Latest News

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  • Flood insurance up for renewal
    Sep 2, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    ...for insurance writers and consumers. "The House did what it's supposed to do," said Bob Fowinkle, of Moore, Fowinkle, Schroer Agency in Bradenton. "But the Senate sat on it for what reason I have no idea." Each time the federal government has to reauthorize the program, its policies or funding, a temporary suspension is put on writing and renewing flood policies. As a result of the ongoing reauthorizations, which cause stops and starts in the flood coverage, insurance...
  • More students, more research at FAU, new president says
    Sep 2, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    The project is scheduled for completion in 2012, across from the Scripps Florida research center. She also promoted the new College of Engineering and Computer Science building. Saunders called it "a living laboratory of the highest and best sustainability practices." Over the past two years, she said, FAU has seen a 25 percent increase in sponsored research funding.
  • The Orlando Sentinel, Fla., Mike Thomas column
    Sep 2, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    He was on the short list for vice president in 2008. He called a special session to ban drilling in state waters, but Republican leaders in the Florida House shut him down. This leaves him competing with Meek for a depressed Democratic electorate.
  • 3 amendments kept off Florida ballot
    Sep 1, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    The court also said the summary should have used a more clear definition of "first-time homestead." Proposed amendments require 60 percent voter approval to be added to the state Constitution.
  • University of Miami janitors avoid a strike
    Sep 1, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    They didn't achieve that, but they did make substantial gains -- qualifying for three weeks vacation after eight years instead of 10, and gaining Martin Luther King Jr. day as an additional paid holiday. The letter delivered to her office this week asked for a presidential statement in support of the janitors' cause, but no such statement has been made.
  • Hialeah council cuts police overtime and holiday pay
    Aug 31, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    Hialeah police have a starting pay of $40,450. The new contract takes effect through the end of the fiscal year in September and will continue as the status quo until a new contract is bargained. The previous contract expired last year. The measures follow deadlocked talks between Hialeah and police union and come during tough financial times.
  • Old air conditioners ready for cool cash
    Aug 31, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    ...air conditioners, air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps. The state is using $63,000 of the money to administer the program. Geothermal heat pumps cost more than air conditioners because installation requires digging a well or burying a loop of pipe underground, but they can pay for themselves in as little as five years, said Tim Fletcher, of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) Climate Technologies, which manufacturers air conditioner and heat pumps parts. "Your typical air conditioner...
  • Palmetto alters benefits to save money
    Aug 31, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    That same employee opting for the new premium plan would pay $84.06. The city covers 55 percent of the premium for an employee's dependents.
  • SAFE AND SIMPLE
    Aug 29, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    Who wouldn't? As Bob Leclerc, a safety officer at Maine's largest egg farm recently told the Boston Globe, "Salmonella is the fear of every egg producer. Simpson's data-crunchers know how many eggs to expect on any given day -- that number being right around 750,000.
  • South Miami union contracts could negate health insurance action
    Aug 28, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    ...agreement in negotiations or through statutory impasse procedures." Commissioners voted 5-0 on Aug. 17 to renew the city's employee insurance plan with AvMed. Insurance broker Gene Baynon presented the group with three alternatives: --A plan that increases premiums 13.5 percent and keeps benefits at their current level. --A plan that increases premiums 8.8 percent and makes slight benefit cuts. --A plan that keeps premiums flat but makes significantly...
  • Manatee pawn shop owner arrested
    Aug 27, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    E. Dave Bristow, public information officer for Manatee County Sheriff's Office, said the investigation recently kicked off after detectives received information Goodman was accepting stolen goods. Good to other people," said Glorch, 53. "But I think something shady went down.
  • The Orlando Sentinel, Fla., Lauren Ritchie column
    Aug 27, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    Gotta give him credit. Parks and Campione have both claimed the county doesn't need more houses -- it needs jobs. Campione and Parks will protect your lifestyle, rural areas and environmental treasures. Trust them. Avalon does.
