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Accused Orange County serial law enforcement impersonator out on bond; deputies search for possible victims

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:27:06 -0400

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is looking for people who have encountered a man with a history of impersonating law enforcement officers.

Christopher Levins, 26, has faced charges in St. John’s, Orange, and Lake counties for crimes related to pretending to be an officer.

The first case stems from 2013, when Levins was just 16. He was arrested for attempting to arrest another team under the threat of a Taser and handcuffs.

"This is beyond the pale of the usual impersonating, flashing a badge and hoping to get a free cheeseburger," said Anthony Schembri, former New York Corrections Commissioner, commenting on Levins’ bold activities.

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He served nine months at a juvenile facility for the crime. At age 18, he was accused of impersonating an undercover agent and K9 handler. During the investigation of the incident, detectives found a supply of guns, ammunition, and police gear in his home.

For said discovery, he was arrested for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. While he awaited trial for that charge, he was seen in a vehicle donning red and blue lights and sirens. According to deputies, he passed himself off as a Homeland Security agent.

In that case, Levins was sentenced to 36 months of probation. While on probation, he posed as an FBI agent on the campus of the University of South Florida. He was sentenced to two years and served 10 months.

In 2018, he allegedly handcuffed and arrested a woman for an outstanding warrant. Initially, he was not charged, but detectives found footage of the incident during the execution of a search warrant several years later. His personal body-worn camera appears to show him handcuffing the woman.

"He was nice enough to give us the evidence," Schembri remarked.

He’s since been charged with kidnapping, and he is currently out on bond awaiting trial for that case.

Detectives have reason to believe there are others who have encountered Levins as he pretended to be a member of law enforcement. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who has encountered him in that capacity to contact them.

Schembri advises that if things seem suspicious during a traffic stop by someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, "Call 911 yourself to verify that he is a police officer and say, 'I'm on route 75. I got pulled over. Is this man a real police officer?' A real police officer will understand your hesitancy."

Currently, Levins is out on bond.

14-year-old arrested in sexual battery of 91-year-old Reddick woman, sheriff says

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:14:58 -0400

Authorities in Marion County have made an arrest in a home intrusion and rape investigation in which a 91-year-old Reddick woman was awakened from her sleep and assaulted, detectives said.

Forensic investigators with the Marion County Sheriff's Office positively identified the suspect as a 14-year-old boy.

Deputies said that early Sunday, June 9, the victim was awakened around midnight to find an intruder in her home. The woman was beaten and sexually battered by the suspect, investigators said.

"It’s everyone's worst nightmare that somebody breaks into your house and you're attacked," said Lt. Paul Bloom with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. "I think that's something that will linger, certainly with our victim, but also the residents in that, in that community that this could happen."

Investigators were able to track down a suspect through DNA evidence. Because this evidence often takes a while to process — it usually has to be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s laboratory in Tallahassee — the Marion County Sheriff’s Office has its own crime lab. So the detectives started asking for buccal swabs from anyone who had been at the house recently.

According to investigators, the victim mentioned that the day before the attack, the suspect had stopped by to chat, as he often had in the past.

"She had no reason to suspect that this was going to be her attacker," said Lt. Bloom.

The arrest report says the teen actually came up to investigators while they were in the neighborhood. He told them a neighbor had a video that showed someone running toward the victim’s house the night of the attack, the sheriff's office said.

FOX 35 talked with that neighbor, who asked not to be identified.

"I’m happy that he was caught, but I’m sad that it was the person it was, because we had no idea," he told us.

He knew the victim, the accused attacker, and the accused attacker’s guardian. He says he never would have seen this coming.

"What makes a 14-year-old kid do something like that?" he asked. "There’s got to be more to the story."

During an interview with detectives, the sheriff's office said the teenager admitted to unlawfully entering the victim’s home.

"I told everyone last week that we would find the person responsible, and we have," Sheriff Billy Woods said. "I’m very proud of the hard work that my detectives and forensics team have done on this case to bring about a quick closure."

Sheriff Woods described the incident as an act of "unimaginable violence."

"It came as a shock that any individual would commit such an act on a 91-year-old, but it is truly disturbing when we see the young age of the arrestee," the sheriff added. "Although I firmly believe he should be held accountable for his crime, as a father, my compassion goes out to his family. Hopefully, his arrest will lead to getting him help that prevents any further such acts."

Sheriff Woods said the people of Reddick had shown "resilience and support for us and their community" throughout the investigation.

A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest in the case. However, the sheriff's office did not offer any additional details.

The teen has been taken into custody and delivered to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

'Squiggly shark' with 'rare' deformity hooked in Titusville: 'I feel bad keeping this one'

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:56:39 -0400

A "squiggly shark" with an apparent tail deformity was discovered in Titusville earlier this month – and researchers have revealed a possible explanation as to why the big fish looks the way it does.

On June 3, Brian Tittle and his son were fishing in the backyard of their home in Titusville when they hooked a young bull shark.

"It took us an hour to reel it in," Tittle told FOX 35. "As soon as I seen it's tail, I knew something was wrong."

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Story continues below photo gallery

Tittle said he initially thought it could have been a broken tail or an injury from a propeller, but he wasn't too sure. So he and his wife snapped a few photos of the "peculiar-looking" creature and sent them to his friend with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Research Institute.

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After taking photos and videos of the bull shark, Tittle and his son released it back into the water.

"I figured it had a tough life already," he said.

Tittle said FWC researchers told him the shark had scoliosis. The research team also posted its findings on Facebook on Friday.

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"The shark appears to have some form of scoliosis or spinal deformity affecting the vertebral column," researchers wrote. "While the condition is rare, our team has encountered similar anomalies in other shark and bony fish species. This particular shark was successfully released, but our team has x-ray images of other specimens, like this seatrout, where you can see the strange shape of the vertebral column."

