SUMMARY: A union for USAID contractors has asked a federal judge to prevent the destruction of classified documents after an email instructed staff to burn and shred agency records. Judge Carl Nichols set a briefing deadline on the matter. The email, sent by acting executive secretary Erica Carr, directed personnel to destroy classified materials as part of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, which has resulted in significant program cuts and staff reductions. Critics, including Rep. Gregory Meeks, accuse the administration of violating federal record laws and undermining ongoing lawsuits related to USAID’s abrupt changes.

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Bill blocking Citizens Insurance policies for noncompliant condos advances in House

by Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix
March 11, 2025

This legislative session’s much-awaited House condo bill passed its first committee unanimously in 13 minutes on Tuesday, but one of the differences between the House and Senate proposals appears to be taking center stage.

Miami Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez wants to bar the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. from issuing or renewing policies for condominium buildings that haven’t completed a building inspection, a requirement the Legislature passed following the 2021 collapse in Surfside of a 12-story condo that killed 98 people.

Lawmakers gave condos with three or more stories a Dec. 31, 2024, deadline to complete structural integrity reserve studies and repeat them every 10 years, detailing how much a condominium association needs to save to pay for roof and structural maintenance.

“It is the stick,” Lopez told reporters after her HB 913 cleared the Housing, Agriculture, and Tourism Subcommittee. “Look, they’ve had two and a half years to get a structural integrity reserve study done. It literally doesn’t take that much.”

However, Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley of Northeast Florida, sponsoring the upper chamber’s proposal (SB 1742), says that provision would make the situation worse for condo owners facing higher association fees to pay for repairs. Bradley’s bill has not had a hearing yet, but she expects it to pass in the next two weeks.

“We want to make sure that associations comply, but I’m also very concerned about making sure that they don’t compound their troubles by not being able to secure insurance,” Bradley told Florida Phoenix.

Both Bradley and Lopez said the differences between the bills would be resolved.

“I think that’s something that leadership is going to have to sort out,” Lopez said.

Unreliable data

Approximately 36% of condominiums required to acquire the structural integrity reserve studies had done so by Feb. 10, said Melanie Griffin, secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, to House lawmakers during a Feb. 18 meeting. Griffin said the data may not be accurate because they were self-reported.

The condo associations are not required to submit copies of their studies, but the department included an optional field for additional information in the form reporting their completion.

“While this information gives us an idea of what condominium associations and owners are experiencing, we are not confident in this additional data, and we are not sure it is reliable enough to draw concrete conclusions from or base important policy decisions on,” Griffin told lawmakers.

Another difference in the bills is that Lopez wants condo associations to be able to get loans to cover necessary repairs without requiring approval from association members. On the other hand, Bradley wants the associations to hire investment advisers to grow their reserve funds.

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.

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SUMMARY: Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, opening on May 22, offers five immersive worlds and numerous attractions. Highlights include “The Untrainable Dragon” live show in the How to Train Your Dragon world, featuring Hiccup, Astrid, and Toothless. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter introduces “Le Cirque Arcanus,” a full-scale theatre experience with magical creatures. The Dark Universe’s Monster Makeup Experience allows guests to transform into Universal Monsters. Celestial Park, with its stunning fountains and astronomical themes, serves as the heart of the park. Epic Universe spans 750 acres, offering over 50 attractions and unique experiences for visitors.

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