Politics

Environmental groups urge full funding for NOAA as hurricane season threatens, government shutdown looms

Published

4 months ago

September 30, 2025

Dozens of environmental and health organizations have signed a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to maintain robust funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) amid a looming government shutdown showdown.

“NOAA saves lives and supports livelihoods in Florida. When a storm forms, when tides surge, when harmful algal blooms spread — Floridians turn to NOAA’s data, forecasts, and science,” the group wrote in a letter sent late Tuesday afternoon as budget negotiations continue, just hours before the deadline to pass a funding deal to avert a government shutdown.

“We are encouraged that the House and Senate CJS appropriations bills rejected many of the NOAA cuts originally proposed in the President’s budget. But some damaging cuts remain in the Appropriations Committees’ draft bills, particularly massive cuts to NOAA Fisheries in the House CJS bill. And given the escalating threats Florida faces — from hurricanes to harmful algal blooms to marine wildlife die-offs — we urge robust funding for NOAA’s full spectrum of responsibilities.”

The letter comes as Florida braces for the most active period of hurricane season, when storms form in the Gulf and threaten the entire state, particularly the Gulf Coast. The Donald Trump administration has proposed cutting NOAA’s budget by $1.7 billion, a quarter of the agency’s previous fiscal year budget. Funding impacts the National Weather Service, which is responsible for forecasting hurricanes, among other things.

Other Florida-based services NOAA provides or oversees include the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory in Miami; the Cooperative Institute for Marine & Atmospheric Studies; the Integrated Ocean Observing System; the National Estuarine Research Reserves; the Coral Reef Conservation Program; the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, the Florida Sea Grant; the National Hurricane Center; and state and federal academic partnerships such as the Florida Flood Hub and Ocean Circulation Lab at the University of South Florida and the Gulf Telemetry Network.

“Together, NOAA’s science and services help power Florida’s economy, protect our gorgeous waterways and environment, and keep communities safe,” the group wrote.

Group’s signing onto the letter include:

— Ocean Conservancy.

— Guy Harvey Foundation.

— GreenPlanet Waterways Restorations Inc.

— Tropical Audubon Society.

— Clean Miami Beach.

— Florida Ocean Alliance.

— Florida Green Schools PTSA.

— A Zero Waste Culture.

— Doran Jason Group of Florida, Inc.

— Florida Institute of Oceanography.

— Gradible.

— Ascendance Sustainability Group.

— Michael Bracken.

— Business Performance Improvement.

— VolunteerCleanup.Org.

— Miami Dade County Public Schools.

— The Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove.

— Big Blue & You, Inc.

— Rescue a Reef program.

— Bayside Residents Association.

— Surfrider Foundation.

— Society of the flora, fauna & friend.

— Save the Manatee Club.

— Upton Environmental Inc. DBA ROFFS.

— Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter.

— Sea Turtle Conservancy.

— Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.

— Debris Free Oceans.

— 15th St Farm.

— Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.

— The Art of Science, LLC.

— Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots-Tampa Bay.

— Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Inc.

— Sea Grant Association.

— Byrne Ocean Conservation DBA: Water Warrior Alliance.

— Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

— People’s Economic and Environmental Resiliency Group.

— Tampa Bay Watch, Inc.

— Healthy Gulf.

— IDEAS For Us.

— Miami Waterkeeper.

— Trash Caulin LLC.

— Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.

— The University of Tampa Department of Environmental Studies 15th St Farm.

— Oceana.

— Dream in Green.

— SEACURE.

— Organized Fishermen of Florida.

— Environmental Defense Fund.

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Politics

SeaWorld, Universal announce musical acts ahead of annual food festivals

Published

4 minutes ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

Universal and SeaWorld have announced the details on one of the best theme park deals of the year: concerts that are included in regular park admission during their annual food festivals.

Both theme parks are bringing in major artists as part of Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval and SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival.

Disney World also welcomes well-known artists and nostalgic favorites to play for theme park guests. But the Mouse has not officially released the 2026 schedule for the Garden Rocks concerts at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The festival runs March 4 to June 1.

Universal’s Mardi Gras concerts kick off Feb. 7 through March 28 on select nights. This year’s lineup features Grammy-winning DJ and producer Zedd, Bebe Rexha, and The All-American Rejects, who are returning for the second year in a row as the concert series’ finale.

The nightly concerts take place following Universal’s Mardi Gras parade featuring elaborate floats and plenty of bead throwing.

At SeaWorld, the music includes KISS rocker Gene Simmons, the Beach Boys, Flo Rida, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Fray and Boyz II Men during the concert series running on select nights from Jan. 31 to May 17.

