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☆ A boomer couple left coastal Florida after 3 decades for rural Missouri because the Sunshine State 'is definitely not paradise anymore'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But after decades by the water in Florida, Meaders said Florida "is definitely not paradise anymore." Meaders wanted to be closer to her son and grandson, and the couple wanted a small-town feel. AdvertisementMany older Americans continue to flock to Florida, though some have recently told Business Insider they've had enough of the Sunshine State. Meaders and Dunne met in Brevard County after Dunne moved back. They've found the hospitality of everyone in their community much improved, noting that many people in her small Missouri city recently moved from California.

Persons: Sherry Meaders, James Michael Dunne, Meaders, they've, millennials, Missouri Meaders, Dunne, Rockledge, We're, it's, she's, They've, We've Organizations: Service, Business, Sunshine State, Bureau, Survey, Coast Guard, Bell System, Daytona, Kansas City Locations: Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City, Rockledge, Brevard County, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Chicago, Pacific, Alaska, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Volusia County, Daytona Beach, Africa, Miami, America, Kansas, In Florida, California

For instance, the U.S. has blocked shipments of cotton coming from China, a top manufacturer of popular clothing brands, because it was produced by forced or prison labor. While prison labor seeps into the supply chains of some companies through third-party suppliers without them knowing, others buy direct. Cargill acknowledged buying goods from prison farms in Tennessee, Arkansas and Ohio, saying they constituted only a small fraction of the company’s overall volume. For instance, about a dozen state prison farms, including operations in Texas, Virginia, Kentucky and Montana, have sold more than $60 million worth of cattle since 2018. “What for?”FOLLOWING THE MONEYThe business of prison labor is so vast and convoluted that tracing the money can be challenging.

Persons: it’s, Willie Ingram, “ They’d, billy clubs, they’d, ”, Ingram, didn’t, they’re, don’t, Andrea Armstrong, Frank Dwayne Ellington, Ellington, Koch, “ It’s, it’s somebody’s, Alishia Powell, Clark, “, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, Archer Daniels, Cargill, ” McDonald’s, Mills, ” Bunge, Burger, Jermaine Hudson, ” Hudson, Calvin Thomas, Thomas, Ken Pastorick, Pastorick, Jennifer Turner, Faye Jacobs, Jacobs, ’ ” David Farabough, they’ve, Joshua Sbicca, Cliff Johnson, Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee, Tyson, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, that’s, ” Ivey, “ They’re, ’ ”, William “ Buck ” Saunders, Hickman’s, Brooke Counts, Counts, John’s, Jack Strain, Tammany Parish, Russell Stover, Curtis Davis, Robert Bumsted, Cody Jackson, Columbia University’s Ira A, Lipman Organizations: Louisiana State Penitentiary, The Associated Press, Walmart, Cargill, U.S, Kroger, Target, Aldi, Corrections, Loyola University New Orleans, Koch Foods, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Washington, Archer Daniels Midland, Consolidated, AP, Foods, Dairy Farmers of, Big, Sam’s, Tyson Foods, U.S ., Civilian, OSHA, Fair Labor, American Civil Liberties, Colorado State University, MacArthur Justice Center, University of Mississippi, PepsiCo, Brevard County Sheriff, Arizona . Companies, Costco, Correctional, Prisons, Nut, Maine Foods, Taylor Farms, Transitional, Associated Press, Public Welfare Foundation, Columbia, Lipman Center for Journalism, Arnold Ventures Locations: ANGOLA, La, Southern, Louisiana, Texas, In Louisiana, Angola, United States, “, Ashland, U.S, China, Tennessee , Arkansas, Ohio, Dairy Farmers of America, Texas , Virginia, Kentucky, Montana, Baton Rouge, Mississippi, Manhattan, America, Alabama, American, Arkansas , Texas, Florida , Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, In Alabama, Florida, Brevard County, Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Colorado, state’s St, Tammany, Idaho, In Kansas, Cal, St, Francisville , Louisiana, Feliciana, Investigative@ap.org

Ron DeSantis appointed a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a “parental rights” group that has sought to take over school boards in multiple states, to the Florida Commission on Ethics on Wednesday. Tina Descovich was named to the nine-member, Tallahassee-based commission, which investigates alleged breaches of public trust by elected and appointed officials, as well as state employees. Moms for Liberty started with Descovich and two other Florida women fighting COVID-19 restrictions in 2021. Along with Descovich, DeSantis also appointed South Florida attorney Luis Fuste to the commission. Another vacancy on the ethics commission was created in June, when former member Jim Waldman's term ended.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Tina Descovich, Descovich, ”, DeSantis, Luis Fuste, Glen Gilzean, Gilzean, Jim Waldman's Organizations: — Republican Gov, Liberty, School Board, Florida Coalition of School, Heritage Foundation, Republican, Southern Poverty Law Center, South, Florida Senate, Central, Walt Disney, Disney Locations: TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Florida, Tallahassee, Brevard County, Tampa, Philadelphia, South Florida, Central Florida

☆ The family of a Florida GOP megadonor was on board the private plane that sparked NORAD to scramble fighter jets before crashing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Millionaire John Rumpel said his family was aboard the plane that crashed in Virginia. The private jet flew over Washington DC — causing the military to scramble fighter jets — before crashing. Florida Today reported that Rumpel's wife, Barbara Rumpel, spoke about the plane crash on a Facebook post about a National Rifle Association-related event. The New York Post reported that Barbara and John Rumpel are longtime GOP supporters and made a $250,000 donation to the Trump Victory PAC in 2020. Barbara Rumpel is also an executive committee member of the NRA Women's Leadership Forum, the New York Post reported.

Persons: Millionaire John Rumpel, —, John Rumpel, Barbara Rumpel, Barbara Organizations: Washington DC, Service, GOP, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Encore Motors, Washington Post, New York Times, Cessna, Times, Florida Today, National Rifle Association, The New York Post, Trump Victory PAC, NRA, Leadership, New York Post, Federal Aviation Administration, Associated Press, National Transportation Safety Locations: Virginia, Florida, Washington, DC, Melbourne, East Hampton , New York, North Carolina, Brevard County , Florida

☆ Video shows a 5-foot-long alligator wandering Florida's sewers. Workers initially thought it was a toad.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An alligator was spotted in the underground sewage system in Oviedo, Florida last week, officials said. Footage taken by a robot inspecting pipes shows the 5-foot-long alligator perching in sewage. Officials said that the alligator got away after the robot got stuck. However this time around, the robot stumbled upon a 5-foot alligator lingering in the sewage water of one of the pipes. As the robot moves within snapping distance, the alligator starts to back away with its mouth open.

☆ A Florida Republican who sponsored an anti-drag bill 'can't answer' whether his wife's charity event featuring 'sultry performers' would be criminalized under his own law
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Florida Republican couldn't say whether his wife's charity event would flout his anti-drag bill. The wife of Rep. Randy Fine is hosting a gala featuring "sultry performers," and kids have attended in the past. The description for the event advertises an "evening filled with sultry performers." But the lawmaker could not ultimately answer whether such an event would be criminalized if his bill becomes law. "That said, whether this law passes or not, I would agree that children should not be invited to an event involving 'sultry performers,'" he added.

☆ A drag queen who survived the Orlando Pulse shooting says Florida's LGBTQ community is 'scared' of further hate following DeSantis' push to revoke a hotel's liquor license
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A drag queen who survived the 2016 Pulse club shooting said it only further demonizes LGBTQ people. "Not just in terms of limiting opportunities for drag entertainers, but by demonizing the art of drag as a whole," she wrote. Fine told Insider his motivation for pursuing the bill came after he found out a drag queen show was hosted in a public space in his district last year. However, the representative also said he would not support a bill that eliminates drag shows for consenting adults. In Florida, there have been at least nine demonstrations against the LGBTQ community, the organization found.

☆ Homebuyers, rejoice! You can afford to bid on a more expensive home now that mortgage rates have fallen below 6%
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US housing market is warming back up because of declining mortgage rates. The average for 30-year mortgage rates have just dipped below 6% for the first time in months. Mortgage rates dipped below 6% on February 2, according to Mortgage Daily News, marking their lowest reading since September 2022. The declining mortgage rates have helped to bring buyers back to the market and bolster purchasing power. "We went from sellers controlling everything, to now being more of a neutral, and even almost a buyer's market."

