Things To Do In SW Florida

By CORA LEWIS

NEW YORK (AP) — A “click-to-cancel” rule, which would have made it easier for consumers to end unwanted subscriptions, has been blocked by a federal appeals court days before it was set to go into effect. But there are ways to end those subscriptions and memberships, even if they take some work.

The rule would also have required companies to disclose when free trials and promotional offers would end and let customers cancel recurring subscriptions as easily as they started them. But even without the new federal guidance, here are some ways to stay on top of subscription and membership fees.

Use calendar reminders and regularly review your bills

Experts at the Consumer Federation of America recommend setting calendar reminders for whenever a free trial period ends, to alert yourself to cancel promotional offers before the real recurring costs kick in. The auto-enrollment process, in which the company does not remind the consumer via email that a trial is about to end and higher monthly payments will begin, was also at the heart of the FTC’s rule. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABGER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has asked an inspector general to review the cost of the central bank’s building renovations that White House officials have attacked as “ostentatious.”

Related Articles

• 
  Senate confirms Trump’s first judicial nominee of his second term

• 
  A chaotic raid, 360 arrests, and a tragic death: What happened at California’s Glass House Farms

• 
  US imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production

• 
  Trump administration says it won’t publish major climate change report on NASA website as promised

• 
  How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling

A spokesperson for the inspector general, an independent watchdog, confirmed the request and declined further comment. The request was previously reported by Axios.

The Fed has been renovating two of its office buildings in Washington for several years at a current cost estimate of about $2.5 billion, $700 million more than originally expected. The project was first approved by the Fed’s governing board in 2017. Trump administration officials have seized on the expense and some alleged amenities in the remodeled buildings to extend their criticism of Powell, whom the president has attacked for not reducing the Fed’s short-term rate. read more

A ride vehicle from the old, old-school version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction sold for $150,000 at a recent auction of Disney props and memorabilia.

The 9.5-foot-long piece, which came from the Disneyland version of the ride, was sold in the Celebrating the Disney Studio and Parks auction of Van Eaton Galleries, based in Studio City, California.

This particular elephant has an auction history, Van Eaton said. In 1992, during the first Disneyana Convention, it became the first Dumbo ride ever publicly sold by Disney.  After being removed from the ride, the unit was transformed into a grounded photo op.

A certificate of authenticity from Disney says the vehicle is from 1955, meaning a Disneyland original. But the gallery thinks it’s from a 1960s redesign because the sold piece’s ears were not designed to move like the originals did. So, Dumbo buyer, beware.

Other notable sales from the recent auction included a life-size “Star Wars” stormtrooper statue once purchased at Disneyland’s Star Wars Launch Bay. At the recent auction, it went for $10,500. read more

Sesame Workshop was trying to regain full control over its Elmo account on the X platform Monday after a hacker gained access and posted a string of racist and antisemitic messages.

“Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts. We are working to restore full control of the account,” a Sesame Workshop spokesperson said Monday. Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit behind “Sesame Street” and Elmo.

The account was compromised over the weekend and instead of the usual posts of encouragement and kindness, Elmo’s 650,000 followers were given antisemitic threats and a profane reference to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Those tweets were soon deleted, though Elmo’s account retains a link to a Telegram channel from a user who takes credit for the hack.

X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Elmo’s social media account has lately become a place for mental health awareness. Last year, the red fuzzy monster, eternally 3 ½, caused a sensation when he asked: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” It prompted responses from then-President Joe Biden and Chance the Rapper. read more

Brightline, the high-speed railroad that runs between South and Central Florida, will be late with a scheduled July 15 interest payment to investors who hold tax-exempt bonds that were issued last year, the company confirmed Friday.

The unrated bonds, which command 10% and 12% interest rates, were sold through the Florida Development Finance Corp., which reportedly is about to consider another $400 million borrowing for Brightline to expand to Tampa from Orlando.

Bloomberg was the first to report the decision to delay the interest payout.

The deferral does not constitute a default, an event that would occur if the rail line missed three interest payments in a row, according to bond documents.

In a statement forwarded to the South Florida Sun Sentinel after the close of business Friday, the railroad acknowledged the decision to delay the payment, and said it was allowed under the terms of the bond issue. But the delay will come at a cost.

“As a result, annual interest due will increase by a step-up rate of 2.00%,” the statement said. “Following July 15, 2025, we intend to make the deferred interest payment with operating cash flow or proceeds from equity and debt financings that we are actively pursuing.” read more