  • Two Palm Beach County School Board races decided
    Aug 26, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    Races for three Palm Beach County School Board seats will be decided in runoff elections Nov. 2, while the winners of two other seats were decided in Tuesday's primary. Chuck Shaw, a career educator and former Greenacres councilman, won a two-year term in District 2. Shaw collected 54.6 percent of the vote, overcoming a strong bid by retired Maryland teacher Jean Dowling. Shaw will be sworn into office in November, taking over for Paulette Burdick, who is running for a seat on...
  • EDITORIAL
    Aug 25, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    Health System found that by apologizing to patients for medical mistakes, and offering compensation upfront, lawsuits plummeted -- and saved the hospital system a bundle. Though many doctors, and the lawyers who advise them, worry that admitting errors will open them up to litigation, the study concluded the reality is not as punishing, and that honesty may actually help in the struggle to contain malpractice lawsuits, and the pressure they put on doctors' insurance premiums. ...
  • Midlife career change
    Aug 25, 2010 — The Palm Beach Post
    A tax-supported entity that provides health services for under-served populations in Palm Beach County, the health care district administers a variety of health insurance programs for 45,000 low-income residents. Its biggest project to date is construction of Lakeside Medical Center in Belle Glade, a 70-bed hospital that replaced decrepit Glades General Hospital.
  • Zephyrhills OKs plan for early retirements
    Aug 25, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    ZEPHYRHILLS -- City employees will have 30 days to apply for an early retirement package that assures they can keep their health insurance for three years and get a cash payout. City council members unanimously adopted the incentive package Monday night. The only change they made was to extend the application period from Sept. 3 to Sept. 24. City Manager Steve Spina and Finance Director Stacie Poppell initially set the earlier deadline in the hope that they could account for the...
  • Health insurance holds key to Palmetto budget
    Aug 24, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    An alternative plan could increase the burden for employees with dependents. Palmetto's building department, which is separate from the general fund, is facing a $122,072 deficit, Freeman said.
  • Pompano Beach seeks employee concessions to balance budget
    Aug 24, 2010 — Sun Sentinel
    It also raises the employee health insurance deductible and reduces future pension benefits.
  • Gables stuck in pension pinch
    Aug 23, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    The city of Miami faces a $101 million pension payout this fall. In June, the union representing general employees in Pembroke Pines agreed to a 4 percent pay cut, paying more for their health insurance and forgoing cost-of-living pension increases. Miami must pay $101 million in pension costs from its general fund this October.
  • Once derided, University of Miami basks in now-lofty status
    Aug 23, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    Another is student selectivity, where UM has also moved the needle quite a bit. The university's cleaners voted to authorize a strike. UM's quest to elevate the profile of its medical programs has also carried its own challenges. The university's purchase of Cedars Medical Center two years ago cemented UM's status as not just a school, but a healthcare provider.
  • Honoring equality
    Aug 22, 2010 — The Bradenton Herald
    Jeff Kottkamp, to read a proclamation from Gov.
  • Once derided, UM basks in now-lofty status
    Aug 22, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    Another is student selectivity, where UM has also moved the needle quite a bit. The university's cleaners voted to authorize a strike. UM's quest to elevate the profile of its medical programs has also carried its own challenges. The university's purchase of Cedars Medical Center two years ago cemented UM's status as not just a school, but a healthcare provider.
  • Balancing the scales of health insurance
    Aug 21, 2010 — Hernando Today
    ...the effects on educators. Joe Vitalo, president of the Hernando County Teachers Association, said that while it's a relief that premiums with Blue Cross Blue Shield increased in the single digits -- as he had hoped -- the goal now is to mitigate the effects of what teachers have to pay. While the district pays most of the amount a single employee would pay -- $503 of the $528 -- those who pay for spouses, children or both will likely be the most impacted. Vitalo said...
  • Federal health care tax credit to help small business
    Aug 20, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    And starting in 2014, the small business tax credit rises to 50 percent and 35 percent for nonprofit organizations. The timing is good for Guy, he said. Two of his four full-time employees opt for health care coverage and the other two may join during open enrollment this fall, increasing his contributions. While some may simply opt to pay the penalties, Patrick said, the tax credit is designed to help those who want to add coverage but haven't been able to afford to do so.
