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Sales of single-family homes were down 12% in September compared with the same time in the previous year. But interest rates, rising home prices and skyrocketing insurance costs likely played bigger roles than the recent hurricanes. “Florida recovers much faster than you think,” said Brad O’Connor, chief economist for Florida Realtors. Because of stricter building codes implemented in the years after Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992, newer homes withstand hurricanes better than older ones, O’Connor said. The number of households dropped from about 340,000 to about 326,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Persons: ”, Brad O’Connor, Hurricane Andrew, O’Connor, ‘, Hurricane Ian Organizations: Florida Realtors, . Census, Van Lines, Associated Press Locations: Florida, South Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, United States

In North Carolina, the signs read in Spanish, “WARNING: if you are not a citizen of the United States of America, you cannot vote in elections. Earlier this week, Forward Justice addressed a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, calling for the signs to be removed because they constitute "unlawful voter intimidation." The letter was co-signed by nearly two dozen organizations, including the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in elections in North Carolina and at the federal level — and illegal voting rarely happens. Early voting in North Carolina ends on Nov. 2.

Persons: it's, “, ”, Cleta Mitchell, Mitchell, Donald Trump’s, Kathleen Roblez, hotlines, Jaclyn Maffetore, Maffetore, Spanish Jim Womack, Womack Organizations: North, Democratic Oklahoma, Forward Justice, North Carolina State Board, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, noncitizens, Brennan, Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, GOP, Homeland Locations: North Carolina, United States of America, Durham County, U.S, Spanish, Lee County

County election officials in Florida, meanwhile, are facing a potential new challenge after Hurricane Milton made landfall on its western coast late Wednesday. Other county election offices in the state similarly said this week that that they would perform fresh assessments of their election infrastructure following Milton. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday. “We should have the most poll workers we’ve ever had here in Oconee County,” said Ryan Nowland, assistant director of Oconee County elections.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, “ I’ve, ”, Mary Beth Tipton, “ We’ve, ” Tipton, Yancey County, Hurricane Milton, “, ” Brian Corley, Milton, Robert Inman, Inman, Cliff Marr, Marr, ” Marr, Helene, Karen Brinson Bell, Bell, Corinne Duncan, Duncan, ” Duncan, Christopher Heath, Ron DeSantis, Corley, Bill Nye, CNN Kari Ewalt, Osceola, ” Ewalt, they’re, Conway Belangia, I’ve, Belangia, Connie Gore, Cecelia Smith, Crystal Vander, Miguel J, Rodriguez Carrillo, Robert Turick, Turick, Rebecca Blackwell, Cristobal Herrera, Julio Cortez, Giorgio Viera, Ricardo Arduengo, Liz Kelly, Matt, Andrew West, Chandan Khanna, Nadia Zomorodian, Austin, Joe Raedle, Sean Rayford, Marta Lavandier, Jefferee Woo, Bryan R, Smith, Chris Urso, Marco Bello, Brandon Marlow, Marie Cook, Bill Ingram, Reuters Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Ron Rook, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Christian Burke, Lee, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Yamil Lage, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, ” Belangia, we’ve, Ryan Nowland, “ We’re, everyone’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Hurricane, “ Communications, Republican, Republican Gov, Voters, Osceola County’s, South, USA, AFP, Getty, AP, Daytona, Network, Reuters, Bradenton, Tropicana, Major League, Tampa Bay Rays, Celtic Ray Public, Tampa Bay Times, NOAA, Vanguard, School, Ocala, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Disney, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Milton, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana Locations: Carolina, Hurricane, North Carolina’s Yancey County, Yancey, Florida, Florida’s Pasco County, North Carolina, North Carolina’s, Haywood County, North Carolina’s Polk County, ”, Buncombe County, Asheville, Covid, Orange County, Milton, Pasco County, South Carolina, Greenville County, ” County, Martin County , Florida, Port St Lucie , Florida, Englewood , Florida, Manasota Key, Hurricane Milton, Venice , Florida, Riverview , Florida, Lakewood Park , Florida, Siesta Key, Punta Gorda , Florida, North Fort Myers , Florida, Siesta, Volusia, South Daytona , Florida, Bradenton Beach, St . Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Odessa , Florida, Venice, Matlacha , Florida, Palmetto Beach, Tampa, Bradenton , Florida, St . Petersburg , Florida, Clearwater, AFP, Sarasota , Florida, Segundo, Davis, Fort Myers , Florida, Wellington , Florida, Palm, Ocala , Florida, County, Wellington, Orlando, Gulfport , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Palm Beach, Havana, Cuba, Celestún, Mexico, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, St, Pete Beach , Florida, Treasure, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, Kissimmee , Florida, Pickens County, Oconee County, Oconee

