Gov. DeSantis to hold a news conference in JacksonvilleSea turtle nesting season begins in Fort Myers Beach
Jacksonville Gov. DeSantis to hold a news conference in Jacksonville Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Jacksonville.
FORT MYERS BEACH Sea turtle nesting season begins in Fort Myers Beach Sea turtle nesting season has officially begun, and the FWC wants to remind visitors about the fragility of the young reptiles.
BAREFOOT LAKE Neighbors react to chaos at Barefoot Lake Imagine being scared to leave your home on the weekends. Ana and Anrik understand the feeling all too well.
CAPE CORAL The story of Ollie’s Pub and what kept it open through years of hardships Before Ollie’s housed weekly events, packed to the brim with artwork and home to many, it was a simple dream and an empty space.
Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for May 1, 2024 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for May 1, 2024.
FORT MYERS BEACH Remembering Fort Myers Beach ‘Mayor’ Brad Benson To know Brad Benson was to know a legend. He recently passed away at the age of 71 after battling health issues.
CAPE CORAL Proposed Cape Coral City Council meeting time change fails In a 4 to 4 vote, the motion to move Cape Coral meeting times from 4:30 to 9 a.m. failed.
Greater Dunbar initiative begins A duplex that has been around since the 1960s and is filled with generations of memories is being demolished.
Caught on camera: funnel clouds, hail and more during thunderstorm Wednesday’s thunderstorms storms have produced hail and funnel clouds.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New mammography guidelines Breast cancer is much easier to treat when it’s caught early.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral church picking up the pieces after massive fire Calvary Connection ministries is unrecognizable after a massive fire swept through a Cape Coral Complex on Monday.
CAPE CORAL Day Two of FEMA code compliance hearings in Cape Coral Another 50 people were summoned Wednesday for the second day of code compliance hearings before the special magistrate.
PUNTA GORDA Cracking down on vapes in Charlotte County schools Vaping is taking over, and that’s why three Charlotte County High schools are testing out vape sensors.
State lawmakers want to hear your opinion on voting in Lee County Right now, everyone votes for or against all five of the Lee Commissioners, but they’re talking about changing the system so that each commissioner represents a specific part of the county.
FORT MYERS Migrants entering Florida under controversial parole program The House Committee on Homeland Security has released documents, which show a surge in migrants entering the United States through a parole program, sparking debate over immigration policies and border security.
Jacksonville Gov. DeSantis to hold a news conference in Jacksonville Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Jacksonville.
FORT MYERS BEACH Sea turtle nesting season begins in Fort Myers Beach Sea turtle nesting season has officially begun, and the FWC wants to remind visitors about the fragility of the young reptiles.
BAREFOOT LAKE Neighbors react to chaos at Barefoot Lake Imagine being scared to leave your home on the weekends. Ana and Anrik understand the feeling all too well.
CAPE CORAL The story of Ollie’s Pub and what kept it open through years of hardships Before Ollie’s housed weekly events, packed to the brim with artwork and home to many, it was a simple dream and an empty space.
Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for May 1, 2024 Here are some of Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for May 1, 2024.
FORT MYERS BEACH Remembering Fort Myers Beach ‘Mayor’ Brad Benson To know Brad Benson was to know a legend. He recently passed away at the age of 71 after battling health issues.
CAPE CORAL Proposed Cape Coral City Council meeting time change fails In a 4 to 4 vote, the motion to move Cape Coral meeting times from 4:30 to 9 a.m. failed.
Greater Dunbar initiative begins A duplex that has been around since the 1960s and is filled with generations of memories is being demolished.
Caught on camera: funnel clouds, hail and more during thunderstorm Wednesday’s thunderstorms storms have produced hail and funnel clouds.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New mammography guidelines Breast cancer is much easier to treat when it’s caught early.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral church picking up the pieces after massive fire Calvary Connection ministries is unrecognizable after a massive fire swept through a Cape Coral Complex on Monday.
CAPE CORAL Day Two of FEMA code compliance hearings in Cape Coral Another 50 people were summoned Wednesday for the second day of code compliance hearings before the special magistrate.
PUNTA GORDA Cracking down on vapes in Charlotte County schools Vaping is taking over, and that’s why three Charlotte County High schools are testing out vape sensors.
State lawmakers want to hear your opinion on voting in Lee County Right now, everyone votes for or against all five of the Lee Commissioners, but they’re talking about changing the system so that each commissioner represents a specific part of the county.
FORT MYERS Migrants entering Florida under controversial parole program The House Committee on Homeland Security has released documents, which show a surge in migrants entering the United States through a parole program, sparking debate over immigration policies and border security.
File photo. Credit: MGN WASHINGTON (AP) – Most Medicare beneficiaries will keep paying the same monthly premium for outpatient care next year, the Obama administration said Tuesday. But new beneficiaries will pay a larger amount, and upper-income retirees are looking at considerably higher charges. Separately, all beneficiaries face a $19 increase in the Part B deductible – the amount they pay for outpatient care each year before Medicare kicks in. That’s rising to $166 next year, from the current $147 – the first such increase since 2013. The so-called “Part B” monthly premium is a well-known Medicare yardstick because it’s paid by most of the program’s 55 million beneficiaries, who generally have the money deducted from their Social Security checks. But next year, premiums will vary for different groups of beneficiaries depending on their circumstances. Most current beneficiaries will continue to pay $104.90, the same as this year. They’re avoiding an increase because of the interaction between their Social Security benefits and Medicare premiums. A federal law protects Social Security recipients from higher Medicare premiums. Since there won’t be a Social Security cost-of-living increase next year, their premiums will be unchanged. Others will pay more, but nowhere near as much as they would have before the recent budget deal between Congress and the administration. Nearly 3 million new beneficiaries will pay $121.80 a month. That’s about $38 less per month than was estimated before the budget deal. Upper-income retirees pay considerably more, ranging from $170.50 a month for individuals making more than $85,000 a year, to $389.80 for those making more than $214,000. President Barack Obama’s tenure in office has seen historically low growth in the nation’s health care spending. Government and independent forecasts are looking for medical inflation to pick up again – although not at the fast pace seen before the 2007-2009 economic recession. Low cost growth has meant stability for Medicare beneficiaries. The president’s health care law also has been gradually closing a coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit, easing pressure on many retirees. Privately insured working families haven’t had the same experience during the Obama years, because employers kept passing on to workers a bigger share of health care costs. Medicare’s announcement comes during the final weeks of open enrollment for prescription drug coverage and private insurance plans under Medicare Advantage. Both of those programs are important components of Medicare, and the administration is forecasting stable premiums. However, independent analysts say many Medicare drug plans are raising premiums significantly, and it’s important for budget-conscious retirees to shop around this year. They have until Dec. 7. Medicare’s Part B premium is set by law to cover 25 percent of the cost of outpatient care, with the government picking up the rest. Higher income beneficiaries pay more, since their premiums are set to cover a bigger percentage of costs. Hospital and nursing home care under Medicare is separately financed by a payroll tax equally divided between workers and employers.