Hundreds of homes were swept away by waves when Hurricane Ike charged onto Bolivar Peninsula in Texas last year. Eleven survived — and perhaps not by chance.
Corus Bank, a big lender for Florida condo projects, fails
As the nation’s bank failures for 2009 hurtle towards triple digits, Chicago’s Corus Bank, perhaps the country’s poster child for excessive condo development lending in Florida, failed Friday.
SEC mulls stricter rules for credit agencies
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may force banks to share data used to rate bonds with all credit rating agencies, reducing the risk that investors will buy securities with inflated ratings, two people familiar with the regulator’s thinking said.
N.Y. Comp Regulation Proposal Unacceptable, Says IIABNY
The chief executive of an independent agents group said his organization finds New York State’s proposed producer compensation disclosure regulation unacceptable and without changes legal action is a possibility.
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