Latest news with #ABCActionNews
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
47% of Florida households don't make enough to cover the basics — and a growing number are now 65 and up
A new report from the United Way's ALICE project reveals a troubling 47% of Florida households don't earn enough to cover basic living expenses. ALICE stands for 'asset-limited, income-constrained and employed' and refers to households that are above the poverty line but earn less than what the organization says is needed to afford the basics depending on household composition and location. This includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology, plus taxes and a contingency fund that equals 10% of a household's budget. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The report, which focuses on data from 2023, says the average 'survival budget' in Florida ranged from $33,804 for a single adult up to $86,688 for a family of four with two adults and two children in child care. Of the state's nearly 9 million households, 13% lived below the federal poverty line while 34% were considered ALICE. The poverty line in 2023 was $14,580 for individuals and $30,000 for a family of four. In some areas, the 'survival budget' was much higher. Monroe County, for example, was among the most expensive places, with necessities costing single adults $45,948 and two adults with two kids in child care $106,608. The ALICE classification shines a spotlight on households who may earn too much to qualify for traditional aid programs but not enough to meet the rising cost of living. This includes Florida's senior households, which make up the largest portion of this group by age. 'More and more households 65 and older are now classified as ALICE,' Ernest Hooper, Chief Communications Officer at United Way Suncoast, told ABC Action News in a story published May 19. 'They're living paycheck to paycheck and not saving money.' That includes people like Leonora Gaspar, who's disabled and on a fixed income. She relies on organizations like Feeding Tampa Bay for some free meals. 'It helps a lot,' she told ABC Action News. 'The rent, it's more expensive.' Other residents in need pointed to skyrocketing food costs. 'I'm spending at least $300 to $400 just on food,' Felicia Acosta told ABC Action News. She says her husband died last year and she provides for her three grandchildren. Florida's high cost of living compounds the issue. As of May 9, ranked Florida's cost of living at 9.35% higher than the national average. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Compared to other states, Florida's cost of living is on the higher end. For families struggling to close the gap, here are some practical steps: Call 211 for local help: United Way operates a free 211 hotline that connects people to local nonprofits, food assistance, childcare programs, rent relief and more. Apply for benefits: ALICE households may still qualify for support like SNAP, Medicaid for children or subsidized child care. Don't assume you're ineligible or that others need it more — these programs exist to help families. Revisit your housing options: If you're renting, consider renegotiating your lease or exploring income-based housing programs. Housing is often a family's single biggest expense — and the hardest to change — so start there. If possible, consider sharing housing with extended family or friends to reduce expenses. Cut food costs without sacrificing nutrition: Shop at local markets, consider bulk stores and use community food pantries as a supplement when needed. If you have children in public school, ask the school social worker about additional food and support programs. Build toward financial security: Even saving $10 or $20 a week in a high-yield savings account can provide a buffer. You can also track your spending and find areas to trim. Connect with mutual aid groups: Some neighborhoods have hyper-local support networks where community members share resources like gently used clothing, extra food, school supplies or household goods. Search online or on social media for a group near you. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who are Faizan Zaki's parents? Scripps National Spelling Bee winner's father calls son ‘the GOAT'
Faizan Zaki won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee after spelling the French word 'éclaircissement' correctly. The 13-year-old took home the coveted Scripps Cup along with $50,000 in cash and a commemorative medal as he bested over 240 contestants from across the country Thursday night. The young Indian-American 'loves words,' according to his mother, Arshia Quadri. Zaki, a seventh-grade student at C.M. Rice Middle School in Dallas, Texas, began his competitive spelling journey in 2019 when he was just 7 years old. In an interview with ABC Action News at the time, his parents, Quadri and Zaki Anwar, revealed that his interest in complex words began as a family activity. 'He loves it. I mean he loves the learning and words, and so that has been like, you know, it's just been very easy,' Quadri told the outlet, adding, 'We just want him to be happy and, you know, experience that. You know the whole experience of going to the bee.' 'And if he can spell a few words there and get to a few rounds, then good for him, that would be amazing,' Zaki's father added at the time. Thursday's competition was the teenager's fourth time participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. After he correctly spelt his winning word in the 21st round, Zaki lay on the floor ecstatic as confetti rained down. 'I'm definitely going to be having nightmares about that tonight,' he later said while standing next to the trophy, per Associated Press. Zaki's friend, Bruhat Soma, who beat him in the 'spell-off' tiebreaker last year, said, 'I think he cared too much about his aura.' Meanwhile, his father, Anwar, said, 'He's the GOAT. I actually believe that. He's really good, man. He's been doing it for so long, and he knows the dictionary in and out,' per the outlet.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Florida retiree says she's been flushing money down the drain after new home came with crappy plumbing
