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Are Florida's home insurance reforms helping homeowners?

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Are Florida's home insurance reforms helping homeowners?


As Florida’s homeowners dispute insurance denials from last year’s hurricanes, state reforms intended to improve service and bring down our bills are coming under scrutiny.

The backstory:

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In 2022, the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis made it harder to sue home insurance companies and offered those companies additional state-backed reinsurance – state money to subsidize the private market.

Before this passed, some lawmakers doubted subsidies for the insurance companies and making it harder for consumers to sue them would help consumers.

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“It’s corporate welfare. It’s only helping big businesses, and my constituents are not going to feel any relief as a result of it,” said Michael Grieco, who served as a Democratic state representative from 2018-22.

READ: Home insurance nightmares continue months after 2024 hurricanes

Then in 2023, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed DeSantis delivered the biggest insurance bailout in history and crushed Florida homeowners whose houses were destroyed. Trump claimed Florida’s insurance commissioner did nothing, while Floridians’ lives were ruined.

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For context, Trump and DeSantis were running against each other at the time.

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State lawmakers said it would take more time for their changes to pay off. They said we would need to wait a year and a half to see the results.

However, homeowners reported their premiums continued to rise through 2023.

For example, in Pinellas County, Dave Lesko’s home insurance bill increased from $5,500 to $7,500 in 2023, after he had renovated and bolstered it with stronger windows. Then in 2024, his bill rose to $17,000.

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Dave Lesko says his insurance bill rose to $17,000 in 2024. It was $5,500 in 2022 and $7,500 in 2023.

“I thought so at first I read the number wrong. I had to get my glasses and double-check, but it’s correct and it’s actually a 120% increase from last year,” Lesko said.

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Then Florida took hits from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

And Weiss Ratings found a sharp increase in damage claim denials compared to prior storms in prior years.

“Some of the bigger providers in the state have denial rates close to 50%, so half of the claims are being denied,” said Weiss Ratings founder Dr. Martin Weiss.

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Weiss Ratings shows 14 property insurers in Florida closed more than half their claims in 2024 with no payments. Weiss notes that does not include claims that fall outside the policy’s coverage (like mistakenly filing flood claims on a home policy).

Florida home insurance: Reviewing the impact on state reforms

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In Washington, U.S. Republican Senator Josh Hawley flagged the rise in denial rates in calling for a congressional investigation.

The Republican Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, cited Florida’s reforms as a model for what not to do.

“They tried wholesale tort reform that insurance companies said would lower rates in Florida and today, policyholders in Florida struggle to get the very claims paid on the policies they paid for,” Gov. Jeff Landry said.

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The other side:

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Florida’s insurance commissioner disagrees. Michael Yaworsky notes more insurance companies are doing business in Florida. He said rates have leveled off in Florida, and some are going down.

“We are seeing that stability has emerged throughout the marketplace,” Yaworsky said.

The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Craig Patrick.

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Florida top-ranked signee selected in Round 4 of MLB draft

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Florida top-ranked signee selected in Round 4 of MLB draft


The Baltimore Orioles selected Florida signee Kevin Roberts Jr. with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB draft.

Roberts, UF’s top-ranked signee, is expected to forgo his college career and is the only member of Florida’s signing class to not enroll for the summer. A slot value of $711,800 is a bit low for a highly touted high school recruit, but it would be a big whiff by the Orioles if they don’t get him signed.

Perfect Game ranks Roberts No. 19 overall and No. 8 among shortstops nationally. Most of that is because he is incredibly projectable at 6-foot-5-inch and 220 pounds with good speed. There’s good bat speed and solid pop in his bat, showing exit velocities in the mid-90s as a 16-year-old. Roberts is also very young. He won’t turn 18 for another two weeks, giving pro teams extra time to develop him.

The power is there, but he’ll need to refine the contact tool a bit. Still, with plus speed and a strong arm — he clocked fastballs at 94 mph when pitching — Roberts figures to make an easy transition to center field.

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Of course, it would have been nice for Florida to get Roberts on campus, but Florida has plenty of options in the outfield, and Brendan Lawson is returning at shortstop next season. If this is the only loss from Florida’s 2026 signing class, it’s a big win for Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.





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NW Florida authorities make two more arrests in murder case

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NW Florida authorities make two more arrests in murder case


WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) – The Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida posted on its Facebook page Saturday the latest arrests in the murder of Jason Coulthart.

Here is the post:

TWO ADDITIONAL ARRESTS IN JASON COULTHART HOMICIDE; JOHNSON STILL AT LARGE

WALTON COUNTY, FLA — The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has made two additional arrests in connection with the murder of Jason Coulthart, marking the fourth and fifth individuals charged in relation to the ongoing investigation.

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On July 10, 2026, Michael Ray White, 74, and Kathleen Morris, 59, of Santa Rosa Beach, were arrested for accessory to a capital felony after the fact and obstruction.

According to investigators, White knowingly provided assistance to Johnson as she evaded law enforcement between June 25 and June 30, 2026.

Evidence shows White initially denied knowing Johnson while talking to investigators but later admitted she was at his home on multiple occasions during that period.

White also allowed Johnson and a second suspect, Martin Leaverton, to stay at the home, provided supplies, and later coordinated moving Johnson to a second location.

Morris, who resides at the same address, was also arrested in connection with the case after admitting she assisted Johnson by transporting her, providing supplies, and misleading deputies regarding Johnson’s presence at the residence.

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Text messages recovered from Morris’s phone further corroborate her involvement in helping Johnson avoid capture.

Interviews with additional witnesses, including Martin and Sandra Leaverton, provided further confirmation that both White and Morris knowingly sheltered Johnson and assisted her efforts to elude law enforcement.

The Leavertons admitted retrieving Johnson’s belongings, supplying her with a cell phone, and attempting to find out‑of‑state refuge for her. They are still behind bars at the Walton County Jail.

The discovery of Coulthart’s remains occurred on June 25, 2026, following two independent statements provided to the Niceville Police Department regarding a body located on a property on Sunset Lane in Freeport.

A residential search warrant was executed that same day, leading to the discovery of human remains. An arrest warrant for Johnson was issued on June 26, 2026. This week, the remains were confirmed to belong to Jason Coulthart.

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Johnson remains at large. She is considered dangerous, and anyone who has seen her or has information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office immediately.

“Anyone found to have helped or is still assisting Isabelle Johnson avoid arrest will be charged accordingly,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “If you give her a place to stay, help her hide, or lie for her, you will face consequences. This is a homicide case. We will not allow anyone to get in the way of this investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 892‑8111 or contact Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863‑TIPS.

Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.



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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026

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Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for July 10, 2026


The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 10 drawing

02-39-44-46-56, Mega Ball: 23

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Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from July 10 drawing

11-15-32-40-45-46

Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 11-20-21-24-25

Evening: 06-11-15-20-33

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Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 10 drawing

Morning: 15

Matinee: 13

Afternoon: 09

Evening: 04

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Late Night: 08

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

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Winning Pick 2 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 6-0, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4, FB: 8

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 7-5-3, FB: 5

Evening: 5-8-1, FB: 8

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 2-2-4-2, FB: 5

Evening: 0-4-4-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from July 10 drawing

Midday: 4-4-6-0-0, FB: 5

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Evening: 9-2-9-8-1, FB: 8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
  • Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
  • Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

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  • Full name
  • City of residence
  • Game won
  • Date won
  • Amount won
  • Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
  • Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.



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