Latest news with #Floridians
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
When will I get my Social Security check in June? 2025 payment schedule for Floridians
Social Security checks will go out a little earlier this month than in May, and people getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks won't see one at all in June. Social Security typically pays benefits on Wednesdays, with the first wave of payments going out the second Wednesday of the month and the rest of the payments on the subsequent Wednesdays. In May, the second Wednesday was May 14, the latest date that payments can go out. This month, it'll be closer to normal, according to Social Security Administration's calendar. People who get Supplemental Security Income checks won't get a check in the month of June at all, but they received two checks in May, due to quirks of the calendar. Social Security in Florida: How dependent is Florida on Social Security? Study ranks state, how much people make The Social Security Administration's yearly distribution schedules for 2025 and 2026 are available online so that you can check the calendar for budgeting purposes. Regular Social Security retirement benefits for the month of June will be sent out on the SSA's usual schedule: Wednesday, June 11: If you were born between the first and 10th of the month Wednesday, June 18: If you were born between the 11th and 20th of the month Wednesday, June 25: If you were born between the 21st and 31st of the month About 7.4 million Americans who are disabled or have limited resources get SSI checks, which go out on the first business day of each month. But the first day of June this year falls on a weekend, so they received two checks in May instead. As of April 2025, 543,098 Floridians received SSI payments according to data from the Social Security Administration. Of those, 241,868 were 65 years old or older and 382,925 were visually impaired or disabled. Supplemental Security Income is a benefit payment for those with limited income or resources aged 65 or older, who are blind, or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA's website. Adults who earn more than $2,019 from work monthly typically do not qualify for SSI. Here's a look at the payment schedule for the rest of 2025: Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Check for May 2025) Friday, May 30, 2025 (Check for June 2025) Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Check for July 2025) Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 (Check for August 2025) Friday, Aug. 30, 2025 (Check for September 2025) Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025) Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025) Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025) Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026) Florida had more than 5 million people claiming Social Security benefits as of December 2023, according to the AARP. That included more than 3.9 million retirees, over 478,000 disabled workers, more than 401,000 spouses or survivors and nearly 240,000 children. Nearly one in five Florida retirees, family members, veterans and others receive Social Security benefits, according to the AARP. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Social Security payments: Schedule for June, SSI calendar for 2025
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘My son died, and Florida law allowed it': Medical Malpractice bill vetoed
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The state's so-called 'free kill' law is here to stay. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he is vetoing a bill that would have allowed more families to file wrongful death lawsuits against hospitals. 'Lack of communication' led to unpermitted group home where murder occurred, Bartow official says The bill was aimed to close what supporters call a deadly legal loophole. DeSantis said he is protecting the state's health care system, but families today told us he's protecting the wrong people. 'My son Jo-Jo died, and Florida law allowed it,' said Marcy Shepler, a supporter of HB 6017. A group of families gathered in downtown Tampa with stories that differ in detail, but the outcome is the same. Family members said their loved ones died in Florida hospitals, and state law still denies them a chance to hold anyone accountable. 'One single signature could have restored justice for many families,' Sabrina Davis said. The bill aimed to close a legal loophole that prevents some parents and children from suing for non-economic damages like pain and suffering when a loved one dies due to medical negligence. 'It will lead to higher costs for Floridians,' DeSantis said. 'It will lead to less access to care for Floridians, and it would make it harder for us to keep, recruit and maintain physicians in the state of Florida.' 'But what we saw today is that Governor DeSantis basically said that, you know, our loved ones are collateral damage in the health care system so that we can keep the health care and the insurance lobbyists' costs down,' said one HB 6017 supporter named Lauren. DeSantis said the state needs caps to prevent costly lawsuits and protect access to care. But some families argues those same caps let hospitals avoid accountability. 'Well, now all they have to do is have the goal of let's make it cost more than the caps, and you're right back where you were,' Travis Creighton said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Williams International bringing $1 billion capital investment, 330 jobs to Okaloosa County
