Dear Neighbor, Everyone knows that we have a steadily increasing number of cars traveling on South Florida’s roadways. If you’ve spent much time driving on I-95, you’ve undoubtedly become familiar with 95 Express, a new toll system also known as ‘managed lanes.’ These new toll lanes replaced carpool lanes, removing the multi-passenger requirement during rush [...]
The City of Miramar and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are now looking for special volunteers to assist taxpayers in the area of preparing simple tax returns and filing tax returns electronically. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program volunteers assist low-income individuals who cannot afford the services of a paid professional tax preparer [...]
TALLAHASSEE, FL—Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory following the arrest of David Lewalski for his alleged involvement in Botfly, a $30 million investment fraud scheme. Lewalski was detained by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) last Thursday. “I am pleased that David Lewalski has been arrested for his alleged role in the [...]
Attorney General Bill McCollum announced last week an on-going effort to reign in mortgage servicers and protect Floridians from purported deceptive and unfair practices. Attorney General McCollum, along with 48 other Attorneys General, are part of a multistate effort to stop mortgage loan servicers from allegedly submitting affidavits or signing notices that appear to have [...]
The Town of Davie is pleased to announce that it has received the impressive rating of AA from Fitch. “Just five years ago the Town of Davie was in the midst of obvious financial mismanagement exemplified by the lateness of our annual financial reports. With dedicated attention to correcting these issues by a loyal and [...]
Legendary Motown artist and multiple award-winning songstress Diana Ross returns to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on November 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 17 at noon. In a remarkable career spanning over 40 years, Diana Ross has proven herself the consummate music artist as [...]
Once again, the City of Tamarac has maintained a Class 7 rating under the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System. The Class 7 rating provides a 15% discount on the City’s residents’ and business’ flood insurance premiums. This rating results in over $675,000 in savings per year to residents’ flood insurance policies in [...]
Consistent with changes recommended to the FTC by AG McCollum, The FTC recently announced the adoption of a new rule to protect consumers in credit card debt. Beginning October 27, 2010, for-profit companies that sell debt relief service by phone will be prohibited from collecting any fees before successfully settling or reducing a consumer’s outstanding [...]
On Saturday, July 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the City will present a Foreclosure Intervention & Homeowners’ Assistance Clinic at the Sunrise Senior Center (10650 West Oakland Park Boulevard, 33351). This free workshop for residents, brought to you by the Sunrise City Commission and the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, will include educational sessions [...]
A special investigation has netted 86 indictments in South Florida related to mortgage fraud. From March 1, 2010 to the present date, Operation Stolen Dreams resulted in the indictments of 86 individuals in South Florida for their participation in a series of mortgage fraud schemes that resulted in more than $76 million in fraudulent loans. [...]
Governor Charlie Crist today signed the $70-billion 2010-11 budget, prioritizing Florida’s economy and job creation, keeping communities safe and educating the young people of the Sunshine State. “With positive indicators beginning to appear, we must continue to keep our economy moving,” Governor Crist said. “The budget I signed today focuses our resources on helping families [...]
Today, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter R. Orszag and Acting Deputy Director Jeffrey B. Liebman will discuss the Reduce Unnecessary Spending Act of 2010, which will establish a new tool to reduce unnecessary or wasteful spending.
Governor Charlie Crist today signed Senate Bill (SB) 1736, extending eligibility dates for the Extended Benefits (EB) program. The EB program provides unemployment compensation to job seekers who have exhausted all other available benefits and meet all requirements. Governor Crist announced that the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation will begin accepting EB applications at its [...]
Monique Mitchell, 29, of Pembroke Pines, and Sheldon Martin, 34, of Plantation, pled guilty this morning in West Palm Beach federal court to one count of making false statements on a HUD-1 Real Estate Settlement Form in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 21, 2010 before U.S. District Judge [...]
Update on this story here: https://browardnetonline.com/2010/05/crist-signs-unemployment-benefits-legislation/ The Florida House passed a measure that provides for an extension of temporary unemployment compensation (UC) for Floridians by providing 14 additional weeks of unemployment compensation benefits. This extension helps more than 100,000 unemployed Floridians and brings in more than $128 million to Florida coffers. Senate Bill (SB) 1736 [...]
Former Miramar commissioner Fitzroy Salesman was convicted late yesterday afternoon of two counts of bribery and two counts of extortion under color of official right. The jury acquitted him of two counts of honest services mail and wire fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 8, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge [...]
The City of Coral Springs is still providing assistance to low and moderate-income persons with the purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed homes in Coral Springs through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Previously, the program offered funds toward the purchase of foreclosed homes in the 33065 ZIP code. Recently, HUD approved the City’s request to expand the
WHO: TOWER FORUM WHAT: “The Great Recession: Why This Recovery is Different” The economic recession that took hold of the United States in the fall of 2008 might be slowly starting to loosen its grip, but don’t tell that to people on Main Street who are struggling to run small businesses, make mortgage payments and [...]
Governor Charlie Crist, as part of his continued focus on strengthening Florida’s economy, is hosting bill signing ceremonies in Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers and Miami to promote legislation that provides tax relief to nearly 474,000 Florida businesses.
The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office hosts a series of community outreach events each month throughout Broward County. Deputy Appraisers will be available to assist with Homestead, Senior and other property tax exemption applications, as well as answer questions on property taxes. We are also accepting applications for Portability. The outreach program is designed to [...]
Stay up to date on Broward stimulus spending at: http://broward.org/Recovery/Pages/RecoveryActAccomplishments.aspx On February 16, 2010, President Barack Obama marked the first Anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is a combination of tax relief, financial assistance and infrastructure projects designed to cushion the impact of the economic downturn and lay a foundation for [...]
At the March 2 Commission Meeting, Brett Friedman, CPA of McGladrey & Pullen, the City’s external auditors, reported on the firm’s audit of the city Coral Springs’ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the year ended September 30, 2009.
Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) today joined a majority of his House colleagues to pass a job creation bill that provides a tax cut for business owners in order to put people back to work in South Florida. “What’s in this bill are the tax breaks and other solutions small business owners in our community have [...]
Aa tough new law cracking down on the abusive practices of some credit-card companies has officially gone into effect. The CARD Act, passed by the House as H.R. 627, contains several strict protections for consumers, including banning unfair interest rate increases and outlawing abusive fees and penalties by credit card companies.
Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22), a longtime advocate for next generation hurricane tracking technology, today celebrated the inclusion of $1 billion to upgrade hurricane forecasting technology, including satellite and radar systems, in the President’s budget as submitted to Congress. “We are thrilled to see that the Administration has heard our call, and the call of Floridians, [...]
