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Preventing Mold and Mildew in Grout: Tips for SWFL Homeowners

Preventing Mold and Mildew in Grout: Tips for SWFL Homeowners

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Living in Southwest Florida (SWFL) has many advantages: beautiful weather, coastal breezes, and easy access to the Gulf. But the same warm, humid climate that makes the area so enjoyable can also create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow in tile grout.

Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and outdoor patios are especially vulnerable. For homeowners in Naples, Ft Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and beyond, preventing moisture buildup is the key to keeping grout clean, healthy, and long-lasting.

Below are some practical steps to help prevent mold and mildew from forming in your grout lines.

Control Moisture and Humidity

Humidity is the biggest driver of mold growth. In coastal areas like that of Southwest Florida, moisture can accumulate quickly in bathrooms and kitchens.

Homeowners should:

Run bathroom exhaust fans during and after showers

Open windows when weather allows

Use a dehumidifier if indoor humidity remains high

Dry shower walls and floors after use read more

Iran war puts at risk key pipelines, terminals and refineries that supply the world with oil and gas

Iran war puts at risk key pipelines, terminals and refineries that supply the world with oil and gas

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By DAVID McHUGH, AP Business Writer

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The Iran war has put at risk some of the world’s most critical oil and gas infrastructure — the pipelines, refineries, and shipping terminals that keep energy flowing from the countries around the Persian Gulf to the global economy.

Strikes by Iranian drones have disrupted operations, while risk of Iranian strikes has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Oil fields in countries including Iraq have cut back output as storage fills up. Qatar, a major supplier of liquefied natural gas, has shut down its exports as well.

“A lot of very critical energy infrastructure has been either forced to shut down because of direct damage from drones and missiles,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, “or because production is effectively being shut in as a result of shipping grinding to a halt. We’re already starting to see some of the global ramifications of that.” read more

SpaceX lines up Monday night launch of a pay-TV satellite

SpaceX lines up Monday night launch of a pay-TV satellite

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Every now and then, SpaceX has a customer other than itself including a planned launch Monday night that won’t be the company’s Starlink satellites. Instead, it’s looking to send a pay-TV satellite to space for EchoStar Corp.

A Falcon 9 rocket on the EchoStar XXV mission is aiming to send the communications company’s satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 during a 149-minute window that opens at 11:19 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts a 90% chance for good conditions at the launch site, which improves to 95% in the event of a 24-hour delay.

The first-stage booster for the mission is making its 14th trip to space, and will aim for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas.

EchoStar’s business includes a variety of telecom brands including Boost Mobile, Sling TV and DISH TV.

The EchoStar XXV is the first of two new satellites constructed by Lanteris Space with the follow-on satellite, EchoStar XXVI, not set to launch until 2028. The two have driven the majority of more than $450 million in construction costs in 2025, according to its most recent quarterly report. The company earned $15 billion in the most recent quarter and has 7 million pay-TV subscribers, including 5.02 million DISH TV subscribers and 1.98 million Sling TV subscribers. read more

As Iran war shakes energy system, some see powerful argument for renewable energy

As Iran war shakes energy system, some see powerful argument for renewable energy

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By SETH BORENSTEIN and JENNIFER McDERMOTT

World leaders have tried and failed to curb climate change by appealing to nations to act for the common good. Now, the Iran war and its costly energy crunch have some experts wondering if selfishness and nationalism may be a more likely way to save the planet, by boosting support for homegrown renewables over imported fossil fuels.

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Bombed refineries, disrupted shipping channels for oil and liquefied natural gas and skyrocketing fuel prices should point even the most reluctant leaders to a cleaner fossil free future, hope some experts. read more

Uber’s women-only option goes nationwide in the US

Uber’s women-only option goes nationwide in the US

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By ALEXANDRA OLSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Uber launched a feature Monday to allow both women riders and drivers across the U.S. to be matched with other women for trips, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing concerns about the safety of its riding-hailing platform.

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The new feature is being rolled out nationwide despite an ongoing class action lawsuit against the policy in California, filed by Uber drivers who argue that it is discriminatory against men. Rival ride-hailing company Lyft is also facing a discrimination lawsuit over a similar offering that it introduced nationwide in 2024. read more