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Michael MolineSeptember 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered a three-month freeze on insurance rate increases for homeowners struggling to recover from Hurricane Irma — plus a three-month grace period for policyholders who received non-renewal or cancellation notices just before the storm hit. “Due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma, Floridians should be focused on getting back to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 13, 2017

Rain from Hurricane Irma has engorged the Santa Fe River, imperiling an Interstate 75 bridge that traverses the waterway, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said. The bridge is at mile marker 408 on the northern edge of Alachua County. The river “is expected to crest at historic and unprecedented levels, presenting a potential threat to […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2017

A Florida nun is pitching in on the cleanup efforts following Hurricane Irma by taking a chain saw to downed trees while dressed in her full habit. Miami-Dade police posted video of Sister Margaret Ann at work on social media taken by an off-duty officer who came across her. Police say the nun was cutting […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2017

Parts of Florida inched back toward normalcy on Wednesday with workers restoring power, clearing roads and replenishing gas supplies, even as scenes of destruction emerged from southernmost islands and new dangers emerged for residents without electricity. Residents drifted back from shelters and out-of-state hotels to see Hurricane Irma’s scattershot destruction. Positive signs included some curfews […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 13, 2017

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Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday night said he’s “made it clear” that getting gasoline to the pumps and turning the lights back on are tied for his No. 1 priority. Scott “will continue to aggressively work until every Floridian can return to work and their kids can go back to school,” his office said in […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2017

Florida could recover from Hurricane Irma’s wrath in time for its busy tourism season this winter, but that’s likely not the case for harder-hit Caribbean islands including St. Martin/St. Maarten, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Barbuda, according to travel experts’ early reads. Damage assessments still were underway yesterday, but impacts on Florida’s $100 […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2017

Hurricane Irma’s devastating storm surge came with weird twists that scientists attribute to the storm’s girth, path and some geographic quirks. A combination of storm surge, heavy rains and swollen rivers sent some of the worst flooding into Jacksonville, Florida, even though Irma roared into the opposite end of the state, had weakened to a […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2017

Florida fruit growers and farmers have just barely begun to assess the damage Hurricane Irma wrought on the state’s citrus, sugar cane and vegetable crops—but they expect it will be significant. With power and communications still out across much of Florida, officials said Tuesday that getting a full picture will take weeks. What remains unknown: […]

Associated PressSeptember 12, 2017

Most commercial airports in Florida reopened Tuesday, but activity was limited and hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed as the state recovered from Hurricane Irma. American Airlines said the storm forced it to cancel more than 5,000 flights over several days, cutting into revenue and profit. Miami International Airport said that some airline and […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 12, 2017

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott toured impacts of Hurricane Irma in Lee County with City of Bonita Springs Mayor Peter Simmons and Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno.

Headlines
We can feel it in the air: College football is back! Image via Katalina Enriquez/FreshTake Florida.

Rick Scott blocks insurance premium hikes, cancellations during Irma recovery

55 feet high and rising? I-75 bridge could be in trouble

Florida nun dons habit, grabs chain saw to help after Irma

Florida inches back toward normalcy as teams scour southernmost islands and authorities warn of mass devastation

Rick Scott: ‘Fuel and power Florida’s top priorities’

Irma effect on tourism mixed

Irma made for bizarre storm surge

Irma delivers punch to agriculture

Airports open but cancellations linger

Rick Scott tours impacts of Hurricane Irma in Lee County