In theory, the advantage of a new-build home is that it's in perfect shape when you buy it. That's what motivated retired radio host Patty Wood to purchase a new Apollo Beach, Florida ranch home — recently constructed by D.R. Horton, a home builder with 45 years' experience. Unfortunately, as Wood shared with ABC Action News, far from being problem-free, her new home is a nightmare. The biggest problem? Plumbing. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'I paid a lot of money for this house. It should work,' Wood told ABC Action News. Wood said water started rushing out of her toilets three days after she moved in. Since then, the pipes have been repeatedly clogged with waste. She can't flush toilet paper without the pipes clogging, so she has to put her toilet paper in a trash can near her toilet. 'I have two indoor outhouses and that's unacceptable in any house let alone a new house,' she said. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Under her new home warranty, Wood is entitled to have the problem fixed. She called D.R. Horton to address the issue and the company referred her to their contractor, Northwest Plumbing. After Northwest Plumbing made one visit to clear out the pipes and inspect them with a video camera, the plumbing company blamed her toilet paper and recommended a brand she already used. Then the plumbing company sent her an email commenting that such clogs aren't as common in large families when multiple people flush and more water flows to move solids out of pipes. That didn't help her. "I'm not going to find a family to move in with me so I can flush my toilets,' Woods responded. Frustrated by Northwest Plumbing's inability to resolve the issue, Wood reached out to her own plumber — Thomas Flynn, a master plumber with 47 years' experience. He identified a problem with the underground pipe that carries waste from the toilet to the sewer. He said it was not set at a sufficient angle, or pitch, to remove the waste. He added that fixing that could cost tens of thousands of dollars. 'To make it right, you would have to saw, cut up the floor, go down to the waste pipe, and readjust it," he explained. "It's a huge undertaking." When ABC Action News reached out to D.R. Horton to see what the company could do, the home builder issued this statement: "D.R. Horton has worked with Ms. Wood to evaluate her plumbing concerns. We and our vendor, Northwest Plumbing, have investigated this matter extensively, including performing a video camera line inspection, and we have not discovered any issues in the home's plumbing system. We have provided guidance to Ms. Wood on how best to prevent future clogs." Wood, who is trained as a paralegal, has since filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's Office against both D.R. Horton and Northwest Plumbing. In a 2022 survey by Real Estate Witch, 66% of people who bought new construction felt regret about the home-building process. Meanwhile, 26% said they wish they'd purchased an existing home instead of building from scratch. Even more telling is that 88% of buyers of new-builds dealt with "premature" repairs or maintenance issues after moving into their homes. The problem is that issues during the building process don't always get discovered during the inspection process. That can lead to situations like Wood's. And while a new home warranty can protect buyers against construction issues, it doesn't guarantee they'll be resolved, as Wood discovered. So, if you're going to buy new construction, it's important to anticipate things going wrong — and to have a backup plan. Vet your builder thoroughly before signing a construction contract. Talk to other people who have worked with the builder and ask what their experience entailed not just during construction, but in the year or so after they moved in. Consider adding a clause into your contract giving you the right to bring in your own home inspector to sign off on the building process every step of the way. Your contract should give you the right to walk away without a financial penalty if your inspector discovers problems that your builder won't fix. Negotiate a good home warranty. Carefully review the warranty your builder offers, and if necessary, bring in a lawyer to negotiate better terms. Make sure you have a solid when you put in an offer on the home. That way, if there are problems with your new home and your builder doesn't step up to fix them, you'll be able to fix things so your home is livable and then pursue your builder for the cost of repairs. And if you hear too many horror stories that are similar to Wood's experience involving the builder, run. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Resident shares harrowing experience in aftermath of devastating hurricane: 'I've lost everything'