Sean Rayford/Getty Images Cars move slowly through Matlacha, Florida, on Thursday after Hurricane Milton damaged power lines. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/AP A satellite image captures Hurricane Milton reaching the coast of Florida on Wednesday, October 9. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday. “Many areas in the county have incurred severe property damage because of back-to-back impacts from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton,” Pinellas County Consumer Protection said in a public advisory Thursday.

Persons: Milton, Floridians, ”, Ron DeSantis, Walt, Aquatica, Connie Gore, Cecelia Smith, Hurricane Milton, Crystal Vander, Miguel J, Rodriguez Carrillo, Robert Turick, Turick, Helene, Rebecca Blackwell, Cristobal Herrera, Julio Cortez, Giorgio Viera, Ricardo Arduengo, Liz Kelly, Matt, Andrew West, Chandan Khanna, Nadia Zomorodian, Austin, Joe Raedle, Sean Rayford, Marta Lavandier, Jefferee Woo, Bryan R, Smith, Chris Urso, Marco Bello, Brandon Marlow, Marie Cook, Bill Ingram, Reuters Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Ron Rook, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Christian Burke, Lee, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Hurricane Helene, Yamil Lage, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, ” DeSantis, “, ” Crews, Melissa Seixas, CNN’s Kate Bolduan, Joe Biden, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, Hurricane, it’s, CNN’s Andy Rose Organizations: CNN, St, Daytona, Tampa International, Sarasota Bradenton International, Coast Guard, Walt Disney, SeaWorld, USA, AFP, Getty, AP, Hurricane, Network, Reuters, Bradenton, Tropicana, Major League, Tampa Bay Rays, Celtic Ray Public, Tampa Bay Times, NOAA, Vanguard, School, Ocala, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Disney, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Milton, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana, Duke Energy, Pinellas County Consumer Protection, “, Government, FEMA, Cross Locations: Florida, Tampa, Hillsborough, Lithia, Clearwater, Johns, Orlando, Sanibel , Florida, St, Petersburg, Georgia, South Carolina, Aquatica Orlando, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando, Martin County , Florida, Port St Lucie , Florida, Hurricane, Englewood , Florida, Manasota Key, Hurricane Milton, Venice , Florida, Riverview , Florida, Lakewood Park , Florida, Siesta Key, Punta Gorda , Florida, North Fort Myers , Florida, Siesta, Volusia, South Daytona , Florida, Bradenton Beach, Milton, St . Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Odessa , Florida, Venice, Matlacha , Florida, Palmetto Beach, Bradenton , Florida, St . Petersburg , Florida, AFP, Sarasota , Florida, Segundo, Davis, Fort Myers , Florida, Wellington , Florida, Palm, Ocala , Florida, County, Wellington, Gulfport , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Palm Beach, Havana, Cuba, Celestún, Mexico, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, Pete Beach , Florida, Treasure, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, Kissimmee , Florida, Melissa Seixas , Florida, Pinellas County, Georgia , Tennessee, Carolinas

