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☆ Who is Ron DeSantis? 15 Florida Voters Discuss. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Patrick Healy | Adrian J. Rivera | Mr. Healy Is The Deputy Opinion Editor. Mr. Rivera Is An Editorial Assistant In Opinion. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Ron DeSantis that captivates Florida conservatives but also draws a measure of respect from some people there who vote Democratic? To be sure, plenty of Democrats can’t stand Mr. DeSantis, who is up for re-election next month and is widely seen as a top-tier Republican presidential candidate in 2024. We decided to hold our latest Times Opinion focus group with 15 Florida voters from across the political spectrum, so people beyond the state can better understand Mr. DeSantis and get a stronger handle on this possible future national leader. One participant who voted for President Biden but likes Mr. DeSantis said, “I felt that the Democrats had their chance. The group participants largely seemed to see Mr. DeSantis’s re-election as a done deal; it’s what will likely happen afterward that thrilled or chilled them the most.

☆ Florida's Hispanic voters back DeSantis over Crist, support Martha's Vineyard migrant flights
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Marc Caputo | Noah Pransky | Marc Caputo Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Florida’s Hispanic voters back Gov. “There are lots of Hispanic voters in this state who really like the governor’s style, this strongman who won’t back down. And Crist has no mojo,” said Coker, who conducted the bilingual survey of 625 likely Hispanic voters from Oct. 17-22. And other Hispanic voters from throughout Latin America also side with Crist over DeSantis by a narrower percentage, 53% to 43%. Both DeSantis and Crist receive strong support from voters registered with their respective parties, but DeSantis has slightly more intense intraparty support than Crist, and the governor is leading among independent Hispanic voters by a 22-point margin.

☆ America's 'Zoomtowns' are running out of water
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Remote workers aren't just driving up housing prices but also adding more of a burden to already water-strapped regions. Running out of waterAmerica's water crisis, which has been bubbling for years, has become dire. The lack of fresh snow means that less water makes its way into the river and its massive reservoirs — Lake Mead and Lake Powell — upon which the region depends for water. They found that statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home orders triggered "significant increases" in residential water consumption — a trend the researchers attributed, in large part, to remote workers. While population growth does increase water usage, it's (pardon the pun) a drop in the bucket of the bigger-picture crisis.

☆ Mortgage rates expected to fall to 5.4% by late 2023, banking group projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —After more than doubling this year, mortgage rates are expected to retreat in 2023, according to an updated forecast from the Mortgage Bankers Association. MBA is forecasting mortgage rates to end 2023 at around 5.4%. Ultimately, the Fed’s ongoing efforts to tame inflation will slow homebuyer demand for mortgages in 2023, according to the forecast. But since more homeowners are staying put, unwilling to give up their ultra low mortgage rates, it means fewer starter homes are available. She also said that amid this slowdown, the mortgage industry will take a hit.

☆ 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.

☆ This eight-sided shelter made from bamboo costs about $110 and could prove a lifeline for victims of natural disasters
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A $108 home made of bamboo could prove a lifeline for victims of natural disasters. The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan has developed zero-carbon, low-cost shelters made from bamboo. Heritage Foundation of PakistanBamboo has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel and some types of concrete, yet is also lighter, more flexible and cheaper. The bamboo shelters can be built in a few hours, then dismantled and moved wherever they are needed. Heritage Foundation of Pakistan.

☆ 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.

Turkey Point sits on porous rock and underneath it is the Biscayne Aquifer – a primary source of drinking water. Nuclear plants have up to 60 years after they shut down to dispose of their nuclear waste. “FPL and the NRC regularly evaluate nuclear power plant operating conditions and physical infrastructure to ensure ongoing safe operations,” the company said. Electrical cables from Turkey Point Nuclear Power plant that power 1 million homes in South Florida. Alfonso Duran for NBC NewsNew homes under constructed near Turkey Point nuclear power plant in Miami in September.

☆ It would be a 'real mistake' to assume other countries will avoid UK-like turmoil, and the US must watch its fiscal issues, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Other nations could see the same market turmoil that played out in the UK, ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers warned. He pointed to the risk of a "doom loop" created by unsustainable deficits and rapidly rising interest rates. "Things can change extraordinarily fast if you lose credibility," Summers said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. Summers also noted liquidity issues in the market which could eventually lead to a situation where there are more sellers than buyers. "The fiscal issues need, sooner or later, to be back on the table in the United States."