Toby Daly-Engel, an assistant professor of marine sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology, told FOX 35's Esther Bower that even though this bull shark has scoliosis, it can still live pretty normally.

"Its deformities are not so bad that it can’t do what it needs to do, and that’s fascinating," Daly-Engel said.

"I feel bad keeping this one," Tittle said about the bull shark.

1 person killed, another injured in Alachua County crash: FHP

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:17:13 -0400

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On Tuesday afternoon, one person was killed after a crash in Alachua County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash happened on SW 24th Avenue, around 2:50 p.m.

According to the incident report, a 78-year-old woman was driving her Chevrolet Tahoe and was traveling eastbound on SW 24th Avenue near SW 117th Street when the Tahoe veered off her lane and collided with the side of a Ford pickup truck that was pulling a utility trailer westbound. The Tahoe also hit the front section of the trailer.

After the collision, both vehicles rested on separate sides of the road.

The 78-year-old driver was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The 41-year-old driver of the Ford pickup truck had minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Boeing Starliner departure from space station remains delayed due to 'complicated' issues

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:00:31 -0400

Boeing Starliner's first astronaut crew will spend an additional week in orbit as ground teams complete more data reviews of ongoing issues with the spacecraft.

Starliner launched NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on June 5 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The pair is conducting the Crew Flight Test of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to certify the vehicle to fly crew as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle also flies astronauts as part of the NASA program and is preparing for its ninth NASA astronaut mission this summer.

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After arriving at the International Space Station on June 6, Williams and Wilmore were expected to spend about eight days on the orbiting laboratory. However, issues with Starliner's hardware prompted NASA managers to delay their return date several times.

The latest delay was announced Tuesday when NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich said Starliner's new target return is no earlier than 10:10 p.m. ET on June 25.

"We want to give our teams a little bit more time to look at the data and make sure we will be ready to come home," Stich said.

If Starliner undocks from the ISS, it will land in White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on June 26 at 4:51 a.m. ET. Undocking and landing attempt opportunities occur every four days.

Despite extending their mission more than twice the original timeline, the astronauts are in good spirits.

"They've been very positive about the whole thing," Stich said. "They love Starliner. They love being in the vehicle. They love being on the ISS. I think, you know, if you ask Butch and Suni, they might want to stay for a long period."

Stich said NASA and Boeing teams took this past weekend off because they had been working hard on the Starliner issues and needed a break.

"What's really complicated is, you know, we're going through all the data from this flight, but comparing it to OFT-2 and also looking forward to the remainder of the flight and running simulations," Sitch said, referring to the second orbital flight test and Starliner's first visit to the ISS without crew in 2022.

Path forward to Starliner's landing

Over the weekend, teams completed a hot fire of the Starliner spacecraft's thrusters with the vehicle docked at the ISS to troubleshoot the issues encountered during docking when five thrusters failed.

Stich said the best place to test these issues is in orbit because they can replicate the thermal conditions on Starliner exactly, unlike simulations on Earth. The thruster issue is limited to the spacecraft's service module, which does not return to Earth with the crew module.

When it returns to Earth, Starliner will face two big milestones that require the thrusters to orient the vehicle for landing. Teams are working to understand how the thrusters will perform during the deorbit burn.

NASA and Boeing's engineers continue to analyze five helium leaks discovered between the launch and docking. Stich said NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center teams are doing field testing to simulate the leak rates.

The spacecraft needs 7 hours of helium and has 70 hours of margin to reach the deorbit burn.

"The path going forward is to continue to look at the helium system, continue to try to understand what's happening, again, look at simulations for the remainder of the flight," Sitch said. "What's our demand? What if we wave off? And what does that mean for the system?"

If Starliner misses the June 26 landing opportunity, another attempt is available on June 30. Teams will also monitor the weather in the Southwest desert before giving the go-ahead for undocking.

GET UPDATES ON THIS STORY AT FOXWEATHER.COM

Southwest Airlines celebrates 53rd birthday with $53 one-way tickets

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:13:36 -0400

Southwest Airlines is offering ticket prices for as low as $53 one-way as it celebrates its 53rd birthday.

From now until June 20, customers can book selected low-flight tickets for anywhere in the continental U.S. between August 6 and December 18. Customers can take advantage of the deal on trips to Hawaii, San Juan, Puerto Rico between August 20 and November 20.

The airline said some examples of one-way deals include:

Nonstop between Atlanta and Tampa
Nonstop between Austin and Dallas (Love Field)
Nonstop between Chicago (Midway) and Minneapolis/St. Paul
Nonstop between Las Vegas and San Diego
Nonstop between Los Angeles (LAX) and Phoenix

Meanwhile, the CEO of Southwest Airlines said he will not resign in the face of pressure from a hedge fund that wants him fired and that his leadership team will produce its own plan to boost the airline’s financial performance.

CEO Robert Jordan said Southwest will present its plan in September. He declined to give specifics, but again hinted that it could include changes in the airline’s longstanding boarding and seating policies.

Elliott Investment Management notified Southwest’s board Monday that it bought a $1.9 billion stake in the Dallas-based company and is seeking to replace Jordan and Gary Kelly, the airline’s chairman and former CEO, with executives from outside the company.

Elliott accused Southwest leadership of failing to change with evolving customer tastes, causing it to lag behind rivals. The hedge fund noted that Southwest’s share price has fallen more than 50% over the past three years.

Southwest is also considering changes to its cabin and seating, such as whether to sell some seats with extra legroom, Jordan said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

Man attacked by alligator while swimming in Seminole County lake, FWC investigating

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:42:02 -0400

Wildlife officials are investigating after a man was bitten by an alligator while swimming in a Seminole County lake, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The gator attack at Lake Monroe was first brought to FWC's attention shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, June 16, officials said.

The man reportedly suffered serious injuries. FOX 35 News is working to learn the man's condition.

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Alligator safety tips

The FWC recommends residents take the following precautionary measures to prevent alligator attacks:

Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.
Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet.
Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.