☆ Florida’s home insurer of last resort is in serious trouble. Will Milton put it over the edge?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Flood waters inundated a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton came ashore on October 10 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network/Imagn Images A vehicle drives though a flooded street after Hurricane Milton in Siesta Key on Thursday. Rebecca Blackwell/AP The roof of Tropicana Field, destroyed by Hurricane Milton, is seen in St. Petersburg on Thursday. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, Ron DeSantis, Joe Raedle, Milton, Helene, ” Mark Friedlander, ”, ’, Hurricane Ian, Giorgio Viera, Rebecca Blackwell, Ricardo Arduengo, Liz Kelly, Matt, Andrew West, Chandan Khanna, Nadia Zomorodian, Julio Cortez, Austin, Sean Rayford, Marta Lavandier, Jefferee Woo, Cristobal Herrera, Bryan R, Smith, Chris Urso, Marco Bello, Brandon Marlow, Marie Cook, Bill Ingram, Reuters Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Ron Rook, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Christian Burke, Lee, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Yamil Lage, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, Floridians ’, Denise Rappmund, Rappmund, Bobby Atwood, Atwood, won’t, isn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, Property Insurance Corp, Citizens, Dade, “, Insurance Information Institute, CNN, DeSantis, Republican, CNBC, Hurricane, Getty, AP, USA, Daytona, Network, Reuters, Bradenton, Tropicana, Major League, Tampa Bay Rays, Celtic Ray Public, Tampa Bay Times, NOAA, Vanguard, School, Ocala, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Disney, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Milton, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana, Moody’s Investors Service Locations: New York, Florida, Miami, Monroe, Hurricane, Punta Gorda , Florida, Central Florida, Lakewood Park , Florida, Siesta Key, North Fort Myers , Florida, Siesta, Volusia, South Daytona , Florida, Bradenton Beach, St . Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Odessa , Florida, Venice , Florida, Matlacha , Florida, Palmetto Beach, Tampa, Bradenton , Florida, Venice, St . Petersburg , Florida, Clearwater, AFP, Sarasota , Florida, Segundo, Davis, Fort Myers , Florida, Wellington , Florida, Palm, Ocala , Florida, County, Wellington, Orlando, Gulfport , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Palm Beach, Havana, Cuba, Celestún, Mexico, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, St, Pete Beach , Florida, Treasure, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, Kissimmee , Florida, Milton

☆ Why some Florida residents aren’t evacuating ahead of Hurricane Milton
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Paul P. Murphy | Michelle Krupa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Traffic flows east Tuesday along Interstate 4 as residents continue to follow evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton. A motorist drives past broken utility poles downed by strong wind gusts as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday, October 9. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Julio Cortez/AP A man clears debris left by Hurricane Helene from his home in Treasure Island, Florida, on Monday. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday.

Persons: Vivienne Marran, ”, Hurricane Milton, Marran, Helene, they’ve, we’ve, “ I’ve, ” Marran, Helene –, “, Holly Speckhart, Julio Cortez, ‘, Jane Castor, you’re, ” Speckhart, Ian – Bridgit, Budd, Milton, Fort, Ricardo Arduengo, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Joe Raedle, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Lee, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Yamil Lage, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Rebecca Blackwell, Hurricane Helene, Bryan R, Smith, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Marta Lavandier, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, ” Anna Maria Island, William Tokajer, ” Tokajer, “ We’ve, we’ll, “ we’ve, I’ve, We’ve, who’d, –, “ you’ve, ” CNN’s Mary Gilbert, Rebekah Riess, Andy Rose, John Berman Organizations: Sol , Florida CNN, CNN, Hurricane, Tampa Bay, ” Tampa Fire Rescue’s, Milton, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Mayor, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Getty, Disney, Vanguard, School, Ocala, USA, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Bradenton, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Reuters, AP, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana, Holmes Beach Police, Social, Isla del, Sunshine Skyway Locations: Sol , Florida, St . Petersburg, Gulf, Mexico, Tampa, Milton, ” Tampa, Hurricane, Ohio, Cincinnati, Sanibel, Fort Myers , Florida, Orlando, Ocala , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Havana, Cuba, AFP, Palm Beach, Bradenton Beach, Tampa , Florida, Celestún, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, St, Pete Beach , Florida, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, St . Petersburg , Florida, Kissimmee , Florida, Florida, Isla, Isla del Sol, Holmes Beach

Citrus County: Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, residents in any structure incapable of withstanding 110 mph winds will be under a mandatory evacuation order, the sheriff’s office said. That includes campers, tents, mobile homes and manufactured homes. A mandatory evacuation order for zones A and B is set to begin at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Glades County: A voluntary evacuation order will begin Tuesday at 1 p.m. for residents in mobile homes, RVs and low-lying areas. Lee County: Residents in Zones A and B are under evacuation orders that went into effect at noon Monday, officials said.

Persons: Doug Engle, Hurricane Milton, “, Daniella Levine Cava, Milton, George Recktenwald, “ We’re, ” Organizations: Ocala, USA, Florida Division, Emergency Management, Dade Locations: Tampa, Florida, Hurricane, Charlotte County, Charlotte Harbor, Peace, Citrus County, Collier County, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City, Goodland, Glades County, Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Sanibel, Manatee County, . Miami, Dade County, Okeechobee, Pasco County, RVs, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, Volusia County, Intracoastal

☆ 'There's a reckoning happening': An underrated risk will crater property values in high-risk markets by up to 60%
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That's made Burt even more confident about his long-held thesis, which many property owners are ignoring. For example, flood insurance costs in coastal cities could rise from $5,000 per year to $15,000 under the updated national flood insurance pricing set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Burt said. And that's assuming flood risk doesn't continue to rise over time, which Burt believes is unlikely. That would be disastrous for all property owners in those markets, even those not trying to sell. Homeowners in cities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change should be sweating, if they aren't already.

