Things To Do In SW Florida

Health savings accounts have many advantages, but you could expose yourself to potential penalties if you are not careful.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are personal investment accounts from which people can pay for qualified medical and dental expenses on a pretax basis. If you make a withdrawal for expenses that are not “qualified,” you may be subject to a penalty of up to 20%. Qualified medical expenses are defined in IRS Publication 502.

One of the advantages of HSAs is that you can name your spouse as the beneficiary. This allows a surviving spouse to continue to use withdrawals for qualified medical expenses without incurring penalties. As long as the beneficiary is a spouse, the earnings of the investments in the account will continue to be tax-deferred. A surviving spouse can use the HSA with any type of healthcare plan. If they have an HSA eligible insurance plan, they can continue to make contributions to the plan.

If you name someone other than a spouse as the beneficiary, then the individual who inherits the account will immediately be subject to income taxes on the balance of the account. The account then is no longer an HSA. Since any beneficiary other than a spouse will be immediately subject to income tax, you may want to consider the tax bracket of any potential beneficiaries. read more

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT and MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is shelling out billions of dollars for clean energy and approving major offshore wind projects as officials race to secure major climate initiatives before President Joe Biden’s term comes to an end.

Biden wants to establish a legacy for climate action that includes locking in a trajectory for reducing the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to rescind unspent funds in Biden’s landmark climate and health care bill and stop offshore wind development if he returns to the White House in January.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after Biden dropped from the race this summer, has said she will pursue a climate agenda similar to Biden’s, focused on reducing emissions, deploying renewables and creating clean energy jobs.

Announcements of major environmental grants and project approvals have speeded up in recent months as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian said Biden is “sprinting to the finish” and delivering on promises to promote clean energy and slow climate change: read more

Only one restaurant in Central Florida shut down following health inspections the week of Oct. 6-12, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

Sichuan Alley at 5034 W. Colonial Dr. in Orlando shut down on Oct. 7. Inspectors found 11 violations and only one was a high priority for rodent activity. A second inspection took place on Oct. 8. Inspectors found 10 violations but none were a high priority. The restaurant requires a follow-up inspection but poses no immediate threat to the public.

Complaints and warnings

Orange County had the top spot for most warnings and other complaints in Central Florida with 13.

Volusia had nine, Seminole had five, Brevard had two and Lake and Osceola had none.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a trend that has surprised many: Why, despite being squeezed by high prices, have Americans kept spending at retail stores and restaurants at a robust pace?

One key reason is a relatively simple one: Wealthier consumers, boosted by strong gains in income, home equity and stock market wealth, have increasingly driven the spending.

That trend, documented by Federal Reserve research, represents something of a shift from the pre-pandemic period. And it suggests that consumer spending, the primary driver of the U.S. economy, could help sustain healthy growth this year and next.

Lower-income consumers, by contrast, have been disproportionately squeezed by higher-priced rent, groceries and other necessities, leaving them less able to spend on discretionary items, like electronics, entertainment and restaurant meals, than they were before the pandemic. Though their spending is starting to rebound as inflation-adjusted incomes rise, it could be years before their finances fully recover. read more

Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, is bringing back its Beach Night promotion with holiday movie flair beginning Nov. 2.

The attraction will show family-friendly movies on Saturdays as visitors watch from the beach at the end of a water park day.  The films will be included with regular Aquatica admission.

Popcorn, hot chocolate and other goodies will be available for purchase at Kura’s Beachside Panini at the attraction.

The Beach Night movie schedule includes:

• Nov. 2: “Wonka”

• Nov. 9: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”

• Nov. 16: “The Grinch” (2018 version)

• Nov. 23: “The Polar Express”

• Nov. 30: “Elf”

• Dec. 7: “The Santa Clause”

• Dec. 14: “The Polar Express”

• Dec. 21: “Elf”

Aquatica: Tweaked water slide a different sort of ride

Aquatica features water slides, lazy rivers, raft rides, water play areas and a white sandy beach facing a wave pool. Its latest addition was Tassie’s Underwater Twist, a revamped big-bowl attraction that doubles as a virtual trip to Australia’s Shark Bay. read more