Anyone concerned about an alligator is asked to call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and wildlife officials will send a nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Florida man admits to burning bodies of missing family of 4: affidavit

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 12:36:46 -0400

A Florida man was taken to jail after he allegedly admitted to burning the bodies of a missing family of four.

Rory Atwood, 25, was arrested on Saturday on premeditated murder charges, according to a Pasco County arrest affidavit.

On June 13, deputies received a call regarding a welfare check for Rain Mancini, Phillip Zilliot II and their two young children, Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III – who were the former roommates of Atwood.

The caller told dispatch that his brother had received a call from Atwood, who requested help burning trash. The brother told the caller that he saw a puddle of blood and could see "adult and child bodies" over the video call, the affidavit stated.

Deputies spoke with Atwood at his home on Nottingham Trail in Hudson. He told law enforcement that he had no knowledge regarding the deaths of the family and stated the family had walked off from the property on June 12.

The next day, law enforcement received a call from a man who claimed Atwood had "admitted to killing his roommates and their children," the affidavit stated.

Investigators spoke with Atwood again, who said he had kicked the family out due to unpaid rent, though items belonging to them were found at the residence.

During a search of the property, deputies uncovered a fire pit in the backyard with various burned debris at the base.

A cadaver dog pulled an item from the pit which was later confirmed to be human remains, officials said.

There was also a "strong odor" of possibly chlorine around the front porch, the affidavit stated.

Atwood later told detectives that he had evicted the family from his home on June 1 because they did not pay rent, but the family came by "unexpectedly" on the evening of June 12, according to the affidavit.

Atwood claimed the couple entered his bedroom where he and his 4-year-old daughter were, with knives. He said he got into a fight with Phillip, as Rain allegedly poked his daughter's neck with a knife, the affidavit stated.

At some point, Phillip pulled out a gun, and during a struggle over the firearm, Rain was shot multiple times, the report said. Atwood claimed he redirected the gun toward Phillip and pulled the trigger, killing him, investigators said.

Atwood then allegedly dragged their bodies to the fire pit where they were burned. He admitted the bodies of the two children had also been burned, but did not provide a cause of death, deputies said.

Atwood is being held at the Pasco County jail without bond.

System in Gulf set to become Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the 2024 hurricane season

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:05:26 -0400

The National Hurricane Center has issued tropical storm warnings ahead of Tropical Storm Alberto, which will likely form on Wednesday in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

As of Tuesday morning, the NHC said the disturbance, currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone One, is located about 355 miles east-southeast of La Pesca, Mexico, and about 420 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas.

The "very large" disturbance has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and is moving north at 6 mph.

"Some increase in strength is likely during the next 36 hours, and the disturbance is forecast to become a tropical storm by Wednesday," the NHC said in an advisory.

When the storm develops, it will become the first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

The system is set to bring rainfall, coastal flooding, and wind impacts along the coasts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. Tropical storm conditions are expected beginning Wednesday over the Texas coast south of Port O'Connor.

WATCH: FOX 35 Tracking The Tropics 2024 Hurricane Season Preview

Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the:

Texas coast from Port O'Connor southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande
The northeastern coast of Mexico south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Puerto de Altamira

This means tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area within 36 hours.

19-year-old killed, woman hurt in Orange County double shooting: deputies

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 06:44:22 -0400

A man was killed, and a woman was wounded in a double shooting in Orange County early Tuesday, according to deputies.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened around 2 a.m. on Pershing Avenue near Goldenrod Road.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a 19-year-old man and a woman in her 20s who had been shot.

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Both were taken to a local hospital, where the man died of his injuries, deputies said.

The woman has non-life-threatening injuries.

Additional details about what led to the shooting and whether a suspect was in custody were not immediately released.

Deputies said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Florida man killed by hit-and-run driver on I-96 in Detroit

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:02:55 -0400

Michigan State Police say a body found along the shoulder of I-96 in Detroit early Tuesday was the victim of a hit-and-run.

Police learned about the body on the eastbound side of the road near Schaefer around 6:20 a.m. When they arrived, they found the body of a 59-year-old Fruitland Park, Fla. man next to the road on the local lanes. The driver who hit him fled the scene, and police have not provided a possible suspect vehicle description.

The freeway was closed for hours for an investigation, and as of 9:15 a.m., remained closed at Southfield as troopers continue to gather evidence.

Stay with FOX 2 for updates.

Florida McDonald's employee shoots at customers over drive-thru dispute: police

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:49:23 -0400

A McDonald's employee was arrested last week in Lakeland after she started shooting at customers following a dispute at the drive-through window, according to police.

Chassidy Gardner, 22, of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On June 14, at around 1 a.m., Lakeland police officers responded to a reported shooting at the fast-food restaurant located on East Memorial Boulevard.

An investigation revealed an altercation began at the drive-through window when the customers "felt their order was incorrect", the Lakeland Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Officers said Gardner got into an argument with the customers and was seen on surveillance video throwing a drink at them as they were leaving.

Two of the customers got out of the vehicle, opened the drive-through window and began throwing drinks at Gardner, who then armed herself with a gun, police said.

A different security camera appeared to show Gardner exiting the restaurant with her gun in hand.

While outside, officers said Gardner fired the weapon at the vehicle as it was leaving the area, striking the vehicle once.

"What’s becoming disturbing is us hearing more about these types of stories," Orlando Rolon, retired police chief of the Orlando Police Department said. "It’s unfortunate because once you fire that round, that round has no mercy. Wherever that round is going, whatever it strikes, it’s going to damage it or kill it."

Rolon said this "McMix-up" likely just changed her life forever.

"It was totally uncalled-for and unjustified for her to pull the gun on a customer through the drive-through, regardless of what the situation was, unless there was a risk of great bodily harm that was going to be brought on to her, or there is a situation where someone was engaging in some activity that could result in bodily harm," Rolon said. "I’m shocked that she had a weapon of that sort in a place such as a McDonald's as an employee."

