Florida

April 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died March 29 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when they encountered an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Killed were:

Spc. Durrell L. Bennett, 22, of Spanaway, Washington, and

Pfc. Patrick J. Miller, 23, of New Port Richey, Florida

Source: DoD

Two of six bills up in committees today

April 1, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that as the 2008 Legislative Session reaches its midpoint, all six bills supported by the Attorney General as his legislative priorities this year are making good progress in the Legislature. The bills cover a wide range of issues related to protecting the safety and security of Floridians, from enhancing the rights of victims of child pornography to providing additional protections against mortgage-related fraud.

Two of the Attorney General’s legislative priorities will be heard in committee today. They are:    » read more »

McCollum: agreements with Carnival cruise lines provides for $40 million in passenger reimbursements

March 31, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has reached a resolution with six cruise lines over the imposition of a retroactively-imposed fuel surcharge on cruise passengers.

Carnival and its five subsidiary cruise lines have agreed to refund approximately $40 million to consumers nationwide who were charged the fuel surcharge after they had booked their cruises. Other affected cruise lines are Holland America, Princess, Costa, Cunard and Seabourne.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- WEST PALM BEACH – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today visited West Palm Beach to learn more about how St. Mary’s Medical Center is providing health care to uninsured Floridians. He also joined Palm Beach County commissioners Burt Aaronson, Robert Kanjian and Karen Marcus to announce PalmTran’s plans to increase energy efficiency and use of alternative energy. Congressmen Tim Mahoney and Ron Klein also attended the event.    » read more »

Tax Preparer Allegedly Fabricated Education Credits & Various Deductions to Secure Fraudulent Refunds for Customers

WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008 – Lilia A. Gomez of Hialeah, Fla., was barred by a federal court today from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Gomez operated tax return preparation businesses under the names Tax Prep Inc., 1 Tax Prep Inc. and TFD Services Inc. Judge Patricia Seitz of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued the permanent injunction order against Gomez and her businesses. Gomez consented to the court order.    » read more »

(Boise) - Mortgage Assistance Solutions, LLC, a Florida foreclosure rescue company that sent advertisements to consumers claiming their homes were in foreclosure, can no longer do business in Idaho, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. Mortgage Assistance Solutions entered into a settlement agreement with the Attorney General that prohibits the company from advertising or engaging in any transaction involving an Idaho consumer or property in Idaho.    » read more »

March 28, 2008 -- COCONUT GROVE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today visited the production set of Marley and Me, a movie inspired by John Grogan’s bestselling memoir about his mischievous dog. Marley and Me is a participant in Florida’s program that rebates film, TV and digital media production companies up to 22 percent of their qualified Florida expenditures as an incentive to produce films and video games in Florida. The Don Davis Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act of 2007 increased the incentive to $25 million. This year, Governor Crist is proposing a $5 million increase in the state’s film incentive fund.    » read more »

Atlanta, Ga., March 26, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 4, as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, today announced the availability of approximately $3.6 Million in grants to fund projects within the Southeast to demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions. EPA expects to fund between five and ten grants ranging from $250,000 and $750,000. However, EPA reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist last evening hosted a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for Florida’s film and entertainment industry leaders and legislators. The reception, coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment and Film Florida, honored actor Armand Assante and Frank Patterson, dean of the Florida State University Film School. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Michael Joseph Alstott, who is featured in the EA Sports Madden NFL game, was also a special guest at the event.    » read more »

Nationwide settlement addresses dosage switching of generic antacid

March 18, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that the Florida Medicaid program will receive more than $186,000 from a $36.7 million multistate settlement with CVS and Caremark Corporation. The settlement with the United States, 23 states and the District of Columbia resolves allegations that CVS violated various state and federal statutes and regulations by switching dosage forms of an antacid medication commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients.    » read more »

Abbott and French drug company face allegations they blocked generic versions of a cholesterol drug

March 18, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida and 18 states have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories and French drug company Fournier Industrie et Sante and Laboratories Fournier, S.A., charging the companies with blocking a cheaper, generic version of prescription drug TriCor.    » read more »

MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008, WASHINGTON - Acculab Laboratories and its president/owner, Joseph T. DeGregorio, have agreed to pay the United States $461,000 to settle allegations that Acculab submitted false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today. The settlement resolves allegations that the Sarasota, Fla.-based company, at the direction of DeGregorio, submitted claims to Medicare for laboratory services that were not ordered, were not provided, were not medically necessary or were improperly unbundled.    » read more »

McCollum: agreement with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity cruise lines addresses disclosure of fuel surcharges

March 11, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his Economic Crimes Division reached a resolution with two cruise lines over the imposition of a fuel supplement on cruise passengers. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises have agreed to refund $21 million to consumers nationwide who were charged the fuel surcharge after they had booked their cruise.    » read more »

Focuses on first year accomplishments and education, health care, energy and economic development

March 4, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist this evening addressed a joint session of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate to outline his priorities for the people of Florida during the upcoming the 2008 Legislative Session. Breaking with tradition, Governor Crist gave the State of the State Address at 6:00 p.m., rather than during the morning as past Florida Governors have done.    » read more »

03/03/2008 -- The Washington Nationals today announced the 2008 promotional/giveaway schedule for the Spring Training contests in Viera, Florida (see below). The Nationals play 15 contests at Space Coast Stadium before returning to Washington for their first game on Saturday, March 29, an exhibition contest vs. the Baltimore Orioles at 6:00 p.m. at the new Nationals Park. The regular season home opener will take place the following evening on Sunday, March 30 when the Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves in a nationally televised contest on ESPN at 8:05 p.m.    » read more »