Things To Do In SW Florida

TALLAHASSEE — A new federal report says Florida’s struggling citrus industry already was expected to produce less fruit during the 2024-2025 growing season. And that was before Hurricane Milton swept across Central Florida.

Based on surveys conducted in mid-September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday released a forecast for the 2024-2025 season that showed an overall 16.8 percent decrease in production of oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruits from the 2023-2024 season. What’s more, production was projected to be below the 2022-2023 output, which was the lowest in 90 years.

The industry has grappled for two decades with deadly citrus greening disease and issues such as encroaching development. But it got hammered in 2022, when Hurricane Ian tore across the heart of the industry. And now, growers have to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday night in Sarasota County before crossing the state.

“Unfortunately, we’re getting all too familiar with these storms,” Matt Joyner, CEO of Bartow-based Florida Citrus Mutual, said Thursday when discussing Milton’s impact. “None of them are good, but we’re gonna pick up the pieces and move on.” read more

Lane Gillespie | Bankrate.com (TNS)

American culture changes at a breakneck pace — just ask fans of Stanley cups and skinny jeans in 2024. But over the past decades, one mantra hasn’t changed much: Don’t talk about your personal finances. Today, money is such an awkward topic that only 38% of U.S. adults feel comfortable discussing their bank account balances with family and close friends, according to Bankrate’s new Financial Taboos Survey.

It’s normal to feel anxious at the thought of discussing your financial situation. But open conversations about money can be a powerful tool to help you learn more about your finances. If you ask common financial questions, like how to use credit card rewards or how to save more, you may be surprised how often you get helpful advice from those around you.

Bankrate’s latest data breaks down exactly how Americans feel about discussing their finances, especially this upcoming holiday season — and we explain how you can approach uncomfortable conversations about lending money. read more

Alyssa Bauder was just learning how to read, but she had already memorized the colors of food packaging that spelled danger for her: peanuts. The 6-year-old knew to stay away from chocolate dressed in orange or blue and yellow wrappers.

Then everything got bungled on Valentine’s Day. Her first grade class exchanged handfuls of candy all disguised in special pink and red designs.

When Alyssa got home, she tore away the pretty candy wrapper and took a bite of a mini chocolate bar not knowing it was a Butterfinger. Immediately, something didn’t feel right.

Was it her chest or her throat that felt funny?

She wanted water, but couldn’t move.

The bottle was right in front of her, but she was frozen.

Alyssa screamed for water from her parents, then started vomiting.

Alyssa had no words to describe the scary situation taking over her body: an anaphylactic reaction. Her parents had never seen this happen before and didn’t have anything on hand to make it stop.

The panic of an extreme allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, is the reality for millions of kids and adults across the U.S. read more