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…
More than half of Florida's residential property insurers lost money last year, in addition to the three that became insolvent and were shut down, insurance agents said Wednesday, adding ammunition to their push for higher property coverage rates. The Florida…
News & Notes from around Tallahassee Hotel Duval has signed Shula’s Steak House as its anchor restaurant. Named in honor of Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, Shula’s 347 will open in March with…
TALLAHASSEE – Fueled by a weak dollar overseas and healthy Latin American partners, Florida exports boomed in 2008 as fertilizer, motor vehicles, aircraft and medical supplies led a surge of commodities and products at rates exceeding national trends. Overall, international…
TALLAHASSEE — Businesses across Florida are carefully watching the Legislature with the deepening cash crisis facing state government leading to the most serious talk of eliminating some tax exemptions since former President John McKay took on the tax structure eight…
Florida could lose a total of 315,000 jobs by 2010 with unemployment rising as high as 8.4 percent, a University of Central Florida economist projected Thursday. Sean Snaith, director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness, forecasts that unemployment will peak…
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…
