While the Jackson's nurses' union demonstrated Friday against job and wage cuts, the county mayor and Jackson's chief executive were invoking technical legal language that could lead to forcing union workers to accept pay cuts. more …

Regulators on Friday shut down banks in Florida, New York and Louisiana, raising to 30 the number of failures this year of federally insured banks. more …

Costa Cruises laid off 80 employees in South Florida last week as part of a shift in strategy.<p/> The Genoa, Italy-based cruise operator said its dominance in Europe enables it to fetch higher prices for its Caribbean cruises by selling them to Europeans instead of Americans, who aren't as familiar with the brand. As a result, the company is shifting certain finance, accounting, revenue management and sales and marketing tasks from Hollywood to Italy and cutting some field jobs. “We analyzed our Caribbean market and realized we would draw higher yields [the revenue generated per berth per day] if we focused on marketing the Caribbean to Europeans,'' said Maurice Zarmati, president and CEO of Costa's North American operations. more …

Opa-Locka Flightline, the only, black-owned private, charter-jet service operation in the United States, is closing.<p/>“With much regret I must inform you that we will be closing our FBO [fixed based operation] at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport on Wednesday, March 31, 2010,'' Opa Locka Flightline managing partner Anthony “Tony'' Robinson in a statement. more …

The undeveloped tract planned to hold luxury condos, high-end retail and posh hotel rooms at Biscayne Landing will go to the highest bidder at a foreclosure auction April 6. more …

Reservations aren't just for dinner anymore. Floridians who want to cash in on the much-anticipated government cash-for-clunker appliances rebate program next month will need to reserve a spot to claim their 20 percent discount on new energy-efficient stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers. more …

Major banks lost a bid to quash lawsuits questioning the way overdraft fees were calculated and charged.<p/> The lawsuits from around the country, consolidated to federal court in Miami, claim that banks went out of their way to charge excessive fees when debit-card users made purchases that exceeded their checking account balances. more …

Chile's strongest earthquake in 50 years may bankrupt smaller winemakers after vines collapsed, casks broke apart and millions of liters were spilled, a former Goldman Sachs Group banker-turned-winemaker said. more …

Under the Making Home Affordable program, a borrower has to have been through a hardship — such as a reduction in work hours or job loss — and must provide proof of current income. more …

For William and Lida Negron, their lender's decision to modify their mortgage seemed to be the key to holding on to their home.<p/> William Negron, in his mid-70s, lost his job in car sales two years ago. The possibility of losing their home put “so much stress on him,'' said son Carlos Negron. “My mother has been to the hospital twice because of this.'' more …