Stellantis said it was ‘appalled’ by UAW President Shawn Fain’s accusations, and GM said it had banned a third-party contractor believed to be responsible for a hit-and-run that injured five striking workers.
TALLAHASSEE — In the second preliminary report on agricultural damage from Hurricane Idalia, state officials on Wednesday estimated the Aug. 30 storm caused up to $447 million in losses for the industry.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the storm, which made landfall in Taylor County at Category 3 strength before crossing other areas of rural North Florida, had its biggest impact on such things as cattle and poultry operations, followed by field crops.
The department’s report said industry leaders described “overwhelming impacts this storm had on not only their current-year crop losses, but the further devastation of damaged infrastructure.” It cited examples such as destroyed fences and shade structures.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared 16 Florida counties as disaster areas because of the storm.
State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said the industry will be supported “to replant, to rebuild and to recover.”
“It’s clear that our state’s farmers, ranchers, and growers — who we rely on daily for our food, fiber and more — have a long road to recovery,” Simpson said in a prepared statement.
Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:
Art Systems of Florida Inc., 1740 State Road 436, Suite 124, Winter Park. Filed: Sept. 20. Assets: $100,001-$500,000. Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Oct. 24.
Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:
Luxury Auto Carriers Inc., 130 Samuel St., Davenport. Filed: Sept. 14. Assets: $500,001-$1 million. Liabilities: $500,001-$1 million. Major creditors: U.S. Small Business Administration, Birmingham, Ala., $528,000; National Funding, San Diego, $45,000; Verizon, Rolling Meadows, Ill., $12,000. Creditors meeting: Oct. 23.
Maison Drake LLC, 155 National Place, Suite 105, Longwood. Filed: Sept. 15. Assets: $74,059. Liabilities: $3,827,598. Major creditors: 8Fig, Austin, Texas, $553,805; U.S. Small Business Administration, Jacksonville, $520,556; Bogg Bag, Austin, Texas, $499,760. Creditors meeting: Oct. 23.
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday said state regulators did not adequately justify approval of a settlement that increased base electric rates for Florida Power & Light and ordered a new explanation.
Justices, in a 4-2 opinion, sent a battle about the settlement back to the Florida Public Service Commission, saying regulators in a decision made in 2021 did not meet a legal requirement of showing why the agreement “is in the public interest and results in rates that are fair, just and reasonable.”
“The commission must therefore give us something to work with: a decision that is reasoned and articulated enough to allow us to assess on what basis it has concluded that the settlement agreement is in the public interest and results in rates that are fair, just and reasonable,” Justice John Couriel wrote in the majority opinion joined by Chief Justice Carlos Muniz and Justices Jorge Labarga and Jamie Grosshans.
Justices Charles Canady and Renatha Francis wrote dissenting opinions and said nothing in state law allows the Supreme Court to send the issue back to the commission for a new explanation.
By Ryan Brady | NerdWallet
“Sheer panic.” That’s what Teddy Mars of Louisiana felt when his homeowners insurance company didn’t renew his policy in early 2023. The last remaining option left him and his family paying more for homeowners insurance than their mortgage.
To cover costs, Mars had to dip into his nest egg and withdraw $12,000 from his individual retirement account. “We’re not sitting on a huge mountain of cash here,” Mars says. And opting out of insurance isn’t an option when you have a mortgage.
“It’ll break my heart, but I think we’re going to have to leave,” says Mars, who grew up in Louisiana. But with a son in high school, it’s not easy to pack up and leave town. Plus, Mars worries about the saleability of his home. “Who wants to buy a house in our area when they can’t insure it?”
Mars’ story is becoming all too familiar among Americans as climate catastrophes tear through the country with greater frequency and ferocity. Combined with inflation and an increase in auto accidents and thefts, many people are facing a crisis of affordability with home and car insurance.