A McDonald’s employee handbook on the McDonald’s website did not address weapons inside restaurants. Previous reports state the company abides by the laws of the state or region where the restaurant is located.

Potential Tropical Cyclone One: Gulf of Mexico disturbance expected to strengthen

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:24:40 -0400

The National Hurricane Center in Miami has designated an area of low pressure over the Bay of Campeche as Potential Tropical Cyclone One.

The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the western Gulf Coast, prompting the issuance of a Tropical Storm Watch for parts of the coast of Texas and northeastern Mexico.

As of late Monday evening, the system's center was located several hundred miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

The system is moving north-northwest at approximately 7 mph and is expected to maintain this direction through Tuesday. A turn toward the west-northwest is anticipated Tuesday night or Wednesday, with the system likely approaching the western Gulf Coast late Wednesday.

Gradual strengthening is possible, and the disturbance is forecast to develop into a tropical storm by Wednesday. If it becomes better organized, as expected, it will most likely be named Tropical Storm Alberto. Tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 290 miles northeast of the center.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Texas coast from Port O'Connor southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Additionally, the government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the northeastern coast of Mexico, south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Boca de Catan.

Residents along the coasts of Texas and northeastern Mexico are advised to monitor this system's progress, as additional watches and warnings may be issued tonight and Tuesday.

Summary of Watches and Warnings:

- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Texas coast from Port O'Connor southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
- A Tropical Storm Watch is also in effect for the northeastern coast of Mexico, south of the mouth of the Rio Grande to Boca de Catan.

A Tropical Storm Watch indicates that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Tropical system could track toward Florida

The tropical area of the watch off the Florida coast looks like it will not be developing now. At most, a tropical depression is moving more into Southeast Georgia or South Carolina than Florida.

That will help enhance the winds across Florida on Thursday, especially indirectly. This could cause some minor beach erosion, high surf, and coastal flooding at times of high tide, especially on Thursday. Heads up if you live along the coast, especially in areas impacted by Hurricane Nicole a few years back.

The weekend will return to a more typical late June pattern with more humidity, heat, and typical afternoon/evening showers and storms. Coverage is about 60% each weekend.

Next week in the tropics, more development is already possible, with a 20% chance for another tropical system early-mid next week. "Beryl" is the next name on the list after "Alberto" for this season.

Florida woman with mental impairments missing in Marion County, family says

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:46:24 -0400

A Marion County family is anxiously awaiting news about a young woman who has been missing since late Sunday night.

Alisha Rimas' parents say she has never gone missing before, and they have no idea where she could be.

They last saw her around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday at their home. When they woke up Monday morning, they noticed she was gone with her dog. Although Alisha is 25, her parents say she is autistic and has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old, making them believe she is in desperate need of help.

"I just want to find her…I want to get her back home safe," said her mother, Rhonda Rimas. "If anybody knows where she is, please, please call the police or the Marion County Sheriff's Office."

Investigators share the family's concerns.

"This is a woman who looks like a woman but has the mental capacity of a child, so if anybody sees her, please let us know because she needs our help," said Valerie Strong of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies are actively searching for Alisha. She is believed to be with her dog and was last seen wearing blue jean shorts and tennis shoes. If anyone has any information on her whereabouts, please call 911.

Florida man accused of leaving puppy outside for days without food, water before its death: 'Sickening'

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:07:33 -0400

A Florida man was arrested after one of his dogs, a Chihuahua puppy, died after it was found on the side of the road, according to deputies. Detectives later found out that the dog's owner, Thomas Byers, had allegedly left the puppy outside for several days in a kennel without food or water.

The 65-year-old was arrested and charged with animal abandonment and aggravated animal cruelty on Sunday, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Chihuahua mix named Twinkie dognapped from Daytona Beach home: police

Deputies responded to a home on Third Avenue in Fort Myers to investigate a possible animal cruelty case, and when they arrived, a neighbor told them that a Chihuahua puppy was found on the side of a nearby road, the sheriff's office said.

The dog passed away despite first responders' attempts to render aid.

Deputies met with Byers at his home, where they found a second Chihuahua in a kennel outside. The puppy was surrendered and Byers was taken into custody.

He remains at the Lee County Jail on $5,000 bond, arrest records show.

Florida man accused of stripping naked, lighting dog on fire outside Daytona Beach hotel

"Leaving animals outside in the heat with no food or water is sickening," Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. "I won't tolerate this kind of abuse and will make certain this man never owns an animal again."

Mortgage rates on the decline while applications rise: Freddie Mac

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:05:57 -0400

Mortgage rates reacted to positive economic data by dropping for a second week in a row, according to Freddie Mac.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.95% for the week ending June 13, according to Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That's a decrease from the previous week when it averaged 6.99%, but up from 6.69% a year ago.

The average rate for a 15-year mortgage was 6.17%, down from 6.29% last week and up from 6.10% last year.

The dip in rates followed a positive inflation report showing a slight softening in consumer prices. On an annual basis, prices rose 3.3% in May, down from the 3.4% growth last month and below market expectations. On a monthly basis, prices remained unchanged after rising 0.3% the previous month. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a 0.1% monthly gain and a 3.4% annual rate.

Inflation continues to moderate towards the 2% target level set by the Federal Reserve. Despite the progress, the central bank intends to keep interest rates higher until it builds more confidence that inflation is moving in the right direction. On Wednesday, it announced it would maintain the federal funds rate range at 5.25% to 5.5%, where rates have held steady since last July.

"Mortgage rates continued to fall back this week as incoming data suggests the economy is cooling to a more sustainable level of growth," Freddie Mac's Chief Economist Sam Khater said. "Top-line inflation numbers were flat but shelter inflation, which measures rent and homeownership costs, increased showing that housing affordability continues to be an ongoing impediment for buyers on the house hunt."

