Breaking news:
» Buffett's Berkshire to buy most Media General newspapers, but not Tampa Tribune
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. agreed to buy 63 daily and weekly newspapers owned by Media General Inc. for $142 million. This move is Berkshire's second in six months to expand into the depressed newspaper market.The purchase, however, does not include the Tampa Tribune. Media General said it is in discussions with other prospective buyers for its Tampa print assets.
Press release is here.
Counties scramble to figure out term limits for officials
Last Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court Thursday either reversed or receded an earlier decision and now, the 20 charter counties in Florida can impose term limits on local elected offices.
| Florida's 20 Charter Counties | |
| County | County Seat |
| Alachua County |
Gainesville |
| Brevard County |
Titusville |
| Broward County |
Fort Lauderdale |
| Charlotte County |
Punta Gorda |
| Clay County |
Green Cove Springs |
| Columbia County |
Lake City |
| Duval County |
Jacksonville |
| Hillsborough County |
Tampa |
| Lee County |
Fort Myers |
| Leon County |
Tallahassee |
| Miami-Dade County |
Miami |
| Orange County |
Orlando |
| Osceola County |
Kissimmee |
| Palm Beach County |
West Palm Beach |
| Pinellas County |
Clearwater |
| Polk County |
Bartow |
| Sarasota County |
Sarasota |
| Seminole County | Sanford |
| Volusia County |
De Land |
| Wakulla County | Crawfordville |
Because of that ruling, counties are trying to figure out what happens next.
» In Duval County, the clerk of the court Jim Fuller could be stuck waiting to learn if he's allowed to hold onto his job. The same question could be on the horizon soon enough for Sheriff John Rutherford, Property Appraiser Jim Overton and Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland. Eventually, it could even wait for Tax Collector Michael Corrigan. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
» In Pinellas, County attorney Jim Bennett says he's not sure about the effect of the new ruling. He said he plans to meet with a group of lawyers Friday to discuss the case and any possible fallout. Former county attorney Susan Churuti says the future is not murky: The only way term limits could return for elected county officials is for voters to pass a new referendum. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
» In Broward, four long-time commissioners will be terming out in the next two years.
Storm conference views Hurricane Andrew's legacy
The ability to predict how bad a storm will be has eluded forecasters since Hurricane Andrew in South Florida two decades ago. Forecasters have significantly improved their ability to predict a storm's path, giving coastal residents more time to prepare or get out of its way. What remains to be done is to better predict how big a storm could be and how rapidly it might intensif,y the way Andrew did as the hurricane approached the Bahamas and Florida in 1992, director Bill Read said. "That's been still an area we haven't made much gains on," he said. [Source: AP]
Ocala restaurants take it up a notch
 Stella's in Ocala boasts an array of pastries.  |
Not so long ago, diners in Ocala were thrilled when the town added an Indian restaurant and sushi to a menu long on chains and fast food. The town's formerly limited palate is hard to remember walking off the old downtown square into Stella's Modern Pantry, with modern steel racks packed with sleek cookware, aged balsamic vinegars and the latest Joseph Joseph accessories. The coolers are filled with vacuum-packed steaks, rare salamis and artisan cheeses: Cotija from Oaxaca, Mexico; Cowgirl from California; and Sweetgrass from Georgia. Plus a rainbow of jewel-shaped pastries from Albert Barrett. And, of course, very cool cupcakes... continued.
» Go to full article from Florida Trend's restaurant editor Chris Sherman
Gov. Rick Scott off to Spain on foreign-trade mission
Gov. Rick Scott heads to Spain this week on his fifth foreign-trade mission to help boost his jobs agenda. The governor will lead a delegation of 60 Florida business leaders to Madrid beginning Sunday. In a series of meetings with Spanish government officials and business leaders, Scott will promote Florida "as the ideal location for Spanish companies seeking to do business." But his five-day trip -- seeking to attract more Spanish investment in Florida as well as highlight next year’s 500th anniversary celebration of the Spanish presence in the state -- will take place in a country with its own economic turmoil and employment problems. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
Op-ed piece: Florida death penalty reform is overdue
The Florida Bar's Criminal Law Update for lawyers is taking place in Tampa today. Challenging the status quo to promote fairness and impartiality in our justice system can be a daunting task even for legal practitioners. When Florida's death penalty process is at issue, the task can be further complicated because such efforts are often equated with being soft on crime or insensitive to victims' issues. Moreover, the Florida Bar Foundation, which had played an instrumental role in advancing death penalty process reform efforts, is less inclined to support such projects today given depleted discretionary funding. Continued at the: Tampa Bay Times.
» More information about the Criminal Law Update 2012 course and webcast is here.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Miami law firm Greenberg Traurig, TD Bank face fallout from Rothstein scandal
A federal sanctions hearing involving Greenberg Traurig and TD Bank is sure to air ugly fallout from a $67 million jury verdict won by investors burned by South Florida Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein. The Miami-based Greenberg Traurig law firm and its client, Toronto-Dominion Bank, will be grilled by a federal judge over their failure to turn over key documents for a trial involving investors burned by convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein.
› New panel to focus on access to Florida higher education
Dean Colson, chairman of the Board of Governors on Wednesday announced that his new seven-member commission will focus on access and degree attainment.
The commission's task is to recommend ways the state can achieve a goal in the board's 2025 strategic plan of increasing four-year degree production by state colleges and universities from 53,000 to 90,000 each year.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› In April, Flagler County foreclosure rate worst in Florida
Flagler County in April again had the worst foreclosure activity rate in the state. The county had the worst rate in February, too.
Flagler County claimed the worst foreclosure rate among Florida's 67 counties last month with one of every 135 homes in some stage of foreclosure.
› Statistics show Florida tourism continues to rebound
According to Visit Florida, the 23.4 million visitors that came to Florida in the first quarter of 2012 represented an increase of 2.4 percent over last year's first quarter. Direct travel-related employment in Florida rose 1.9 percent to 1.03 million, adding 19,200 jobs over the past year and representing the largest employment total since first quarter 2008.
› Florida students tutor seniors on iPad, iPhone
Seniors challenged by new technology such as Apple's iPad and iPhone are a convenient stereotype. But residents of Forest Trace, a retirement community in Lauderhill, demonstrated that they can use the devices when more than 50 children from the Weinbaum Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton visited to tutor them. "We started with the iPad, now they want the iPhone," Jordanna Lasko, 15, a freshman from Hollywood said as she showed Fred and Judith Kronstat, 90 and 87, respectively, how to use the iPhone.