Florida lags in disbursing foreclosure aid

In a blistering report released today, federal investigators say Florida has consistently "under-performed'' other states in using federal mortgage assistance money to help desperate homeowners facing foreclosure. Read more at the Tampa Bay Times, the AP, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Miami Herald.

Florida Trend Spotlight
Fort Lauderdale/Broward County

Since Broward County was founded 100 years ago, the region – including Greater Fort Lauderdale -- has grown into a vibrant community. And it’s still growing. From the shores of the Atlantic to downtown Fort Lauderdale to the edge of the Everglades, construction cranes dot the skyline. » This spotlight includes demographics, business to watch, economic backbone, quality of life, much more. [Sponsored report]

US, states announce settlement with BP over gulf oil spill

The Justice Department and five states on Monday announced a $20 billion final settlement of claims arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. [Source: AP]

How to inherit money without upending your life

Inheriting $1 million may sound like a blessing. But most people who receive an inheritance experience confusion, anger, sadness or some combination of the three, according to the Financial Planning Association. [Source: Tribune]

Out-of-network care in Florida is exorbitant

Patients in Florida who receive care from out-of-network providers face insane markups for service, ranging from 138 percent to 813 percent of the cost paid by Medicare for the same procedure. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida produce companies merge [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Sunfresh Produce, of Englewood, has merged with Fort Myers-based Happy Foods of Southwest Florida. The combined company is one of the largest regional produce suppliers between Tampa and Naples.

› South Florida's film industry gets lift from new studio in Miami [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
South Florida's film industry received a boost Monday with the opening of a new movie and TV production studio in downtown Miami built at cost topping $14.5 million.

› Missing ship in Caribbean demonstrates long, strong history of trade between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico [Florida Times-Union]
While the search continues for potential survivors of the Jacksonville-based El Faro cargo ship, the tragedy at sea highlights just how entrenched business ties are between the First Coast and Puerto Rico.

› Central Florida's remaining video-rental stores try to hang on [Orlando Sentinel]
A thriving industry a decade ago, the last few brick-and-mortar video stores in Central Florida are struggling to stay in business as they are supplanted by kiosks, online streaming services and movie channels.

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› Startups get, give advice at OrlandoiX [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando’s newest tech conference, OrlandoiX, held a Startup Summit over the weekend that featured startups from Florida and other areas talking about corporate structure, crowdfunding, and other kinds of fundraising.

› All Children's Hospital is First in Florida with New Robotic Technology for Epilepsy Surgery [Bezinga]
All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine is the first hospital in Florida to use the newest generation of robotic neurosurgery technology.

› Florida forensic scientists to use 3D printing to recreate skulls from nine unsolved murders [3Ders]
While prime time TV shows typically suggest otherwise, not all murders are solved after a night of reflection in the lab.

› Port Canaveral named top cruise port by major website [Florida Today]
Port Canaveral has been named North America's best home port by the editors and writers of a major online consumer cruise publication.