TALLAHASSEE — Members of a state task force said Wednesday that Florida should demand $500 million or more immediately from British Petroleum and take over the process of distributing dollars to boat captains, hotels and local governments hurt by the…

TALLAHASSEE — Tax breaks for Gulf coast property owners could be part of the mix in a proposed special session sparked by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which Gov. Charlie Crist is looking to call as early as next month.…

With the critical summer North Florida tourist season less than three weeks away, state officials said Wednesday they'll roll out targeted TV spots this weekend to lure summer travelers to Florida's still pristine Gulf beaches. Visit Florida officials hope to…

Florida tourism officials told Gov. Charlie Crist in no uncertain terms Wednesday they need cash now to save the Panhandle hospitality industry that has been decimated by the threat of oil-soaked beaches that do not exist. Visit Florida board members…

Gov. Charlie Crist is exploring adding renewable energy measures to a special session he may call to put on the November ballot a constitutional ban on oil-drilling in Florida’s gulf waters. Crist spoke Monday with Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North…

Matthews & Hawkins has been retained by Walton County to seek recovery for all clean up costs, damages and lost revenues from BP and other parties responsible for the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. The Destin law firm has represented…

Attorney General Bill McCollum and Public Counsel J.R. Kelly today announced that they have reached a settlement with Progress Energy Florida on behalf of Florida consumers to freeze base rates for Progress customers through 2012. The agreement will also cap…

A majority of Florida voters now oppose offshore drilling — even while a majority of national voters still support it — according to a new poll. A telephone survey of 500 likely voters conducted May 3 by Rasmussen Reports showed…

Florida remains the white-sand wonder that has attracted tourists for decades, but even the threat of oil soaked beaches or the waters that sculpt them is costing Florida businesses millions, representatives of Florida hospitality industry said Thursday. Faced with a…

TALLAHASSEE — Faced with the potential loss of millions of dollars and Florida’s “sand-between your toes “reputation, Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he’d consider calling lawmakers back to put an offshore drilling ban into the Florida Constitution. Several Democratic lawmakers…

Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced that her Department of Financial Services’ toll-free Consumer HelpLine, at 1-877-My-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236), is prepared to assist business owners impacted by the growing oil spill in the Gulf. Specialists are available from 8 a.m. to…

An explosion on a BP oil rig last month that has resulted in the biggest oil spill in recent history has spurred at least eight lawsuits in federal court from Panhandle residents whose livelihoods could be upended by the spill.…

TALLAHASSEE — Florida's Gulf Coast towns are bracing for lost business as state officials predict oil from the explosion on a BP oil rig off the Louisiana coast last month could make landfall by Wednesday. “I'm looking at maybe no…

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s three leading contenders for governor are divided on how to kick-start the state’s stalled economy, particularly on how to dole out tax incentives to business groups and industries. While Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Paula Dockery both…

TALLAHASSEE — House Speaker Larry Cretul laid out a plan Thursday for delaying a big increase in the state’s unemployment compensation tax — a move business groups have been demanding saying the boost is sure to spark more job layoffs.…

WEST BAY — The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm, to market for sale or lease more than 1,000…

TALLAHASSEE — Despite unemployment not seen in 30 years, consumer confidence in Florida may be on the rise, at least temporarily. The University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research released its latest survey Tuesday saying consumer confidence has…

TALLAHASSEE — With Florida unemployment at a 36-year high, Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday called for scaling back the state’s corporate income tax as a means of keeping cash in struggling companies. Speaking at a pipe manufacturer in Panama City,…

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate jumped again in December 2009, to 11.8 percent — meaning there are 1,087,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,180,000. Unemployment is up 0.3 percentage point from November’s rate of 11.5 percent and up…

TALLAHASSEE — Business groups clamoring to block a big increase in the state’s unemployment compensation tax got a boost Thursday from Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative leaders. Without offering a plan, Crist, House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff…