Things To Do In SW Florida

About 4 million people in Florida are insured by UnitedHealthcare, a company facing backlash after its CEO was shot to death in Manhattan, followed by public outrage over its pattern of coverage denials.

Florida represents UnitedHealthcare’s second largest market after Texas, providing coverage through employee plans, the Affordable Care Act open marketplace and Medicare Advantage plans.

This week, the insurer’s prior authorization and coverage denials in the state drew the same anger and frustration seen nationwide on social media in the wake of the shooting. Florida lawyers, insurance advocates and medical billing experts say being informed about UnitedHealthcare’s practices, making smart choices and fighting back is critical, especially now that the insurer uses sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) to deny approvals and claims. According to consumer research site, ValuePengiun, UnitedHealthcare denies claims at a rate nearly double the industry average and now faces a barrage of lawsuits, including hundreds in Florida. read more

PORT CANAVERAL — The Disney Treasure cruise ship’s arrival to Florida is something Disney Cruise Line is used to — the second ship of a new class preparing for its maiden voyage.

It’s what comes next that marks uncharted territory for the cruise line as it prepares to flood the market with seven more ships in seven years.

The line is running through preview sailings on Treasure ahead of its maiden voyage Dec. 21 when it begins normal seven-night Caribbean sailings, taking on the weeklong duties while its sister ship Disney Wish, which began sailing in 2022, continues short three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral.

“We’ve been really able to build on the launch of the Disney Wish and by following up with the Treasure almost right behind — certainly feels right behind — with new stories, new intellectual property, new character experiences,” Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager for Disney Cruise Line said during an interview on the ship. “Just sort of taking and building upon what we did with Wish and being able to add enough unique, different spaces and stories that it’s really interesting and exciting for guests and for our crew and for our cast.” read more

“The sky’s the limit!” said SoDough Square owner Rob Bair in response to major projects at Orlando International Airport that will bring a slew of popular local food offerings to terminals A and B.

Bair’s award-winning Detroit-style pizzeria is one of them. And he and his team were thrilled to be included in the plans, approved by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority on Wednesday.

Orlando airport’s multibillion-dollar spending spree will modernize aging terminals. Here’s what you get.

“It’s so exciting to be part of such a dynamic, high-traffic environment and to share our unique pizza with both travelers and airport staff,” Bair said. “Winning this bid is a tremendous honor, and our team is fully committed to delivering a high-quality dining experience that aligns with the airport’s mission and meets the needs of its guests. We are already hard at work on the next steps and look forward to transforming this new location into a must-visit destination.”

The project, said airport Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Angela Starke, is part of a concession master plan that will take “a holistic approach to dining and shopping experiences at Orlando International.” read more

The U.S. agriculture industry has started talks with Donald Trump’s transition team in a bid to advocate for the food business as the president-elect pledges tariffs and mass deportations.

Groups including the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agriculture powerhouses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. and Cargill Inc., and the International Fresh Produce Association, were among those involved in the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter. The National Council of Agricultural Employers also has a meeting on the books.

The groups are prioritizing topics such as Trump’s promised tariffs, which could upend trade with key commodity buyers like China and Mexico, as well as immigration, with U.S. agriculture becoming more reliant on foreign labor. Some industry advocates are lobbying for the expansion of a visa program for temporary workers, and others want China to stick to crop purchases pledged during the “Phase One” trade deal negotiated by Trump in his previous term, said the people who asked not to be named citing private talks. read more

SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week.

Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said.

The medical examiner’s office has not released his cause of death, but police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.”

Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company.

Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. read more