If you're considering becoming a homeowner, it could help to shop around to find the best mortgage rate. Visit Credible to compare options from different lenders and choose the one with the best rate for you.

BIDEN WANTS TO GIVE HOMEBUYERS $400 PER MONTH: STATE OF THE UNION

Mortgage applications on the rise

The slight dip in mortgage rates has spurred more activity in the market. Mortgage applications rebounded 15.6% for the week ended June 7 on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Without adjustments, the index climbed 26% from a week ago.

Mortgage refinancings increased 28% from the previous week and were 28% higher than one year ago. Lower mortgage rates spurred a "strong increase" in refinance activity, especially for Veterans Affairs borrowers, "who jumped on the chance to lower their rates," Mike Fratantoni, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) SVP and Chief Economist said.

Mortgage rates have risen mainly in sync with interest rates and an easing in interest rates would likely lower borrowing costs. However, even without an interest rate cut, mortgage rates have started to drop and are expected to continue falling this year, with the MBA forecasting them to drop as low as 6.5%.

"After two weeks of declines, mortgage applications increased more than 15 percent, as borrowers acted on slightly lower mortgage rates," MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit said. "A further decline in mortgage rates, coupled with reports of rising inventory levels in markets across the country, is good news for prospective homebuyers this summer."

If you'd like to see if you qualify for a mortgage based on your current credit score and salary, consider visiting Credible, where you can compare multiple mortgage lenders at once.

HOMEBUYERS GAINED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES FALL: REDFIN

Fed holds key to unlocking more housing inventory

The drop in borrowing costs is a break for home buyers but is likely insufficient to incentivize homeowners locked into historically low mortgage rates to move. A meaningful rate drop would require the Fed to dial back interest rates.

Millennials and Gen Xers have locked in the lowest mortgage rates at roughly 4.0%, a recent Freddie Mac report said. Thirty-seven percent of millennials locked into their low rates in 2020 and 2021, buying their first home. Gen Xers, on the other hand, were locked into lower rates in that time frame through refinancings.

"Despite the drop this week, mortgage rate trends aren't likely to bust the mortgage rate inventory lock-in effect until at least the end of the year, and possibly well into 2025, as the Fed holds fast on fighting inflation," Realtor.com Senior Economist, Ralph McLaughlin said. "We'll likely need to see a 150-200 bps drop in the 10-year yield to get to a point where sellers feel comfortable selling and buying another home, and at current spreads, this could require 3-4 quarter-point rate cuts by the Fed.

"As of now, the market is pricing in just 1 cut by the end of the year and 2-3 cuts in 2025," McLaughlin continued. "As such, anyone hoping the lock-in effect will be busted this year may be sorely disappointed."

Homebuyers can find the best mortgage rates by shopping around and comparing options. You can visit an online marketplace like Credible to compare rates and choose your loan term.

HIGH HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE RATES SCARING AWAY FLORIDA HOMEBUYERS, OTHER STATES FACE THE SAME ISSUE

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Freddie Mac proposes product to help homeowners tap home equity without losing record low mortgage rates

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:05:25 -0400

Freddie Mac wants to offer second-lien mortgages to help homeowners locked into lower-interest-rate mortgages access their home equity.

Freddie Mac's proposal would allow homeowners to access their home equity while keeping their low interest rate on their current loan. It could potentially be a cost-effective alternative to cash-out refinances at today's higher rates, according to the Urban Institute.

"Freddie Mac’s proposal is more borrower friendly because it would allow the borrower to retain their first mortgage, with its attractive rate, while tapping into their home equity," the Urban Institute stated in its briefing.

In one example given by the Urban Institute, a borrower with a 3% mortgage rate on a $300,000 mortgage would have a monthly payment of about $1,265. If this borrower, whose home is now worth $500,000 were to take out a cash out refinance to access $100,000 for their home improvements, the new $400,000 mortgage would carry an interest rate of about 7.25%, making the new monthly payment about $2,729.

However, with Freddie Mac's new proposed product, the borrower would keep their current $1,256 monthly payment, and take out a new, 20-year mortgage for the additional $100,000. This would add $965 per month at the assumed 7.25% interest rate, for a total monthly mortgage payment of $2,130.

Currently, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is taking comments on Freddie Mac's proposal as it considers whether to permit the mortgage giant's product to come to market.

If you're interested in tapping your home equity, you could consider a cash-out refinance. You can visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.

BIDEN WANTS TO GIVE HOMEBUYERS $400 PER MONTH: STATE OF THE UNION

Locked-in effect leaves homeowners stranded

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said that the so-called locked-in effect has left homeowners with cheaper mortgages unwilling to sell and/or prepay their first mortgages and looking for a way to access the housing wealth built up in their properties.

Banks have stepped up their second-lien financing products to meet this growing demand. Familiar products like home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have always been available. Additionally, several second mortgage products are being offered in the market today that allow the borrower to take the funds as needed rather than all upfront, similar to a HELOC. Others offer an array of terms (variable and fixed-rate products), according to the report by the Urban Institute. Some of these products are bundled into securities and sold to investors.

Freddie Mac's second mortgage would be available as an up-to-20-year fixed-rate mortgage, and the borrower would have to meet certain qualifications such as, Freddie Mac holds the first lien, the combined loan-to-value ratio is 80% or lower and the borrower is required to pay off the second lien when the borrower refinances, sells the house or otherwise pays off the first lien.

If you are interested in taking cash out of your home, you could consider a cash-out refinance. Visit Credible to compare multiple mortgage lenders at once and choose the one with the best rate for you.

HOMEBUYERS GAINED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES FALL: REDFIN

Home equity keeps gaining

The average U.S. homeowner gained approximately $24,000 in equity during 2023, with Rhode Island, New Jersey and Massachusetts registering the most significant gains, all at $50,000 or more, according to CoreLogic.