☆ Allstate Loss Highlights Struggles Among Insurers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Leslie Scism | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The nation’s biggest car insurers, struggling with high inflation and mounting accidents, are now facing losses from vehicles submerged by flooding from Hurricane Ian. The inflation pressures prompted Allstate to say Wednesday it would take an $875 million charge to bolster its claims reserves in its coming third-quarter earnings, mostly tied to its auto-insurance business. Allstate, which is a top-five car and home insurer by premium volume, took a $408 million inflation-related charge in the second quarter.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Allstate, AT&T, IBM, Tesla and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

AT&T – The telecom giant's stock jumped 7% after the company surpassed earnings and revenue estimates for the recent quarter. AT&T's wireless revenue rose 5.6%. Tesla – Shares of electric automaker Tesla fell 6% Thursday, a day after the company reported third-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations for revenue. Freeport McMoRan – Shares of Freeport McMoRan jumped more than 3% after the mining company reported earnings Thursday. The company reported third-quarter earnings per share of $2.36 versus the StreetAccount estimate of $2.19.

☆ Real-estate investors rush to score deep discounts on Florida properties hammered by Hurricane Ian: 'If they were asking $1 million before the storm, I'll offer $750,000'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Real-estate investors are trying to take advantage of the down market by buying properties for less. They seem undeterred by high insurance costs, possibly falling home values, and ever-worse storms. The real-estate market in Florida just doesn't stop. "If they were asking $1 million before the storm, I'll offer $750,000," Lema told The Wall Street Journal. Photo by Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty ImagesStill, it seems many buyers are undeterred by or unaware of insurance costs, future home-value depreciation, and the risk of ever-stronger hurricanes and rising sea levels.

☆ The only US state without commercial airline service is getting 5 new routes to Florida next year — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Low-cost startup Avelo Airlines is launching five new routes to Wilmington Airport in New Castle, Delaware. Delaware is the only US state without commercial airline service after Frontier Airlines left in June. Low-cost startup Avelo Airlines announced on Thursday that it will open a new base at Wilmington Airport in New Castle, Delaware on February 1. Henryk Sadura/Getty ImagesAvelo will launch twice weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays between Wilmington and Fort Myers starting on February 3. Walter Bibikow/Getty ImagesAvelo will launch twice weekly flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays between Wilmington and West Palm Beach starting on February 4.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: AT&T, American Airlines, Blackstone and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Peter Schacknow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The company said wireless revenue rose 5.6%, the best quarterly improvement in more than a decade, and postpaid phone net additions came in higher than expected. American Airlines (AAL) – American Airlines beat top and bottom line estimates for the third quarter as travel demand continued to surge despite economic worries. Blackstone (BX) – Blackstone added 1% in premarket action following better-than-expected quarterly results. Tesla (TSLA) – Tesla slid 5.3% in premarket trading after it reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenue and cut its full-year delivery target. Las Vegas Sands (LVS) – Las Vegas Sands reported a larger-than-expected loss for the third quarter, while revenue beat analyst forecasts.

☆ Blackstone is betting big on lending out money in the private markets, and the PE giant has $182 billion to do it
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Blackstone has some money to lendBlackstone, the world's largest private-equity firm and a big fan of warehouses, reported earnings on Thursday. By comparison, back in the good ole days (see: Q3 2021), Blackstone reported a profit of $1.4 billion. Blackstone reported its private credit unit was up 3% in the third quarter and 9.3% over the past 12 months. To read more about Blackstone's push into private credit, click here. A Fed president spoke somewhere that a Fed president shouldn't really be speaking, The New York Times reported.

☆ Florida sees rise in flesh-eating bacterial infections
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths. Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment — including warm, standing water — could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria. People with open wounds should avoid such water and seek medical care immediately if an infection is apparent.

☆ Insurer Travelers profit falls on hurricane costs, lower investment returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. flag is seen in a flooded rural area after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Arcadia, Florida, U.S., October 4, 2022. REUTERS/Marco BelloOct 19 (Reuters) - Property and casualty insurer Travelers Companies Inc (TRV.N) reported a 20% fall in quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by hurricane-related claims and lower returns on its investments. Insurers are bracing for a hit of up to $57 billion from Hurricane Ian in Florida and South Carolina, risk modeling firm Verisk said earlier this month. The insurance industry also faces hefty claims from the Ukraine crisis and greater uncertainty brought on by higher claims costs from inflation. Pretax net investment income dropped 23% to $593 million, Travelers said.

