Ron desantis

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed property insurance and condo safety reform bills into law. During a special session in Tallahassee, which was called on by the governor, the Florida Legislature overwhelmingly approved a measure seeking to stem property-insurance problems that have led to policyholders across the state losing coverage and seeing soaring premiums. READ MORE: South Florida homeowners hoping newly-passed legislation will provide some relief from skyrocketing insurance rates “This package represents the most significant reforms to Florida’s homeowners insurance market in a generation,” said Gov. DeSantis. “These bills will help stabilize a problematic market, help Floridians harden their homes through the My Safe Florida Home Program, and pave the way for more choices for homeowners.” Among the changes: Roofs with more than 25% damage will be repaired rather than replaced, so claims will be less $2 billion is earmarked for the … [Read more...] about Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The smokestack of a Carnival Cruise ship docked in the Turks & Caicos Islands caught fire on Thursday and officials allowed guests and crew members to go ashore as heavy smoke billowed into the air. Carnival said in a statement that no one was injured during the incident in Grand Turk, although it was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which was filmed by passengers. READ MORE: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law “All guests and crew are safe,” the company said. READ MORE: South Florida homeowners hoping newly-passed legislation will provide some relief from skyrocketing insurance rates The Carnival Freedom had departed Florida on Monday for a five-day cruise. MORE NEWS: South Florida’s international airports expecting major increase in Memorial Day weekend travel (© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) … [Read more...] about Cruise Ship Smokestack Catches Fire in Turks & Caicos

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – With more than 850,000 policies, the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has become an 800-pound gorilla in Florida’s troubled insurance market. But you wouldn’t have known that as lawmakers passed bills during a special legislative session this week to try to shore up the industry. READ MORE: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law Lawmakers did not make changes designed specifically to address issues such as Citizens’ growth and premiums, though parts of the overall legislation will affect Citizens like it does other insurers. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who is one of the Legislature’s most-hawkish members on bolstering the private industry, said during a meeting Monday that lawmakers were not doing anything to deal with the “radical growth” of Citizens. Citizens was created as an insurer of last resort but has ballooned as private companies have shed policies and raised rates to … [Read more...] about Florida lawmakers leave out Citizens Insurance issues

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Federal prosecutors have charged a 38-year-old cruise ship employee with enticing an underage girl he met on the ship into having sex with him and with producing child pornography by recording their sexual interactions. Authorities said Daniel Scott Crow met the victim while he was working aboard a cruise ship. READ MORE: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law Legal papers indicate the victim, a 16-year-old girl at the time, was a passenger on the ship, vacationing with her family. “After the cruise, Crow remained in contact with the victim and used a messaging application to solicit lewd photographs from the victim,” officials said. READ MORE: South Florida homeowners hoping newly-passed legislation will provide some relief from skyrocketing insurance rates It is alleged that Crow arranged to and later met the victim at a hotel, where he engaged in sexual activity with her while recording it. Authorities said Crow … [Read more...] about South Florida cruise ship employee charged with sex with minor

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A South Florida mother is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of her 7-month-old baby. Alyssa Jimmie faced a judge Thursday morning. READ MORE: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law According to the arrest report, the 22-year-old told police that she left the baby with his 3-year-old brother in the bathtub with the water running in their southwest Miami-Dade home. She said she went to get her nails done nearby at an “in-home” salon, and because there was no “drain plug,” she felt it was safe to leave them alone. READ MORE: South Florida homeowners hoping newly-passed legislation will provide some relief from skyrocketing insurance rates When she came back, police said, the baby was unconscious and the drain had been stopped with a small face towel. The baby was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead. MORE NEWS: South Florida’s international airports expecting major increase in Memorial Day … [Read more...] about South Florida mom charged after baby left in bathtub dies while she went to get her nails done

PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) – The Florida Highway Patrol is on the scene of a deadly crash on US 27. According to FHP, the big rig collided with a Toyota Corolla near mile marker 35 – a mile north of I-75. READ MORE: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs property insurance, condo safety reforms into law Two of the Toyota’s passenger were declared dead on the scene. The other two were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. READ MORE: South Florida homeowners hoping newly-passed legislation will provide some relief from skyrocketing insurance rates The driver of the 18-wheeler suffered no reported injuries. MORE NEWS: South Florida’s international airports expecting major increase in Memorial Day weekend travel As FHP investigates, all northbound lanes of US 27 are closed. … [Read more...] about 2 dead, 2 hospitalized in US 27 crash involving 18-wheeler