Things To Do In SW Florida

As recently as June, a U.S. Coast Guard plan to force a drawbridge to remain open for longer periods of time over the Okeechobee Waterway near Stuart prompted Brightline officials to worry that its new rail extension to Orlando could be slowed to a crawl.

But now the Coast Guard, which by law regulates the bridge’s operation, is offering a new set of temporary operating procedures designed to satisfy the access needs of marine interests, Brightline and the Florida East Coast Railway, the latter of which owns the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard disclosed a new temporary operating plan — dubbed a “temporary deviation” — through a notice in the Federal Register on Friday. Deviations are essentially test periods designed to allow the Coast Guard to analyze the impact of new procedures before it imposes a final operating schedule for the bridge.

“The Coast Guard is adhering to the regulatory process established by Congress for the regulation of bridges and waterways, and we will continue to be transparent in the process,” said Rear Admiral Douglas M. Schofield, commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, in a statement. “We are engaged with the many stakeholders who have a vested interest in the final rulemaking for a bridge operating schedule, which includes the boating public, elected officials who represent the constituents in the communities most likely to be impacted, as well as Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway, amongst others.” read more

As homeowner insurance premiums skyrocket, Florida drivers are getting an extra nasty surprise this year: Sharply increased auto insurance renewal rates.

Ana Curbelo says her monthly premium increased from $170 to $280 to insure her 2004 Toyota Camry. “It’s crazy for this minimal coverage,” she said. “And I’m over 50.”

Jon Klapper says he just received a renewal notice from Progressive that increased his premium on his nine-year-old Kia Optima by 26%. “Never had a claim,” he said.

Robin Phillips says monthly insurance premiums are now higher than car payments. “The increases should be for those that are making claims and getting tickets and/or points on their license,” she said.

If it makes you feel any better, auto insurance charges are going up nationwide, experts say, to catch up with post-pandemic inflation in repair and parts costs, increases in crashes as we drive more carelessly, and higher vehicle prices.

Of course, Florida being Florida, we get to pay extra-high increases over and above the national average due to a number of unique Florida factors like hurricane damage, a high rate of uninsured drivers, high auto theft rates and claims fraud. read more