October 26, 2000
Business today
FUGITIVE FINANCIER CAPTURED: Shalom Weiss, a financier who has been on the run since his conviction last year for racketeering and fraud linked to the collapse of the National Heritage Life Insurance Co., was caught in Vienna. Weiss disappeared in October 1999, shortly before the end of his nine-month trial in federal court in Orlando. National Heritage collapsed in 1994 with losses of more than $400-million, authorities said. Weiss faces an 845-year prison term.
Florida Progress tops forecast
ST. PETERSBURG -- Electricity sales were flat, but dramatic growth in its coal-based synthetic fuel business helped Florida Progress Corp. post third-quarter earnings more than 9 percent higher than last year.
Investors critical of Reptron
TAMPA -- Reptron Electronics reported strong growth in revenues and earnings for the third quarter and said it expected positive results through the end of the year. But investors weren't impressed.
Utek raises $6-million in public offering
Utek Corp., a Plant City company that buys technology and sells it to upstart companies in return for stock, has become the first Tampa Bay company to go public this year.
AT&T plan fails to connect
News of lower earnings overshadows the company's restructuring. Investors push the shares down 13 percent.
