Murphy’s lunchtime address at FSU’s Turnbull Conference Center capped the morning forum on a regional approach to infrastructure development, sponsored by the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Urban Land Institute North Florida and Our Region Tomorrow

Gov. Crist is reviewing a bill passed by the Legislature last month that would help establish a `green corridor’ PACE program among several South Florida cities. The measure would allow the communities to purchase clean energy systems for residents’ homes.

Everyone talks about attracting tourists to Tallahassee. The Riley House is doing something about it. The Riley House Museum of black history will host 30 museum directors, travel writers and tourism specialists from around the nation in a three-day conference this week. The conference is designed to showcase Tallahassee’s heritage tourism attractions and promote discussions about collaborative efforts.

Gov. Charlie Crist wants BP to give the state nearly $35 million for an ad campaign to lure tourists scared off by the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico back to the Sunshine State.

Everyone agrees that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is a disaster for the Gulf of Mexico. But now fishing industry groups and Louisiana officials are wondering if chemical dispersants being used to limit the spill may lead to a more long-lasting disaster.

The St. Joe Co. is continuously monitoring the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. And if the oil reaches St. Joe’s oceanfront property in the Florida Panhandle, the company is confident it will be able to clean it up, CEO Britt Greene told shareholders at St. Joe’s annual meeting today.

Former state attorneys general Jim Smith and Bob Butterworth will head up an oil-spill legal advisory council, offering advice to individuals making claims against BP, as well as any demands Florida may make. Attorney General Bill McCollum and Gov. Charlie Crist — the current and immediate-past attorney general — said the former elected officials would be working for free.

As a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico lingers off Florida, local officials are bristling at a top-down, “unified command” that has the U.S. Coast Guard, two state agencies and British Petroleum signing off on their spill response plans.

State officials from around Florida as well as county representatives from throughout the big bend met Monday morning to share information about how our area can fight and defeat the oil spill.

A massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico drifted farther away from Florida’s Northwest coast over the weekend, giving emergency responders and local officials more time to prepare. After an intense, two-hour meeting attended by a handful of officials from mostly rural Panhandle counties, it was clear they’re going to need it.