☆ Lowe's downgraded at Evercore ISI, cites slowing home improvement demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A slowdown in home improvement demand could spell trouble for Lowe's future growth outlook, Evercore ISI says. "Our downgrade is based on the view that slower [home improvement] demand and disinflation could push comps lower in 2023, making margin gains muted," Melich said. In the home improvement market, Evercore ISI views shares of Home Depot more attractively, given that retailer's Pro business and exposure to contractors and professionals. Lowe's shares have slumped about 25% this year (vs a 30% loss at Home Depot). Despite a tricky outlook ahead, Evercore ISI expects Lowe's to benefit from damage brought about by Hurricane Ian.

☆ Cuba calls U.S. trade embargo a 'hurricane' that never ends
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Cuba on Wednesday said the decades-old U.S. trade embargo has been causing record financial losses and untold human suffering in recent months, at a time when Cuba was also battling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez made the comments at the launch of an annual campaign for a United Nations resolution condemning the trade embargo, which was put in place after Cuba's 1959 revolution. He said Cuba was grateful for the U.S. aid but was still crippled by the embargo, which he called a "hurricane" that never ceases to batter the island. The U.N. General Assembly will vote on Nov. 2 and 3 on a non-binding resolution condemning the trade embargo. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Dave Sherwood and Nelson Acosta, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The eight people trapped in the Hideaway Village motel realized that they may die as geysers shot up through the buckling floors and the deadbolts holding their doors shut snapped like toothpicks under Hurricane Ian’s assault. After the motel crashed and the roof above the women gave way, a motel employee next door pulled them out of the water. The wrecking of the Hideaway Village motel, pieced together through interviews with survivors, reveals how the storm’s death count could have easily been much higher than 135 people, according to an NBC News tally. Hurricane Ian tore the roof off the Hideaway Village motel. But on Sept. 27, the women arrived at the Hideaway Village motel, full of energy, under the impression that the storm’s threats were overstated, Maston said.

☆ Home Buyers Flock to Florida Cities Devastated by Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Robyn A. Friedman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Less than a month after Hurricane Ian caused widespread devastation to southwestern Florida, investors and other buyers are scouring for housing deals in a region where home prices have soared in recent years. Demand remains strong from both locals and out-of-staters, according to residential real-estate agents in Naples, Fla., and other areas near the path of the Category 4 storm. They say they have received numerous inquiries from people still interested in relocating to the Sunshine State, or hoping to pick up distressed properties.

☆ A winning $494 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Fort Myers weeks after Hurricane Ian battered the area
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A winning Mega Millions ticket sold in Fort Myers, Florida, is offering a glimmer of hope to an area still struggling to rebuild weeks after Hurricane Ian unleashed a fury of destruction and devastation. Two lucky Mega Millions tickets matched all six numbers in Friday's drawing — 9, 22, 26, 41, 44 and the Mega Ball 19 — for a prize totaling $494 million. One ticket was sold in California and the other at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, the Florida Lottery announced Monday. One resident said she hopes the Mega Millions winner will give some of the money to a local charity to help people still struggling to get on their feet. Another resident said she was just happy that there was some good news coming from the Fort Myers area.

☆ U.S. Treasury proposes climate data collection rule for insurers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Destroyed buildings are seen after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, U.S., October 4, 2022. The Treasury's Federal Insurance Office said in a Federal Register notice that it was seeking public comment on the proposal, under which it would collect current and historical underwriting data on homeowners’ insurance. The zip-code level data would provide the insurance office with "consistent, granular, and comparable insurance data needed to help assess the potential for major disruptions of private insurance coverage in regions of the country that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change." Treasury said the proposed data collection rule would help the Federal Insurance Office to assess both the availability of insurance for millions of Americans as well as the affordability of such insurance. “Today’s action by the Federal Insurance Office is an important step in determining how Americans are being affected by the increasing costs of climate change,” Yellen said in a statement.

☆ Florida farmers and ranchers could see up to $1.5 billion in Hurricane Ian-related losses
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Florida farmers and ranchers lost up to $1.56 billion in crops, livestock, and nursery and aquaculture products due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, according to a new preliminary analysis from the University of Florida released Tuesday. The assessment done by the UF/IFAS Economic Analysis program puts the preliminary losses between $787 million and $1.56 billion across millions of acres of agricultural lands impacted by the hurricane. Citrus, vegetables, melons, and livestock sustained the most “significant production losses,” the report said. “Our preliminary estimate is a range, a wide range, to account for many of these unknowns. Assessments are still ongoing and the final value of agricultural losses to the state will not be complete for weeks, according to the report.

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