Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty resigns

After more than a decade as Florida’s top insurance regulator, Kevin McCarty resigned Tuesday, nearly a year after he survived a failed effort by Gov. Rick Scott to get rid of him. The date of his departure is May 2, 2016. By staying in the job until May, just before the start of the hurricane season, McCarty said he’ll be able to review all insurance legislation out of the 2016 session that opens next week and make recommendations. More from the Times/Herald, the AP, and Florida Politics.

» Also see: Official statement from commissioner McCarty.

Lawmakers weight incentives, tax cuts

Gov. Rick Scott wants $250 million to attract companies to Florida and hopes to convince lawmakers to support a series of business-friendly tax cuts that would permanently remove more than $1 billion from state revenue. [Source: WJXT]

Some salaried workers will be eligible OT pay under new regulations

Under new regulations proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor, salaried workers earning less than $50,440 will be eligible for overtime pay. That salary guideline nearly doubles the previous threshold, and many employers are rethinking their policies and job descriptions. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

State officials brace for surge in concealed weapons permits after Obama action

Florida has 1.4 million concealed weapons licenses currently and officials are expecting a surge in the number of new applications following President Barack Obama's executive action on guns. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Palm Beach Post.

See also:
» Florida reaction to President Obama’s executive actions on gun control

Brazil heads for worst recession since 1901, economists forecast

Brazil’s economy will contract more than previously forecast and is heading for the deepest recession since at least 1901 as economic activity and confidence sink amid a political crisis, a survey of analysts showed. [Source: Bloomberg]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Citizens plans more policies takeouts for March [Orlando Sentinel]
Up to 71,500 policies may be moved from state-backed Citizens Property Insurance into the private market in March in what will be the third "takeout" of the year.

› Florida cities among best places for jobs in 2016 [Palm Beach Post]
With a new year comes new opportunities, and that often means a new job. WalletHub compiled a ranking of the best and worst cities in the United States for jobs in 2016 and a number of Florida cities made the top 100.

› Ben Baldanza out as CEO at Spirit Airlines [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Ben Baldanza, who led the industry push for more and more airline fees, is out as chief executive of Spirit Airlines. The low-cost carrier based in Miramar announced Tuesday that Robert L. Fornaro is now president and CEO.

› First SunRail-inspired apartment sells [Orlando Sentinel]
One of the most high-profile projects to grow out of SunRail — Crescent Central Station on North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando — sold Monday to an investment group out of Hartford, Conn.

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› Southwest Florida colleges will allow students to take courses at any campus [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
New College of Florida, Ringling College of Art & Design, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and the State College of Florida announced Tuesday they would form something called the Consortium of Colleges on the Creative Coast.

› LeBron’s wife closing Brickell juice shop [Miami Herald]
Another of LeBron James' footprints in South Florida is being washed away. According to sources close to James, he and his wife Savannah will be shutting down The Juice Spot, a smoothie shop that opened in the Brickell area in December 2013.

› Graphic designer Edith Williams starts Home Work creative space [Gainesville Sun]
Edith Williams said she spent years as an “intensive full-time mother,” but since her second daughter left for college a year ago, she has thrown her energy behind graphic design work, teaching coding to underprivileged children, oil painting and opening a Gainesville co-work space.

› What To Think About Conflicting Medical Guidelines [Health News Florida]
Medical researchers are in a constant search for truth. Each study is supposed to be another step toward that goal. But it's pretty obvious that many studies just don't hold up.