Record home prices are why home equity levels have risen nationwide, leaving most Americans in a good position. U.S. home prices rose 6.6% between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index.

"Rising home prices continue to fuel growing home equity, which, at $298,000 per average borrower, remained near historic highs at the end of 2023," CoreLogic Chief Economist Selma Hepp said. "By extension, at 43%, the average loan-to-value ratio of U.S. borrowers has also remained in line with record lows, which suggests that the typical homeowner has notable home equity reserves that can be tapped if needed. More importantly, home price growth over the last year has helped lift the equity of homeowners who were underwater because of 2022 price declines – meaning that their mortgage amount was higher than the value of their properties."

If you want to learn more about drawing equity out of your home, contact Credible to speak to a home loan expert and get all of your questions answered.

HIGH HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE RATES SCARING AWAY FLORIDA HOMEBUYERS, OTHER STATES FACE THE SAME ISSUE

Undetected Crystal River tornado touches down in Florida's 'dead zone'

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 08:05:00 -0400

An undetected tornado surprised Crystal River residents on Sunday when it touched down in a portion of Florida's "dead zone," leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Authorities said no one was hurt when the twister ripped through the west side of Crystal River.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office said residents were not alerted of a tornado watch or a warning because the tornado was reportedly "too small" to register on the National Weather Service's radar.

The FOX 35 Storm Team said another likely issue is that the tornado was too far from any radar site to detect the low level rotation needed to issue that warning.

Meteorologist Brooks Garner said the tornado was "almost like a waterspout". It formed over the Crystal River and then worked inland.

"So it just completely misses the rotation. You can see the rain, but it can't see the rotation. That's how that was missed," Garner said.

NOAA report acknowledges ‘tornado dead zone’

There are multiple radar sites around Florida, including in Tallahassee, Ruskin and Jacksonville, but this tornado appeared to occur in what is often referred to as a "dead zone" where there is no radar site to detect rotation.

That area encompasses about 700,000 people.

"This is a problem. It would be very beneficial if we had a radar site, maybe in Dunnellon or maybe in westernmost Marion County. That would help a lot for sure," Garner said.

TIMELINE: 'Extremely rare' tropical system could form off Florida's Atlantic Coast midweek

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:40:44 -0400

Data this weekend indicates a low potential for a tropical depression or storm to form and track due west into the east coast of Florida or southeast Georgia by late Wednesday into Thursday.

Such an event would be "extremely rare" for June, said FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Noah Bergren. "Historically, only three storms have made landfall from the east in June," he added. "The most recent was Tropical Storm Danny in 2021, which hit South Carolina."

This unusual weather pattern is due to a massive heat dome over New England, creating an east-to-west flow over the southwest Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center currently estimates a 30% chance of tropical formation as of Father's Day.

"Personally, I think we should pump the brakes and wait to see what Monday's data looks like. That said, a very fast system would be favored if it did form, meaning it would be in and out in a matter of hours," said Bergren. "Could a tropical depression or tropical storm spin up and hit Florida's east coast in rare form this Thursday? Yes. But for now, I think even if that happened, it would be a really weak, lopsided, and disorganized storm with not a major impact at all."

Regardless of development, central-eastern Florida and southeast Georgia could see minor to moderate coastal flooding, high surf advisories, possible beach erosion, and enhanced showers and storms on Thursday.

One model suggests a more significant impact, showing a strong tropical storm making landfall in northeast Florida. However, this scenario is highly unlikely for mid-June. This season's warm ocean waters contribute to the potential for such rare events.

Elsewhere, a large area of disturbed weather has developed over Central America, the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, and the nearby waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

This system will evolve into a broad area of low pressure over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico within the next day or two. Conditions seem favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form by midweek as it moves slowly westward or west-northwestward. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says there is a 70% chance this could develop into a more organized system over the next week.

If a named system forms, it will be our first named system of the season, which is Alberto.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated over southern Mexico and Central America for several days, posing a risk of life-threatening flooding and flash flooding.

The FOX 35 Storm Team is also tracking two tropical waves – one in the eastern Atlantic and one in the central Atlantic – with scattered moderate convection. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to monitor the situation.

Democrats lock up Florida legislative seats, running unopposed ahead of Friday deadline

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:11:27 -0400

Stream FOX 35 News

Eleven candidates, mostly incumbents, won legislative races Friday as they did not draw opponents before a qualifying deadline, while the Florida Democratic Party hit a goal of having candidates vie for every seat up for election.

Two Democrats — former House members Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando and Mack Bernard of West Palm Beach — locked up Senate seats, while nine incumbent House members won additional two-year terms.

Smith, who won the Senate District 17 seat held by term-limited Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, served in the House from 2016 to 2022. He lost a re-election bid in 2022 after his district was redrawn. Bernard, who served in the House from 2009 to 2012 and subsequently served on the Palm Beach County Commission, was the only candidate to qualify in what is technically a special election to replace Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, in Senate District 24. Powell gave up the final two years of his Senate term to run for the Palm Beach County Commission.

In the House, the unopposed Democratic incumbents were Yvonne Hinson of Gainesville, Jervonte Edmonds of West Palm Beach, Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton, Christine Hunschofsky of Parkland, Dan Daley of Coral Springs, Lisa Dunkley of Sunrise, Hillary Cassel of Dania Beach, Felicia Robinson of Miami Gardens and Dotie Joseph of North Miami.

Meanwhile, former Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson has qualified to run in Central Florida’s Senate District 25, which is open because Sen. Victor Torres, D-Orlando, faces term limits. The Democratic primary also includes Carmen Torres, who is married to Victor Torres, and Rep. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee. The district includes Osceola County and part of Orange County.

Also in Central Florida, Randolph Bracy, a former Democratic lawmaker, has qualified to run against Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, in Orange County’s Senate District 15.

In the House, term-limited Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Indialantic, will battle in the Republican primary in Brevard County’s House District 32 against former Congressman Dave Weldon.

