Men now finding time to get back into shape
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
When the financial markets were soaring, Paul Tanner would leave his office at Lehman Brothers after a long day and head to Capital Grille on Brickell Avenue to entertain a client over juicy prime rib and a martini or two. Then came the recession. As business slowed, Tanner looked in the mirror and saw an overweight man whose wealth had declined and whose gut had enlarged.
Jackson Health System leaders warn of insolvency without county loan
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Jackson Health System is close to insolvency and facing the specter of having one of its major vendors, Johnson & Johnson, shut off supplies unless the company receives a $1 million payment this week.
Burger King blames cold weather for sales drop
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Burger King on Tuesday blamed winter storms and cold weather for a dramatic drop in sales for January and February.<p/> The Miami fast-food chain said January and February same-store sales in the United States and Canada were down 8.2 percent. Same-store sales are considered the best measure of a chain's health. Worldwide same-store sales were down 5.4 percent.
We Media conference at the University of Miami offers peek at future
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:42 EST
It's the fourth time the annual We Media brainstorming conference has come to the University of Miami, yet the media industry is still finding its way.
Haiti rebuilding summit under way in Miami
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Doug Brooks, president of the International Peace Operations Association, was in Turkey recently, working on an event on Afghanistan reconstruction, when an idea struck: Why not organize a conference on rebuilding Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake?
Increase in job openings boosts U.S. economic outlook
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Job openings rose sharply earlier this year, a sign that employers might be preparing to step up hiring.<p/> The number of openings in January rose about 7.6 percent, to 2.7 million, compared with December, the Labor Department said. And the job openings rate climbed to 2.1 percent, the highest in nearly a year. That rate measures available jobs as a percentage of total employment.
Broward Commission blocks Bank of America from courthouse project
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:13 EST
Broward County government is taking on Big Banking.<p/> Bank of America lost out on a role in financing a new courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale after county commissioners complained Tuesday that the megabank had failed to help people with troubled mortgages and had unfairly jacked up credit-card fees.
Discovery of ambrosia beetle in Miami-Dade no cause for panic, scientists say
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Last summer, there was a premature announcement of the presence of a tiny beetle that has the power to spread fungus that can severely damage avocado trees. That turned out to be an unfortunate mistake, triggering some growers to cut down and burn trees and apply pesticide.
City experts will discuss Miami revival
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
How can downtown Miami's intermittent revival be extended and sustained? Find out from some of the country's leading urban revivalists Thursday, when the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce hosts a public forum on the question.
Miami's Phillip Frost to head generic drugmaker
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said Tuesday it has appointed Vice Chairman Dr. Phillip Frost to serve as chairman of its board.<p/> The world's largest generic drugmaker by revenue said Frost, a Miami physician-entrepreneur, will replace Moshe Many, who had been serving as interim chairman and will now serve as vice chairman.
Florida International University hosts free forum on housing crisis
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Lawyers will be on hand to answer questions at a free forum on the housing crisis Saturday at Florida International University.<p/> The Florida attorney general's office and the Florida InterAgency Mortgage Task Force are hosting the forum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MARC Building, 11200 SW Eighth St., Miami.
U.S. millionaires' ranks rise 16%
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
The millionaires' club in the United States grew by 16 percent in 2009, following a 27 percent decline in 2008.<p/> Families with a net worth of at least $1 million, excluding primary residences, rose to 7.8 million in 2009, an increase from 6.7 million a year earlier, according to a survey of high-net-worth U.S. households conducted by Spectrem Group.
AT&T boosts Hialeah cell coverage
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
This week, AT&T has activated a new cell site on East 25th Street in Hialeah as part of its lastest investment to its Florida network. It will boost coverage to Hialeah Hospital and the surrounding area, and it's the second AT&T cell site turned on in South Florida this year, according to AT&T spokeswoman Kelly Starling.
Jackson South hospital could be multimillion-dollar white elephant
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
When the Public Health Trust meets Tuesday to consider $165.4 million in budget cuts, one of the toughest debates is likely to be over the proposed closing of Jackson South, the suburban facility on which the system has pinned its hopes for the past six years.
GM dealership reinstatements have little impact on South Florida
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
A move by General Motors Co. to reinstate 661 dealerships slated for closing may not have a major impact on South Florida since many local dealers were safe to begin with and others decided not to appeal the carmaker's 2009 decision to downsize.
China inflation accelerates in February
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:25 EST
China's inflation spiked higher in February, raising the chances that Beijing might need to cool the recovery in the world's third-largest economy.