☆ Now may be a great time for buyers to score their dream homes as mortgage rates dip back towards 6% and desperate sellers are willing to accept most offers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

More buyers have gotten back into the market as mortgage rates dip from last year's high. But the real estate market was quickly moving against them as mortgage rates skyrocketed over 7%, and home prices were stubbornly high. "We went from sellers controlling everything, to now being more of a neutral, and even almost a buyer's market." Those looking for a new home are in a good place to cash-in on the perks of a buyer's market right now, Shupe said. In negotiating deals for buyers, she said she's asking sellers to pay fees that result in lower mortgage rates for the buyer.

☆ Meet Brian Sodre, the Florida developer using prefab technology to replace hurricane-ravaged Fort Myers homes with 750-square-foot tiny fortresses
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Brian Sodre is helping Fort Myers, Florida, rebuild with prefabricated tiny homes. prefabricated tiny homes. Sodre says prefab tiny homes can ease the housing-affordability crisis in Fort Myers and beyond. Courtesy of Brian SodreMiniopolis is already set to build eight different made-to-order homes in the Fort Myers area. The typical home in Fort Myers goes for nearly $397,000, up 16.7% from the same time last year, according to Realtor.com .

☆ A brawl broke out between passengers on a luxury cruise ship after a woman fell overboard and died, video shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A woman fell overboard a MSC Cruises luxury ship and died early on Thursday morning. Shortly afterwards, passengers on the ship broke into a fight while waiting to disembark the cruise, the Daily Mail reported. The brawl erupted after the woman fell into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday morning around 5 a.m., per the report. The Italian cruise line said its advanced detection systems immediately alerted them that the woman fell overboard and it then informed passengers that arrival in Florida would be delayed. The US Coast Guard and MSC Cruises did not immediately respond to requests for comment made outside typical working hours.

☆ Florida deputy killed after officer roommate 'jokingly' fires gun he thought was unloaded, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A 23-year-old Florida sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot by his fellow deputy roommate over the weekend, in what the sheriff described as a “clearly dumb and avoidable accident.”Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy Austin Walsh was killed Saturday morning in Palm Bay by his roommate Andrew Lawson, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a Sunday news conference. A single bullet was fired, struck Walsh, and killed him, officials said. Brevard County Sheriff's OfficeLawson immediately called 911 saying he accidentally shot his roommate and needed help, Ivey said. NBC News has reached out to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for comment. Walsh had served with the agency since he was 18 and was part of its Explorers youth program before that, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

A Florida sheriff stunned many of his constituents this week by appearing to endorse spanking students, his comments coming during a press conference in which county officials announced plans to tighten discipline in Brevard County schools. Sheriff Wayne Ivey spins the "Wheel of Fugitive" board at the Brevard County Sheriffs Office in 2017. And he is a Brevard County political powerbroker who helped get two Republicans, Megan Wright and Gene Trent, elected to the county school board. Shortly after they were sworn in Nov. 22, Wright and Trent teamed up with school board chair Matt Susin to oust longtime superintendent Mark Mullins. There was agreement among the Brevard County school officials interviewed that disruptive students are a problem in the system.

☆ A convicted killer who confessed to another murder from '91 told Florida authorities of 'hatred for women'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Michael Townson, 53, allegedly confessed to killing Linda Little while he was serving a life sentence for the 2007 slaying of another woman, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young told reporters. A Volusia County grand jury on Monday indicted Townson on a charge of first-degree murder, Young said. Courtesy DBPDTownson admitted to other killings in central Florida and Tennessee and is considered to be a suspected serial killer, Daytona Beach Police Detective Dave Dinardi said at a news conference. Little, a 43-year-old North Carolina native, had lived in the Daytona Beach area for two years and was working as a waitress when she vanished after her shift around 1 a.m. on Oct. 11, 1991, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported. In 1991, Townson was living in Orlando and would travel to the area to visit the beach, Dinardi said.

☆ A multimillion-dollar war against mosquitoes is underway in Florida after Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

"The mosquitoes are out there, and they’re biting," said Eric Jackson, the deputy director of the Lee County Mosquito Control Division. The Lee County Mosquito Control District, a special district in one of the communities hit hardest by Ian, employs about 100 workers, Jackson said. Anne Askew, a biologist in the Lee County Mosquito Control District's Larviciding Department, uses a microscope to identify mosquito species. Lee County Mosquito Control DistrictIn Lee County, where Fort Myers is located, mosquito counts in the traps began to spike about a week after Ian. Florida officials don’t think federal help will be necessary, though Hurricane Ian’s damage has created challenges for mosquito control workers.

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