Those affected by the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season are still feeling the reverberations. One Florida resident shared her experience recovering from Hurricane Helene and her apprehensions for the future as hurricane seasons intensify as a result of rising temperatures. Residents are struggling to rebuild and relocate after Hurricane Helene. In Madeira Beach, Florida, many homes are still damaged and unlivable, and the 2025 hurricane season is approaching fast. "I've lost everything," former Madeira Beach resident Connie Noren told WFLA News. "Everything, I've lost all the memories, all the pictures, all the souvenirs. I've traveled a lot with being a military wife, and I've collected a lot of stuff. So, it's gone." Madeira Beach isn't the only city affected. All across Tampa Bay, repairs are still barely getting underway. Even with governmental assistance, the cost of home repairs is a massive roadblock, according to ABC Action News, especially as obtaining flood insurance checks is frustratingly difficult. Per the Weather Channel, hurricane season has only amplified in severity over the past decade, with storms each year exceeding the former average. In fact, 2015 marked the last hurricane season without a single storm making landfall. Ever since, the damage to land and residential infrastructure rates have soared. If hurricane damage continues to keep up this alarming pattern, we can expect insurance coverage to drop in at-risk areas and threats to infrastructure and home security to increase, making hurricanes both a financial and mortal risk. The rise in more intense hurricanes can be attributed to our warming planet. As we release more and more heat-trapping pollution into our atmosphere, Atlantic temperatures grow warmer, supercharging seasonal hurricanes. While federal and state assistance can help offset the costs of Hurricane Helene repairs, it's not a long-term fix. To protect ourselves from worsening hurricanes in the future, we need to cut down on our pollution output and focus on fortifying our urban and residential infrastructure. Installing solar panels in conjunction with battery power, for example, can simultaneously lower your reliance on fuel-based energy, save money on bills, and make your home more resilient against storms, since energy grids often go down in extreme weather conditions. Do you think your house could withstand a hurricane? No way Maybe a weak one I'm not sure It definitely could Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If making upgrades seems daunting, services like EnergySage can help you get started in navigating the process and finding the best local installers. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
News18
05-05-2025
- News18
Florida Man Married 3 Women In 3 Countries And Kept All Of Them In Dark, Arrested
Last Updated: Thirty-eight-year-old Henry Betsey Jr was caught when the three women found out they had all been married to him and sought a police investigation. A Florida man's story has shocked people after it was found that he married three women in three different countries. Henry Betsey Jr was arrested for bigamy after it was discovered that he had kept his wives in the dark about his other marriages. The 38-year-old was caught when the three women found out they had all been married to the same person. Using dating apps such as Bumble and Tinder, Henry specifically targeted recently divorced women, according to an ABC Action News report. He described himself as 'charming" and 'attentive" on the apps, and claimed he was looking for someone to settle down with. 'Looking for a beautiful woman who understands the ups and downs of life, is trustworthy and no games," the man's dating profile read. Once these women fell into his trap, Henry would escalate the relationship and marry them within weeks of first making contact. The police discovered that the man's true intention was financial fraud as he would insist these ladies open joint bank accounts with him. Once his motive was achieved, he would begin to treat his wives horribly and even engage in domestic violence. According to the report, Henry first married Tonya Betsey at the Duval County Courthouse in November 2020 after meeting her that month on Tinder. Two years later, in February 2022, he entered another marriage with Brandi Betsey in Manatee County, pursuing her through dating app Stir despite his relationship with Tonya. The very same year in November, Henry tied the knot with a third woman, Michele Betsey, in Hernando County having connected with her through It was through Tonya's suspicion that Henry got arrested. Upon sensing her husband was indulging in something wrong, she began investigating his activities. Tonya searched Henry's name in each county and discovered that he is also married to Brandi. 'I just started county by county, putting in his name. And that's when I came up with the marriage to Michele and the marriage to Brandi," she said. Michele immediately contacted the authorities and got Henry arrested after all three wives submitted proof of their marriages. The police caught Henry in Seminole County in 2024 and launched an investigation into the matter. Having since filed for a divorce with Tonya, Henry is looking to annul his marriages with Michele and Brandi. First Published: May 05, 2025, 12:31 IST
