SHARE:
Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Lawmakers want to give more time to see how insurance changes are working
Lawmakers during a special session in December passed wide-ranging changes to try to shore up the market. For example, they tried to shield property insurers from costly lawsuits and took steps to help push policies from Citizens into the private market. At the time, lawmakers said the changes would likely take 12 to 18 months to filter through the system. Since December, property owners have continued to see increased rates and, in many cases, few choices for coverage. [Source: News Service of Florida]
See also:
» Florida insurance premiums might not go down, industry says
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Willy Chirino
The Musician, singer, songwriter, and 1961 Operation Pedro Pan immigrant from Cuba tells us: "I got together with a few friends in school and we made a little band. I was the drummer. As a 16-year-old boy, I was playing in nightclubs six nights a week. During my junior and senior years in high school, I was playing until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, getting home, taking a shower, sleeping for about an hour or so and going to school. Music saved us." [Source: Florida Trend]
Shoppers buying less candy before Halloween, Florida firm finds
Like many things during this period of high inflation, Halloween candy is more expensive this year. The price of chocolate bars went up 20%, licorice 22% and jelly gummies 15% from last Halloween, according to St. Petersburg-based marketing firm Catalina. And with that, Catalina found consumers are buying less candy ahead of the trick-or-treat holiday. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
What Fortune 500 companies call Florida home?
Fortune 500 companies can be found all around the country, but some are headquartered a little closer to home. To be a Fortune 500 company, a company must be for-profit, publicly traded or privately held and be based in the U.S. The company also must have revenue that placed it in the top 500 U.S. companies — hence the name. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
Proposed historic drop in Florida workers’ comp rate draws concern
When insurance regulators contemplate the largest workers’ compensation rate cut in history, you’d hardly expect to hear cries of despair from industry. Yet that’s what happened at a hearing last week at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation that examined a proposed average workers’ compensation rate decrease of 15.1%. The new rates were recommended by actuaries with the National Council on Compensation Insurance and if approved would take effect Jan. 1. [Source: Insurance News Net]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› City memo shows Gainesville police concerned about leadership, climate and pay
Employees at the Gainesville Police Department say they have staffing, safety, pay and leadership concerns, among others, according to a memo submitted to Chief Lonnie Scott by City Manager Cynthia Curry. Curry submitted the memo Oct. 3 after meeting with GPD staff and noting the feedback and themes discussed, the memo said. The conversations are a part of citywide listening sessions Curry is conducting to hear from city employees about their jobs and departments.
› Nov. 14 should be circled on Orlando business calendars. Here's why.
The Orange County Board of County Commission meeting on Nov. 14 will be one to watch closely as it will include discussion on whether Visit Orlando's share of county funding should be cut to help fund major projects proposed at Camping World Stadium, the Amway Center and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
› High tech and history will merge in former St. Pete Hofbrauhaus building
GolfSuites CEO Jerry Ellenburg had plans for a sleek modern storefront for his next golf simulator lounge. Then he walked through the Art Deco doors of the former Tramor cafeteria in downtown St. Petersburg and those plans went out the wrought iron windows. His company already owns three outdoor golf simulator event spaces in other states, similar to Topgolf, that offer an entertainment space in which people can practice their swing and play on a virtual version of famous courses while snacking on chicken wings and sliders.
› The NYC restaurant no one can get into is opening on Miami Beach. Can you get a table?
If you are one of the celebrated few to have scored a table at the original Rao’s Italian restaurant in New York — though you probably weren’t, because you’re not Leo DiCaprio or Billy Crystal — you have not forgotten the experience. Now, Rao’s is ready to open its first restaurant in Florida at the glamorous Loews Miami Beach Hotel, and while getting a table will not necessarily be easy, you actually have a shot at getting in.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
