Things To Do In SW Florida

By Eliza Haverstock | NerdWallet

Federal student loan payments will resume in October — but a 12-month “on-ramp” will protect borrowers from the worst consequences of skipping student loan payments.

It’s not a continuation of the interest-free pandemic payment pause, however.

“During this period, if you can pay your monthly bills, you should,” President Joe Biden said in a June 30 press conference. “But if you cannot, if you miss payments, this ‘on-ramp’ will temporarily remove the threat of default or having your credit harmed, which can hurt borrowers for years to come.”

Just because you can postpone student loan payments for up to a year doesn’t mean you should. Here’s what you need to know about the student loan on-ramp, the consequences and alternatives.

How does the on-ramp work?

The on-ramp will run from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. You don’t need to sign up for the on-ramp; it’s automatic. So if you simply don’t pay, it’ll be in effect.

During this time, borrowers who don’t pay their monthly student loan bills can expect the following benefits and drawbacks: read more

Four Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of Aug. 27-Sept. 2, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Osceola County

Jj’s Exquisite Dining at 872 Cypress Parkway in Kissimmee shut down on Aug. 28. Inspectors found 15 violations, two of which were a high priority for flying insects and roach activity.

Officials conducted a second visit on Aug. 29. Inspectors found 12 violations, but none were a high priority.

The restaurant met inspection standards.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery #1132 at 5170 W. Irlo Bronson Highway in Kissimmee shut down on Aug. 28. Inspectors found 18 violations, five of which were a high priority.

Those violations include flying insects, an employee using soiled equipment in food preparation, rodent activity, raw food stored next to ready-to-eat food and food held at the wrong temperatures.

Officials revisited the restaurant on Aug. 31. They found 11 violations and issued a time extension for the employee using soiled utensils during food preparation. read more

A vein of nostalgia will run throughout the new features coming new ship Disney Treasure from Disney Cruise Line when it debuts in late 2024 from Port Canaveral. That includes some dad jokes.

A bar inspired by the Jungle Cruise theme park ride will be serving up puns and beverages alongside venues that pay deference to some of the older titles in the Disney Vault such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a certain Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Also on tap is a new dinner theater experience based on the Disney Pixar movie “Coco,” a new dessert venue themed to “Zootopia” and a spate of updates to features found on sister ship Disney Wish making their second appearance on the growing DCL fleet.

The Disney Treasure, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet expansion, will set sail in December 2024, embarking on its inaugural season of seven-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida. Adventure will serve as the architectural and thematic foundation of the ship, in honor of Walt Disney’s passion for travel and exploration. (Courtesy/Disney Cruise Line) read more