Things To Do In SW Florida

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week, though it remains close to its highest level in more than two months.

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The rate fell to 6.81% from 6.83% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.17%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also fell. The average rate dropped to 5.94% from 6.03% last week. It’s down from 6.44% a year ago, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including global demand for U.S. Treasurys, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions and bond market investors’ expectations for future inflation. read more

Entering young adulthood saddled with debt has become standard for many who want an undergraduate degree, sometimes to the tune of tens-of-thousands of dollars.

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Around 45% of 2025 high school graduates will go on to a four-year college, according to NerdWallet analysis, and more than one-third of them will take on student loans to pay for their higher education. With interest rates on undergraduate federal student loans the highest in over 10 years, understanding how to best navigate college funding and loan repayment options can help these students prepare for the future.

Note: At the time of publication, developments are ongoing regarding the future of the Department of Education, university funding, some student loan repayment and forgiveness options and certain grants and scholarships. Incoming college students and their parents should rely on their respective support systems within academia for updates and guidance — these include financial aid offices, guidance and/or admissions counselors and nonprofit student help organizations. read more

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Tariff worries continue hanging over companies as they report their latest financial results and try to provide guidance on their path ahead.

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Some tariffs remain in place against key U.S. trading partners, but others have been postponed to give nations time to negotiate. The tariff and trade picture continues shifting and that makes it difficult for companies and investors to make a reliable assessment of any impact to costs and sales. read more

The majority of theme park injuries in the first quarter of 2025 were related to big roller coasters, according to a state report, although less intense rides and attractions also made appearances.

Coasters at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando were listed six times for the January-March period by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state’s major theme parks self-report about visitors who are injured on their rides and require at least 24 hours of hospitalization.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures, a coaster that launches into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, appeared three times in the latest report. On Feb. 3, a 33-year-old man had a seizure after experiencing the attraction. On March 8, a 53-year-old man had chest pains after the Hagrid ride, as did a 26-year-old man on March 18. The men in the March incidents had pre-existing conditions, the report says.

SeaWorld announces opening day for Expedition Odyssey ride read more

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leveled harsh criticism at the operations of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday even as he tried to reassure nervous investors that the United States would maintain its global leadership role.

“America first does not mean America alone,” he said in a speech to the Institute of International Finance, where he also promised support for the multilateral banks’ core missions. “To the contrary, it is a call for deeper collaboration and mutual respect among trade partners.”

Although Bessent said the IMF and the World Bank are “falling short,” he stopped short of calling for the U.S. to withdraw from the institutions as some conservatives had advocated in a Project 2025 proposal, created by the Heritage Foundation.

He said the institutions “serve critical roles in the international system. And the Trump Administration is eager to work with them—so long as they can stay true to their missions.” read more