Latest news with #GulfCoastNewsNow
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Businesses Are Begging for Tourists After 2024 Hurricane Season
The 2025 hurricane season names have already been set, but Florida's Gulf Coast is still feeling the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. "We were consumed by the Gulf," Madeira Beach city manager Robin Gomez told CBS News about the effects of Hurricane Helene. "The surge pushed up, upwards of 7 feet." Many of the tourist hotspots, from restaurants to bars, are back in business with temporary food trucks or locations, but they need the visitors to return in order to stay open. After approximately $50 billion worth of damage to the state, per The Sun Coast Post, Florida is counting on tourists to aid their recovery. Still, the White House trade wars aren't helping the situation as Canadians exit the state. It's the local businesses that are feeling the impact the most. 'It's not only having a negative impact on the tourism market but business as a whole,' Seed and Bean market owner Cole Peacock shared with Gulf Coast News Now. He's also worried about the effects of the tariffs on food products and how it will affect his business. 'You need those extra visits to kick that profit margins to another level,' Peacock added. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently predicted that the Atlantic would have an "above-normal" hurricane season. They are reporting a 60% chance of 13 to 19 storms with six to 10 turning into hurricanes — and three to five of the storms could be major disasters. For now, Florida businesses are going to hope people flock to the beach for the summer season ahead of any possible hurricane. They are open and ready for tourists to spend their hard-earned Businesses Are Begging for Tourists After 2024 Hurricane Season first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 2, 2025
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Furious charter captain boards boat to berate young fisherman in viral video
A raging charter boat captain has gone viral after he boarded a small boat to harangue a young fisherman who he accused of nearly causing a collision that morning. The fiery exchange that took place shows 40-year-old Brock Horner in a fishing boat with two other men as they pull up alongside Gage Towles, who is in a small fishing boat by himself on Florida's Gulf Coast. The April 1 confrontation, which sees Horner jump onto Towles' boat and aggressively challenge him, was recorded by Towles, who posted it to his Facebook page, where it has generated 15 million views. An animated and fuming Horner, who owns a charter boat company and has since been charged in the incident, asks Towles if he was the person who was "cussing him out" earlier, to which Towles answered no. Horner said the vessel in the near-collision didn't have safety lights on as required. 2 Teens Charged For Dumping Trash Into Florida Sea In Viral Video Towles tells Horner that he didn't have permission to be "flying through the bridge area" of Peace River, a scenic river that flows into Charlotte Harbor. Read On The Fox News App That remark only escalated things further, and at one point Horner asked Towles: "You wanna (expletive) go?" Towles tries to deescalate the situation, reminding Horner that he was the one who pulled up aggressively while he was just trying to fish. Towles then questions whether Horner was just trying to act tough in front of his friends, which infuriates Horner further. Horner says all three of them were veterans and he is "the best charter captain you'll ever meet in your mother f---ing life," before suddenly jumping onto Towles' boat. "Chill bro, chill bro please!" Towles yells repeatedly. "I'm a kid bro, I'm a kid," he says as he hits the throttle and speeds off with Horner aboard. Horner continues yelling and demands he apologize for terrorizing him on his own boat and Towles then drives Horner back to his boat, maintaining that he didn't swear at him. "Do it (expletive) again, and watch what happens," Horner says. Bodycam Shows Teacher Breaking Down During Arrest For Allegedly Molesting 15-Year-old Student Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith said behavior like Horner's would not be tolerated on waterways. Entering someone's boat without permission qualifies as burglary under Florida law when accompanied by threats or aggression. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our waterways—or anywhere else in our city," Smith said. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors, both on land and on the water." Horner was charged with burglary with assault or battery, non-forced entry. Horner's attorney released a statement stating that his client apologizes for what transpired. "He is deeply sorry. What began as a moment of frustration and concern escalated in a way it simply should not have," the statement reads, in part, according to Gulf Coast News Now. "Gage handled the situation with impressive composure and class and that level-headedness helped prevent things from becoming far worse." His attorney wrote that Horner's business has been "destroyed," his reputation has been damaged while his wife and mother have been harassed and even threatened, he claimed. The statement notes that Horner is a decorated combat veteran who was severely injured in Afghanistan. "He served honorably, earned multiple medals, and suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat. He is recognized as 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. That's not an excuse — but it is part of his story. He stood up when this country asked him to, and that service deserves to be respected."Original article source: Furious charter captain boards boat to berate young fisherman in viral video
Fox News
05-04-2025
- Fox News
Furious charter captain boards boat to berate young fisherman in viral video
A raging charter boat captain has gone viral after he boarded a small boat to harangue a young fisherman who he accused of nearly causing a collision that morning. The fiery exchange that took place shows 40-year-old Brock Horner in a fishing boat with two other men as they pull up alongside Gage Towles, who is in a small fishing boat by himself on Florida's Gulf Coast. The April 1 confrontation, which sees Horner jump onto Towles' boat and aggressively challenge him, was recorded by Towles, who posted it to his Facebook page, where it has generated 15 million views. An animated and fuming Horner, who owns a charter boat company and has since been charged in the incident, asks Towles if he was the person who was "cussing him out" earlier, to which Towles answered no. Horner said the vessel in the near-collision didn't have safety lights on as required. Towles tells Horner that he didn't have permission to be "flying through the bridge area" of Peace River, a scenic river that flows into Charlotte Harbor. That remark only escalated things further, and at one point Horner asked Towles: "You wanna (expletive) go?" Towles tries to deescalate the situation, reminding Horner that he was the one who pulled up aggressively while he was just trying to fish. Towles then questions whether Horner was just trying to act tough in front of his friends, which infuriates Horner further. Horner says all three of them were veterans and he is "the best charter captain you'll ever meet in your mother f---ing life," before suddenly jumping onto Towles' boat. "Chill bro, chill bro please!" Towles yells repeatedly. "I'm a kid bro, I'm a kid," he says as he hits the throttle and speeds off with Horner aboard. Horner continues yelling and demands he apologize for terrorizing him on his own boat and Towles then drives Horner back to his boat, maintaining that he didn't swear at him. "Do it (expletive) again, and watch what happens," Horner says. Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith said behavior like Horner's would not be tolerated on waterways. Entering someone's boat without permission qualifies as burglary under Florida law when accompanied by threats or aggression. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our waterways—or anywhere else in our city," Smith said. "We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors, both on land and on the water." Horner was charged with burglary with assault or battery, non-forced entry. Horner's attorney released a statement stating that his client apologizes for what transpired. "He is deeply sorry. What began as a moment of frustration and concern escalated in a way it simply should not have," the statement reads, in part, according to Gulf Coast News Now. "Gage handled the situation with impressive composure and class and that level-headedness helped prevent things from becoming far worse." His attorney wrote that Horner's business has been "destroyed," his reputation has been damaged while his wife and mother have been harassed and even threatened, he claimed. The statement notes that Horner is a decorated combat veteran who was severely injured in Afghanistan. "He served honorably, earned multiple medals, and suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat. He is recognized as 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. That's not an excuse — but it is part of his story. He stood up when this country asked him to, and that service deserves to be respected."
