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Staff ReportsOctober 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott and Volunteer Florida on Wednesday announced the first round of Florida Disaster Fund grant awards for organizations providing disaster relief following Hurricane Irma, according to a press release. Each recipient organization is receiving $25,000 for disaster response activities. Examples include financial assistance with rent, mortgage and utilities; food, clothing and replacement of […]

Mitch PerryOctober 17, 2017

(UPDATED) Debbie Wasserman Schultz is again pressing Gov. Rick Scott on his decisions about debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The South Florida Democrat says she was already perplexed about why the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) refused to submit to FEMA local requests for full reimbursement. The local communities were forced to […]

Associated PressOctober 16, 2017

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At first there was no hint of distress in the 911 calls, no sense of panic. But newly released emergency calls from a sweltering South Florida nursing home that lost its air conditioning to Hurricane Irma showed staffers becoming increasing agitated by an unfolding disaster that would ultimately claim 14 elderly lives. The city of […]

Associated PressOctober 16, 2017

Florida communities cleaning up and making repairs after Hurricane Irma may expect the U.S. government to reimburse their costs, but an analysis by The Associated Press shows the Federal Emergency Management Agency make take years to pay those bills — if it pays up at all. Dozens of requests for reimbursement from FEMA are still […]

Peter SchorschOctober 14, 2017

From the “In Case You Missed It Department”: While you were focused on legislative committees this week, the House Republican Caucus quietly installed the next Speaker in a hotel basement. Jose Oliva, a Miami Lakes Republican, will lead the GOP-controlled chamber in 2018-20, following Richard Corcoran, assuming the Republicans hold a majority after the next […]

Phil AmmannOctober 13, 2017

Jacksonville Bold is intended to appeal to a discerning audience, particularly to those who see politics for what it truly is — a confluence of money, power and timing. We see evidence of that in every Bold — and this week is no different, as Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s Kids Hope Alliance reform bill advanced through […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 12, 2017

After suffering major damage from Hurricane Irma, counties told the newly-formed House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness that they are confident in their ability to handle disasters. It seems they’re mainly concerned with reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—something that might be a large focus for the new committee. Representatives from […]

Michael MolineOctober 12, 2017

Florida’s tax structure will produce only $52 million in gains on existing state spending during the coming fiscal year, and will leave lawmakers more than $1 billion in the hole during each of the two budget years after that. That doesn’t count what the state needs to spend to recover from Hurricane Irma. The news […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 12, 2017

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Thursday said he worried that the feds’ citrus forecast wouldn’t accurately reflect the devastation to the state’s citrus crop after Hurricane Irma. “I am concerned about what that forecast may be, given that so many of the circumstances that are fundamental to having an accurate forecast have changed,” Putnam said in a […]

Michael MolineOctober 12, 2017

Hurricane Irma recovery clearly will dominate the 2018 Legislative Session, but the chairman of the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee hopes to find time to address a few of the state’s other problems. Like assignment of benefits abuse, for example. “I fully expect that to be a policy discussion,” Rep. Danny Burgess said following an […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
back view of redhead child painting on canvas in art school

Florida Disaster Fund grants awarded

Debbie Wasserman Schultz again questions Rick Scott on debris removal

911 calls on nursing home dying: ‘Oh my God, this is crazy’

3 appeals for hurricane aid pending in Florida since 2004

Takeaways from Tallahassee — The rise of Jose Oliva

Jacksonville Bold for 10.13.17 — Power, money and timing

FEMA reimbursements uncertain, counties say

Irma confounds already straightened state budget prospects, committee learns

Adam Putnam warns agriculture loss is ‘still unfolding’

House insurance chairman hopes to take up AOB, workers’ comp reform again