Things To Do In SW Florida

Q: I bought a house in 2002 with an enclosed patio. More recently, I was approved for a grant from my city to repair my home. A city inspector came out to assess the house for the repairs required through the grant, but I was denied the grant because the enclosed patio was an “unpermitted structure.” I followed up, but the city does not have records going back more than 10 years. Now, I must fix or remove the patio or face fines! Please shed some light on this. — Lyn

A: Homeowners are responsible for meeting the appropriate building code requirements for their property.

The building code is a set of rules published by your municipality that outline the minimum requirements to satisfy basic health and safety concerns. They concern the structure, electrical, and other systems in your home.

Depending on what is being built or renovated, the property owner must get the city’s permission, known as a “permit,” before the work is started. Your city will also inspect the work upon completion to ensure it meets the minimum requirements. read more

By SARAH PARVINI and KAITLYN HUAMANI

LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 300 video game performers and Hollywood actors picketed in front of the Warner Bros. Studios building on Thursday to protest against what they call an unwillingness from top gaming companies to protect union voice actors and motion capture workers equally against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence.

Standing before the crowd, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, said that AI has become the most challenging issue in many of the union’s negotiations.

“We’ve made deals with the studios and streamers. We’ve made deals without a strike with the major record labels and with countless other employers, which provide for informed consent and fair compensation for our members,” he told The Associated Press. “And yet, for some reason, the video game companies refuse to do that and that’s what’s going to be their undoing.” read more