Persons: David Burt, Michael Lewis, Burt, That's, I'm, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Locations: Lee County , Florida, Fort Myers, Paris, that's

☆ The vast majority of California flood victims’ losses won’t be covered by insurance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Story highlights Less than 1% of homes in the affected area have flood insurance LA has over 10 million residents but fewer than 15,000 flood insurance policies Federal flood insurance covers $250,000 worth of damageThe typical homeowners’ policy won’t cover loss from flood damage. That is covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Even some of those with flood insurance could find their policies won’t cover all of their losses. Homeowners can buy excess flood insurance coverage to match the limits of coverage on their homeowners policies, but many do not bother to do so. The NFIP estimates that more than 40% of NFIP flood insurance claims come from outside the high-risk flood zones.

Persons: Lee Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Flood Insurance, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Southern, Bureau, Fort Myers, Homeowners Locations: New York, California, Florida, Southern California, Angeles County, Lee County , Florida, Fort, United States

Ian killed 75 people in Lee County, nearly half of the statewide death toll of 149, officials said. At that point, the National Hurricane Center flagged the possibility of a storm surge covering much of Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Parts of Fort Myers Beach had a 40 percent chance of a six-foot-high storm surge, according to the surge forecasts. In Lee County officials said they were waiting to make an assessment the next morning. Officials expanded their evacuation order later in the morning, and by the middle of the afternoon, Lee County officials were more urgent in their recommendation.

Persons: Ian, Lee County, Ron DeSantis, Lee, Fort Myers, ” Organizations: National Hurricane Service, National Hurricane Center, Fort Myers, Facebook Locations: Florida, Tampa, Fort Myers, Lee County, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, State, Coral, Fort, Cape Coral, Neighboring Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte, Sarasota County, Lee

☆ How to Track a Hurricane
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Judson Jones | More About Judson Jones | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hurricane Idalia continued to build strength over the Gulf of Mexico’s abnormally warm waters on Tuesday, taking aim at a vulnerable but sparsely populated portion of Florida’s coastline known as the Big Bend, where the peninsula curves west into the Panhandle. My colleagues and I on The Times’s Weather desk just redesigned our hurricane tracker with detailed information about the storm’s path and severity. In today’s newsletter, I’m going to tell you how best to track a hurricane’s progress, especially if you’re in its path. But people often misinterpret these maps, thinking they’ll be safe if they live just outside the cone, for example. Nearly a year ago, officials in Florida’s Lee County saw they were on the edge of the cone of uncertainty for Hurricane Ian and delayed an order to evacuate, with devastating consequences.

Persons: Idalia, they’ll, Hurricane Ian Locations: Bend, Tallahassee, Tampa, Florida’s Lee

☆ Ron DeSantis faces new leadership test as Hurricane Idalia barrels toward Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —With the eyes of the country on Hurricane Idalia as it spins toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential ambitions are also under the spotlight as he puts his campaign on hold to manage the crisis at home. The Florida governor is also staving off a field of GOP contenders, who must now also balance sensitivities around Hurricane Idalia with their attempts to overcome DeSantis in the polls. DeSantis has also asserted that he could send his “Florida people” to the southern border to build a wall. “The governor of our state of Florida has created an environment ripe for this.”

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Ian, Republican Rick Scott, Hurricane Michael, Bill Nelson, Scott, Jeb Bush, George W, Bush, Chris Christie, Christie, “, ”, Alex Conant, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio’s, Andrew Romeo, ” Romeo, Hurricane Ian, Joe Biden –, Biden, Joe Biden, Saul Young, Donald Trump, Todd Belt, Angie Nixon Organizations: CNN, Gulf Coast , Florida Gov, Republican, White, Hurricane, US, GOP Gov, GOP, Knoxville News Sentinel, George Washington University, Democrats, Trump, ” Democratic, Jacksonville Locations: Gulf Coast , Florida, Tallahassee, Iowa, Florida, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Fort Myers Beach , Florida, Lee County, Florida’s Big, Jacksonville, DeSantis

☆ Black Lung Disease Is Making A Comeback With Coal Miners - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Drew A. Harris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

By the age of 44, Mr. Hoskins was diagnosed with his own case of the most severe form of black lung. Last year we cared for over 500 former coal miners with the most severe form of black lung, a record for the clinic’s 32-year history. By the end of the last century, thanks, in part, to federal safety standards, severe black lung had nearly been eliminated. But with changes in technology and conditions in coal mines in central Appalachia, cases of severe black lung disease are back to the highest level in decades after the last major study, in 2018. As of that year, more than one-fifth of experienced Appalachian miners have black lung.

