A coalition of consumer advocates is urging state legislators to enact new protections for renters inhabiting foreclosed properties and to support a slew of other bills that would alleviate the financial burdens of the recession.

How dire are Floridas current economic problems? So dire that three leading gubernatorial candidates tried to present their plans for financial recovery to a forum of business people and others two weeks before the Legislature convened.

The candidates and other speakers at the Five Good Things About Floridas Economy forum Feb.

Lincoln Diaz-Balarts retirement from the U.S. House appears to mean there will be two vacant congressional seats in Miami. Mario Diaz-Balart is considering running for his brothers seat since the district leans more Republican. Joe Garcia, who lost to Mario in 2008 and is working in the Obama administration, is considering running again for the seat Mario would vacate.