TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2009
AVE MARIA:
Development's Sales Numbers Fall Short of Heavenly
While Ave Maria remains a source of inspiration for pilgrims who come to gaze and pray at one of Florida's most impressive modern churches, its real estate sales are sluggishly earthbound.
Ave Maria's projected population of 11,000 stands at about 500. Pulte Homes, more or less the community's exclusive builder, has slashed $100,000 from the prices on some models. Read report ... [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
»South Florida: Home building is 'dead' -- that's OK for now
»Tampa: Once elusive FishHawk homes to be auctioned
TALLAHASSEE:
Senate to Offer 'Substantial' Gambling Compromise
TECHNOLOGY |
Lawmakers have until midnight Friday to reach an accord on the gambling compact or they walk away from at least $288 million. That's the cash that will be sitting in the bank by June 30, 2010, under a gaming compact signed by the Seminoles and Gov. Charlie Crist but later invalidated by the courts. A special session may be required to reach a deal. [Source: Times/Herald]
»More: Today's legislative roundup
» Lawmakers reach agreement on state budget
STATEWIDE:
Prospects for Florida's Recovery Heat up, Economists Say
After two long years of recession, economists are beginning to see signs that the economy's recovery is finally in sight. South Florida home sales are picking up, Wall Street has staged some solid rallies and even consumer confidence is rising.
But the road to recovery will be uneven. Economists say that an uptick in business spending will lead the way, followed by federal government stimulus projects that will create some jobs. Consumers, unfortunately, are likely to be the last to see good times return, because widespread unemployment — which is now just a notch below 10 percent — won't start to go down until after the recovery is well under way.
[Source: Sun-Sentinel]
»2009 Economic Yearbook: Bad case of the blues
GAINESVILLE:
UF Spinoffs Get $27M in Financing
Two University of Florida medical spinoff companies recently announced a combined $27 million in financing deals in the midst of a tight investment market.
Advanced Genetic Technologies Corporation of Alachua received $11.8 million and ViewRay Inc. of Oakwood Village, Ohio, received $15 million.
Both deals were financed by venture capital firms. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
»Success is rare: The university spin game
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Swine Flu Doesn't Appear as Severe as Feared
Even as swine flu continues spreading across Florida and the rest of the United States, experts say they are encouraged that the virus appears less deadly and contagious than once feared and is behaving more like a typical flu virus.
Also: Two more Florida swine flu cases confirmed, bringing tally to five
› Rubio: I'm Running for U.S. Senate
Former Speaker of the House Marco Rubio will run for senate in 2010. See the YouTube announcement here. Now, attention turns to Crist whether he will run.
› Timing Was Right to Buy This Florida Newspaper
Now may not seem like the best time to buy a newspaper: Competition from the internet, along with the economic pressures squeezing all businesses, have sent revenues spiraling. Public media stocks have been battered. But for newspaperman Ron Dupont, the crisis is just the opportunity he’s been waiting for.
› Progress Energy Seeks Approval to Raise Rates
Billing for nuclear plants not yet under construction has been a touchy subject for Progress, the state's second-largest utility, with 1.6 million customers.
›
Freedom of the Seas Makes Debut at Port of Canaveral
World's largest cruise ship begins weekly service out of Port Canaveral.
Also: Winter of discontent in tourism to last all year
› BankUnited Shareholders Recess Annual Meeting Until May 22
BankUnited's future is unclear. The thrift is under regulatory orders to merge or find a buyer to shore up its capital base, but a federal government deadline to do so passed last week without a resolution to the ailing thrift's fate. Also: Achieva Credit Union talks merger with Sarasota company
›
New Double-Dipping Rule Could Squeeze Out Secretary of State
The proposed law's timetables may have trapped the state's top elections official, Secretary of State Kurt Browning, who says he likely will have to leave office before the next statewide election in 2010.
› Review: SeaWorld Rolling Out Manta Coaster for Public Test Ride It's the first thrill ride at SeaWorld since Kraken debuted in 2000, and the most expensive attraction in Busch Entertainment Corp. history,
› Money for Everglades, Petro Tanks But But Fla. Forever
Everglades restoration will receive $50 million under a proposed fiscal year 2009-10 budget agreed upon by House and Senate leaders, but Florida Forever will receive no new money. Also: Space industry gets virtually nothing from Legislature
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Sarasota Still in Hunt for Orioles
The Sarasota City Commission approved 4-1 Monday night a plan to sell Ed Smith Stadium to Sarasota County for $1 if the county can successfully negotiate a 30-year lease with the Baltimore Orioles by June 9.
› Limbaugh Dismisses Jeb
Rush Limbaugh today scoffed at the Council for a New America event Saturday featuring Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor. Limbaugh was especially unimpressed with Bush's suggestion that the GOP needs to move beyond nostalgia for days gone by.
› Tampa Zoo Official to Critics: Be Quiet or Be Sued
One of Lowry Park Zoo's top managers, a man with close ties to its embattled former president, is threatening to sue his critics.
› Boca Raton Ponders How to Spend $1 Million to Go Green
With a possible $1 million in federal stimulus money, the city is dreaming up new ways to go green: a community vegetable garden, a charging station for electric cars or maybe even an environmentally friendly park.
› Condo Foreclosure Reform Effort Fizzles in Legislature
Florida's condominium associations will likely face another challenging year of fighting lenders and struggling with budget shortfalls after lawmakers ended their annual session without acting on condo foreclosure reform.
› Bonita Bay Shuts Three Golf Courses
... for summer to save money.