Persons: Denver Hoskins, Hoskins, Barbara Kingsolver’s Organizations: Cincinnati Reds, Division, Stone Mountain Health Services, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Kentucky, St, Charles, Va, Lee County, Appalachia —, Virginia , Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Appalachia

☆ Opinion | Barbara Kingsolver Thinks Urban Liberals Have It All Wrong on Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +58 min

It’s like there’s no point in asking who started this because it’s a really, really old antagonism. I think that’s probably what’s most critical right now is that all of our entertainment, our news media, it’s all made in cities. And he’s really pretty horrible, and he doesn’t feed them enough, and that’s really sad. You’re going to have a flat tire, and the guy that pulls up to help you is going to tell your dad within minutes. It’s not like most books you’re going to see.

Persons: Ezra Klein, ezra klein, —, Hernan Diaz, Barbara Kingsolver, “ David Copperfield ”, Dickens, It’s, barbara kingsolver, you’ve, ezra klein We’re, Nobody, I’d, I’ve, Bobby Ann Mason’s, “, — Wendell Berry, Robert Penn Warren, James Still, Harriette, Taylor Greer, you’re, George Washington, ” he’s, — he’s, he’s, I’ll, They’re, George W, Bush, they’re, barbara kingsolver You’re, we’ve, That’s, that’s, I’m, ” barbara kingsolver, barbara kingsolver Oh, barbara kingsolver ezra klein barbara kingsolver, ezra klein Yes, we’re, Charles Dickens, “ David Copperfield, ”, Tommy, ” It’s, ezra klein There’s, barbara kingsolver There’s, Tommy Traddles, Tommy Waddles, who’s, He’s, We’re, Tommy’s, she’s, it’s, Beth Macy, overdosed, ” ezra klein, There’s, grandkids, they’ve, Dori, doesn’t, Peggot, Frances Goldin, Arwen Donahue, She’s, Beth Macy’s, Lazarus, Laline Paull, ezra klein Barbara Kingsolver Organizations: New York, Fiction, Trump, Nicholas County High School, DePauw University, Walmart, The New York Times, . Times, New York Times, Farmers, “, Knoxville —, Purdue Pharma, Purdue, aha, Scots Locations: Appalachia, It’s, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, U.S, exploitations, Congo, Caribbean, Indiana, Nicholas, Arizona, Europe, Tucson , Arizona, Tucson, Paris, Athens, France, “ Shiloh, MAGA, America, Brazil, Eastern Europe, There’s, California, New York, “, Tommy, Pennington, Knoxville, there’s, nove, Lee County, that’s Lee County, that’s, United States of America, who’s, New York City

☆ Fact Check-Image of Ron DeSantis in burger restaurant captured in May 2020
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An image of Florida governor Ron DeSantis sitting across from former vice president Mike Pence in a burger restaurant was captured in May 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing measures in restaurants were still in place. Some shared the image of Pence sitting across from DeSantis with the false claim that it was captured ahead of former president Donald Trump’s rally in Iowa on May 14 (here). IOWA — Just ahead of Trump’s rally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence sit down to eat in the same state” (here). DeSantis lifted all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants in September 2020, months after the image of DeSantis and Pence was captured (here). The image of Pence and DeSantis dates to May 2020.

☆ Trump offered pizza to supporters in a Florida restaurant, asking: 'Does anybody want a piece that I've eaten?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump stopped by a pizza restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida, after giving a speech. A video shows him offering a half-eaten slice of pepperoni pizza to supporters. Over 100 supporters rushed to see Trump as he stopped to get pizza, causing "pandemonium," according to local outlet Wink News. The former president stopped by the eaterie after giving a speech at the Lee County GOP's 2023 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event included speeches from Rep. Greg Steube, Rep. Byron Donalds, and political operative Roger Stone.

