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TALLAHASSEE — In recognition of their work during the 2017 Florida Legislative Session in protecting Florida’s most vulnerable residents, state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R - Naples) and state Rep. Ben Diamond (D - St. Petersburg) were presented with the AARP Florida Legislative Achievement Award

By Tom Scherberger

Fellow Floridians – This year was a busy one for us when it came to utilities advocacy. We had some hard-fought battles – some we won, some we lost.

Whew! The worst of the 2017 hurricane season is past us.

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. -- AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson issued the following statement commending Duke Energy Florida for stepping back from the consumer-unfriendly practice of utility advanced-cost recovery as part of a settlement agreement now under consideration by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC).

By Tom Scherberger

As Floridians regroup from Hurricane Irma, it is clear that the state’s system for protecting frail older residents failed after Hurricane Irma. Ten people died in a tragic chain of miscommunication and inexplicable failure to act after a Broward County rehabilitation center lost cooling for more than 150 residents for three days during Hurricane Irma. Astonishingly, a fully functional hospital, where air conditioning was available, was right across the street.

Power outages and flood water during crises like Hurricane Irma can quickly destroy food and medication. However, these essentials do not always need disposed of after a storm hits.

By Jeff Johnson

Hurricane Michael devastated much of Florida's eastern Panhandle region on Oct. 10, inflicting billions of dollars in damages in a few hours. For Floridians age 50-plus, for family caregivers and for North Florida communities, recovery will take years.