U.S. Sugar deal drags

The South Florida Water Management District’s financing plan for $2.2 billion to rehabilitate U.S. Sugar land in the Everglades faces objections from the Miccosukee Tribe and rival grower Florida Crystals. Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Donald Hafele must rule on a bond validation on the $536 million land purchase, and the critics say the district has misstated the cost of actual redevelopment on the sugar fields and citrus groves in the parcel.