Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, August 30
Aug 30, 2010
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Florida’s massive reinsurance fund is much smaller this storm season
The size of Florida’s state-created reinsurance fund has dramatically reduced in size this storm season.
Endurance Specialty Holdings, a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, has appointed Arturo Falcon to lead the expansion of its reinsurance portfolio in the Latin American market, based in a new Endurance reinsurance office in Miami, Florida.
More Florida sinkhole claims putting squeeze on insurance companies
Whether the cold winter is to blame or not, Florida’s sinkhole situation seems to be growing.
Next step for Collier’s new FEMA flood maps is appeal process for residents
Since new flood-plain maps recently were released for Collier County, residents have discovered that nearly a third of Golden Gate Estates is now in a flood zone.
To help keep homeowners insurance rates low, Keys local governments finalize fire deal
A noisy issue came to a quiet conclusion Thursday when the Key Colony Beach City Commission unanimously approved a five-year fire contract with the city of Marathon.
Insurance issue may postpone Amtrak for Florida east coast run
The state and Amtrak’s inability to reach an agreement regarding insurance coverage for a stretch of the proposed Jacksonville-Miami passenger train route could delay the anticipated 2011 start date of the project, for which three stops are slated in Brevard County.
THE ISSUE: Katrina lessons have been learned, but …
There is no question that important lessons have been learned in the five years since Hurricane Katrina hit.
Florida-based Unisouce Aquired
Texas. U.S. Risk, a privately owned specialty lines underwriting manager and wholesale broker headquartered in Dallas, Texas, today announces the acquisition of Sarasota Florida based Unisource Program Administrators.
Florida’s challenge could topple health insurance mandate
Florida may have zeroed in on a key constitutional weakness of the Affordable Care Act, some legal scholars believe.
Magic sign Geico as founding partner
The Orlando Magic have signed Geico as the fourth founding partner for Amway Center, its new $480 million arena opening in October.
Blog: PSC subpoenas FPL president
Public Service Commission Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano ordered Florida Power & Light President Armando Olivera and two others to appear before regulators for questioning.
Florida seeks more federal funding for train projects
Florida’s Department of Transportation is seeking more federal funding to boost high-speed rail and regular passenger train service.
Florida has 11th-highest auto loan delinquency rate
Florida has the 11th-highest auto loan delinquency rate in the nation, at 0.67 percent for the second quarter, according to TransUnion’s quarterly analysis of trends in the auto industry.
Lawsuit against state over quality of public schools can proceed
A judge has denied Florida’s request to toss out an education adequacy lawsuit, ruling the plaintiffs – including three Orlando mothers – can challenge in court the state’s commitment to public education.
News Release: CFO Alex Sink to Audit Department of Management Services Courthouse Contracts
Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today that she has directed her Bureau of Auditing to perform a comprehensive audit of the Department of Management Services’ fixed capital outlay project for the construction of the new First District Court of Appeals courthouse.
Editorial: Growth bill becomes election issue
From the beginning, Senate Bill 360 – the 2009 Legislature’s assault on Florida’s growth management laws – was a rash deal.
Lee County’s water companies tapped out
Foreclosures, conservation have driven down usage, revenues
Lee County residents are using less water, and the drier spigots are forcing utilities to tighten their belts or raise rates.
Port Everglades Director Allen elected chairman of Florida Ports Council
Port Everglades Director Phil Allen has been elected chairman of the Florida Ports Council.
Half-dozen Florida races could hold key to GOP gaining control of Congress
The six competitive Florida congressional races include three in Central Florida, two in South Florida and one in the Panhandle
Florida’s party primaries last week set the stage for a half-dozen closely contested congressional elections this fall that could help resurgent Republicans regain majority control of Congress.
Turnout for Florida gubernatorial primary has GOP licking its chops
Florida Republicans angry about President Barack Obama’s health-care reforms and government bailout defied the rain and flocked to the polls Tuesday, a turnout that dwarfed the Democratic total and bodes well for GOP candidates in November.
Florida Dems kick off November election efforts
Florida Democrats kicked off their run to November’s elections Saturday with a spirited show of party unity and promises of a rugged race to reverse a dozen years of Republican rule in state government.
Charlie Crist has to tread warily in Kendrick Meek, Marco Rubio TV debates
Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek have agreed to at least five televised Senate debates, potentially putting Charlie Crist in a lose-lose position.
The governor says a new tax credit will help, and the congressman wants more green initiatives and jobs
Two of Florida’s U.S. Senate hopefuls, Gov. Charlie Crist and Congressman Kendrick Meek, on Sunday touted their plans to stimulate the lagging economy.
Sink challenges Scott to debates
The Democrat wants to hold five statewide televised debates. Her opponent is noncommittal
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has challenged Republican Rick Scott to five statewide televised debates.
- Column: Scott — A gift to Democrats or their worst nightmare?
- Florida GOP’s Rick Scott has the marketing advantage
Florida attorney general contest offers voters a vivid ideological choice
If you’re looking for a statewide race with substantive differences between the two candidates, your search is over.
Column: The three simple things that can explain all Florida politics
Florida politics is again threatening to become interesting to people outside the state. Something that hasn’t happened in, oh, easily four months.
Florida Senator Chris Smith: New federal water rules threaten Florida’s economy
The new water regulations proposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency would require the state’s water utilities to spend tens of billions of dollars to upgrade water-treatment facilities.
Former Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell forms education research center
Daytona Beach native and former Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell has formed a new research center intended to help state colleges and universities as more two-year colleges move toward adding four-year degrees.
$275M in Louisiana Property Insurance Assessment Refunds Unclaimed
More than $275 million in special property insurance assessments have not been reclaimed, and Louisiana policyholders will lose that money if they don’t act before the year is over.
Physician links Chinese drywall, premature aging
Listening to the medical complaints of homeowners living in properties with contaminated drywall, physician Kaye H. Kilburn didn’t seem surprised.
Moody’s: New Accounting Rules Could Affect Deferred Acquisition Costs Application
A change in how companies account for their deferred acquisition costs will probably have a greater impact on life and health insurers than property and casualty carriers and will not affect companies’ bottom lines, a new report said.
5 Years After Katrina Gulf Coast Building Codes Still Inadequate
Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina caused an estimated 1,300 tragic deaths as well as $41.1 billion in insured losses across six states.
Five years after Hurricane Katrina, home insurance prices remain astronomical
For Denise Heston, the post-Hurricane Katrina insurance market has proved to be as turbulent as the storm itself.
Insurers, businesses battling increase in false ‘slip and fall’ claims
“Slip and fall” insurance claims are starting to undergo tougher scrutiny as businesses and their insurance companies seek to combat a 57% increase in questionable claims in the last 2 ½ years.
Payouts to Injured Nuclear Weapons Workers Reach $6 Billion
The federal government has paid more than $6 billion in benefits and compensation to employees who became injured working in nuclear weapons industry.
Families of Dead Soldiers Sue Insurer Over Its Handling of Survivors Benefits
Vickie Castro’s only child was killed six years ago just before Christmas, when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside an Army mess tent in Mosul, Iraq, killing more than 20 people.
Watch out for the high-pressure insurance sale. You might not need the policy and if you do, you might be paying more than you need to.
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