Florida News

Insurer Universal Estimates Nearly $1 Billion Loss from Hurricane Ian

Florida-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. on Tuesday forecast a gross loss of nearly $1 billion from Hurricane Ian, some of which will be covered by its reinsurance program. “To date, we’ve received approximately 18,000 claims, roughly half the number of …

Attorneys in Florida Condo Collapse Seek About $100M in Fees

Attorneys who worked to secure settlements topping $1 billion in the collapse of a beachfront Florida condominium building in which 98 people died are requesting about $100 million in fees and costs, according to a new court filing. The total …

Tropical Storm Alex Heads for Bermuda Area with Wind, Rain

Tropical Storm Alex, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, headed for a close pass by Bermuda on Monday after deluging parts of Florida and causing three deaths in Cuba. Alex strengthened some over the Atlantic after becoming …

Construction Worker Falls to Her Death from Florida Condo

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A 23-year-old construction worker fell to her death from a 13-floor balcony of a condominium complex in West Palm Beach, police said. Delores Yamilety Martinez-Ponce was working Saturday morning at the La Clara condominium …

Future Seawalls: Higher, Stronger and Better for Marine Life

MIAMI (AP) — Seawalls, despite more natural innovations like “living” shorelines, aren’t going anywhere in Florida — except up. With thousands of miles of coastline facing two feet of sea level rise by 2060, some cities and counties, including Miami-Dade, …

Judge OKs $83M for Property Loss in Florida Condo Collapse

People who owned units in a Florida oceanfront condominium building that collapsed last year will divide $83 million for property losses, with the compensation for families over the 98 deaths still to be determined, a judge ruled Wednesday. The money …

Did Teen’s Big Size Factor in Florida Amusement Ride Death?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A rising middle school football player in Missouri, only 14 but already 6 feet, 5 inches tall and well over 300 pounds, Tyre Sampson fell to his death from a towering Florida amusement ride. Lawyers …

Florida Passenger Train Line Kills 5th Person in a Month

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) –A Brightline higher-speed train fatally struck a pedestrian who walked into its path Tuesday, the fifth death involving the railroad since it recently resumed operations after being shutdown because of the pandemic. Boynton Beach police said …

From Ground to Sky, US Condo Collapse Probe Gaining Steam

From the soils underground to eyes in the sky, the federal probe into the deadly collapse of a Florida condominium building is gaining steam but is far from completion, officials said Monday. The National Institute of Standards and Technology did …

South Florida Deputies Told Not to Enforce Anti-Riot Law

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Deputies in a South Florida county are being instructed not to enforce an anti-rioting law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week, unless it’s absolutely necessary. When it is deemed necessary, the decision must …