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Ron DeSantis Has Raked in $3.9 Million From Insurance Industry, New Report Reveals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his political action committee have received millions of dollars from insurance stakeholders as he has overseen massive giveaways to the insurance industry, according to a new report. Florida homeowners, meanwhile, face ballooning insurance prices and are under increasing economic strain in one of the states hardest hit by climate change.The governor’s committee and the Friends Of Ron DeSantis PAC raked in $3.9 million from the insurance industry since its formation in 2018, according to a report released Wednesday by Hedge Clippers, a campaign organized by the Center for Popular Democracy, “including more than $150,000 in one day from dozens of State Farm agents.” The governor’s inaugural fund was also backed by a combined $125,000 from two property casualty insurers, People’s Trust Insurance and a subsidiary of Heritage Insurance.“DeSantis is not only failing to hold the insurance industry accountable,” reads the report. “Critically, he is faili...

Clarification: Gig Drivers-Safety story

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — In a story published May 1, 2023, The Associated Press reported that gig worker Sedeq Alshujaa spoke through a translator from the Service Employees International Union. The story should have made clear that Alshujaa is a member of California Gig Workers Union.Source

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says ‘we didn’t attack Putin,’ denying Ukraine carried out alleged drone attack on Kremlin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says ‘we didn’t attack Putin,’ denying Ukraine carried out alleged drone attack on Kremlin.Source

With no venue for cup final, Greek soccer back in turmoil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Rival club owners have been accused of a “concerted and organized effort” to disrupt Greek soccer.The country’s soccer federation has failed to find a venue for the Greek Cup final between AEK Athens and PAOK Thessaloniki on May 24 after seeking assistance to host the match in Cyprus, England, Germany or Australia.Two local stadiums, in the central Greek cities of Volos and Larissa, have also been ruled out after safety inspections.“The fans of AEK and PAOK and those in general should be aware that the (federation) is facing an concerted and organized effort to stop the Greek Cup final from taking place under the pretext of preventing fan violence,” the federation said Wednesday. “Every effort will be made to hold the final at a neutral ground and even if this obstructionist effort continues. The final will go ahead.”Greek Cup finals in the past have been repeatedly marred by violence, and federation officials say this year’s game will likely take place i...

Lawsuit begins over patrol tactic known as ‘Kansas two step’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol uses a tactic dubbed the “Kansas two step” to search vehicles — often from other states — when there is often no legitimate cause for the search, according to a lawsuit being heard this week in federal court.Shawna Maloney of Colorado recalled her fear after troopers used the tactic to search her family’s RV as they were on a cross-country vacation in March 2018. The predawn search on Interstate 70 turned up nothing illegal.“I don’t feel safe driving through Kansas anymore,” Maloney testified Monday in sometimes emotional testimony, the Kansas City Star reported.The lawsuit naming patrol Superintendent Col. Herman Jones seeks an order to stop the “two step,” which allegedly works like this: Troopers find a reason to make a traffic stop. As the trooper heads back to the patrol car, the trooper takes a couple of steps and then returns to again interact with the driver.The procedure buys time to continue seeking incriminating inf...

Walmart employee fatally shoots customer, investigators say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

An off-duty Walmart employee fatally shot a customer who tried to help a female employee who had gotten into a fight with the gunman, Florida law enforcement officials said Wednesday. Tironie Sterling, 22, is charged with first-degree murder for Tuesday afternoon’s shooting at a suburban Fort Lauderdale Walmart, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said. According to investigators, Sterling went to the Lauderdale Lakes store to meet with a female colleague. They got into an argument that turned into a fight, with Sterling dropping a handgun onto the floor. A male customer came to the woman’s aid, but Sterling retrieved his gun and shot the man several times, killing him, investigators said. The victim’s name and age have not been released. Sterling fled the store, but was arrested hours later, investigators said. He was being held without bond Wednesday awaiting his initial court appearance. It could not be immediately determined if he has an attorney. Walmart...

Apple TV+’s ‘Silo’ is a look at a future of life underground

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Dystopian storytelling goes underground this month with the arrival of Apple TV+’s “Silo,” a gripping, ambitious tale of Earth’s last population living far below the surface.Something terrible has happened to make the environment toxic so 10,000 people are hiding out in a massive, mile-deep underground silo until it’s safe to come out. They grow food, maintain a huge generator for power and recycle everything.But there’s also a sense of dread down here, too, and secrets, mysteries and suspicious murders. What exactly happened to the Earth? What is this talk about a rebellion 140 years ago? Where are all the books? Can we trust what the government is saying?“Life in the silo in many ways is pretty good. They’re part of this cause, which is basically just to stay alive until the day that it is safe to go outside. So they feel that they’ve got this common mission,” says creator and showrunner Graham Yost. “Bu you just get a sense that there’s bee...

How a Fed increase could affect credit card debt, auto loans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If, as expected, the Federal Reserve raises interest rates yet again Wednesday in its drive to cool inflation, much of America will be directly affected.Rates on credit cards, mortgages and auto loans, which have been surging since the Fed began raising rates last year, all stand to rise even more. The result will be more burdensome loan costs for both consumers and businesses.On the other hand, many banks are now offering higher rates on savings accounts, giving savers the opportunity to earn more interest.Economists worry, though, about whether the Fed’s streak of 10 rate hikes since March 2022 will eventually cause the economy to slow too much and cause a recession.Here’s what to know:WHAT’S PROMPTING THE RATE INCREASES?The short answer: Inflation. Inflation has been slowing in recent months, but it’s still high. Measured over a year earlier, consumer prices were up 5% in March, down sharply from February’s 6% year-over-year increase.The Fed’s goal is to slo...

Police: Man charged after shot fired at Memphis TV station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A man charged after a shot was fired into the lobby of a Memphis television station has faced mental health challenges for much of his life, his mother said.No one was struck by the shot fired Tuesday into the WHBQ station, the Fox affiliate in Tennessee’s second-largest city, Memphis Police Department Deputy Chief Stephen Chandler said at a news conference. The bullet fired with an “AR-style rifle” hit glass and a desk, but it wasn’t clear if it was fired intentionally, he said. Crisis negotiators helped take the suspect into custody.“He wanted to meet with media. He had a message to send out,” Chandler said. He didn’t provide more details.Memphis police later announced that they had arrested Jarrad Nathan, 26, and charged him with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney. Nathan has had mental health issues since he was young, Marsha McKinney told news outlets. “He’s one of the nicest, k...

`Insufficient support’ blamed for courthouse floor collapse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:53 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Construction crews had placed “insufficient support” beneath part of an upper floor that collapsed during renovations on the 124-year-old federal courthouse in Savannah, according to the government agency overseeing the project.Three construction workers were injured April 11 when a section of the courthouse’s third floor gave out, causing them to fall to the floor below.The General Services Administration said in a statement Tuesday that the $75 million renovation project remains paused as crews clear debris and stabilize the area where the collapse occurred. “GSA’s initial evaluations indicate that the immediate failure was due to insufficient support beneath the third floor of a section of the building, and not the result of systemic structural issues,” the agency’s statement said. “A full investigation of the building is still ongoing.”The Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse opened in 1899 on Wright Square in the heart of Savann...