TALLAHASSEE — Not even the rosiest of glasses appear able to soften the glare as lawmakers face a $2.3 billion hole in the current year budget and a worse financial conundrum in the year to come. Senate President Jeff Atwater…

TALLAHASSEE — The value of the state pension fund has plummeted by more than $40 billion since last year in light of an economic maelstrom that has caused the state's investments to greatly decrease in value. Right now, the losses…

TALLAHASSEE — Florida's utilities could feasibly increase the amount of renewable energy they produce by 20 percent by the year 2020, as called for by Gov. Charlie Crist and environmental groups, according to a study presented Wednesday to the Florida…

TALLAHASSEE – Saying economic recovery is the most important issue now facing Florida, Senate President Jeff Atwater on Tuesday named members of a select committee to begin an analysis of the state’s economy and budget. “This is a crisis and…

TALLAHASSEE — For years, while much of the nation called for more drilling for oil off the coast of Florida, the state’s tourism industry said no. When gas was $4 per gallon this summer, the industry said maybe. Now, even…

With prices off 24 percent from where they were just a year ago, Florida homebuyers are scooping up bargains. Existing home sales rose again in October, increasing 15 percent over what they were in October 2007, the Florida Association of…

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday that an executive order putting a moratorium on foreclosures for the holiday season could come as early as next week. Crist said he discussed the proposal with Florida Bankers Association president Alex Sanchez…

FREEPORT — Landowner Jolly Bay LLC has sued Walton County seeking to reverse the county commission’s decision to deny its project.   The planned development, which would include a recreational vehicle park, a bed & breakfast, a 73-unit condominium, a…

TALLAHASSEE — The Legislature's chief economist this week said the numbers to be released Friday on the state's fiscal outlook won't be pretty and lawmakers will be forced into some tough decisions in the coming year. At a presentation for…

Florida House Republicans Wednesday morning began a three day retreat at the posh WaterColor resort in SeaGrove to discuss their priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The retreat is paid for entirely by the Republican Party, with no state tax…

Florida lobbyists soon will get their day in court in a bid to overturn an almost three-year-old state law requiring them to disclose who pays them and how much, and also bars gifts to legislators. The Florida Supreme Court has…

A glitch in Florida’s tax code may cost corporations the benefits of a recent federal economic stimulus package and state lawmakers need to fix it now, Florida TaxWatch urged on Monday. If lawmakers don’t fix the glitch, corporations may lose…

TALLAHASSEE — Service-disabled veterans are being added to the groups of minority business the state assists through the Department of Management Services’ Office of Supplier Diversity. Gov. Charlie Crist signed House Bill 687 in June to create the Florida Service-Disabled…

TALLAHASSEE — Efforts by two colleges at Florida State University to expand their business-related academic offerings have received a significant boost, thanks to a pair of major gifts announced today by financial services company BB&T Corp. (www.bbt.com). Joined by FSU…

TALLAHASSEE — Army veteran Andrew Wyatt credits Florida State University’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities with jump-starting his career after he was wounded in Iraq. “I am sitting in front of an ocean of business cards from some of…

ATLANTA — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that certain private, non-profit organizations (PNPs) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low interest rate disaster loans. These loans are available…

JACKSONVILLE — The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) today announced a net loss for the third quarter 2008 of $(19.2) million, or $(0.21) per share, compared to a Net Loss of $(6.8) million, or $(0.09) per share, for the third…

For the first time in almost three years, Florida’s existing home sales rose in September, a 24 percent increase in activity in the year-to-year comparison; last month’s sales of existing condos statewide increased 11 percent in the year-to-year comparison, according…

In the wake of a Florida Supreme Court hearing that will allow for higher attorney fees in some cases, the organization that makes rate filings for workers compensation insurers in Florida says it will ask regulators next month to raise…

PANAMA CITY – A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a challenge to the federal environmental permit needed to continue work on the new Panama City – Bay County International Airport. The final order was issued by the U.S. District Court’s…