Pelosi says Dems near deal on health care bill
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:20 EST
Democrats claimed momentum Wednesday in their drive to enact the sweeping health care legislation sought by President Barack Obama, citing near agreement on crucial issues despite persistent Republican efforts to knock them off stride.
Canadian firm offers to buy Dakota Growers Pasta
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:00 EST
Viterra Inc. is offering to buy Dakota Growers Pasta Co. for $240 million, which would put the Canadian food processing and grain handling company into the pasta business.
Mexico's Slim named 'world's richest' person
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:05 EST
Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine.
Hill International 4th-quarter profit rises
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:35 EST
Construction consultant Hill International Inc. said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled as revenue from its project management and construction claims units rose and selling, general and administrative expenses fell.
Huntsman to offer up to $250 million in notes
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:30 EST
Huntsman Corp. said Wednesday it planned to offer up to $250 million in notes to raise money to pay for previous notes it had issued.
Japan revises down 4Q economic growth
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:30 EST
Japan says its economy grew notably less in the fourth quarter than initial estimates.
Chelsea Therapeutics 4Q loss narrows on costs
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:15 EST
Chelsea Therapeutics International Ltd. said Wednesday its loss narrowed on lower operating expenses as the company concluded several studies.
Clarient 4th-quarter loss widens on higher costs
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:05 EST
Diagnostic and laboratory services company Clarient Inc. said Wednesday its fourth-quarter loss widened slightly on higher operating expenses.
Reinsurer Everest Re Chile quake loss hits $225M
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:05 EST
Reinsurer Everest Re Group Ltd. on Wednesday estimated its preliminary loss relating to the earthquake in Chile at $225 million.
Haiti rebuilding summit under way in Miami
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Doug Brooks, president of the International Peace Operations Association, was in Turkey recently, working on an event on Afghanistan reconstruction, when an idea struck: Why not organize a conference on rebuilding Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake?
Freight that can't wait is big business at Miami International Airport
Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Standing in one of Arrow Cargo's huge warehouses at Miami International Airport, Rodrigo Canola, the freight airline's export manager, pointed to stacks of electronic equipment from China and Korea, each separated according to their destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chile wineries update amount of losses
Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:02 EST
The earthquake caused substantial damage in Chile's wine region: Stainless steel fermentation tanks tipped over, wine bottles busted and wineries without power.
Protests rock Greece in the wake of new austerity measures
Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
German Chancellor Angela Merkel avoided giving debt-plagued Greece a commitment of financial assistance Friday, as Athens was rattled by more strikes and violent protests by unions outraged by harsh economic austerity measures.
Ship line reports 1st loss in 6 decades
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, owner of the world's largest container-shipping line, reported its first annual loss in at least six decades and said it will be limited to a ``modest'' profit in 2010 because of inadequate price increases.
Royal Caribbean cruise ship under quarantine in Brazil
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:17 EST
A Royal Caribbean International cruise ship was placed under quarantine in southeastern Brazil after hundreds of passengers were stricken with vomiting and diarrhea, health authorities said Thursday
Spirit Airlines resumes service to Port-au-Prince
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:57 EST
Spirit Airlines this week resumed flights from Fort Lauderdale into Port-au-Prince as the rattled airport returns to normal. The announcement came with an apparent dig at rivals from CEO Ben Baldanza: ``Often times, people use disasters to take advantage of other's misfortune and profit through exploitation,'' Baldanza wrote. ``We are happy to continue offering the ultra low fares that our friends and families in Haiti have come to know and love.''
Bacardi's fight to retain Havana Club name resurfaces in Congress
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
A years-long battle over a famous Cuban brand -- Havana Club rum -- resurfaced on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as liquor giants Bacardi and Pernod Ricard tussled over an obscure -- but potentially lucrative -- provision in federal law.
Haitian-American firm lands Haiti cleanup contract
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
The U.S. Agency for International Development awarded a $3.5 million contract to PHS Group, a Silver Spring, Md., engineering firm, for cleanup work in Haiti, the first earthquake-related contract to go to a Haitian American.
Chile's fishing, wine sectors hard-hit by earthquake
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
The tsunami that hit this coastal city sent 50-ton fishing boats crashing onto land and demolished its port -- wiping out the $40 million in business that courses through the local economy from the annual anchovy and sardine catch.
Chilean wineries were hard-hit by the earthquake
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:12 EST
The earthquake caused substantial damage in Chile's wine region: Stainless steel fermentation tanks tipped over, wine bottles busted and wineries without power.