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A Williams International 'high-volume aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility' is coming to Okaloosa County, Florida, according to state officials. Greyhound just added a Mobile bus stop — and Escambia County is next According to a news release from Gov. Ron DeSantis' office, the State of Florida and anticipate a major capital investment exceeding $1 billion, marking one of the largest projects in Northwest Florida's history. 'This is a monumental project that will have a lasting impact on both Okaloosa County's economy and the entire region,' Okaloosa County Commissioner Paul Mixon said. 'We are fortunate to have been able to invest in the infrastructure at Shoal River Industrial Park to attract an aerospace industry leader like Williams International, and I am thankful to One Okaloosa EDC and Florida Commerce for their hard work and support in this effort.' Aerospace and aviation manufacturer Williams International began a multi-state search for a location in 2023. That search is now complete, as the new facility will be located in the Shoal River Industrial Park and will be constructed in three phases. 'This billion-dollar investment is a major win for the Free State of Florida and for Floridians,' Gov. DeSantis said. 'Williams International's investment in the Florida Panhandle will create more than 330 jobs, and is a success story of the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund in Northwest Florida.' DeSantis used the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to award $3.2 million to Okaloosa County in 2022. Construction is scheduled to begin on the 250,000-square-foot facility later in 2025, with completion expected by late 2026. More facilities are planned to be built in 2028; a final 500,000 square foot facility is scheduled for completion in 2035-2036, according to state officials. A release from the Gov. DeSantis' office said FloridaCommerce partnered with CareerSource Florida, Florida's Great Northwest, Space Florida, Okaloosa County, and Triumph Gulf Coast to secure the project. Severe weather in Mobile: When it rains, it pours 'We are very excited about starting our next phase of growth in Northwest Florida,' Williams International Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Williams said. 'We are grateful to the Triumph board and for the strong, unified support from all of our Florida stakeholders that will enable us to create many high-quality, high-technology jobs producing the world's best gas turbine engines.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fla. Gov. DeSantis vetoes bill to repeal ‘free kill' medical malpractice law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday officially vetoed a bill that would have overturned what has been called Florida's 'free kill' law. The 35-year-old law prohibits family members from suing for big payouts for pain and suffering if an unmarried loved one who was 25 years old or older unexpectedly dies from medical negligence. The family members can sue only for economic damages such as funeral costs or medical bills. Florida is the only state with this type of legal restriction in place. This session, lawmakers in both the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill for a full repeal after hearing testimony from dozens of grief-stricken families. On Thursday, at a news conference at a hospital in Fort Myers, DeSantis re-stated that he opposes the proposed bill that the state's lawmakers sent to him for his signature. 'When you have the floodgates open there's an incentive for lawyers to bring cases knowing that if someone sues you, even if you are 100% in the right, just the cost of having to defend that can be prohibitive,' DeSantis said. 'Sometimes it's cheaper to do a settlement even if you haven't done anything wrong. That imposes costs on our economy, our society.' DeSantis also claimed that repealing the law would lead to higher malpractice premiums and make it more difficult to recruit physicians to Florida, a state struggling with a physician shortage. Florida already has among the highest premiums for medical malpractice insurance, he said. The governor reminded Floridians that state law still allows anyone to sue for economic damages, and cited a lack of caps on such noneconomic damages as pain and suffering as a major flaw in the bill sent to him to sign. Family members of victims of malpractice have been fighting for eight years to overturn the law called the Wrongful Death Act. 'We have a right to expect that physicians are going to meet appropriate standards,' DeSantis said. 'There's a lot that goes into it. The state of Florida provides a lot of support for training physicians. If someone is careless, there needs to be accountability, but what is the best way to do that? Is it to open the floodgates and open it up to lawsuits against physicians who weren't necessarily negligent?' With the session still underway, lawmakers could override the governor's veto. Melody Page, co-founder of the Florida Medical Rights Association, said advocates will continue to hold news conferences and lobby in Tallahassee to repeal the 'free kill' law. 