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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 […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 15, 2017

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it plans to recommence discharges from Lake Okeechobee tomorrow to slough off the excess water dumped into the lake by Hurricane Irma. The Corps said it will begin pushing “as much water as practical” through the spillway at Port Mayaca Lock & Dam on the east […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

After eight South Florida nursing home residents died when Hurricane Irma knocked out their power, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday directed the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to block the facility from receiving Medicaid payments. Hollywood Police Chief Tom Sanchez said investigators believe the deaths at Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills were heat-related, adding […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2017

As Irma’s misery grows in scope and scale, so does its death toll. The most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the open Atlantic eventually claimed dozens of lives as it tore up the Caribbean and the southeastern United States. Still more are dying in its aftermath. The victims include eight residents of a sweltering Florida […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

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

Army Corps to resume Lake O flows Friday

Rick Scott takes action against nursing home where eight died

A look at some of the victims of Irma