Latest news with #RonDeSantis'
Yahoo
3 days 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.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Florida Bill Could See Higher Flood Insurance Costs This Year
A bill trying to "bolster hurricane relief and recovery" in Florida could end up increasing the cost of flood insurance for thousands of homeowners in the state, experts warned, adding more weight to their growing financial burden. Senate Bill 180, which has already passed both the Florida House and Senate with nearly unanimous support, is now heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk. The bill aims to help homeowners in the Sunshine State rebuild more quickly after natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change. However, in its attempt to expedite these efforts, critics argue that the legislation may hinder residents from implementing key changes that would enhance their homes' resilience to extreme weather events. Florida homeowners have seen the cost of home insurance skyrocket in recent years due to a combination of more frequent and severe natural disasters, widespread fraud, and excessive litigation. Although the market has stabilized over the past year, homeowners in the state continue to pay some of the highest premiums in the country. At $2,625 per year, the average cost of home insurance in the state is 24 percent higher than the national average of $2,110, according to NerdWallet. Flood insurance, which is not required by law, is an additional cost on top of the standard property insurance policy for homeowners in the state. According to NerdWallet, the average annual cost of flood insurance in the state is $865 for a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Changes introduced by SB 180 could increase the cost of flood insurance even further for Florida homeowners, potentially discouraging some from obtaining coverage for their homes at all-a risky proposition in such a disaster-prone state. SB 180 has been celebrated by sponsor Nick DiCeglie, a Republican state senator representing Indian Rocks Beach, as legislation that would offer Florida homeowners "a clear path to recovery" after being hit by a storm. "We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes," the senator said in a press release. "Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm." Newsweek reached out to DiCeglie via email for comment on Monday. The bill's efforts to streamline rebuilding after a hurricane, however, include a two-year freeze on the adoption of stricter building codes that could strengthen Florida homes, a measure that critics say would prevent local governments from introducing important reforms. It would also make it easier for homeowners whose properties have been destroyed or damaged in a natural disaster to avoid elevating their homes once they rebuild-an improvement that experts consider crucial to strengthen residences against more frequent and more severe extreme weather events. Under the proposed legislation, only homes that have suffered storm damage equal to more than 50 percent of their value must be demolished and rebuilt entirely-the minimum requirement set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Strengthening a home exposed to potentially devastating natural disasters not only makes this property more resilient, protecting the owner and their assets, but it also makes coverage more affordable. Insurers often offer discounts to policyholders who make efforts to strengthen their homes against extreme weather events under programs such as FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant and the Sunshine State's Elevate Florida. This state-run program, launched last year, offers to cover at least 75 percent of the cost of mitigation projects, including elevating a home damaged in a storm, which promises to lower insurance costs and increase the property's value. A study conducted by the state and cited by several local newspapers found that 44 out of the 122 communities that currently elevate their homes after an impactful natural disaster would lose points toward discounts on flood insurance premiums due to SB 180. Twelve would no longer qualify for the level of discount they currently benefit from: Bay County, Leon County, Orange County, Dania Beach, Jupiter Beach, Palm Springs, Estero, Lake Mary, Hialeah, Bonita Springs, Hollywood and the Pensacola Beach Santa Rosa Island Authority. According to the study's estimates, approximately 44,000 Florida homeowners would end up paying more for flood insurance coverage as a result of the bill taking effect, resulting in a total annual increase of $1.6 million statewide, or $36 per person. Florida state Senator Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored the bill, in a statement: "If we can keep one more person in their home to keep them out of the 50 percent rule, that's one person that does not have to deal with the incredibly stressful situation of tearing down their home and elevating." Del Schwalls, a floodplain management consultant, told the Tampa Bay Times: "It's really frustrating. It prevents anyone from trying to fix this flood, repair, flood, repair cycle." Kimberleigh Dinkins, policy and planning director of advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida, in a statement: "A lot of times, a local government can evaluate the impact that a storm has on their community, and make adjustments to their land development code to make themselves more resilient. