Florida submits Medicaid plan to feds
Florida officials sent a wide-ranging application Monday to the federal government for steering almost 3 million Medicaid patients into managed care, a major shift that has sparked heavy lobbying from critics who demand the Obama administration deny the move. But Republican Gov. Rick Scott said he was confident the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would approve the request, which supporters say could save the state more than $1 billion when fully in place. "I think that what we passed is going to be a model for Medicaid," said Scott, a former health care executive. "A Medicaid recipient ought to have choice, just like all of us have choice for what insurance we want to buy. I think that's positive." [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Related:
» Huge Medicaid plan nearly ready
» State Sen. Nan Rich renews call for feds to reject waiver
» Florida's Medicaid program heading to managed care system
Gambling is growing in Southeast Florida
Over the next six months, the Seminole Tribe's Coconut Creek casino in north Broward will complete a more than $100-million expansion — its third in four years — more than doubling its gambling floor, expanding its poker room and adding a 2,400-car garage. With eight casinos fighting over the Broward and Miami-Dade market, the untapped market is north, says Coconut Creek vice president of marketing Michael Michaud. That's trouble for competitors to the north — the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce Jai Alai. Seminole Coconut Creek already spends most of its advertising money in Palm Beach County and has vendor companies that shuttle customers from there by bus. Continue reading Stacking the Deck.
 Coconut Creek vice president of marketing Michael Michaud sees opportunity north of Broward. [Photo: Anthony John Coletti] |
Rising cost of Florida's new nuclear power getting scrutiny
For the past two years, customers of Florida's largest electric companies have been paying to build new nuclear power plants that have an escalating price tag and no guarantee of completion. Attorneys for consumers and the state's largest electricity users told the Public Service Commission on Monday to demand answers from the utilities. What they want to know: When will the public see the power plants promised by Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida as the lowest cost way to meet Florida's future energy needs? How much will they cost customers? And will regulators make sure that the electric companies have skin in the game when their costs climb, such as prohibiting them from passing on cost overruns to customers? [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida's first freshly squeezed vodka
Florida will spend $14.8 million this year to advertise orange juice, the state's signature agricultural product. A Palm Beach Gardens company could ride those coattails with its brand of vodka, said to be the first to be distilled from Florida oranges. Chester Brandes and Timo Sutinen, the duo behind Florida's 4 Orange Vodka, hope to make their brand a household Florida name. Unlike most other vodkas that are distilled from grain, 4 Orange Vodka is made from fresh oranges at a distillery in Central Florida. "We're really concentrating on Florida right now," said Brandes, the CEO and President of the South Florida-based company. "We want this to be a destination product that you can find at resorts and then take it back home with you." [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
?US states may hit borrow button if federal aid cut
U.S. states may go their own way in adopting fiscal policies and turn to more borrowing if Congress enacts a last-minute compromise plan raising the federal debt ceiling.
Across the nation, local officials -- who spent the last month fretting that the United States would default for the first time -- now fear the debt-cap bill will cut the federal deficit by yanking billions of dollars of aid from them. Eighteen states, including Florida, get over 30 percent of their spending from taxpayers around the country. And South Florida has at least $400 million at risk this year in the anticipated $2.4 trillion of budget cuts agreed by Washington leaders.
[Source: Reuters]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› More Miami taxis to accept credit cards
The number of cabs that accept credit cards in Miami is set to increase. But the convenience comes at a cost.
Since 2007, the Consumer Services Department has been running a pilot program that charges card-swiping passengers a $3 transaction fee. Las Vegas taxis also use the system. More than 100 city cabs are currently part of the program, said Alejandra Castro-Nunez, spokesperson for CSD.
Taxi companies say that the feedback has been good. In keeping with national studies, passengers like the convenience of using cards and drivers usually receive higher tips.
› Startup speed-dating event approaching
Entrepreneurs with business ideas for innovative technologies, services or products can apply for the second annual Fast Pitch event through Friday.
The Gainesville Area Innovation Network's event is 5-7 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Hippodrome Basement Lounge. Selected startups compete in a speed-dating-style event in which "pitchers" pitch their ideas to prospective investors, mentors and service providers who offer advice.
