Good morning! On this day in 1864, the Confederacy won Florida’s largest Civil War battle at the Battle of Olustee near Lake City.
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We’re sponsored today by the nonprofit World Concern, offering an opportunity to help children in need in Somalia.
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Ex-Lawmaker Appears in Court
Former state lawmaker Carolina Amesty appeared in federal court in Orlando on Tuesday, accused of stealing $122,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to pay credit cards, buy furniture, and spend on family businesses.
She was not required to post a bond but, as conditions of her release, Judge Robert Norway denied her request to travel to Tallahassee and ordered her to surrender her passport and get rid of any guns at her home.
Away from the courtroom, Amesty’s attorney Brad Bondi, brother of new U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, sent a letter to three Republican U.S. Senators saying the case was another example of “weaponization of the DOJ” under former President Joe Biden and that Amesty is “innocent of these charges.”
Amesty, a Windermere Republican voted out of office in November, is charged with two counts of stealing government property. Each count carries a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.
Tampa Area Bridge Nears Completion
The new southbound/westbound I-275 bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Pinellas County’s Gateway area and Tampa’s Westshore District is set for completion by late March. Costing more than $865 million, it is the most expensive bridge ever built in Florida.
Also called the Howard Frankland Bridge, the structure will be the state’s widest bridge with an eight-lane span, able to bear the weight of 200,000 cars each day.
The bridge will feature four general-purpose lanes and two tolled express lanes in each direction, a pathway for pedestrians and bicycles, and space for future transit projects, including a light rail system.
Homeowners Still Waiting for Hurricane Payouts
Nearly six months after hurricanes Helene and Milton, an analysis from Realtor.com shows only about half of the 329,523 residential property claims in Florida have been paid by insurance companies.
Much of the gap is due to the large number of claims of floodwater damage. Insurance companies are more readily able to address wind damage, according to the report.
In all, Milton caused more than $4 billion in estimated insurance losses in Florida, with Helene causing nearly $2.2 billion.
Flying together with our sponsor
Somalia is facing a devastating combination of natural disasters, global conflicts, widespread poverty, and disease outbreaks. East Africa has just endured its worst drought in 40 years, leaving tens of millions without access to clean water, wiping out millions of livestock, and destroying crops. With domestic food production crippled, Somalia has relied heavily on imports—90% of its wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine—until those shipments stopped.
Now, two in five children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, and cholera is spreading in some regions. The food crisis, compounded by global humanitarian aid being redirected to Europe and the Middle East, has created a perfect storm, leading to a sharp rise in child malnutrition.
➤Tallahassee: State House Speaker Daniel Perez filled seats on the new State Immigration Enforcement Council, appointing sheriffs Bill Prummell and T.K. Waters of Charlotte and Duval counties. (See Other Appointments)
➤ Statewide: Gov. Ron DeSantis named former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as chair of the Space Florida Board of Directors, which supports the state’s aerospace business. (More)
➤ Seminole County: Planners are focusing on two of five preferred routes for the Sanford Airport Connector project on State Road 417. (See Map)
➤ Sumterville: Activist Leonard Peltier was released from prison on Tuesday, weeks after former President Biden commuted his life sentence to home confinement in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. (See Photo)
➤ Perry: The city’s downtown will undergo major revitalization as the city and chamber of commerce work to bring in future investments. (See Video)
➤ Escambia County: The county is set to hire a chief information officer to oversee information technology in the wake of concerns about cyberattacks and leaked text messages. (More)
➤ Miami Heat legend Tim Hardaway Sr. called former Heat forward Jimmy Butler “a crybaby” for Butler’s actions that led to the team trading him. (More)
➤ The Tampa Bay Buccaneers restructured receiver Chris Godwin’s contract to give them more time to negotiate a possible extension as he nears free agency. (More)
➤No. 2 Florida men’s basketball beat SEC rival Oklahoma 85-63 to extend its win streak to five games. (More)
➤ Experience relief from foot pain with the TheraFoot Pro EMS Foot Massager. This innovative device uses Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology to enhance blood circulation, alleviate discomfort, and rejuvenate tired muscles. Enjoy customizable massage modes and intensities for a personalized relaxation experience.
➤ Florida is among the top states for franchise growth in 2025, according to a report. (See List)
➤ Columbian airline Avianca announced a nonstop route from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Managua, Nicaragua, starting on May 10. (More)
➤ The West Palm Beach metro area led the nation in the percentage of all-cash real estate deals over the past year, based on a Redfin analysis. (See Report)
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➤ 11 Things Smart Americans Are Wasting Money On.You’re smart about saving money,like shopping clearance racks, limiting eating out, and choosing affordable streaming services. However, there are still some cost-cutting tips you might not know yet. Once you discover these, you could quickly find extra cash in your pocket.(Click To Read More)
➤ University of Florida researchers used wastewater from Gainesville to develop a salmonella vaccine showing promise in clinical trials on mice. (More)
➤ Botanical gardens in Coral Gables, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg are nominated for the USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Awardsin thebotanical garden category. (Vote Here)
➤ The Inn at Celebration, now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, unveiled a multimillion-dollar redesign. The Orlando property overlooks Lake Rianhard in the Walt Disney Co.’s master-planned community. (See Photo)
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Ex-Lawmaker