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be able to do that." She added: "It's removing one of the tools in the toolbox to increase resiliency. It basically is saying: okay, you have more opportunities to build back in a way that's resulting in flooding." The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature, but DeSantis has not yet indicated whether he will sign the legislation. If signed, the bill's provisions could take effect during the upcoming hurricane season, potentially affecting insurance premiums and building standards statewide amid ongoing market volatility. Related Articles Florida Homeowners 'Living Nightmare' As Construction Company Goes BankruptHow Donald Trump Could Boost US High-Speed RailFlorida Man Dies in Police Shooting After Surviving Apparent Gator AttackFlorida Boat Explosion: 11 Reported Hospitalized After Blast in Waterway 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Florida Bill Could See Higher Flood Insurance Costs This Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A bill trying to "bolster hurricane relief and recovery" in Florida could end up increasing the cost of flood insurance for thousands of homeowners in the state, experts warned, adding more weight to their growing financial burden. Senate Bill 180, which has already passed both the Florida House and Senate with nearly unanimous support, is now heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk. The bill aims to help homeowners in the Sunshine State rebuild more quickly after natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change. However, in its attempt to expedite these efforts, critics argue that the legislation may hinder residents from implementing key changes that would enhance their homes' resilience to extreme weather events. Why It Matters Florida homeowners have seen the cost of home insurance skyrocket in recent years due to a combination of more frequent and severe natural disasters, widespread fraud, and excessive litigation. Although the market has stabilized over the past year, homeowners in the state continue to pay some of the highest premiums in the country. At $2,625 per year, the average cost of home insurance in the state is 24 percent higher than the national average of $2,110, according to NerdWallet. Flood insurance, which is not required by law, is an additional cost on top of the standard property insurance policy for homeowners in the state. According to NerdWallet, the average annual cost of flood insurance in the state is $865 for a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Changes introduced by SB 180 could increase the cost of flood insurance even further for Florida homeowners, potentially discouraging some from obtaining coverage for their homes at all—a risky proposition in such a disaster-prone state. What To Know SB 180 has been celebrated by sponsor Nick DiCeglie, a Republican state senator representing Indian Rocks Beach, as legislation that would offer Florida homeowners "a clear path to recovery" after being hit by a storm. "We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes," the senator said in a press release. "Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm." Newsweek reached out to DiCeglie via email for comment on Monday. A worker helps raise a home with jacks and framing material in Treasure Island, Florida, on May 23, 2025. A worker helps raise a home with jacks and framing material in Treasure Island, Florida, on May 23, bill's efforts to streamline rebuilding after a hurricane, however, include a two-year freeze on the adoption of stricter building codes that could strengthen Florida homes, a measure that critics say would prevent local governments from introducing important reforms. It would also make it easier for homeowners whose properties have been destroyed or damaged in a natural disaster to avoid elevating their homes once they rebuild—an improvement that experts consider crucial to strengthen residences against more frequent and more severe extreme weather events. Under the proposed legislation, only homes that have suffered storm damage equal to more than 50 percent of their value must be demolished and rebuilt entirely—the minimum requirement set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Strengthening a home exposed to potentially devastating natural disasters not only makes this property more resilient, protecting the owner and their assets, but it also makes coverage more affordable. Insurers often offer discounts to policyholders who make efforts to strengthen their homes against extreme weather events under programs such as FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant and the Sunshine State's Elevate Florida. This state-run program, launched last year, offers to cover at least 75 percent of the cost of mitigation projects, including elevating a home damaged in a storm, which promises to lower insurance costs and increase the property's value. A study conducted by the state and cited by several local newspapers found that 44 out of the 122 communities that currently elevate their homes after an impactful natural disaster would lose points toward discounts on flood insurance premiums due to SB 180. Twelve would no longer qualify for the level of discount they currently benefit from: Bay County, Leon County, Orange County, Dania Beach, Jupiter Beach, Palm Springs, Estero, Lake Mary, Hialeah, Bonita Springs, Hollywood and the Pensacola Beach Santa Rosa Island Authority. According to the study's estimates, approximately 44,000 Florida homeowners would end up paying more for flood insurance coverage as a result of the bill taking effect, resulting in a total annual increase of $1.6 million statewide, or $36 per person. What People Are Saying Florida state Senator Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored the bill, in a statement: "If we can keep one more person in their home to keep them out of the 50 percent rule, that's one person that does not have to deal with the incredibly stressful situation of tearing down their home and elevating." Del Schwalls, a floodplain management consultant, told the Tampa Bay Times: "It's really frustrating. It prevents anyone from trying to fix this flood, repair, flood, repair cycle." Kimberleigh Dinkins, policy and planning director of advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida, in a statement: "A lot of times, a local government can evaluate the impact that a storm has on their community, and make adjustments to their land development code to make themselves more resilient. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be able to do that." She added: "It's removing one of the tools in the toolbox to increase resiliency. It basically is saying: okay, you have more opportunities to build back in a way that's resulting in flooding." What Happens Next The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature, but DeSantis has not yet indicated whether he will sign the legislation. If signed, the bill's provisions could take effect during the upcoming hurricane season, potentially affecting insurance premiums and building standards statewide amid ongoing market volatility.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Florida researchers find uptick in AI-generated pornography
Researchers at the University of Florida say more people are becoming victims of pornography generated by artificial intelligence. A team from the university looked into a growing number of platforms that allow users to upload an image, then manipulate things like clothing, body shape and pose to transform it into a sexually explicit photo without the subject's consent. The study found that less than half of the websites they looked at required or enforced any kind of age verification in the photos. One week ago, President Donald Trump signed a federal law making it illegal to share such nonconsensual images. Florida lawmakers also recently passed a bill called 'Brooke's Law' to try to get such deepfake imagery removed within 48 hours. It was named for a Jacksonville teenager who was victimized by AI-generated nude photos shared online. The bill is now waiting for Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Florida's Battle Against Property Tax Could Upend Its Housing Market
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Governor Ron DeSantis' proposal to eliminate property taxes in Florida could have huge consequences for the state's housing market, experts told Newsweek, potentially boosting homeowners' wealth while slashing aspiring homebuyers' chances to get on the property ladder. Why It Matters Florida is among several GOP-led states that are currently trying to drastically reduce, reform, or even abolish property taxes to offer relief to homeowners struggling with rising housing costs. While the proposal has not yet fully been planned out, DeSantis said he is supportive of eliminating property taxes in the Sunshine State, an action that would require in the end a constitutional amendment approved by 60 percent of voters. What To Know While several states are actively considering abolishing their property taxes, every state currently has one, "so there are no test cases that show the true cost of elimination," Manish Bhatt, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, told Newsweek. "However, where voters were given a choice, they opted to keep the tax, perhaps realizing that the dangers of elimination were not properly considered," the analyst said, referring to previous attempts in other states that have failed to eliminate property taxes. In 2024, a proposal to eliminate all property and income taxes in Nebraska, including the inheritance tax, failed to make the ballot. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty However, Florida lawmakers seem determined to offer homeowners in the state some kind of property tax relief as soon as possible. Earlier this year, DeSantis described property taxes as "the most oppressive and ineffective form of taxation," saying that paying them is "basically" the same as "paying rent to the government to live on your own property." Bhatt is skeptical of this concept. "Proponents of property tax elimination often cite fairness as a primary motivation. It is commonplace to hear the refrain 'paying a property tax is akin to renting your property from the government,'" he said. "While this may generate strong sentiments, it is not an accurate assessment of the property tax or its function. The tax is not rent; it is payment for the local services received," he said. "When structured well, the property tax is a good tax, and for that reason it merits reform not wholesale elimination." A Risky Move for Less Wealthy Florida Homeowners The Sunshine State does not have an official plan yet of how it would go about eliminating taxes or how local governments would replace lost revenues—but experts have been thinking about how this could actually work. The Florida Policy Institute (FPI) told Newsweek it had not yet analyzed the potential impact of eliminating property taxes on the state's housing market. However, it recently published a report that warned policymakers that, should they pursue eliminating property taxes without "a cohesive plan to raise taxes in a progressive manner," households with low to moderate incomes would "end up paying more in taxes, as a percentage of their earnings, compared to wealthy residents if sales taxes increase to make up the lost revenue." On top of that, homeowners who currently claim a property tax deduction in their federal income tax returns would lose the deduction, which means that their personal income taxes could potentially increase. Bhatt thinks that eliminating the property tax could represent "a significant transfer of wealth to existing homeowners whose houses would be worth more now that they do not bear tax liability, whereas future buyers would have to pay prices reflecting that fact." Moreover, because the property tax better aligns with local benefits, it produces outcomes that are likely to be more favorable to the housing market than a replacement tax would be, Bhatt said. "For these reasons, Florida lawmakers would do well to reconsider the property tax elimination effort and instead seek strong levy limits which constrain the growth in local property tax revenue, adjusting for inflation and population growth," Bhatt said. "Pairing this with narrowly tailored circuit breakers helps protect low- and fixed-income residents from being taxed out of their homes." Protecting the 'American Dream' Professor Suzanne Hollander, an attorney teaching real estate law and property rights in Miami at Florida International University, is more optimistic about the impact of eliminating property taxes. "In my opinion, efforts to protect and preserve the American Dream of Homeownership are the foundation for this trend [of growing interest toward eliminating property taxes]," she told Newsweek. "Today, U.S. homeownership is threatened by increased property valuation leading to increased property taxes, elevated rates for insurance, elevated mortgage interest rate and increased condominium fees as a result of the Surfside Champlain Towers Tragedy of June 2021," she said. "To protect American homeowners, governments must dedicate effort to deliberately design strategies to reduce the burdens on homeowners." The Champlain Towers South condominium collapsed overnight on June 24, 2021, killing 98 people. Hollander believes that eliminating property tax will increase housing values in Florida, "because eliminating property tax will be a magnet for investment and economic growth of Florida," she said. "Increased housing prices benefit current owners who, if they decide to sell, will be able to sell for a higher purchase price," she added. On the other hand, she says that increased housing prices in the state may provide "a challenge for potential buyers who may have to save up to buy, move in with friends and family and or rent interest rates come down." Highly Dependent, Weaker Local Governments In its recent report, FPI warned that local governments in Florida would lose fiscal autonomy and become dependent on the state for funding, whether that is for schools or other public services like police and firefighting. The institute found that Florida would need to raise roughly $50 billion to maintain public services currently funded by property tax revenues if these taxes are abolished in the state. Bhatt agrees that eliminating the property tax could leave local governments dramatically underfunded. "A well-structured property tax is more efficient than other taxes and creates less economic distortion. The property tax is also 'self-reinforcing,' meaning as local services improve, property valuations increase. The opposite is also true when local services fall into disrepair and obsolescence," he explained. "Unlike the income tax or sales tax, the property tax is not a primary concern when making relocation decisions. Texas, for example, has relatively high property taxes but continues to recruit and retain residents because, in part, the state does not tax individual income," he said. "Florida is in a similar position, but if lawmakers are forced to implement new taxes to make up for lost property tax revenue, the state's regional and national competitiveness may be lost." What Happens Next In February, lawmakers in Tallahassee introduced Senate Bill 852, which calls for the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to produce a report on how the state could responsibly and feasibly eliminate property taxes. "I think SB 852 is an important step in the right direction—just because property taxes have 'always' been the source of funding for municipalities public services should not prevent a study into other methods that could be more efficient, relieve the burden on the property owner and promote further growth of business and investment in Florida that would help all Floridians," Hollander said. The idea of eliminating property taxes could be put aside should Florida lawmakers fail to come up with a concrete proposal before the end of DeSantis' term in 2026. But there is still time for things to move forward. Bhatt believes that given the risks posed to local government, Florida's attempt to eliminate property taxes should be taken seriously. "Unless the state raises other taxes or backfills local coffers, eliminating the property tax could leave Floridians without the quality or quantity of local services that they depend on each day," he warned. Hollander is positive that any legislation aiming at eliminating property taxes in the state could pass with the required 60 percent vote. Based on 2023 data from the Federal Reserve Bank Statistics, 67.3 percent of Florida residents are property owners. "Additionally," she said, "nobody likes to pay taxes."
