TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
FLORIDA
Crist Urged to Quite Senate Race
With Gov. Charlie Crist facing a brutal Republican U.S. Senate primary or a full-blown party mutiny if he runs as an independent, prominent supporters are urging him to consider a third option: quitting altogether. The toughest assessment came from the arm of the national Republican Party that had clamored to endorse Crist and shove aside rival Republican Marco Rubio nearly one year ago, when their positions in the polls were reversed. "We believe there is zero chance Gov. Crist continues running in the Republican primary," said Rob Jesmer, executive director of the National Republican Senate Committee, in a memo. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
Also: Crist says he may make independent Senate run
MIAMI
SEC Investigating Jackson Health System
As Jackson Health System struggles to overcome massive deficits, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has launched a formal investigation into the finances of the county-owned hospital, focusing on a multimillion dollar bond sale last year. Federal investigators are seeking reams of accounting documents, financial projections and internal e-mails that show how and why the public hospital lost $244 million last year -- and whether investors were duped. At issue is an $83.3 million bond sale last September by Miami-Dade County to raise money for capital improvements at Jackson. [Source: Miami Herald]
ORLANDO
Local Tourism Worries About Volcano's Effect on Travel
The Icelandic volcano that threatens to choke jetliner engines already has cut off the daily flow of thousands of new vacationers to Orlando. England and Germany, now under a haze of volcanic ash, are two of the biggest markets for the area's tourism industry. And while some flights from northern Europe may soon resume, it still could be weeks or months before things return to normal. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
TAMPA
Regional Water Board Not Ready to Raise Residential Rates
The region's utility managers want to see more ways to save money to stave off possible increases in water rates for residents around the Tampa Bay area. The regional utility's proposed budget calls for charging higher wholesale rates to public utilities in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties and the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey. Those utilities may pass those increases on to residents later in the year. [Source: Tampa Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
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JaxPort, Panama Canal Near Agreement
The Jacksonville Port Authority and the Panama Canal Authority are expected to sign a memorandum of agreement today that will allow them to market their services together. Under the agreement, the authorities will share information about their customers and other related market data, and they will advertise together in trade publications.
› Texting While Driving Ban Close to Being Law
The days of legally texting while driving appear to be dwindling in Florida. And it's not just texting that's becoming verboten. Bills are moving quickly through the Legislature in Tallahassee that would impose fines on anyone caught using any wireless device with one hand while steering with the other - even for reading a cell phone message.
› Poll: McCollum's Lead Shrinks in Governor's Race
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows the Florida governor's race much narrower than previous polls, with Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink trailing Attorney General Bill McCollum by only four percentage points. The poll showed the Republican McCollum with 40 percent; Sink, a Democrat, with 36 percent; and 24 percent giving "don't know" or other answers.
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Parents, Teachers Quiz Broward School Officials
Parents, teachers and students crowded School Board chambers Monday night, peppering Superintendent James Notter and staff with questions about a budget shortfall the district predicts could reach $130 million next school year. Among the money-saving ideas discussed: furloughs, use of federal stimulus money, health insurance costs, eliminating under-enrolled magnet programs and school consolidation. A repeated topic: What cost-saving options do principals have besides cutting the arts and physical education?
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Thrasher Wields Real Power for Freshman Senator
His hard-headed and ham-handed qualities when taking stands on divisive issues are those of a good leader, supporters say.
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Florida Couple Part of Handcrafted-Whiskey Trend
Since producing the first case of their Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey in January, Marti and Dick Waters have sold more than 35 cases and hope to raise that number to 500 by the end of the year. Each bottle of their "handcrafted whiskey" retails for about $50 and can be found at more than two dozen liquor stores throughout the state, including 11 in Central Florida.
› Scams Creating Paper Chase for Puerto Ricans in Florida
Widespread fraud is to blame for a new requirement to renew birth certificates, say U.S. and Puerto Rican authorities, who said Puerto Rican birth certificates are being sold -- for up to $10,000 each -- to Spanish-speaking foreign nationals who then pose as Puerto Ricans to obtain a U.S. passport and illegally immigrate to the United States.
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Management Firm Makes Best of Bad Hotel Climate
The economy continues to rain fat, sour lemons on the lodging business. But hotel veteran Gilles Arditi may have figured out a way to make lemonade.
opinion
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Fixing Wall Street
The agency that allowed Wall Street's deceptive practices to go undetected for years called a penalty last week against the firm Goldman Sachs for securities fraud in the first case of its kind since the collapse of the economy in 2007. Also: Should Vegas take over Wall Street?
› West Palm Beach Water System Approved
The city commission on Monday gave final approval to a new, $63 million filtration system that is supposed to cleanse and soften drinking water better and cost less to run. The $63 million project will be paid for with rates hikes that went into effect in 2008. The new system should be operational by 2018.
› Lease Would Bring Large Ships to Port of Pensacola
The Pensacola City Council is moving toward a much needed, longer-term lease with Offshore Inland Marine and Oilfield Services at the city-owned Port of Pensacola. Offshore Inland expects to hire 50 to 100 additional people at an average hourly wage of $19.75.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Encouraging News for Florida Panthers
With spring in full bloom, some positive signs have emerged about Florida's endangered panther. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Big Cypress National Preserve have been busy documenting active Florida panther dens filled with kittens.
› Hunt for Burmese Python Turns up Nothing
With Burmese pythons infesting the Everglades, the state wildlife commission turned to a formidable force to kill them: Florida's licensed hunters. Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in February announced a six-week python hunt.
The hunt ended Saturday. The total bagged: Zero.
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First Coast Hospitals Ponder Health Care Reform
The health-care reform law’s insurance expansion seems like a blessing for many Northeast Florida hospitals, because it will sharply reduce the millions they write off in unpaid bills.
But it may become a curse, analysts say.
› Waterfront Proposal at Crossroads
Is the Miami River a working waterfront? That question is holding up the implementation of a popular constitutional amendment.
› Crist: More Than 72,700 Appliance Rebates Reserved
Floridians reserved more than 72,700 rebates averaging $241 apiece for energy-efficient appliances last week, according to numbers released today by Gov. Charlie Crist. The cash-for-appliances program began at 11 a.m. Friday and ran out of money late Saturday.
› Economy Affecting Divorce Trends
The economic downturn is driving up divorce rates in Hillsborough County. It may also be keeping some married couples together. The Hillsborough County clerk's office reported divorce filings in March were at a level not seen since March 2006. At the same time, Tampa divorce lawyer Carlos Ramirez said he is seeing more couples decide to stick it out because divorce is so expensive.