  • Health reform puts health insurance agents in the crosshairs
    Aug 19, 2010 — The Palm Beach Post
    ...insurance agents, the people who help individuals and small businesses select health insurance plans. Some observers question whether the profession will survive the change. "In many ways, the law looks as if it was intended to do away with some of the things we have come to know about the private insurance system," said Jeff Grady, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. More than 101,500 Floridians are licensed to sell health insurance here, according...
  • Tax credit seeks to spur small businesses toward health coverage
    Aug 19, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Non-profit organizations meeting that criteria are eligible for a 25 percent credit. And starting in 2014, the small business tax credit rises to 50 percent and 35 percent for non-profit organizations. The timing is good for Guy, he said. While some may simply opt to pay the penalties, Patrick said, the tax credit is designed to help those who want to add coverage but haven't been able to afford to do so.
  • Florida Senate District 8 race puts the well-rooted against a rookie
    Aug 18, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    He instantly became one of the Senate's most powerful leaders -- and most controversial. Gov. Charlie Crist handed Thrasher a stinging political defeat when he vetoed Senate Bill 6, an education bill Thrasher had pushed during the spring session that was criticized by school systems and the teachers' union.
  • New health clinic planned for Liberty City
    Aug 18, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    County. The clinic will replace the department's Juanita Mann Clinic and the Jessie Trice Community Health Center's James E. Scott Center. The clinic will house about 60 staff members, including doctors and nurses, and will accept health insurance. For uninsured patients, the center will charge based on income. "This clinic will have a tremendous impact on the community," said Lillian Rivera, the Health Department's administrator. "It will not only improve the quality of...
  • Property owners challenge Lake's comp plan just as it was to take effect
    Aug 18, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    The owners argue that the comp plan makes development of the site "financially impractical" because of size restrictions. The owner had hoped to lure Publix or another grocery to its proposed town center but the comp plan says an anchor tenant can be no larger than 30,000 square feet.
  • City budget, workforce to shrink
    Aug 16, 2010 — The Orlando Sentinel
    The city is slashing 56 positions from its parks department, nearly one of every four workers. The workers are mostly those who maintain city parks and recreational facilities, as well as managers of community centers. At the same time, there are fewer employees providing services for taxpayers. In 1995, there were 18.5 city workers for every 1,000 residents.
  • Jacksonville bus drivers vote to strike
    Aug 16, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    ...for health insurance to make up higher costs for health care. They also want the JTA to increase pension contributions. The union has argued they differ from other union negotiations going on with police and fire unions because bus drivers make less and therefore are hurt more by pay freezes. The JTA has said budget realities, including falling revenue, make the union requests unreasonable. Most of the JTA's revenue comes from sales and gas taxes, and both those resource streams...
  • 5 seek School Board seat in challenging district
    Aug 14, 2010 — The Miami Herald
    Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall; --schools budget director Vanessa Woodard Byers; --assistant principal Sandra Moise; and --former state Rep. She also brings an expansive knowledge of the district. "District 2 is eager and hungry for change," Vangates said. "District 2 wants to move forward.
  • Premier brings building to life
    Aug 14, 2010 — Tampa Tribune
    Employees moved in last week. It cost about $765,000 to renovate the 7,400-square-foot building, DeLong said. That included transforming former attic space into a large training room. Community health centers around the country this week were hosting similar events in observance of National Community Health Center Week.
  • Former Sea Island Company president wants his $27 million
    Aug 13, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Jones, however, loses his controlling interest in the company. Neither Jones nor Bansmer spoke during the hearing. Jones sat with his hands clasped as the judge and lawyers worked out the schedule for auctioning off his company. Sea Island is the third largest employer in the region. The company also may pay any pre-existing bills from its vendors and contractors.
  • Health reform law requires officials to define what counts as care
    Aug 13, 2010 — The Palm Beach Post
    McCarty said he would want proof that a program is showing results before allowing it to count. Most contentious is the argument that insurance brokers' commissions should count as medical care.
  • Jacksonville bus drivers want pay raise, threaten to strike
    Aug 13, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba said the average police salary is about $47,000. Health insurance costs increased by 17 percent in the last few years.
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