Things To Do In SW Florida

By AMY TAXIN

SOMIS, Calif. (AP) — Andreas Tompros lost his home and at least a third of his avocado orchard to a wildfire last year, but the 47-year-old grower is not worried about his farm making a comeback.

Related Articles

• 
  Wrongful death lawsuit says Big Oil contributed to heat wave and woman’s death

• 
  Ex-Goldman Sachs banker gets 2 years in prison for plot to fleece billions from Malaysia’s 1MDB fund

• 
  Appeals court halts decision that struck down Trump tariffs

• 
  Northrop Grumman doubles down on new rocket investment with Firefly

• 
  Victoria’s Secret website is down in the US as the lingerie seller addresses a ‘security incident’

While California farmers often rattle off a list of challenges they face including high labor costs, water restrictions and overseas competition, many avocado growers say they have a good thing going. A key reason may come as a surprise to some — Mexican imports.

When the United States lifted its ban on Mexican avocados in 1997, California growers worried at first that the imported fruit would displace their production. read more

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose this week to its highest level since early February, further pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers.

Related Articles

• 
  Ask a real estate pro: Should HOA pay for off-site parking during structural repairs?

• 
  A little bit of farm, a little bit of suburbia: That’s the recipe for Agritopia

• 
  Construction will start on Osceola County’s planned Crossprairie city center in 2026

• 
  Hanover secures land for Banning Ranch development in Leesburg

• 
  Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices

The rate increased to 6.89% from 6.86% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.03%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose. The average rate ticked up to 6.03% from 6.01% last week. It’s still down from 6.36% a year ago, Freddie Mac said. read more

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence technology bellwether Nvidia overcame a wave of tariff-driven turbulence to deliver another quarter of robust growth amid feverish demand for its high-powered chips that are making computers seem more human.

The results announced Wednesday for the February-April period came against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again trade war that has whipsawed Nvidia and other Big Tech companies riding AI mania to propel their revenue and stock prices upward.

But Trump’s tariffs — many of which have been reduced or temporarily suspended – hammered the market values of Nvidia and other tech powerhouses heading into the springtime earnings season as investors fretted about the trade turmoil dimming the industry’s prospects.

Related Articles

Hawaii’s governor signs new hotel tax legislation to help cope with climate change

Delta flight delayed because 2 pigeons sneaked aboard a plane in Minneapolis read more

By AUDREY McAVOY

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s governor signed legislation Tuesday that boosts a tax imposed on hotel room and vacation rental stays in order to raise money to address eroding shorelines, wildfires and other consequences of climate change.

Related Articles

• 
  Nvidia overcomes tariff-driven turbulence to deliver Q1 results that eclipsed projections

• 
  Delta flight delayed because 2 pigeons sneaked aboard a plane in Minneapolis

• 
  Fed minutes: Uncertainty ‘elevated’ as risks of higher inflation and unemployment rise

• 
  How to cut spending without cutting out small businesses

• 
  Sanford airport adds low-cost carrier offering direct flights to Dominican Republic

The signing, which comes nearly two years after a Maui wildfire killed 102 people and wiped out almost all of Lahaina town, marks the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet.

Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually. The money will be used for projects like replenishing sand on eroding Waikiki beaches, promoting the use of hurricane clips to secure roofs during powerful storms and clearing flammable invasive grasses like those that fueled Lahaina’s wildfire. read more

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two pigeons sneaked aboard a Delta Air Lines plane, delaying the flight twice.

The airline confirmed that the pigeons got aboard a flight Saturday that was leaving Minneapolis for Madison, Wisconsin.

A passenger who shot video of another man using his jacket to capture one of the birds told news outlets that the plane had to return to the gate twice because of birds flying around the cabin. Tom Caw said the first bird was captured by a ground crew. The second time, a passenger stepped in.

“Pilot said when he radioed the control tower about us coming back due to a pigeon, the guy said that was a first for him. Pilot told him it was the second time for him — the first being half an hour earlier,” Caw said.

Delta said in a statement that the flight was delayed 56 minutes by the avian stowaways.

“Delta appreciates the careful actions of our people and our customers to safely remove two birds from the aircraft prior to departure and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel,” the airline said. read more