Things To Do In SW Florida

Who knew? A lot of Floridians, it turns out, would like some free government money to harden their homes.

Since the state’s My Safe Florida Home grant program was revived in 2022, about 29,000 homeowners have received up to $10,000 each to strengthen or replace their roofs or to install impact-resistant doors, windows or storm shutters.

But the application portal has been closed since July 17 of last year, leaving about 45,000 applicants on a waiting list after undergoing free windstorm mitigation inspections.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking the state Legislature to fund grants to clear that waiting list so fresh applicants can line up this year.

DeSantis’ 2025-26 budget request seeks $590 million in additional funding for the popular program. If approved, it would be the largest single-year outlay since the program was revived. Of the total, $480 million would be earmarked for homeowners on the waiting list and another $109 million would fund grants for 10,000 new applicants.

An annual recurring outlay of about $100 million would fund about 10,000 new grants each year. read more

By DIDI TANG and HALELUYA HADERO

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has paused imposing tariffs on small-value packages arriving from China, apparently to give federal agencies time to sort out how to process millions of such shipments that have come through the U.S. border every day without paying taxes.

More than 90 people have been reported ill on board a Royal Caribbean ship sailing out of Tampa, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

An outbreak of an unknown illness with primary symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting has stricken 89 of 2,164 passengers as well as 2 of 910 crew on board the Radiance of the Seas, according to a report on the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program website.

The ship that departed the Port of Tampa on Feb. 1 is returning to the port Saturday morning to complete a seven-night Caribbean cruise.

The outbreak could be determined to be norovirus, a common gastrointestinal bug that the CDC tracks aboard cruise ships.

Norovirus has been blamed already in 2025 for outbreaks aboard Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, the Viking Mars of Viking Ocean Cruises and Holland America Line’s Volendam.

Q. I receive a survivor benefit based on my husband’s work under Social Security. I receive a pension from my work as a teacher, and I was not contributing to FICA. I contacted the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine if I would be entitled to a larger benefit because of the repeal of the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The SSA representative told me that because I was receiving a survivor benefit based on my work record, I would not be entitled to a larger benefit. Is that correct?

A. No, it is not correct. Your survivor benefit is based on the record of earnings your husband received under Social Security. I would contact the SSA again. If you receive the same misinformation from a representative, ask to speak with a supervisor.

Q. I receive a pension from my career working under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) with the federal government. My husband is deceased. He was receiving a Social Security benefit based on his work record. When he passed away, I asked Social Security if I was eligible for a survivor benefit. At that time, I was told that my pension was too high, and I was not entitled to any survivor benefit. Am I entitled to a benefit now that the previous regulations were repealed? read more

Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World will both have Super Bowl presences on Sunday, possibly within minutes of one another.

Universal will showcase its upcoming Epic Universe theme park, which is set to open in late May.  A 30-second commercial released Friday shows glimpses of roller coasters, flying dragons, a water ride, the Mario Kart attraction and a leap into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic.

It ends with the tagline “Our universe will never be the same” before another jump into a magical-looking portal, one of the trademark looks of the theme park.

Universal says its ad will run after the game and just before the trophy presentation.

That’s familiar territory for Disney, which for many years has used the post-game period for the “I’m going to Disney World” promotion.  The company reportedly plans an ad for its Disney+ streaming service during the game.

On social media, Disney has posted that a key player would be appearing at Magic Kingdom on Monday.  The last three post-Super Bowl theme park celebrations have been at Disneyland in California. The last time players were paraded in Florida was 2021, when Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski representing the winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. read more