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(The Hill) – Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) warned Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not prepared for hurricane season and “will fail this summer.” Speaking before the House Rules Committee hearing Wednesday, Moskowitz said the sudden budget cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the suspension of grants mean that FEMA is inefficient and there is a risk of bankruptcy in a state that is prone to hurricanes if it doesn’t get approval for federal aid when the next storm hits. “Do you remember Doge? Do you remember E at the end of Doge? What’s…
A massive hike with a looming development fee has recently submitted a building permit flood in Osceola County. The county received 879 building permits this month until Monday, the last day. You have submitted your application and are eligible for current fees for mobility fees to pay the traffic impact of the new development. These prices will rise in June to become the state’s highest, jumping nearly $12,000 per new home, and increase various amounts for other developments. The May surge includes 414 detached homes and 411 townhomes, mainly from nationwide production home builders. Over 500 permits were submitted last…
The sun-kissed beaches of Pinellas, the vibrant Tampa skyline of Hillsboro, and the booming new community of Pasco tell the story of growth and resilience. But beneath the story is a difficult truth. Property taxes are crushing families and businesses. Adam Anderson (Adam Anderson)Danny Alvarez (Provided)Blood Jager (Provided)Since 2010, tax collection has skyrocketed. Pinellas rose 127.4% a year to $839.3 million, Hillsboro rose 154.8% to $1.5 billion, and Pasco 244.9% to $549.4 million. Population growth (6.4% in Pinellas, 24.5% in Hillsboro, 41.1% in Pasco) cannot justify tax collections of this magnitude. Driven by rising home prices and relentless new construction,…
For a while, Tampa Bay has been one of the hottest housing markets in the country. But prices declines and delays in sales across the Sunshine state show a tough reversal from the pandemic-fueled home-buying boom.”People are getting used to making big profits at home in a short period of time,” said the managing broker at Engel & Valkers Madeira Beach. “It’s slowing down.” The number of homes for sale in the Tampa Bay Metro area remained flat year-on-year, but has since 2022 has fallen about 20% since the market was booming. This is according to preliminary data from Homes.com,…
Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott, Associated Press Bonds are higher, and Wall Street reversed from small profits to losses before opening bell Thursday after US debt rose the day before. Dow Jones’ industrial average futures fell 0.5% in pre-market trading, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures slipped 0.3% each. The US market is also responding to the early aisle of the House on Thursday for a Republican Several Dollar spending bill aimed at adding others while extending the tax cuts of around $4.5 trillion from President Donald Trump’s first term in 2017. The bill, which has strict requirements for Medicaid…
It started for me later than many people. I was 31 when I had my first panic attack.Stephen Neely (File photo)I am a doctoral student, living alone in a new city and after one semester of the program I was not sure if I was a member.If you asked me if I was feeling stressed that morning, I would probably say no – and believed it. But one night, I drove on a remote highway and my chest suddenly tightened, my muscles tensed, and my hands began to shake. Out of nowhere I felt like I could not breathe and…
TALHASSEE – A federal judge on Wednesday rejected an argument made by an artificial intelligence company that the chatbot is protected by the initial amendment, at least for now. The developer behind Characher.ai is about to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that the company’s chatbot forced a teenager to commit suicide. By the judge’s order, what legal experts say is that it is one of the latest constitutional tests of artificial intelligence, illegal death lawsuits will proceed. The lawsuit was filed by Florida’s mother, Megan Garcia. Megan Garcia claims that her 14-year-old son, Swell Setzer III, was a victim of the…
Restaurants and resorts across the city and Central Florida celebrate Memorial Day weekend with fun events and specials, as well as discounts and charity for the military and nonprofit organizations that support them. Read our delicious selection: American Social Bars & Kitchen: “Tip Your Army” this anniversary. In a partnership with Horse Soldier Bourbon, the restaurant is reviving its fan-favorite peach tea cocktail over the weekend. Simply upload your receipt and the tips up to $100 will match and will be donated to the Tunnel. This is a foundation that provides mortgage-free households for Goldstars and fallen first responders with…
The warm climate and lush environment were an early draw for the Florida tourism industry. Railway arrivals, leisure travel and air conditioning jumped the Sunshine State ahead of the 1971 arrival at Walt Disney World. Over the decades, many travel stops have come and gone. Over the years, take a quick look at Central Florida attractions. •1878: Glass-bottomed boats are being introduced at Silver Springs, Marion County. •January 1936: Dick Pope Sr. establishes Cypress Garden, the state’s first theme park, in Winter Haven. Ultimately, it is known for being the Southern Bells, a film setting and “the world’s waterski capital.”…
As a reporter, I know that Congressional hearings are changing over time and performance is greater than essential. But as a Floridian, I am under more Congressional scrutiny on one topic. President Donald Trump’s plan is to restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency.I say “change” because Trump’s plans are not clear, persuasive or inconsistent. He proposes eliminating FEMA and moving disaster management and recovery to the state. In January, Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of FEMA, including whether it would serve as a “support agency” for the state rather than a comprehensive umbrella for American disaster…