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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2008
TAMPA:
Treasure, Interrupted for Odyssey Marine
The country's largest publicly traded shipwreck exploration company has three new promising finds but faces hurdles in opening the treasure chests.
[Source: Florida Trend]
More on this topic from Florida Trend:
NORTHEAST FLORIDA:
Agricultural Disaster for Some
For nearly two centuries, the ebb and flow of drought and flooding has been a way of life for the LeFils family.
So, when Jim LeFils was forced to relocate 400 head of cattle in late August after Tropical Storm Fay stalled -- dangerously raising the level of the St. Johns River in Osteen -- the cattle breeder shrugged his shoulders.
"You deal with flooding from time to time," he said.
Because the Volusia and Flagler counties region saw at least 30% damage to its agriculture communities, both counties are included in a 36-county agriculture disaster declaration package seeking federal funds from Congress.
David Griffis, director of Volusia County Cooperative Extension in DeLand, said although Fay did not cause widespread damage to the 1,100 farms in Volusia County, the ones that did get hit were "drastically affected."
"There are about 25 to 30 farmers that have applied for some (financial) assistance," he said.
[Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal]
STATEWIDE:
In Credit Crunch, Borrowing Isn't as Easy as It Used to Be
But if you're trying to buy a house, finance a car, erect an office complex or build a shopping center, you'll quickly learn that the helping hands of 2005 have become the tight fists of 2008.
How bad is the credit squeeze?
Builders report that some area banks have red-lined entire neighborhoods as high foreclosure risks, choking off credit regardless of a home buyer's financial stability.
Two years ago, shopping center developers had to come up with 10% down payments. Now banks are asking them for 30%, and it's a deal-breaker in some cases. Even the state of Florida hasn't been able to borrow money for nearly three weeks.
[Source: St. Petersburg Times]
MIAMI BEACH:
Fontainebleau Hotel Gave to City Gambling Effort
Owners of Miami Beach's Fontainebleau hotel have put money into a new political committee formed by two developers who want to explore bringing casino gambling to Miami.
The Committee for Critical Challenges amended its campaign report filed last week to include a $30,000 contribution from the Fontainebleau. Developers Art Falcone and Marc Roberts are developing the 25-acre Miami Worldcenter in downtown Miami and has hired lawyers to write a proposed constitutional amendment allowing a casino initiative for possible placement on the 2010 ballot.
Drafts of the proposed petition language obtained by The Miami Herald call for Las Vegas-style casino gambling, including craps, keno, roulette, blackjack and slot machines. [Source: Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
›Senate to Vote on Bailout Tonight That Includes Tax Cut [AP]
The plan is set for a Senate vote tonight after leaders there agreed to add tax breaks for businesses and the middle class and increase deposit insurance in an attempt to revive the legislation rejected by the House. Also: Rep. Putnam predicts passage
›EBay Item: Naming Rights to University Sewage Plant [Lakeland Ledger]
Webber International University, a Central Florida business school, is auctioning the right to name its new sewage treatment plant on eBay, the online marketplace.
Seriously.
›Trump Cuts All Ties to Tampa Tower [St. Petersburg Times]
Donald Trump has settled his lawsuit with the developers of Trump Tower Tampa, marking the New York tycoon's final break with the on-again, off-again luxury condo project.
›Polston Appointed to Florida Supreme Court [St. Petersburg Times]
Judge Ricky Polston is Crist's second appointment to the bench. In August, Crist appointed Judge Charles Canady to the bench.
›Video: Florida's Economy Impact Voters' Decisions [PBS]
In a report on Florida’s role in the presidential election, Judy Woodruff, a reporter with the “The Newshour with Jim Lehrer,” interviews Florida Trend Executive Editor Mark Howard for his take on Florida’s economy.
›ID-Match Law Stalls 5,000 Voter Applications [Orlando Sentinel]
Three weeks after Florida began enforcing a controversial law to require tougher ID matches for would-be voters, registration applications from more than 5,000 Floridians have been held up, at least temporarily.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
›Sheldon Named DCF Secretary [Tallahassee Democrat]
George Sheldon was named interim secretary of the 13,000-employee social services agency recently when former Secretary Bob Butterworth, a former attorney general and Democratic icon in Florida, stepped down at the end of July.
›State Takes Over Tampa-Based Medicare HMO
[St. Petersburg Times]
MD Medicare Choice served 16,000 Floridians on Medicare, federal officials said. To avoid interruption of care, clients will be transferred today to a similar Medicare HMO run by Humana.
›Vero Beach Legislator Dies of Cancer [Palm Beach Post]
State Rep. Stan Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, died Tuesday after a 16-month battle with cancer. He was 52.
Mayfield was elected to the state House in 2000. His district included parts of St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard counties.
›Fla. Consumer Confidence Rises for Third Consecutive Month [UF]
Consumer confidence among Floridians rose three points in September to 70, marking the third month of increases since the index hit its all-time low of 59 in June, a new University of Florida study finds.
›Florida Still Erecting Roadblocks to Voting [St. Petersburg Times editorial]
Position: Florida is not a particularly friendly state to people who want to vote. Earlier this year, it was named "the most hostile state in the nation to new voters" by three voting rights advocacy groups. While new legislation and voting rules have helped to reduce some of the biggest obstacles, there remain serious concerns about the state's misplaced priorities.
›Like Ice? This Orlando Bar Is for You [Orlando Sentinel]
International Drive's newest attraction is an ice palace.
Admission, which includes one premium-vodka drink, starts at $35 a person.
Inside, the temperature will be 27 degrees.
›State's Portfolio OK, Officials Say [Tallahassee Democrat]
The state's top financial managers told Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet on Tuesday that Florida's diversified investment portfolio is in good shape, despite the crisis on Wall Street.
But a Big Bend congressman who voted for the ill-fated federal rescue plan said the public needs to stop viewing it as a life raft for wealthy corporate officers.
›South Florida Bucks Dismal Housing Trend [Miami Herald]
Although home prices dropped in 20 U.S. markets in July, South Florida showed some improvement over the previous month.
›Florida to Test Military Web Voting [St. Petersburg Times]
Over a 10 days from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2, certain overseas voters will be able to cast ballots at kiosks in three bases: Mildenhall, England; Ramstein, Germany; and Kadena, Japan.
›U.S. Attorney Touts Crackdown on 'Massive' Medicare Fraud [Miami Herald]
The U.S. attorney's office in Miami highlighted the soaring number of prosecutions of Medicare fraud offenders over the past three years.
Related: An ailing hospice industry may not get care it needs
›State Considers Lifting Enrollment Cap [Gainesville Sun]
State universities won’t solve problems with access to higher education simply by admitting more students, according to a report released Tuesday by an advocacy group for minority students.
›Ruling Could Impede Novice Firms [Miami Herald]
The reversal of a $78 million court decision against a rival of Largo-based AlphaMed pharmaceuticals firm could negatively affect start-ups statewide.
›Office Depot Gets $1.25 Billion in Financing [Miami Herald]
The facility will be secured by Office Depot's inventory, accounts receivable, cash and depository accounts. It replaces the current $1 billion revolving credit agreement, Delray Beach-based Office Depot said Friday.
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