Things To Do In SW Florida

Kissimmee city commissioners will move forward next summer with a road project they hope will change the fabric of downtown — transforming it from a cut-through for motorist into a final destination.

The connect-kissimmee-plan approved April 6 would narrow nearly two miles of downtown’s main road between John Young Parkway and Vine Street from four lanes to two. The over $16.3 million project aims to make downtown more pedestrian friendly by widening sidewalks and slowing vehicle traffic.

Commissioners wrestled for years with the idea of the “road diet” — decreasing lanes to improve safety, reduce speeds and enhance mobility for everyone — because business owners were concerned about the financial impact. Downtown streets are home to the city’s nightlife and lined with restaurants and shops.

But the tide seemed to change at a Jan. 7 commission meeting where business owners spoke in favor of it.

Ray Parsons, owner of popular restaurant and bar 1881 on Broadway, asked commissioners at that meeting to follow through on long-discussed plans to reimagine the corridor and reduce lanes. read more

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press

As a Biden administration ban on so-called “junk fees” took effect Monday, Ticketmaster said it will start displaying the full price of a ticket as soon as consumers begin shopping.

Ticketmaster, long a subject of complaints about its hidden fees, was among those targeted by the new rule, which was announced in December by the Federal Trade Commission. The rule requires ticket sellers, hotels, vacation rental platforms and others to disclose processing fees, cleaning fees and other charges up front.

Ticketmaster said Monday it commended the FTC’s action.

“Ticketmaster has long advocated for all-in pricing to become the nationwide standard so fans can easily compare prices across all ticketing sites,” Ticketmaster Chief Operating Officer Michael Wichser said in a statement.

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If you’re a retired homeowner, there’s a good chance that your property is worth far more than you paid for it — and that equity could be a lifeline.

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Back in 1995, the typical home cost $114,600. Today’s median sale price is nearly $400,000, according to the National Association of Realtors.

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) is one way to take some of that value and turn it into cash.

But is a HELOC the right solution during retirement? Let’s look at a few scenarios.

Scenario 1: You’re worried about the economy

Recent headlines have given retirees plenty of fuel for doomsday-level fears about their financial future. From concerns about the stability of the Social Security Administration to questions about the ripple effect of tariffs and global market volatility on 401(k)s, it’s understandable to look for ways to buffer your finances. read more

By CLAIRE SAVAGE and ALEXANDRA OLSON

CHICAGO (AP) — Recruiting women into construction has been a painstaking but broadly popular effort, with growing bipartisan and industry support amid persistent labor shortages. But President Donald Trump’s aim to stamp out diversity and inclusion programs threaten to cripple community-based organizations that have been critical to that goal.

The Trump administration has moved swiftly to cut off federal funding to dozens of community groups that implement programs on the ground, including apprenticeship readiness programs designed for women, anti-harassment training, and child care and transportation support for workers who need them.

The overhaul stems from a pair of anti-DEI executive orders, which direct federal agencies to cancel all “equity-related” grants, and require government contractors and recipients of federal funds to certify, under threat of severe financial penalties, that they do not operate DEI programs that violate anti-discrimination laws. read more

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writer

Shares of many companies that source at least some of their goods from China are surging on Monday as U.S. and Chinese officials announced that they had reached a deal to roll back most of their recent tariffs and called a 90-day truce in their trade war to allow for more talks on resolving their trade disputes.

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U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop its 145% tariff rate on Chinese goods by 115 percentage points to 30%, while China agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods by the same amount to 10%. read more