Stormy weather: Florida officials squabble over insurance pick

Thanks to an arcane state law, Florida could enter hurricane season with no one firmly in charge of the state agency responsible for regulating the state’s at-times fragile insurance industry. More from Florida Politics, the AP, and WUFT.

See also:
» Cabinet to discuss Insurance Commissioner replacement Tuesday
» Key Florida players to highlight importance of catastrophe reinsurance

Column: Women entrepreneurs need to be heard in the political arena

While women have made great strides in the private sector and are increasing influence across all industries, they continue to be underrepresented in the political process and in holding political office. [Source: Florida Today]

Construction jobs go from cold to hot

In March, Florida was second only to California with 27,500 new construction jobs over a yearlong period — an increase of 6.5 percent, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Insurers widening lists of things they won't cover

As homeowner insurance claims keep increasing in Florida, so do risks that companies won't cover or will cite to deny coverage altogether. Peoples Trust, for example, applied to the state April 1 to expand its list to include roofs with attached solar panels and homes with more than two dogs. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Bold plan for solar-powered Babcock Ranch development, stalled by recession, hits restart button

A bold plan to build a new town in southwest Florida designed to run on solar power — sidelined by the recession a decade ago — hit the restart button Friday morning with a celebratory event announcing Babcock Ranch is back in business. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Video from Florida Trend:
» An interview with Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, on latest developments at Babcock Ranch

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› CEOs discuss effect of Trump, if president, on South Florida business [Miami Herald]
South Florida CEOs and business leaders speak out on the pros, cons, and many uncertainties of a Trump presidency and its effects on business in the Sunshine State.

› AGTC announces new corporate office and laboratory facility [Gainesville Business Report]
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, a biotechnology company conducting human clinical trials of gene therapies for the treatment of rare diseases, recently announced the opening of a new facility in the rapidly growing North Central Florida biotech corridor.

› Jacksonville Jaguars sign sponsorship deal with Harbinger Sign [Florida Times-Union]
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed another sponsor for the NFL franchise in Harbinger Sign. Harbinger, based in Jacksonville, will be the official sign provider for the team during the upcoming football season.

› Hail storm damages AutoNation's profits [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A hail storm in Texas caused $3.6 million in damage to AutoNation vehicles and contributed to a 14 percent drop in profits in the first quarter, the Fort Lauderdale-based auto retailer said Friday.

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› Florida environmental group threatens to sue Cape Coral over water quality [WFTX]
A Florida environmental group is threatening to sue the city of Cape Coral for permit violations that could be polluting water in the area.

› Florida Tech raises $123.3 million in capital campaign [Florida Today]
The Florida Institute of Technology surpassed the $100 million fundraising goal of its "Create the Future" capital campaign, and raised $123.3 million, the university announced on Saturday evening.

› Federal report: South Florida national parks good for jobs [Keys Info Net]
The National Park Service says nearly 3 million visitors to Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve spent $227 million last year in surrounding communities, supporting some 3,248 jobs in South Florida.

› Surplus lines tax compact in jeopardy as Florida exits [Business Insurance]
The fate of the Nonadmitted Insurance Multistate Agreement remains murky at best in the wake of Florida's announcement that it will leave the surplus lines premium tax collection and allocation clearinghouse on June 1.