Discord remains as Florida Legislature’s special session set to open

For the first time in 23 years, Florida ended its regular session without a state budget, prompting legislators to reconvene — starting Monday — to finish the work. But in a fitting nod to the atmospherics, the opening day of the three-week special session is also the official opening of the hurricane season. More from the Times/Herald and the Florida Times-Union.

See also:
» Florida's health care conundrum
» The Low Income Pool, a timeline
» Column: Suggestions for a successful special session
» A volatile mix on health care
» Tell us your thoughts, and take a quick poll on the special session, here.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Higher Education in Florida

UCF President John Hitt and USF President Judy Genshaft have aggressively capitalized on their schools’ economic heft, turning their institutions into economic development engines in their respective communities. Access the full articles:

» Downtown U: UCF as a deal maker
» USF is a key player driving redevelopment in Tampa

The hotel industry is sending a clear signal on the strength of the economy

Want a sign that the economy is doing fine? Look no further than the hotel industry. The broader economic takeaway is simple: If people are moving around the country, be it for leisure or business, the economic engine is still humming along. [Source: Business Insider]

Despite storm-free seasons, Florida insurance still pricey

While Florida's property insurance market has stabilized somewhat since eight storms battered the state in 2004 and 2005, as storms such as Hurricane Wilma caused billions in damages, the state still has some of the nation's highest homeowners insurance rates. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Southwest Florida girds for hurricane season

Utilities change their tune on solar power

Why have the Sunshine State's utilities suddenly changed their tune about solar? Critics of the utilities say it's because they feel threatened by a ballot initiative that would essentially deregulate solar power in Florida through a constitutional amendment. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» Ready or not, solar is growing

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Home sales remain hot in Southwest Florida [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
By a single sale, residential property sales in Sarasota County reached a new high point in April. Buyers closed on 1,224 existing single-family homes and condominiums in the county in April, topping the previous record set in April 2004 by one sale.

› Grazing, logging proposed for state parks 'to be self-sustaining' [Orlando Sentinel]
To cover more of the cost of running 171 state parks, Florida officials are pushing to open their gates to extensive cattle grazing and timber cutting.

› Florida may stow ‘tie’ logo for marketing campaign [Tallahassee Democrat]
The state business-marketing arm might hang up its “tie” campaign for now to fashion a new approach to entice out-of-state and international companies to look at Florida.

› Miami real estate brokers make pitch to China [Miami Herald]
Developers and brokers are turning to buyers from other countries, including China, as a Latin American currency crisis slows the crucial flow of foreign cash that drives Miami’s real estate market.

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› Miami-Dade, Broward officials oppose Scott's hospital plan [AP]
Gov. Rick Scott is having a hard time getting officials in the state's largest counties to back his proposal that would require cuts for many public hospitals and instead funnel money to for-profit ones.

› Ferries to Cuba: Reviving a once-thriving trade [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Ferries, cruises and other vessels sailed dozens of trips weekly from South Florida to the neighboring Caribbean island that ranked among the region's biggest trade partners — before Washington banned U.S. business with communist-led Cuba more than 50 years ago.

› Publix employees use online petition to push back against anti-beard policy [Orlando Sentinel]
Publix employees are fighting for the right to facial hair, with more than 5,000 people signing an online petition to change the conservative appearance code at the Lakeland-based supermarket chain.

› Economic progress: 8 matters that could move Tampa Bay forward [Tampa Bay Times]
Signs of progress, signs of stagnation and, yes, signs of idiocy abound in any regional economy like Tampa Bay's. Fortunately, there's more to celebrate than lament.