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5 Big Stories

A look back at the week in Business

By Jeff Harrington, Times Deputy Business Editor
Published June 10, 2007

1. Airport views limos as revenue source

Tampa International considers a plan to start regulating stretch limousines and luxury sedans that use the airport.

WHAT IT MEANS: Taxis and van services pay for the privilege of picking up airport customers. So Hillsborough County Aviation staffers wonder: Why not limos and sedans? If approved next fall, the airport could start charging them by January ... but a fight is brewing.

2. Finally. Steak deal is done.

Shareholders of Outback Steakhouse's parent company approve a sale of the company on fourth try.

WHAT IT MEANS: It took a slightly sweetened bid of $3.2-billion and a lower threshold of approval, but OSI executives won their fight to go private. The payoff: a combined $277-million merger payout for chain co-founders Bob Basham and Chris Sullivan.

3. PSC nixes planned coal plant

State regulators vote against FP&L's coal-burning power plant in Glades County.

WHAT IT MEANS: The 4-0 denial marked the first time in 15 years the PSC had shot down a new power plant. Regulators were concerned it would be too costly to later retrofit the $5.7-billion coal plant to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Curlin is racing under a legal cloud

Clearwater computer entrepreneur Satish Sanan is among those vying for a legal share of the winning race horse.

WHAT IT MEANS: Sanan and his wife, Anne, had bought a reported 29 percent stake in the Preakness Stakes winner. But it may be up to the courts to unravel just who owns the horse.

5. Ford one-ups Toyota

Ford overtakes Toyota as No. 1 in J.D. Power's initial quality rankings.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ and Mercury Milan were among the vehicles that won segment awards. But the overall rankings of brands was again dominated by Porsche.

[Last modified June 8, 2007, 21:43:59]