☆ Florida Rep. Greg Steube out of hospital after accident at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

SARASOTA, Fla. — A U.S. congressman from Florida who was seriously injured in a tree-trimming accident in Sarasota said Saturday he has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home. A separate tweet said then that he had spent the night in the ICU after sustaining several injuries that were serious but not life-threatening. Steube also thanked staffers at Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Saturday “for the excellent care” he received. Steube was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and just began his third term. He represents all of Sarasota and Charlotte counties and part of Lee County.

☆ Missing Hurricane Ian victim found dead on sunken sailboat months after storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The body of a Florida man who went missing during Hurricane Ian in September has been found on a sunken sailboat months after the storm. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that Hurst's body had been found on a sunken sailboat, "Good Girl," that had been located by divers in Matanzas Pass in Fort Myers Beach. During efforts to recover the vessel, human remains were found on the boat, Marceno announced. Friday's discovery came just days after the body of an 82-year-old Florida woman who also went missing during Hurricane Ian was recovered on Tuesday. Knes had lived in Fort Myers Beach with her husband, who had previously been found dead, with the area being "completely destroyed" when the Category 4 storm hit Florida.

☆ 82-year-old Hurricane Ian victim found dead in Fort Myers Beach more than 3 months after storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

The body of an 82-year-old Florida woman who went missing in September during Hurricane Ian was recovered Tuesday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said. A contract debris removal company cleaning an area near Fort Myers Beach found the remains of Ilonka Knes "deep within the mangroves," Sheriff Carmine Marceno said at a news conference Thursday. Lee County Sheriff's Office"These areas are impassable by boat and they’re not visible by the air," he said. Knes lived in Fort Myers Beach with her husband, who had previously been found dead. One man, James "Denny" Hurst, remains missing.

☆ Arkansas boy buried under floorboards allegedly died after mother's boyfriend drowned him in toilet bowl
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Blu's paternal grandmother, Karen Rolland, 57, told NBC News the boy would have been turning six last week. The body of Blu Rolland was discovered on what would have been his fifth birthday in his house in Moro, Ark. Karen told NBC News that the girl "could barely even walk" and that her clothes were soiled in urine. Ashley initially told Karen that Blu “was not at the residence,” according to Karen and the affidavit. Ashley appeared to give conflicting accounts of who buried the boy's body, according to the affidavit.

☆ Arkansas woman is arrested after her 6-year-old son is found dead under the floorboards of their home
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

An Arkansas woman and man have been arrested after authorities discovered the potentially months-old dead body of a 6-year-old boy beneath the floorboards of his home on Friday. Officials believe the boy "died from injuries sustained in the home, possibly three months ago," the statement said, adding that the state medical examiner will determine the cause of death. A representative for the state medical examiner could not immediately be reached. Authorities also found Rolland's 6-year-old daughter in the home with what they believe were burns to her scalp. The girl is receiving treatment for her injuries at a hospital in Memphis and is in stable condition, police said.

Lee County suffered none of the state’s 123 Irma deaths. That experience influenced many people’s decisions not to flee Hurricane Ian. “Hurricane Ian is going to be the strongest outreach messaging for southwest Florida ever,” said Gleason, the Charlotte County spokesman. “When you live through it, then that message sinks in deep and forever.”A view of the Matanzas Pass side of Estero Island, home to Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Fort Myers Beach is expected to take years to rebuild. Thomas Simonetti for NBC NewsMichael Yost's two closest friends in Fort Myers Beach drowned in Hurricane Ian.

☆ 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.

☆ Flesh-eating bacteria: What to know about Vibrio vulnificus, and how to avoid it
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Vibrio vulnificus causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vibrio vulnificus is one of the bacteria that can cause what’s commonly known as a flesh-eating infection. Vibrio vulnificus infection is the leading cause of death related to eating seafood in the United States. With skin infections, a doctor will first take samples from the infected area to determine if Vibrio vulnificus is what’s causing the problem. Up to 50% of Vibrio vulnificus infections don’t respond to certain antibiotics anymore, studies show.

Hours before Hurricane Ian decimated a small Fort Myers Beach marina, James “Denny” Hurst’s daughter sent him a panicked text. Lee County Sheriff's OfficeThe 72-year-old stayed put. More than 135 people have been confirmed dead by an NBC News count, and their families have begun holding funerals. Find the boat, you’ll find the body.”Ilonka Knes, 82, is one of three missing Lee County residents. Lee County Sheriff's Office“She wouldn’t have left him.

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