Huge 'botnet' amputated, but criminals reconnect
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:00 EST
The sudden takedown of an Internet provider helping spread a promiscuous piece of malicious software has cut off criminals from possibly millions of personal computers under their control.
Summary Box: Video providers seek fee dispute help
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:01 EST
THE REQUEST: Cable TV, satellite and other video providers, joined by consumer and trade groups, want the government to intervene in ongoing fee disputes with TV networks.
Summary Box: Review of Google's social hub, Buzz
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:55 EST
THE BUZZ: Google's answer to the popularity of social networking. Circles of friends can connect right on Google's Gmail home page.
Summary Box: OnLive game streaming to come in June
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:35 EST
THE SERVICE: OnLive will let you "stream" popular high-end games over the Internet, using a mechanism similar to watching TV shows or listening to music online.
Summary Box: Global Net agency reconsiders `.xxx'
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:30 EST
THE PROPOSAL: A ".xxx" Internet suffix where porn sites can voluntarily set up shop away from the wandering eyes of children and teenagers.
Eyeblaster plans initial public offering, again
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:45 EST
Online advertising company Eyeblaster Inc. is planning an initial public offering, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Wednesday, though it did not disclose an expected size or price range.
Palm Inc. teeters in crowded smart phone market
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:16 EST
Last year, Palm thought it had all the pieces for a turnaround in the market it pioneered: A new CEO known for making the iPod a household name, a sleek new smart phone called the Pre and fresh, intuitive operating software.
Summary Box: Palm struggles in its phone comeback
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:05 EST
PALM'S PROBLEM: As smart phones have gotten more popular, Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerrys have benefited while Palm has fallen behind.
Conan's lone Twitter followee: 'It's totally nuts'
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00 EST
Last week, Sarah Killen had three Twitter followers.
Azerbaijan bloggers' appeal denied
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00 EST
A court in Azerbaijan has rejected the appeal of two bloggers who were sentenced to prison last year in a case that supporters say was politically motivated.
Global agency reconsiders `.xxx' for porn sites
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:10 EST
A global Internet oversight agency is reopening discussions about whether to create a ".xxx" domain name as an online red-light district where porn sites can set up shop away from the wandering eyes of children and teenagers.
Miami-Dade tourist tax falls 20 percent
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:46 EDT
An apparent bottom in the Miami-Dade hotel market gave way in August, when tourist taxes plunged 20 percent -- making it the third worst month for the industry since the financial crisis began a year ago.<p/> An apparent bottom in the Miami-Dade hotel market gave way in August, when tourist taxes plunged 20 percent -- making it the third worst month for the industry since the financial crisis began a year ago.
ID theft protection firm LifeLock must repay customers
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:12 EST
Florida and 34 other states will split $11 million to give to consumers courtesy of identity theft company LifeLock, a deal reached Tuesday that settles allegations that the company's advertising was misleading.
Disney to sell tickets that gain entrance to all its U.S. theme parks
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:57 EST
Walt Disney Co., the world's biggest theme-park operator, will begin selling tickets that will be valid at all the company's U.S. parks.<p/> The ``premiere passport'' will go on sale Thursday and provides access to all U.S. parks with no blackout dates, Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger said Wednesday at Disney's annual shareholder meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The price will be $700 and will cover the Florida and California locations.
Miami-Dade mayor seeks cash solution for Jackson Health System
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:02 EST
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said Wednesday that he's ``instructed the county manager to take a look at how we can come up with the money'' to help Jackson Health System bridge a three-week gap in April when its cash may otherwise fall close to zero.
Visa agrees to add 350 jobs to Miami operations
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17 EST
On the same day the state labor department announced record-high unemployment, the localemployment development agency countered with a bit of positive news: more than 350 jobs for Miami-Dade County.
We Media conference at the University of Miami offers peek at future
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:42 EST
It's the fourth time the annual We Media brainstorming conference has come to the University of Miami, yet the media industry is still finding its way.
Bank of America to stop debit card overdrafts
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:42 EST
Bank of America customers will soon be unable to spend more than they have in the accounts linked to their debit cards. It's a step that may become a common move ahead of new regulations limiting overdraft fees.
Hassles with AT&T U-verse switch over
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
We were approached by a marketing representative who sold us an AT&T U-verse package. They came to install U-verse on Jan. 18, but found that wires behind our home were not sufficient for the installation.
Dogs made runs through Tropical Park safer
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00 EST
Re: Action Line Feb. 21, ``Dogs Invading Tropical Park'': I am one of the ``invaders.'' I jogged my dogs (on a leash) through Tropical Park on more than one occasion. I would like to offer an explanation: