Florida's Latest News

DeSantis calls on Biden to provide remote Internet access to Cubans

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) penned a letter to President Biden on Wednesday urging the administration to help provide Internet access to Cubans, amid unprecedented anti-government protests by thousands of people.

“I write to urge you to assist in providing Internet access to the people of Cuba standing up against communist oppression and demanding a voice after decades of suffering under the yoke of a cruel dictatorship,” DeSantis wrote in the letter.

Thousands of people took part in demonstrations across Cuba on Sunday, protesting against the government of President Miguel Díaz-Canel amid an economic crisis and a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Florida insurance regulator tells insurers to provide data on Champlain South policies

Florida’s insurance regulator has put out a request for all insurers to tell the state about any policies associated with the Surfside condominium building that collapsed last month.

In a notice to companies on Saturday that’s typically reserved for hurricanes and disasters, the Office of Insurance Regulation requested insurers report virtually every type of policy in effect at the Champlain Towers South, from automobile coverage to life insurance to flood policies. Insurers were given a deadline of Wednesday this week.

An office spokesperson did not say why the data was requested or what regulators plan to do with it, only that it was “part of the state’s ongoing Surfside recovery efforts.”

Citizens Property Insurance customers face bigger rate hike due to change in new Florida law

Customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. are getting a bigger rate hike than was initially proposed, due to a change in a state law that was partially blocked by a federal judge this week.

Citizens officials expressed disappointment in Sunday’s ruling, in which Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found that the new law, approved by legislators this spring, violated speech rights of roofing contractors.

But the Citizens board of directors took advantage of another part of the measure (SB 76) to approve new rate changes during a meeting on Wednesday.

“These necessary adjustments reflect the efforts of the Florida Legislature to return Citizens to its role as a residual insurance company,” Citizens Chairman Carlos Beruff said in a news release following Wednesday’s action. “Unfortunately, we have become the first choice, or only choice, in too many regions of the state.”

IRS child tax credit prepares to roll out to Central Florida families

The Child Tax Credit is something that will impact 39 million households, including many in Central Florida, and it rolls out on Thursday.

That is the day when the IRS will begin sending out advance Child Tax Credits to families with kids, without any further action required of them.

The American Rescue Plan increased the maximum child tax credit to $3,600 for children under the age of 6, and $3,000 for children aged 6-17.

The IRS estimates that 88% of children in the U.S. will qualify for the payments, which will be sent monthly — $300 per month for each child under the age of 6, up to $250 for children 6-17. Families receiving the credits qualify depending upon their income.