“This is the biggest and most diverse concert lineup we’ve ever presented as part of Seven Seas Food Festival,” said SeaWorld Orlando Park President Jon Peterson in a statement. “With chart-topping artists, throwback favorites, and every concert included with park admission, we’re delivering one of the best entertainment values in Central Florida.”

The majority of the dates have been announced, although SeaWorld said a few additional acts will be announced later in the year.

Orlando has deep ties to boy band history, which you’ll find at the theme parks’ festival concerts.

You won’t see Justin Timberlake anytime soon playing behind a backdrop of roller coasters. But Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC performs Feb 22 at the Pop 2000 Tour night at SeaWorld. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick’s former bandmate Joey Fatone teams up with the Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean at Universal Orlando Feb. 21.

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Politics

Tampa Bay Lightning arena agreement worth up to $358.5M heads to Hillsborough County Commission

Published

36 minutes ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

The revised agreement is intended to secure the Lightning’s long-term presence in downtown Tampa.

Hillsborough County Commissioners are scheduled to consider a $250 million agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning to expand the county’s financial commitment to renovations at the Benchmark International Arena (formerly known as the Amalie Arena) and extend the team’s lease from June 2037 to June 2043.

The proposed agreement would raise the county’s maximum renovation contribution from $108.5 million to $358.5 million, while requiring the Lightning and Tampa Bay Arena LLC to spend an additional $75 million of their own funds on arena improvements. Under the terms of the deal, the team would be required to pay for renovation work upfront before becoming eligible for county reimbursement.

The revised agreement is intended to secure the Lightning’s long-term presence in downtown Tampa and address ongoing capital needs at the more than 30-year-old county-owned arena.

According to documents for Wednesday’s Hillsborough County meeting, the county’s share of the renovation costs would be financed exclusively through revenue bonds backed by the fifth-cent tourist development tax. To date, the county has paid approximately $91 million under the original arena renovation agreement first approved in 2006.

The agreement also requires Tampa Bay Arena and the Lightning to seek additional financial support from the city of Tampa and the state, though no commitments from either government are included in the agenda item.

The staff report indicates that continued investment is necessary to keep the arena competitive with newer venues and to preserve its role as a major economic driver in the Water Street and Channelside districts.

“Such public benefits include the Arena’s role as a catalyst for small and emerging businesses located in the District, a stimulus for development in the larger area around the Arena, and the host of many esteemed cultural events held in the Suncoast region of the State of Florida,” staff wrote in the report.

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Politics

Patricia Rumph joins crowded race to be first-ever District 7 Orange County Commissioner

Published

2 hours ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

Patricia Rumph, a retired state corrections department employee, is running for Orange County Commission’s District 7 in August.

“I am running for County Commission because service is not something I talk about, it is something I have lived every day of my life,” Rumph said.

Rumph’s campaign priorities are public safety, investing in strong infrastructure, affordability, and environmental stewardship, she said in a statement to announce her candidacy.

Rumph is joining a crowded field for a two-year term representing District 7 in the nonpartisan race. The other candidates are Selina Carter, Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner, Stacey Gordon-Ali, Framily Support Network co-founder Aaron Lewis, Sonya Shakespeare, and former Orlando City Commissioner Vicki Vargo.

A County Commissioner’s current annual salary is $130,262.

District 7, which covers Maitland, Eatonville, Pine Hills, Orlovista and Fairview Shores in the northern part of Orange County, is one of the two new County Commission seats added after last year’s redistricting.

“As District 7 is formed, this is a moment to build something new and to do it the right way,” Rumph said. “Our residents deserve a commissioner who is present, accountable, and deeply invested in the people who call this district home.”

Rumph’s 30-year career in the Florida Department of Corrections included jobs as Correctional Probation Senior Officer, Human Resources Specialist, and Fiscal Assistant. She retired in 2017.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida.

“In 2020, Rumph was appointed Orange County’s Inaugural Community Ambassador, a role created to build trust between law enforcement and residents and to lead initiatives focused on reducing gun violence and violent crime,” she said in a press release.

“Prior to that appointment, she served for three years as President of the Pine Hills Community Council and has held leadership roles on numerous county boards and advisory committees.”

She was also named the League of Women Voters of Orange County Grassroots Champion of the Year, noted a press release highlighting her public service.

“From Pine Hills to neighborhoods across District 7, I have worked side by side with residents to make our communities safer, stronger, and more connected,” Rumph said in a statement. “This new district deserves leadership that knows our neighborhoods, listens to our families, and fights for opportunity in every zip code. I am ready to bring proven, community-rooted leadership to the County Commission.”

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