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Condominium hurricane hardening pilot could become more accessible

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floridaphoenix.com – Jackie Llanos – 2025-03-03 14:24:00

Condominium hurricane hardening pilot could become more accessible

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix
March 3, 2025

Condominium associations would no longer need unanimous approval from unit owners to qualify for a pilot grant program intended to make the buildings more resistant against hurricanes under a bill from St. Augustine Republican Sen. Tom Leek.

The bill, SB 592, changes the requirements for the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program lawmakers unanimously approved last year, devoting $30 million to it for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The senator’s proposal won bipartisan support in its first hearing Monday before the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

Although no condos have received the available matching grants of up to $175,000, the state has approved qualifying inspections for 165, according to a Jan. 30 report from the Florida Department of Financial Services. The pilot program pays for the inspections.

Leek’s bill would allow condos to apply for the grants with the approval of at least 75% of owners who live in the units.

Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo, who co-introduced the pilot program in 2024, thanked Leek for his proposed changes.

“As you can imagine, it’s nearly impossible to get 100% approval from ownership in these associations, or even at your own family dinner table sometimes. So I think it’s a great start to go to 75%, but still be mindful that a lot of these associations’ boards can take out tens of millions of dollars in loans, larger amounts of money, with a lot less scrutiny and threshold,” Pizzo said.

Only condo buildings with at least three stories with at least one residential unit would be eligible under the changes for the wind mitigation pilot program, and the grants could only cover improvements that would result in an insurance rate or discount. Already, the pilot is limited to structures within 15 miles of the coast.

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Judge limits a small part of a court order blocking Trump’s election overhaul as lawsuits continue

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www.clickorlando.com – Ali Swenson And Christina A. Cassidy, Associated Press – 2025-07-18 16:38:00

SUMMARY: A federal judge modified part of a preliminary injunction against President Trump’s election overhaul executive order. The adjustment restricts the block on assessing citizenship for voter registration forms to only 19 states that sued, not nationwide. However, this has limited practical impact since another judge blocked the mandate across all 50 states in a separate case. The change follows a Supreme Court ruling limiting nationwide injunctions. Other aspects of the initial injunction, including proof-of-citizenship and mail-in ballot rules, remain blocked. The Department of Justice continues to fight the lawsuits filed by Democratic state attorneys general and civil rights groups.

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Tomorrowland music festival opens after its main stage was destroyed by a huge fire

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www.news4jax.com – Ahmad Seir, Associated Press – 2025-07-18 10:17:00

SUMMARY: The Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium began Friday despite a massive fire that destroyed its main stage two days earlier. Workers rushed to clear debris, and the opening act, Australian electronic group Nervo, performed amid remnants of the charred structure. No injuries were reported, though the cause of the fire is under investigation. With 38,000 campers onsite, most attendees remained committed despite the setback. Festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen emphasized unity and positive energy as key to the experience. Fans from Australia and Ukraine expressed relief and joy that the event continued, highlighting the festival’s vibrant atmosphere beyond individual performers.

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A Libyan accused of war crimes has been arrested in Germany, ICC says

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www.clickorlando.com – Mike Corder, Associated Press – 2025-07-18 04:31:00

SUMMARY: Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a former senior official at Miriga Prison in Tripoli, Libya, has been arrested in Germany on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, and sexual violence, allegedly committed between 2015 and 2020. The arrest was made on a sealed warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on July 10. El Hishri will remain in German custody pending transfer to The Hague. The ICC thanked German authorities and noted the case stems from a 2011 UN Security Council referral. The court has warrants for eight other Libyan suspects.

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