Things To Do In SW Florida

Since the start of the government shutdown, thousands of flight delays have bottlenecked travel at major U.S. airports due, in no small part, to staffing shortages.

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Air traffic controllers and other TSA workers are considered essential, which means they’ve been required to work since Oct. 1, when the shutdown began. Like other essential federal government workers, controllers are expected to clock in — without pay — until the shutdown ends.

It’s no secret that workers prefer to get paid for their labor, which has led to some calling out sick. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has threatened to fire the “problem children” workers who don’t show up — estimated to be around 10% of controllers. read more

By Sarah Foster, Bankrate.com

If it feels harder to get ahead right now, that’s because it is. Many Americans are navigating a “worst-of-both-worlds” economy: a cooling job market on one side and stubborn inflation on the other.

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  Social Security recipients get a 2.8% cost-of-living boost in 2026, average of $56 per month

Prices aren’t rising as rapidly as they once were when the U.S. economy roared back after the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, the largest share of workers in four years (62 percent) say that their paychecks have not kept pace with increases in their household expenses due to inflation over the past 12 months, according to Bankrate’s annual Pay Raise Survey. read more

By Andrew Dehan, Bankrate.com

If you remember the turmoil of the global financial crisis, hearing that foreclosure activity is up might make your knees weak and palms sweaty. I know I can’t help it.

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  Average long-term US mortgage rate drops to 6.19%, lowest level in more than a year

After reading recent reports of climbing foreclosures, I spoke with experts ranging from real estate data companies to non-profit debt counselors to foreclosure auction sites. Their opinion? The national foreclosure rate is still quite low.

So take a deep breath. This isn’t 2008. The housing market isn’t about to crash. The picture is much more complex than one statistic lets on. Here’s why they aren’t panicking and neither should you. read more

By Sarah Foster, Bankrate.com

Andy Challenger is the person businesses call when it’s time to let workers go. And for the past year and a half, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

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A third-generation outplacement consultant at Challenger, Gray & Christmas — the firm his grandfather founded in the 1960s after his own layoff — Challenger has heard a variety of reasons over the past few months for trimming headcount. Companies looking to cut staff after the pandemic-era hiring boom. Executives debating how to integrate artificial intelligence. Businesses worrying about eating the cost of higher tariffs. Firms tightening their belts in a slowing economy. read more

TALLAHASSEE — In an unusual move, the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings on Monday asked an appeals court to allow it to resume deciding Citizens Property Insurance Corp. claims disputes after a Hillsborough County circuit judge halted the process.

Lawyers for the Division of Administrative Hearings filed an emergency petition at the 2nd District Court of Appeal, arguing that Circuit Judge Melissa M. Polo overstepped her authority when she issued a temporary injunction. Polo ruled Aug. 1 that the process, which involves arbitrating disputes at the Division of Administrative Hearings, is likely unconstitutional.

Monday’s petition said Polo’s ruling has “indefinitely” put on hold all pending Citizens arbitration cases. It said 390 Citizens policyholders are awaiting resolution of disputes.

“The order thus completely shuts down the claims dispute resolution procedure authorized by the Florida Legislature, irreparably harming DOAH (the Division of Administrative Hearings), Citizens and the thousands of policyholders whose current and future claims will be in limbo unless the circuit court’s order is stayed,” said the petition filed by lawyers from the Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC, law firm, including former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson. read more