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Chamblin bookstores celebrates 35 years, 3.4 million books
At Chamblin Bookmine, which is 35 years old this month, employees joke that perhaps a trail of bread crumbs could help you find your way back once you get lost in the glorious clutter of the 1.4 million used books that cram the 23,000-square-foot warehouse.
Better bring a lot of bread crumbs.
› Disney ship discount gone for Fla. residents
Being a Florida resident has traditionally meant a discount when it comes to booking a trip on one of Disney Cruise Line's Port Canaveral-based ships.
Depending on the number of people traveling in a group, and the size of the cabins, the discount saves travelers hundreds of dollars.
But Disney has quietly suspended the program, mainly because for a few months it has only one ship, the Dream, operating from Port Canaveral and it's having no problem lining up customers.
That means it doesn't need to offer extra incentives to fill unused cabins -- because regular market demand is doing that.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Sarasota National Cemetery forms a model
Right now, Sarasota National Cemetery is a largely barren and featureless mourning ground for veterans.
But as a result of a unique collaboration of local philanthropic groups that will funnel millions of dollars to the site, officials at the memorial grounds are aiming to create a model for future national cemeteries within two years.
› Corn and other food plants flourish in public spaces
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, and it's not in Oklahoma but in downtown Lakeland.
A petite crop of vegetables, fruits and grain is thriving at Heritage Park at Kentucky Avenue and Orange Street. Indian corn, okra, peppers, kumquats and eggplant provide an unexpected agricultural filigree to the slice of city property.
Towering corn stalks also ring the perimeter of a circular planter in the parking lot at Lakeland's main library, and an assortment of ornamental peppers can be seen near the entrance to the Lakeland Electric building on Lemon Street.
City horticulturist Bill Koen said he started installing food-bearing plants at Hollis Garden more than a decade ago, and in recent years he has expanded the approach into other city properties.
› Steer away from Facebook job apps
There's a new job-hunting fad creeping into Facebook pages. And it looks tacky.
You might have come across a Facebook app called BranchOut. There's also a lesser-known one called BeKnown, created by job site Monster.com. Both are designed to compete with LinkedIn, acting as a tool for job seekers and head hunters to connect through Facebook accounts.
And social media is a must-do for job hunting these days: Some 89 percent of companies plan to recruit through social media this year, with 64 percent saying they actually hired through social networks in 2011.
Problem is, you can unintentionally look like a social media imbecile using a Facebook app like BranchOut or BeKnown.
› Economy hurting Tampa streetcar ridership
Supporters of downtown's streetcar thought spending $5.3 million to extend the line one-third of a mile to Whiting Street would attract riders by tying downtown to the Channel district and Ybor City.
So far, though, the results are mixed. While revenues are up, ridership is up and down.
March and June saw increases compared with the same months last year. But ridership declined in January, February, April and May.
› New name possible for Orange County convention center
The name of the Orange County Convention Center could be changing soon.
Visit Orlando's board of directors has recommended renaming it to the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, saying global visitors best know the region as Orlando. The new name would also eliminate confusion with other well-known Orange counties, the board said.
› Who owns this condo?
The neatly kept Kensington condominiums, fronted by a fountain, guard house and regal name, hold on to a pretense of Wellington wealth.
But past the empty guard shack and through the long-broken electronic entry gates, bank notices are taped to abandoned units - scarlet letters of fiscal failure.
Experts suspect more - that the condominium conversion was a crucible for fraud, a case study in real estate's rise and fall.
A Palm Beach Post investigation of the 167-unit complex found evidence of straw buyers, value manipulation and fabricated documents.
› Exclusive Longboat management company misses payroll
For 18 years, Beth Callans Management has worked to keep condominiums on Longboat and nearby barrier islands in tip-top condition, doing everything from paying bills to fixing leaks to grooming vegetation and taking minutes during association meetings. But last week, the company missed payroll for its roughly 140 employees for the second time in a month, sending a wave of panic through some of the most luxurious complexes in the region, including Orchid Beach, La Firenza, Longboat Key Estates, Positano and the Lido Beach Club.