www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-03 12:55:00
(The Center Square) – Florida Senate President Ben Albritton wants to spend $200 million to help the state’s ailing citrus industry as it faces the issues of population growth, hurricanes and an invasive disease that ruins the fruit.
The Wauchula Republican whose district constitutes the heart of Florida’s citrus country proposes spending $190 million for grove management, therapeutic tools and disease-resistant varieties for new plantings and the rehabilitation of existing trees.
The Senate’s budget proposal, Senate Bill 2500, would also appropriate $10 million to assist citrus producers increase their yields. Growers would receive $125 million of the $190 million to purchase new trees, while $10 million would be for citrus packing houses.
“Mark my words, Florida citrus is not going down on my watch,” Albritton said in a news release announcing the proposal. “This heritage industry is not only vital to our state’s economy, but it is truly a part of the DNA of Florida. To those growers who are left in the business, hear me when I say, you are not forgotten, you are not alone, and the Florida Senate is running to this fight.
“Research and new technologies offer a renewed hope for the future of citrus. Florida will lead the way in pursuing these opportunities. We’re on the edge of something special. Florida citrus is making a comeback, one tree at a time.”
But is it too late?
Florida’s production of citrus fruit has plummeted 90% in the past two decades, going from 300 million boxes to only 20 million boxes, according to a data from a December report by the nonprofit group Florida Taxwatch.
One of the issues is citrus greening disease, which has infected all of the state’s commercial groves. The disease causes the fruit to become bitter and eventually kills the trees. There is no cure and $61 million has been spent by state officials on research to no avail.
The bacterial infection spread by an invasive insect, the Asian citrus psyllid, appeared in 2005 and, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, can reduce production by 75% and doubled production costs from 2005 to 2015.
Destructive hurricanes also have played havoc with the state’s groves. In 2004, four hurricanes made landfall in Florida: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne and the state’s citrus product dropped by 150 million boxes.
In 2024, three hurricanes – Beryl, Helene and Milton – hit the state in 66 days. As a result, the USDA predicted in December a 20% drop from the October forecast for all orange production and levels were down across the board for citrus.
Freezes can also affect citrus yields as well.
Non-Valencia oranges were predicted to have a 17% drop from the October forecast, 22% falloff for Valencia oranges, 14% reduction for grapefruit and tangerine and mandarin production predicted to fall by 13%.
Population growth, according to Florida Taxwatch, has also played a role as growers find selling their land to developers more lucrative than continuing to struggle amid hurricanes and rising production costs.
At stake is a $6.9 billion industry that Florida Taxwatch says supports more than 32,000 jobs.
SUMMARY: Thousands of young people gathered in Rome for the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, which was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. Despite the somber occasion, the funeral took on an uplifting tone, reflecting Francis’ joyful approach to life. Many attendees, including those from Italy, Spain, and Bosnia, had planned their trips around the canonization. They shared admiration for Francis, praising his humility and advocacy for social justice. Though disappointed by the suspension, they found comfort in celebrating the pope’s legacy, believing his death during Easter symbolized hope.
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Following recent natural disasters, state leaders across the country are finding that emergency support from the federal government is no longer a given.
Under President Donald Trump, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia, and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina’s request for extended relief funding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
While it’s not uncommon for the feds to turn down some requests for disaster declarations, which unlock federal aid, state leaders say the Trump administration’s denials have taken them by surprise. White House officials are signaling a new approach to federal emergency response, even as Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threaten to shut down FEMA altogether.
“The Federal Government focuses its support on truly catastrophic disasters — massive hurricanes, devastating earthquakes, or wide-scale attacks on the homeland,” Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement to Stateline.
Hughes said state and local governments “often remain an impediment to their own community’s resilience.” He called on states to take on a more extensive role.
“States must have adequate emergency management staff, adoption and enforcement of modern building codes, responsible planning and strategic investment to reduce future risk, commonsense policies that prioritize preparedness over politics, disaster reserve funds to handle what should be routine emergencies, pre-negotiated mutual aid and contingency contracts that speed up recovery, and above all, an appetite to own the problem,” the statement said.
They should have a dialogue with the states, so the states aren’t spinning their wheels making requests that are going to get denied.
– Michael Coen, former chief of staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency
State emergency management leaders say the federal retreat from disaster response has upended a long-established system.
“This is very unusual,” said Karina Shagren, communications director with the Washington Military Department, which oversees the state’s emergency management division. “This is the first time in recent memory that we have hit all the indicators to get FEMA’s public assistance program and we’ve been denied.”
Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Obama and Biden administrations, said the president has “broad discretion” to approve or deny disaster requests, regardless of whether they meet specified conditions. If Trump intends to curtail federal support, Coen said, he should give states clear guidelines.
“They should have a dialogue with the states, so the states aren’t spinning their wheels making requests that are going to get denied,” Coen said.
He added that states need guidance if they’re expected to build emergency management programs to take on what the feds once handled. Not all states, Coen said, have the capacity to replicate those functions. And disasters are expected to increase in frequency and severity because of climate change.
