The 850 Business Blog - News 2009

Florida home sales up again   By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE — Fueled by federal tax credits and low prices, existing home sales in Florida jumped 61 percent in November compared to a year ago,…

Lawmakers to hold job creation summit   By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE — With the national recession going into a third year, House and Senate leaders Tuesday said they will hold a summit next month…

Northwest Florida Beaches Among Frommer's Top Destinations For 2010 DESTIN — Frommer's travel guide has named "Florida Panhandle Beaches" as one of its top destinations to visit in 2010. The region, also known as THE Beach, stretches for more than…

Second thoughts on unemployment tax hike By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — Florida business groups are pressing lawmakers to stop a skyrocketing increase in the state’s unemployment compensation taxes, but are being told they…

Citizens high-risk rate increase approved   By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — Business and home owners living in high-risk areas and getting their insurance from state-run Citizens Property Insurance will see their rates increase…

Florida jobless rate holds steady   By Linda Kleindienst TALLAHASSEE — More than one out of every 10 Florida workers remained jobless in October as the state’s unemployment rate hit 11.2 percent. That means more than 1,027,000 workers out of…

Poll: Floridians not so jolly By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — Deluged by economic uncertainty — failing banks, stock market crashes, taxpayer bailouts and well publicized cases of investment manager fraud — four out…

Cabinet to Williams: Keep us better informed By MICHAEL PELTIER | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — Managers of the state’s $113.5 billion pension fund should have done a better job keeping Cabinet members informed of an ongoing…

Florida home sales continue to rise as prices remain low By JOHN KENNEDY | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s plunging home prices sent sales soaring over the three months ending in September, the fifth straight quarter…

Oystermen say they're getting a raw deal By DAVID ROYSE | THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA   TALLAHASSEE — As oyster industry officials from Northwest Florida headed to Washington Monday to try to head off a proposed ban on summer…