Florida

Jacksonville Mayor Peyton Vetoes Land Use Resolution and Fair Share Ordinance

January 26, 2005 -- Mayor John Peyton today vetoed a resolution and an ordinance related to future land use in Jacksonville, saying they would negatively impact the areas in which they are located.    » read more »

Homosassa Hippo Celebrates 45th Birthday

Long time wildlife park resident enjoys birthday party

January 26, 2005 -- HOMOSASSA SPRINGS – Lu, resident hippopotamus at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, celebrated his 45th birthday today with Homosassa Elementary School students. The wildlife caregivers at Homosassa Springs presented Lu with his own birthday cake, while the students enjoyed cupcakes and music.    » read more »

Florida Attorney General Crist Announces Guilty Plea, Sentence In Child Porn Case

January 25, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist announced that a south Florida man has pled guilty to several counts related to child pornography and sex acts involving children and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, which has worked with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and the 20th Circuit State Attorney’s Office since the earliest stages of the investigation.    » read more »

Florida Attorney General Crist Helps Launch Folic Acid Awareness Week; Distributes vitamins to underserved women of childbearing age

January 25, 2005 -- MIAMI BEACH – Attorney General Charlie Crist today joined with the March of Dimes to kick off Folic Acid Awareness Week by distributing vitamins to underserved women of child bearing age in Miami Beach. The distribution of these vitamins through the VitaGrant Project, funded through a $2 million grant from the Attorney General’s Office, took place at the Miami Beach Community Health Center and is part of a statewide effort.    » read more »

Florida Governor Bush Announces Reform Proposal To Strengthen Florida’s Child Support System

Reforms would impact more than one million children across the state

January 24, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings today announced a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Florida’s child support enforcement system, helping establish legal paternity for thousands more children and improving child support collections.    » read more »

Florida Named Among Top Ten Pro-Business States In Nation

Economic survey ranks Sunshine State as national leader in business friendliness

January 24, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today announced that Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc., has named Florida as one of the “Top Ten Pro-Business States 2005.” Presented today during the 2005 International Development Economic Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit in Litchfield Park, Arizona, the Top Ten survey ranks Florida among the best places in the nation for conducting and succeeding in business due to its progressive pro-business policies, quality workforce and overall economic climate.    » read more »

Florida Governor Jeb Bush Awards $140,000 "Road Fund" Grant to the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority To Spur Location Of Aircraft Engine Services In Titusville

Economic Development Transportation Fund to enhance infrastructure at Space Coast Regional Airport

January 20, 2004 -- TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush recently awarded a $140,000 “Road Fund” grant to the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority. The grant will pay for infrastructure improvements at the Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville. Thanks in part to the grant, Aircraft Engine Services (AES) Inc. will make a $4.79 million investment in the local economy, creating 25 new high-wage jobs.    » read more »

Florida SHOTS Immunization Registry Now Available to Private Providers

January 20, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE–-- The Florida Department of Health (DOH) announces that Florida SHOTS, the State Health Online Tracking System for immunizations, is now available to private health care providers throughout the state.    » read more »

Operation “Bradenton Project” Scores Six Arrests and Seizure of Drugs and Guns

January 20, 2005 -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announces the arrests of six individuals and the search for two more suspects in a drug and illegal firearms investigation. The multi-agency investigation named “The Bradenton Project” focused on the gang activity in the Bradenton, Fla. area. The Bradenton Police Department (BPD) along with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Manatee Sheriff’s Office, and FDLE began the investigation in April 2003.    » read more »

Bush/Jennings Budget Proposal Reflects a Continued Focus on the Health of All Floridians

January 18, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE – Today, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., announced his support of Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings’ Fiscal Year 2005-2006 budget, lauding their ongoing commitment to promoting and protecting the health of Florida’s citizens and visitors. The Bush/Jennings budget recommends a total increase of more than $12 million for the Department of Health.    » read more »

Bush/Jennings Budget Energizes Environmental Commitment

Everglades, clean energy, land conservation, water projects top environmental priorities

January 18, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE – Governor Jeb Bush and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings today unveiled their budget priorities for the next year to increase protection for Florida’s natural resources. The Bush administration reaffirmed their commitment to environmental protection, earmarking funds to restore America’s Everglades, conserve land, fight pollution and launch Florida as a front-runner in developing “next generation” energy technology.    » read more »

Crist Reaches Settlement with AT&T

Agreement benefits Florida troops serving overseas in war on terror

January 18, 2005 -- TAMPA - Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced a settlement with AT&T Corp. that will provide free telephone calling cards for Floridians currently serving in military duty overseas in the war on terror. Joining Crist at the settlement announcement was Maj. General John Castellaw, Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) based in Tampa. The settlement agreement documents that Florida consumers have received more than $1 million in refunds or credits, and resolves the lawsuit in which the Attorney General alleged that AT&T wrongly billed consumers for services they neither requested nor received.    » read more »

January 5, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Florida's Lemon Law Arbitration Program has surpassed the $300 million mark in refunds and replacements for consumers who bought chronically defective new vehicles, Attorney General Charlie Crist announced today. Since 1989, the Lemon Law program has produced refunds or replacement vehicles in 70 percent of cases, providing relief for almost 12,000 consumers.    » read more »

Crist Announces $40 Million National Settlement

January 10, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Florida motorists may be eligible for refunds of as much as $20,000 under a nationwide agreement to benefit individuals who unknowingly purchased damaged or stolen cars from State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, Attorney General Charlie Crist announced today. The agreement is part of a $40 million settlement reached by Crist's office and the Attorneys General of 48 other states and the District of Columbia.    » read more »

Crist Announces Settlements with Two Leasing Companies

Companies held NorVergence leases

January 12, 2005 -- TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist today announced settlements with two leasing companies relating to business practices of the bankrupt NorVergence Corporation. Wells Fargo Financial Leasing, Inc., and Lyon Financial Services, Inc., doing business as U.S. Bancorp Business Equipment Finance Group, have agreed to terminate contracts through which Florida consumers became trapped in costly equipment and service leases originally offered by NorVergence.    » read more »