“Having that capability in every single state instead of having one FEMA is not the best use of tax dollars to prepare for the worst day,” he said.
Historically, FEMA has coordinated the federal response during emergency situations. In the National Security Council statement, Hughes said Trump has promptly authorized “life-saving emergency support to states during and in the immediate aftermath of disasters.”
But the agency’s larger role has focused on recovery after disasters, assessing damage and distributing funding to help communities rebuild. Now, some communities are finding that support is no longer a sure thing.
A work crew removes a tree that had fallen on a house on Nov. 20, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. A rare storm referred to as a “bomb cyclone” recorded 70 mph wind gusts which knocked over trees and power lines, leaving nearly half a million residents throughout Washington state without electricity. (Photo by Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images)
Issaquah, Washington, was among the cities hit hard by the “bomb cyclone” that ripped through the state last November. Severe winds killed two people, knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents, and caused millions in damage, state officials said.
A city of about 40,000 residents in the Cascade foothills, Issaquah’s costs from the storm totaled $3.8 million — covering road repairs, removal of 800 tons of tree debris, and overtime pay for first responders. Mayor Mary Lou Pauly said the city has seen four events since 2020 that qualified for federal disaster aid, with no previous denials. If Washington is unable to win its appeal with FEMA, she said, Issaquah will take a financial hit to its reserves, leaving it more vulnerable to future storms.
“We put a lot of investment in being resilient,” Pauly said. “When you get to a number like $3.8 million, that is too big of a number for us to be able to rebuild without assistance. Our residents pay federal taxes, and this is what they think they pay them for, this is what they expect their national government to do. They do not want me to set property taxes 100% higher.”
Pauly echoed Coen’s view that FEMA should give states a clear outline of the role it will play.
“What we all want to know is what are the rules of the game?” she said. “If the criteria has changed, then why aren’t we getting told about it?”
Washington state leaders said they were shocked when FEMA denied their request for $34 million to help repair roads, utilities, and power systems. Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state’s application met all of the “very clear criteria to qualify.” He has vowed to appeal the decision.
“We were really relying on that funding,” said Shagren, of the Washington Military Department. “If the appeal is denied, our local jurisdictions will have to prioritize which projects they can move forward with and which they don’t. They’re going to be impacted greatly. This wasn’t some small storm.”
Other states have been surprised by FEMA denials. Arkansas suffered 14 tornadoes last month, triggering a request for a disaster declaration from Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. But the feds told state leaders to handle it on their own.
“[I]t has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies,” the federal government’s denial read, according to Arkansas Times.
Sanders has appealed that decision, saying the disaster caused “widespread destruction” that requires federal help.
In West Virginia, state leaders asked for disaster aid to cover 14 counties that were struck by flooding in February. But FEMA denied individual assistance to seven of those counties. Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement that he is looking at options to appeal, but praised the Trump administration for its “strong support” following the floods.
Democratic leaders in the state have called on Morrisey to demand more help from the feds, WOWK reported.
Meanwhile, FEMA has said it will no longer match 100% of North Carolina’s spending to recover from September’s Hurricane Helene. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said the cost share was crucial to the state’s efforts to rebuild.
“The need in western North Carolina remains immense — people need debris removed, homes rebuilt, and roads restored,” Stein said in a statement this month, according to NC Newsline. “I am extremely disappointed and urge the President to reconsider FEMA’s bad decision, even for 90 days.”
This story first appeared in Stateline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org.
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Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This content reflects a Center-Left bias, as it critiques the Trump administration’s handling of disaster relief requests and highlights the frustrations of state leaders who are experiencing denials from FEMA. The piece presents a nuanced view, with leaders from both Democratic and Republican states expressing surprise and concern over the denials, but it leans towards portraying the Trump administration’s response in a critical light. Additionally, it includes quotes from former FEMA officials who call for clearer guidelines from the federal government and a more consistent approach to disaster relief, which underscores a desire for more effective and equitable federal involvement. The inclusion of voices from both sides—such as Republican Governor Sanders of Arkansas and Democratic Governor Stein of North Carolina—adds balance, but the overall tone of dissatisfaction with FEMA’s actions under Trump’s leadership contributes to a Center-Left leaning perspective.
www.youtube.com – FOX 35 Orlando – 2025-04-25 20:12:17
SUMMARY: The Orlando Dreamers have secured nearly $1.5 billion in funding to pursue a Major League Baseball team, marking a significant step for the initiative. Co-founder Jim Schnorf announced that investors have provided preliminary commitments, signaling serious intent to bring baseball to Central Florida. This funding is separate from the $1 billion earmarked for a proposed stadium near SeaWorld. As the Tampa Bay Rays struggle with their current stadium situation, Dreamers are watching closely, confident that Orlando is a prime location for an MLB franchise, whether through relocation or expansion.
The Orlando Dreamers have secured nearly $1.5 billion in investor commitments to bring a Major League Baseball team to Central Florida.
FOX 35 Orlando delivers breaking news, live events and press conferences, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local news stories and updates from Orlando, Orlando metro, and across Florida.
