Articles by Brendan Farrington

A Troubling Phrase: ‘Just a Category 1 Hurricane’

Here’s a troubling phrase hurricane forecasters hate but often hear: “It’s just a Category 1. Nothing to worry about.” Or even worse: “Tropical storm? Just some wind and rain.” But look at Hurricane Beryl, which hit Texas this week as …

Florida House Votes to Loosen Child Labor Laws a Year After Tougher Immigrant Statute

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A year after Florida enacted a law making it more difficult for employers to hire immigrants illegally, a move that has reportedly exacerbated a labor shortage and has added to property insurance repair costs, the state …

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Seeking to Stabilize Insurance Market

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping property insurance bill on Friday. How much and when it will work to stabilize the stormy market are among the questions being asked. One of the key goals of the legislation is to …

Florida Officials Consider Adopting New Condo Inspection Policies

Across Florida, people living in the thousands of condominiums rising above the state’s 1,350 miles of coastline wonder if the building collapse in Surfside could happen to their home as state and local officials discuss what they can do to …

New Florida Law Seeks to Protect State from Sea Level Rise

Florida – one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise – will spend hundreds of millions of dollars over the next few years to protect against coastal flooding under a bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis …

COVID-19 Liability Bill for Florida Businesses, Healthcare Providers Signed by Gov

Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday. The legislation …

Florida Lawmakers Send COVID-19 Liability Protection Bill to Governor

Florida businesses, governments and healthcare providers will be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill the House sent to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday. …

Florida House Approves COVID Liability Shield for Businesses

Florida businesses would be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a bill passed by the House on Friday. The House also passed a bill that would …

Florida Introduces Bill to Protect Businesses from COVID-19 Lawsuits

Florida businesses would be protected from coronavirus lawsuits if they made a good effort to follow state-issued guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under a proposal approved Monday at its first Senate committee stop. While Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis …

Red Tide Reappears off Florida’s Southwest Coast

Red tide is back in the waters off of Florida’s southwest coast, making birds sick and killing fish, according to a state environmental agency update on Wednesday. While satellite imagery isn’t picking up the toxic algal blooms, the Florida Fish …