WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009
STATEWIDE:
High Schools May See Sports, Except Football, Scaled Back
The Florida High School Athletics Association released a proposal Tuesday to reduce the maximum number of contests for both varsity and sub-varsity sports at all member schools in the state. If the proposal passes at next month’s board of directors meeting, it would cut the maximum number of contests for non-football varsity sports by 20%. That would reduce schedules in baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball from 25 to 20 games, beginning with the 2009-10 school year. [Source: Pensacola News-Journal]
CAPE CANVERAL:
Kennedy Space Center Might Lose Thousands of Jobs to Huntsville
Aerospace-industry leaders plan to tell Florida legislators today that unless some miracle takes place to breathe new life into the space business at Cape Canaveral, the state's most skilled workers will almost certainly be leaving in droves to take jobs in Alabama. Thousands of top engineers are needed by 2011 at the Missile Defense Agency, an arm of the Pentagon. The agency is moving its operations from its current home in northern Virginia to Huntsville, Ala. Already NASA's shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, is negotiating with the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce to find work for many space-shuttle engineers when the shuttle program ends 18 months from now. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
MIAMI:
Dosal Tobacco Feels Pack of Trouble
Adding to Florida's cigarette tax is one thing, say Dosal Tobacco executives. But they think it's unfair to slap a fee on their products by retroactively including the company in a legal settlement in which it had no part. Read story from Amy Keller ... [Source: Florida Trend]
ALACHUA:
County Takes Small First Step into Solar Age
Alachua County turned on the first of several planned solar energy producers -- a 128-panel, 25-kilowatt array that will feed power to Gainesville Regional Utilities. Commissioners also met to discuss the county's energy future -- both its brightness and some of the bureaucratic clouds that might blow in. One could be a tussle between the county and Gainesville over which will get credit for the carbon reductions from county solar power when the federal government begins holding local governments accountable for carbon in the future. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
More on this topic from Florida Trend:
- Mark Howard: Florida, the Sonnenschein state?
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› GTE, Suncoast Schools Credit Unions Agree to Merger
The proposal, which is subject to up to six months of review and then regulatory approval, would create the fifth-largest credit union in the country.
› Audit: Office Depot Overcharged Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines officials said Tuesday that an internal audit of the city's contract with the Boca Raton-based retailer uncovered more than $17,177 in overcharges.
› Poll: Floridians Say Cut More, Don't Tax
The Florida Chamber of Commerce survey of 600 likely voters shows 55% think government spending should be reduced, while 25% say they'd pay higher taxes to avoid sacrificing state programs and services.
› UF Asks Legislature for Gravesite Permission
The university wants to build what's called a columbarium — a structure with niches for the ashes of alumni — but there's a catch. Without the blessing of state lawmakers, the idea itself is dead.
› Less Cheerful Crist Delivers State of the State In a perfunctory State of the State speech, Gov. Charlie Crist urged the Legislature on Tuesday to rally behind his plan to spend billions in federal stimulus money as "a bridge to better economic times" in Florida. Read the speech.
› Macy’s Fla. Headquarters to Lay Off 375, Close
Macy’s has told the state that it will be laying off 375 employees at its Florida corporate headquarters on East Flagler Street in downtown Miami. Also: ADT, IBM cut 70 jobs in Boca
› Florida Marlins Stadium Financing Needs a Tourism Rally
Miami-Dade County's plan to finance half of a $639 million baseball stadium with hotel taxes depends on a speedy recovery from the worst tourism downturn since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Also: Miami-Dade changes policy on spending of half-cent tax for transit
› 'Winston Man' Loses Cancer Battle 1 Month Before Lawsuit Was to Begin
Alan Landers, a former cigarette pitchman turned anti-smoking advocate, died at his Lauderhill home Friday. The self-proclaimed "Winston Man" had been in a 14-year legal battle with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies, claiming smoking caused his health problems.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› New Hyatt Place Gives Downtown W. Palm Beach First New Hotel in Decades
Downtown West Palm Beach this month gets its first new hotel in nearly 30 years - and takes a small step toward creating the 1,000 rooms needed to lure bigger conventions.
› GM Might End 10-Year Disney World Sponsorship
Struggling U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. is considering pulling out as sponsor of Test Track, the high-speed Epcot attraction that is among the most popular rides in all of Disney World. Also: Longtime spokesman for Walt Disney World departs
› Regulators: 27 Days Left to Fix Colonial Bank
While bank regulators are putting renewed heat on Alabama's Colonial BancGroup, whose Colonial Bank offices are scattered across Florida, the troubled banking company is reportedly reaching out to southern regional banks with a For Sale sign.
› FSC, PCC Unveil Joint Nursing Program
Getting a bachelor's degree in nursing will become faster this fall for students taking an accelerated program unveiled Tuesday by Florida Southern College and Polk Community College. Also: New name: FCCJ to be Florida State College at Jacksonville
› War-Game Tekkies to Converge in Orlando
War-game experts from across the country are set to converge on Orlando next week to showcase the latest in high-tech training for the military.
› Lee Building permits Up Slightly in Feb.
Builders in unincorporated Lee County pulled 25 permits for single-family homes in February -- almost double the record low of 13 issued in January, according to statistics released by the county.
› Lawsuit Targets Chinese Drywall
The latest suit claims that legal action could eventually include up to 30,000 Florida homes.
› CSX Intentions Relieve Mulberry
The company is unlikely to reroute freight traffic through the city.
› HSN's Luster Dulls with Recession
Women lately appear willing to buy things for themselves at HSN Inc., just not on something "selfish."
That's one insight that executives of St. Petersburg-based HSN revealed to investors Tuesday, explaining how an awful retail economy clipped the company's fourth-quarter financial results.
› Former Michigan Chief Justice to Teach at Ave Maria
Clifford Taylor, former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, will be a visiting professor at the Ave Maria School of Law in Jan. 2010. The law school is moving from Michigan to North Naples this summer.