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Joe HendersonSeptember 18, 2017

Hurricane Irma rammed home the point that Floridians need leaders to provide more than a mop to deal with the damage and misery these mega-storms bring. We just got overwhelmed by a natural disaster that showed again how vulnerable we are. Climate change – yes, deniers, it is real – will likely bring more storms […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Students who go to school in counties that were hit hard by Hurricane Irma will be getting meals on the federal government’s tab. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Monday announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture accepted his request to allow students in 48 counties subject to a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration to receive free school meals […]

Associated PressSeptember 18, 2017

Florida’s economy has long thrived on one import above all: People. Until Irma struck this month, the state was adding nearly 1,000 residents a day — 333,471 in the past year, akin to absorbing a city the size of St. Louis or Pittsburgh. Every jobseeker, retiree or new birth, along with billions spent by tourists, […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

Standing tall in a NAVY cap, Florida Gov. Rick Scott will be an enduring image from Hurricane Irma. Seemingly everywhere but the eye of the storm, he was there on social media urging millions to evacuate, calmly taking charge at emergency briefings, even delivering early word of devastation in the Keys after a much-publicized flyover. […]

Associated PressSeptember 17, 2017

Tim Stanton emerged from his ruined workshop off Highway 1 on Big Pine Key and collapsed to the ground, his sunburned, tear-covered face contorted in anguish. The skeleton-thin 58-year-old with long, stringy gray hair sat under an old gas station awning, overcome by his personal loss in this idyllic place that was one of the […]

Blake DowlingSeptember 16, 2017

Irma was a monster; some parts of the state were lucky, others were not. My prayers are with all those impacted by the storm. Shout outs to our state and local leaders for keeping everyone in the loop; a lot was learned from Hermine last year. I personally thought Gov. Rick Scott did a great […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2017

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera wants to “help you.” With what exactly, we don’t know. Lopez-Cantera filed papers with the state on Sept. 5 forming a new political committee called “Helping You.” The paperwork was sparing in detail, listing the committee’s statement of purpose as “political” and saying “none at this time” for any candidates or individuals the […]

Michael MolineSeptember 15, 2017

You probably don’t have to worry about your insurance company’s ability to pay claims arising from Hurricane Irma. Do worry about a shortage of adjusters to help them calculate your losses. That could inflate the cost of managing claims. Fred Karlinsky, co-chairman of the insurance regulatory and transactions practice at Greenberg Traurig, said Florida insurers […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

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A South Florida senator has filed the first bill in response to the deaths of eight nursing home residents this week after Hurricane Irma knocked out their air conditioning. Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, filed the measure (SB 284) on Friday afternoon. Among other things, it would require the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) “to determine […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

The Legislature’s chief economist has told lawmakers that next year’s relatively tiny budget surplus will be erased because of costs from Hurricane Irma. Amy Baker, director of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, presented a working version of the state’s long-range financial outlook to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday. She explained that extra costs to […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
Orlando World Center Marriott (Courtesy of Orlando World Center Marriott)

Joe Henderson: Florida’s hard choices after mega-storm

Free meals for Irma kids

Irma’s damage a reminder of Florida economy’s vulnerability

Rick Scott could get political boost for leadership in Irma

Irma wipes out dreams across independent-minded Florida Keys

Blake Dowling: Lessons from Irma; tech tips for the next storm

Takeaways from Tallahassee — CLC’s mysterious new PC

Fred Karlinsky predicts insurers will turn to international sources for Irma payouts

First legislation filed after nursing home deaths

State surplus money ‘gone’ because of Irma