'We have lots of support,' she said, adding that if even if lawmakers don't override the governor's veto, her group will push to have a repeal of the law considered next session. 'Every year, more people find the movement when they can't get accountability and their loved one is killed. Advocacy fills that void.' Page said that rather than fighting to repeal the law or worrying about higher medical malpractice premiums, healthcare providers should focus on improving the quality of care. 'Corporations own most hospitals now,' Page said. 'If they were to put dollars into improving the staffing ratio, patient safety, and professional development, then maybe they wouldn't have high medical malpractice rates.' At DeSantis' Thursday news conference, Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO of Lee Health, said he supports the governor's stance on the bill 'on many fronts.' The biggest reason, he said, is that the bill would exacerbate the physician shortage, increase costs, and impact emergency services. 'It will be a deterrent to the one thing that is critical for all of us and that is the recruitment of physicians to this state,' he said. 'We are recruiting hundreds of physicians every year and there are other places people are going to want to go because of the risk of malpractice.' Medical malpractice attorney Jordan Dulcie of Searcy Law in West Palm Beach said Floridians would benefit by a repeal of the law because the state disciplinary process for doctors is not effective in discouraging bad behavior. 'Attorneys are the only ones who hold doctors accountable,' Dulcie said. 'The victims of this law are going to continue to fight, and I will be there to support them.' The bill's sponsors were aware they would have an uphill battle in getting DeSantis to sign off. Mary Jo Cain Reis, who says her father, who lived in Cocoa Beach, was a victim of medical negligence, is already talking to the lawmakers to garner support for an override of the veto. 'It passed 93% in both chambers, so we need to keep fighting for it,' she said. 'We're not going away.' _____
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida enacts Dexter's and Trooper's Law to combat animal abuse
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — Two new state laws aimed at protecting animals and increasing accountability for abusers are set to take effect in Florida, following the recent signing of Dexter's Law and Trooper's Law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Dexter's Law, named after a dog found brutally decapitated and stuffed into a plastic bag days after being adopted in 2023, strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and creates Florida's first-ever public registry of convicted animal abusers. The law takes effect July 1. The measure introduces a 1.25 sentencing multiplier in cases of aggravated animal cruelty and requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to maintain a searchable database identifying individuals convicted of such offenses. Supporters say the law is a critical tool for transparency, deterrence, and prevention. 'Making the identities of convicted abusers public will empower shelters, rescue groups, and adopters to protect vulnerable animals,' said Doll Stanley, Justice for Animals Campaign Director for In Defense of Animals. 'Dexter's Law is justice for Dexter — and a powerful safeguard for other animals statewide.' In Defense of Animals, a national nonprofit, led advocacy efforts with more than 14,000 signatures pushing for justice in Dexter's case and over 1,000 Floridians contacting lawmakers to demand legislative change. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Linda Chaney, Sen. Tom Leek, and Rep. Meg Weinberger, and championed by Port Orange resident Debbie Darino, also behind 2018's Ponce's Law. Gov. DeSantis also signed Trooper's Law, which makes it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster or mandatory evacuation. Named after a bull terrier rescued by Florida Highway Patrol during Hurricane Milton, the law goes into effect Oct. 1. The new laws are especially relevant to the Tampa Bay area, where hurricanes and tropical storms are regular threats. Local animal advocates say Trooper's Law could be lifesaving for pets and first responders alike during future emergencies. 'These are commonsense protections that reflect how seriously Floridians value the safety of animals,' said Amy Rondeau, a longtime Tampa Bay volunteer with rescue organizations. 'Trooper's Law will encourage more people to think twice before leaving dogs behind when a storm hits.' Experts note that these laws go beyond animal welfare. Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, a psychiatrist and president of In Defense of Animals, says cruelty to animals often correlates with human violence. 'Dexter's Law is not just about protecting dogs — it's a public safety measure,' Kroplick said. 'Identifying abusers can help prevent further trauma and violence in our communities.' With the enactment of both laws, Florida becomes one of the few states with a public animal abuse registry — a move animal rights groups hope other states will emulate. For Tampa Bay residents, the laws offer reassurance that abusers will face greater consequences and that pets, particularly during the state's tumultuous hurricane season, will have stronger protections. More information and resources are available through In Defense of Animals at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