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried touted the party's fielding of candidates in every race after Republicans had controlled the House and Senate since the 1990s.

"It's a record-breaking accomplishment for the Florida Democratic Party and a stark contrast to the party we inherited after 2022 — a party Republicans declared 'dead' just one year ago," Fried said in a prepared statement. "Now, we have the momentum."

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power called the Democrats’ effort a "stunt to get attention."

"While Nikki Fried and the Democrats are focused on a participation trophy, the Florida GOP is dedicated to winning," Power said in a text.

Though Democrats fielded candidates throughout the state, numerous races aren’t expected to be competitive, partly because many Republicans are incumbents and the GOP has built a large voter-registration edge. But the Democratic Party's strategy is to raise awareness for Democrats statewide during a presidential election year and force Republicans to spread dollars to races.

"We are not going to just let Republicans walk into office without being held accountable," Danielle Hawk, Florida Democratic Party candidates and campaigns director, said in a statement.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican and former chair of the state GOP, described the Democratic effort as "wasting money in safe Republican seats."

"This isn’t a win," Ingoglia posted online. "It’s foolishness for a cash-strapped party."

The parties, however, will square off in places such as Senate District 3 in North Florida. Sen. Corey Simon, a former Florida State University and National Football League standout, will face the winner of a Democratic primary between Daryl Parks and Kimblin Nesmith.

Parks, a prominent civil rights attorney, has quickly piled up money for the race in the sprawling district, which includes Tallahassee.

As another example of a competitive district, Republicans want to unseat Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County’s House District 60. She faces a challenge from Republican Ed Montanari, a St. Petersburg City Council member.

Meanwhile, attention has been raised over a potential "ghost" candidate in House District 106 in Miami-Dade County.

Former Central Florida Democratic Rep. Joe Saunders is trying to unseat Rep. Fabian Basabe, R-Miami Beach. But St. Johns County resident Maureen Saunders Scott qualified to run for the seat without party affiliation under the name Moe Saunders.

After the 2020 elections, Republican political operatives faced allegations that they used third-party "ghost" candidates in South Central and Central Florida to "confuse voters and siphon votes" by having similar names on the ballot or by running nearly identical ads to Democrats.

Other hard-fought races will come in party primaries in places such as Northeast Florida’s Senate District 7, which is open because Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine faces term limits.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, has drawn support in the Senate race from big-name Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. But he faces two primary opponents, including former longtime St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar. The district is made up of St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and part of Volusia counties.

In Miami-Dade County’s House District 109, former Democratic Rep. James Bush has returned for a primary re-match against Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami. Gantt defeated Bush by 3.4 percentage points in the 2022 Democratic primary. The race also includes former Democratic Rep. Roy Hardemon.

Orange juice prices set to stay high as diseases, extreme weather ravage global harvests

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:18:12 -0400

The price for orange juice could remain high due to the diseases and extreme weather ravaging orange groves in some top-producing countries.

This year’s harvest in Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of orange juice, is likely to be the worst in 36 years due to flooding and drought, according to a forecast by Fundecitrus, a citrus growers’ organization in Sao Paulo state.

"The concern isn't just that the price of juice is going up. The concern is not having the juice," Oscar Simonetti, an orange farmer in Mogi Guacu, Brazil, said.

In the U.S., Florida's already diminished orange production fell 62% in the 2022-2023 season after Hurricane Ian further battered a crop that was struggling due to an invasive pest. Drought also cut Spain’s orange production last year.

Scarce supplies have sent prices soaring. In the U.S., a 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate cost an average of $4.27 in April, 42% more than during the same month a year earlier, according to government figures.

Those price increases are turning off inflation-weary consumers. Orange juice consumption has fallen 15% to 25% in major global markets — including the U.S. and the European Union — over the last year, according to Rabobank, a Dutch bank that focuses on food and agriculture.

Global orange juice consumption was already declining before the current price hikes due to competition from other drinks and public concern about the amount of sugar in fruit juices. If that trend continues, it should help balance supply with demand and keep prices from rising much further, Rabobank said. But it expects limited supplies will keep prices elevated for some time.

In some markets, orange juice is disappearing from shelves altogether.

Late last year, McDonald’s in Australia removed orange juice from its menu in favor of an "orange fruit drink" that contains 35% orange juice. The company cited short supplies.

The roots of the current supply troubles stretch back decades. In 2005, an invasive bug called the Asian citrus psyllid arrived in Florida, injecting bacteria from its saliva into the state’s orange trees. The bacteria slowly kills the tree by destroying its root systems. There’s no known cure once a tree is infected.

The impact has been devastating. In 2004, before the disease – called citrus greening – hit Florida, the state produced 200 million boxes of oranges. This year, it will produce less than 20 million.

Still, the disease is spreading. Fundecitrus estimates that 38% of Brazil’s orange trees had citrus greening in 2023. Simonetti, the orange farmer, estimates that 20% of his production is affected by greening. Oranges on affected trees don't ripen properly and fall off early, affecting the quality of their juice, he said.

Shifting production to other locations isn’t necessarily an option. California grows oranges, for example, and the citrus psyllid doesn’t fare as well in the state’s climate. But California also doesn’t get the rainfall needed for juicing oranges; its oranges are usually sold for eating, Rogers said.

Another issue impacting orange harvests is extreme weather, which is becoming more common as the world warms due to climate change.

Last year, nine heat waves swept across Brazil, resulting in lower output and poorer fruit quality. This year, the impacts of El Niño have been particularly dramatic, with a historic drought in the Amazon and devastating floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

Beware of bacteria, amoebas in water before you jump in this summer

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:51:37 -0400

With summer beginning, many people planning to flock to their favorite swimming holes may also want to read up on bacteria warnings.

The increased traffic at ponds, lakes and rivers means extra attention needs to be paid to bacteria that can be hazardous, such as E coli and cyanobacteria.

