Florida
Florida Democrat demands new FEMA funding: “Sounding the alarm for months”
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Florida, U.S. Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz has revisited his call for immediate action to bolster Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources.
“As the only former emergency management director in Congress, I have been sounding the alarm for months that this would be a problem if we just left for recess without properly funding FEMA during the height of hurricane season,” Moskowitz, representative from Florida, said in a recent release.
Moskowitz, who served as Florida’s director of emergency management from 2019 to 2021 and later as Broward County commissioner before his election to Congress, brings a unique perspective to the ongoing debate over disaster funding. He further emphasized his readiness to act: “I stand ready to return to Washington to immediately ensure FEMA has the resources to help the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, pummeling Florida’s Big Bend region with winds of up to 140 mph and delivering catastrophic flooding and storm surge. The storm’s impact extends beyond Florida, affecting multiple states.
The timing of Helene’s landfall has thrown the issue of FEMA funding into sharp relief. Just one day before the hurricane struck, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to extend FEMA funding through December 20. But the agency still grapples with a multibillion-dollar deficit, even after implementing new spending restrictions last month.
Moskowitz praised President Joe Biden’s immediate response to the crisis, stating, “Thank you to President Biden for sending all available resources to the impacted states.” He was also quick to criticize Congress over its failure to act sooner. “Congress should have been proactive on this issue,” Moskowitz said, highlighting the ongoing debate over disaster preparedness and funding allocation.
The congressman’s statement reflects a growing frustration with the political gridlock that often surrounds disaster relief efforts. “Congress must show that it can still deliver for the American people in their hour of greatest need,” Moskowitz added.
During his tenure as Florida’s emergency management director, Moskowitz oversaw the state’s response to various crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that devastated portions of his state in 2018.
Notable among the dissenting voices over disaster relief funding is U.S. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, who voted against the recent stopgap measure to fund the government and provide additional disaster assistance. Gaetz’s vote, cast just a day before Hurricane Helene made landfall in his home state, has drawn criticism and raised questions about the priorities of lawmakers in disaster-prone regions.
This wasn’t the first time Gaetz has voted against a continuing resolution that included disaster relief funding. In 2022, just days after Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida, the GOP lawmaker was among several Republicans to vote against a stopgap measure that would continue funding the government and provide billions of dollars in extra disaster assistance.
Despite his most recent vote, Gaetz promised Floridians that they would still have support for Helene damage, according to a report by ABC 3.
Newsweek contacted Moskowitz and Gaetz’s office via email on Monday for comment.
Moskowitz’s statement concluded with a final call to action: “So, let’s get back to work and pass a bipartisan, long-term solution with no poison pills or politicking involved.”
TAMPA, Fla – New SNAP restrictions will start Monday in Florida.
What we know:
These changes will ban the purchase of many sugary sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts.
Hunger Free America, an advocacy group, is against these restrictions.
Joel Berg, the CEO, said some regulation is a good thing, but he wants to see it support access to healthy foods as a choice.
“We do support mandates to mandate that healthier food is available in stores that do accept SNAP,” Berg said. “So, it makes a lot more sense to make it easier to get healthier food.”
Berg said these restrictions are unnecessary in achieving a healthier America.
“We should make America healthier again by making healthy food more affordable, convenient and physically available,” Berg said. “We shouldn’t micromanage the eating patterns of adults to try to achieve that goal.”
The other side:
This is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.”
What they’re saying:
Berg said that these changes, on top of cuts to the program nationwide, will increase hunger.
“It’s not that low-income Americans don’t want healthier food; it’s that they can’t afford healthier food,” Berg said.
This coincides with the announcement that there will be cuts to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which supplies food to mothers and young children.
“President Trump’s budget just announced that he’s proposing taking away fruits and vegetables from the WIC program for pregnant women and children under five,” Berg said. “So, they’re taking away healthier food.”
The WIC cuts would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from 5.4 million people.
Big picture view:
The SNAP changes come as part of the MAHA movement and include more than 20 other states that will implement changes over the next two years.
The Source: Information in this story comes from WIC, SNAP and interviews done by Fox 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.
“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.
What to expect
- 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
- 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
- 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
- Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.
For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.
Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.
Other Friday highlights included:
- 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
- 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
- 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
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With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A quiet Monday turned into a frantic race against time when a deputy stepped in to save a choking 1-year-old’s life.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a 1-year-old baby choking. Upon arrival, the responding deputy performed life-saving procedures to help the child breathe again.
See also: Two arrested after 6-year-old arrives at Florida school with bruises, deputies say
Body camera video shows a deputy holding the baby, flipping it over on its stomach, and beginning to pat the baby’s back.
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When the baby begins to cry, the deputy is heard saying, “he’s good.”
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