Tuesday's Top Stories

TUESDAY, JAN. 27, 2009

STATEWIDE:
Home-Sale Numbers Heating Up in Florida

Existing-home sales nationwide showed surprising strength in December, as the thaw in sales heated up in Florida. Resales of single-family homes in the Sunshine State surged 27% last month compared with December 2007 -- the fourth straight year-over-year increase for monthly existing-home sales, the Florida Association of Realtors said Monday in its year-end report. Resales of condominiums statewide rose 12% from a year ago.
» WSJ: Real estate deals in South Florida, bring cash

Home sale reports:

• Orlando
• Polk
• Tallahassee
• Tampa Bay
• Treasure Coast
• Broward
• Volusia-Flagler
• Gainesville
• Fort Myers

VARADERO:
Cuba Aims to Become Tourist Magnet

Canadian tourists are flocking to Cuba in ever greater numbers, making tourism a bright spot in the island's otherwise bleak economy. Cuba saw record tourism in 2008 with 2.35-million visitors, generating more than $2.7-billion in revenue. Read on ... [Source: St. Petersburg Times]

TALLAHASSEE:
Obama's Auto Emissions Directive Fuels Florida debate

President Obama's decision Monday to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review California's request to set auto emissions standards is increasing the debate in Florida over Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to follow California's lead. Crist in 2007 said that Florida would adopt California's standards to help the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2025. In Florida, 27% of greenhouse gas emissions are from motor vehicles, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Crist said Monday he applauds the president's decision.

Statewide: Home Sales Heating Up
See regional roundup.

Varadero: Cuba Aims to Become Tourist Magnet
2008 was a record year.

Tallahassee: Will Obama's Clean Car Push Succeed in Florida?

Niceville: Sansom Under Investigation from Grand Jury
... for taking college job.

Around Florida:
› Ex-Chairman Sells Home to Wife for $100
› Overall, Freeze's Damage Is Minimal
› Spirit Airlines Pilots Could Strike | More news ... [Source: Florida Environmental News]

A grand jury decided Monday to look into allegations that House Speaker Ray Sansom abused his position by taking a six-figure job at his hometown college. Sansom, R-Destin, took the unadvertised $110,000 a year job at Northwest Florida State College on the same day that he became speaker of the House two months ago. [Source: Times/Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:



› Ex-Lehman Chairman Transfers Jupiter Home to Wife [Sun-Sentinel]
Richard Fuld, the Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. chairman who led the firm into bankruptcy, transferred his $13.3 million Florida home to his wife last year, property records show.

› Overall, Freeze's Damage Is Minimal [St. Petersburg Times]
While most growers escaped the freeze with little damage, Louis Haverlock of Lou Ross Citrus Inc. in Balm says it will cause his 700 acres of Valencia orange trees to produce less juice this year. A handful of tropical fish farmers in northern Polk County took a big hit, reporting 20% to 30% losses.

› Spirit Airlines Pilots Say Strike an Option as Talks Fall [Sun-Sentinel]
The Miramar-based airline's growth to new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean has become a bone of contention. The union claims it is essentially being asked to finance the company's expansion by flying to more places with fewer pilots and for less pay and benefits. Related: Tampa airport parking garage collapses

› Home Depot Closing Expo Design Centers, Drops 7,000 Jobs [Herald]
Home Depot's plan to eliminate 7,000 jobs nationwide will result in the closing of all five Expo Design Centers in Florida. Liquidation sales begin Tuesday, and the Expos will remain open until merchandise is sold. Also: 55,000 jobs disappear in one day

› Massive West Palm Condo Approved [Post]
The city commission Monday overrode staff recommendations and neighbors' objections in approving a 299-foot-tall condo tower, nearly three times as massive as the hurricane-damaged building it would replace.

› Gelber Enters U.S. Senate Race [Lakeland Ledger]
State Sen. Dan Gelber will announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate today, becoming the second major Democrat to get in the race for the seat Republican Mel Martinez is leaving after the 2010 election.

› Grand Jury to Probe Biomass Deal [Tallahassee Democrat]
The newly seated grand jury will investigate how the aborted Biomass Gasification & Electric Co. energy project wound up being planned for Tallahassee's south side, State Attorney Willie Meggs said Monday.

› USF Braces for Further Cuts with Freeze [St. Petersburg Times]
Anticipating additional budget cuts to the state university system, University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft has called for a freeze on hiring and spending effective immediately. Also: FAMU suggests furloughs

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› State Argues on Casinos [Sun-Sentinel]
The state Attorney General's Office asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to decline considering an appeal of the Florida Supreme Court ruling that nixed the Seminole Tribe's gambling agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist.

› Clay County School Budget Shortfall: $23 Million [Times-Union]
Among the options are eliminating 256 positions -- instructional, support and administrative, as many as possible through attrition -- as well as seeking a 3% employee salary rollback and closing one to two schools. Also: Brevard teachers' new contract includes raise freezes

› State Adds $12M More in Hopes T. Rowe Price Moves to Pasco [Times]
The Baltimore-based company is considering moving 435 jobs from its Tampa investment offices and adding 1,215 more workers in three large offices off State Road 54 east of the Suncoast Parkway.

› Historic Miami Circle Shrouded from Public View [Miami Herald]
The 2,000-year-old Miami Circle won designation as a National Historic Landmark, but delays continue to plague plans for public access.

› State OKs Smaller Increase in Workers' Comp Insurance [News-Journal]
Reversing a series of reductions, Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said Monday he would approve a 6.4% increase in workers' compensation insurance rates.

› The CSX Deal Sours [Sentinel editorial]
While Florida lawmakers were making a billion-dollar raid last week to balance the state budget, the Department of Transportation was sitting on a cool $795 million in ready cash set aside for a sweetheart deal that may not even come to fruition. Also: Commuter-rail stop still in the plan

› NASA Building Ready for Moon-Capsule Work [Orlando Sentinel]
Kennedy Space Center on Monday unveiled a renovated building where NASA hopes to assemble the space capsule that will return humans to the moon by 2020. There's just one catch: It isn't clear whether the Obama administration is going to continue the agency's moon program.