Friday's Top Stories

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009

FORT MYERS:
Cash Buyers Rule

Realtors say investors flood the housing market with cash offers, pushing out traditional home owners. [Source: News-Press]

TAMPA BAY:
You Just Can't Cancel July 4

The sagging economy has canceled fireworks displays around the country, but the Tampa Bay area insurance has found a way to keep the skies ablaze this July 4th. Local governments have turned to sponsors and local fundraising campaigns, even in residential neighborhoods. Some cities started removing the shows from their budgets years ago. One fireworks display could cost as much as a city employee's salary, they reasoned. Hence, no bombs will be bursting in air for Yonkers, N.Y., or Mesa, Ariz. Even Miami has axed one of its two popular shows. St. Petersburg won't have that problem. The city hasn't paid for its fireworks since 2005. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]

JACKSONVILLE:
Taxpayers Will See Need for Tax Hikes, Says Mayor

For an extra $115 next year, Mayor John Peyton says, the average Jacksonville homeowner would save things like fire stations, libraries, children’s programs and recycling. The mayor made his plan for a 1.2 mill property tax increase official Thursday. Peyton called his proposed 14% property tax rate increase a “marginal revenue play” that he thinks taxpayers will ultimately accept for the good of the city. Jacksonville, he said, has spent years under-investing in everything from parks to police. [Source: Times-Union]

The Legislature beefed up the law governing agency watchdogs, but are they still too vulnerable to political pressure? Read report from Cynthia Barnett ... [Source: Florida Trend]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:



› Golfer John Daly Ordered to Pay $272k to Times-Union [Times-Union]
John Daly sued Morris, the newspaper, Jacksonville.com and former columnist Mike Freeman for a 2005 column that accused the golfer of smacking women and a thug lifestyle.

› Progress Energy Chief Warns of Rates Hikes Tied to Global-Warming Rules [Sentinel]
Jeff Lyash, the outgoing head of Progress Energy in Florida, said Thursday in an interview that his company miscalculated in seeking a controversial rate hike early this year, though he also warned of bigger increases ahead to meet the challenge of climate change.

small biz advice
› The Right Way to Lay Off Workers [Florida Trend]
Having to terminate an employee who has a family and has done nothing wrong is so tough, but still must be done.

› Pesky Dolphins Under Siege [AP]
Boat captains say dolphins are growing increasingly aggressive in their quest for food, with some taking fish right off the hook — something that rarely happened just a few years ago. In response, fishermen are pulling out everything from pipe bombs to .357-caliber pistols to fend them off — and breaking a federal law against harming the sea mammals. Related: Algae bloom one of largest in Tampa Bay history

› Citrus Growers Faced Many Losses This Season [Lakeland Ledger]
Rumors of the death of the Florida citrus industry have been greatly exaggerated, Mike Sparks told journalists at the beginning of his annual "State of Florida Citrus" address Thursday. Also: Florida may once again be able to ship citrus with canker

› Drywall Lawsuit Set for Trial Next Year [Miami Herald]
A Homestead couple's lawsuit against South Kendall Construction over Chinese drywall is set for trial in September 2010 in Miami-Dade Circuit Court.

› Judge Slams Florida Prison System's Secret Talks [Times/Herald]
An ''appalled'' state judge said Thursday that Florida's prison system ''blatantly violated the public trust'' by secretly negotiating with a new firm to provide for inmates' mental health.

› Tri-Rail May Use Capital Improvement Money to Keep Running [Sun-Sentinel]
Tri-Rail's full slate of trains could be kept running for another year -- but only if it taps into county money set aside for new locomotives, cars and station improvements.
Also: SunRail commuter train might be back from brink

› Collier Want Landowners to Pay for Review of Rural Growth Changes [DN]
The changes would amend the county’s landmark 2002 rural growth plan by adding incentives for landowners to preserve agriculture and natural areas, including the habitat heart for the endangered Florida panther, in exchange for credits to develop new towns and villages.

› Group Warns It Will Sue Over Panama City Airport [Bruce Ritchie]
The Clean Water Network today announced it will sue the Panama City-Bay County Airport Authority for alleged stormwater permit violations in April at its new airport.

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