At least 20 people reported E. coli infections after swimming in a Virginia lake around Memorial Day. In Massachusetts, more than half of the 22 beaches closed mid June were due to "bacteria exceedance."

If you're going out for a swim, shower before and afterward and try not swallow the water, the National Institutes of Health advises. Wash your hands before you eat or drink after playing in recreational waters or in the sand.

People also shouldn't go to the bathroom in the water and should stay out if they've had diarrhea recently to protect others, the organization says.

Check for warning signs, talk to lifeguards, and do your homework by checking on specific beaches through state and local alert systems.

Here's what to know about the most common concerns:

E. coli bacteria

E. coli bacteria are common in the intestines of people and animals, and most are relatively harmless.

But human and animal stool can pollute water, including streams, rivers and lakes – even pools if proper treatment isn’t in place.

Small doses of some strains - including just a mouthful of contaminated water – can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning.

Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria — also referred to as blue-green algae — are plant-like organisms that live in water.

They can quickly grow out of control, or "bloom," and some produce toxins that make people and animals sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water. They can also grow underneath the water.

Symptoms of cyanobacteria exposure can include skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, mouth blisters, seizures, and acute liver damage.

Brain-eating amoeba

Brain-eating amoeba, also known as Naegleria fowleri, is a single-celled organism that lives in soil and warm fresh water, such as lakes, rivers and hot springs, according to the CDC.

It can cause a brain infection when water containing the amoeba goes up the nose. Only about three people in the United States get infected each year, but these infections are usually fatal.

Last year, an Arkansas resident died after being infected. State health officials concluded that the person was likely exposed to it at a country club's splash pad.

This story was reported from Detroit. The Associated Press contributed.

'Blockbuster discovery' unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 11:49:08 -0400

Archaeologists at George Washington’s Mount Vernon have discovered dozens of glass jars filled with fruit preserves in the cellar of the historic Northern Virginia home that "likely haven't seen the light of day since before the American Revolution."

Twenty-nine of the 35 bottles remain intact, and all contain either cherries, gooseberries or currants, the home and museum of the first U.S. president revealed in a press release Friday.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this spectacular archaeological discovery," Mount Vernon President & CEO Doug Bradburn said in a statement. "We were ecstatic last month to uncover two fully intact 18th-century bottles containing biological matter. Now we know those bottles were just the beginning of this blockbuster discovery."

HISTORIANS UNCOVER 18TH CENTURY BOTTLES WITH MYSTERIOUS LIQUID AT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MT. VERNON

Bradburn called the discovery an "unprecedented" find, adding, "nothing of this scale and significance has ever been excavated in North America. We now possess a bounty of artifacts and matter to analyze that may provide a powerful glimpse into the origins of our nation, and we are crossing our fingers that the cherry pits discovered will be viable for future germination. It’s so appropriate that these bottles have been unearthed shortly before the 250th anniversary of the United States," which will be in 2026.

The discovery comes two months after two bottles were found that contained a "mysterious" liquid, along with cherries and pits.

Experts believe that the bottles were originally filled with cherries. The glass bottles were placed in the ground between 1758 and 1776 to refrigerate food.

"For whatever reason, these were left behind, and they were in pristine condition, and that’s why this is such an extraordinary find, because you just don’t find 18th-century food remains, intact, outside of things like animal bones, which are pretty durable," Mount Vernon principal archaeologist Jason Boroughs told FOX 5 DC at the time.

TREASURE TROVE DATING BACK CENTURIES PULLED FROM SHIPWRECK 5,000 FEET UNDERWATER

The newly found bottles have all been extracted from the five storage pits where they were found in the home's cellar and the preserves are under refrigeration at the home's archeology lab. The artifacts will soon undergo scientific analysis in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.

So far, 54 cherry pits and 23 stems have been identified, meaning the bottles were likely full of cherries when bottled.

Once the bottles are dry, they will be sent off-site for conservation.

The archaeological finds come as the home undergoes a privately funded $40 million Mansion Revitalization Project at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

CARVINGS ON ANCIENT STONE DISCOVERY LEAVE EXPERTS IN AWE

Bardburn said the bottles "likely haven’t seen the light of day since before the American Revolution," and were possibly forgotten about when Washington left his home to lead the Continental Army during the Revolution.

He continued, "This means the bottles are extremely fragile and require the utmost care. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association was America's first historic preservation organization, so it’s only fitting that such a remarkable discovery was made here at Mount Vernon. We are fortunate to have top archaeologists and historic preservation experts on staff who know how to effectively manage, analyze, and care for this extraordinary discovery."

In the 18th century, placing preserves underground was the best way of keeping them in the Virginia heat.

"One of the best ways to store these types of fruits and vegetables was underground," Boroughs said after the first discovery. "So sometime after 1758, but before 1776, someone dug a pit… sort of a rectangular, about a foot deep, hole through one of the floors in the cellar, these bottles were set in, and then it was filled with a dense clay."

After the second discovery he added, "These extraordinary discoveries continue to astonish us. These perfectly preserved fruits picked and prepared more than 250 years ago provide an incredibly rare opportunity to contribute to our knowledge of the 18th-century environment, plantation foodways, and the origins of American cuisine.

"The bottles and contents are a testament to the knowledge and skill of the enslaved people who managed the food preparations from tree to table, including Doll, the cook brought to Mount Vernon by Martha Washington in 1759 and charged with oversight of the estate’s kitchen."

Washington moved to the home along the Potomac River after his marriage in 1759, and died there of a throat infection in 1799 at 67 years old.

He served as president from 1789 until 1797, and is buried at the home.

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Foreclosures on the rise again nationwide — A look at the hardest hit states

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:58:36 -0400

Home foreclosures rose again in May as Americans continue to grapple with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

That is according to a new report published by real estate data provider ATTOM, which found that there were 32,621 properties in May with foreclosure filings, which includes default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions. That marks a 3% increase from the prior year, although it is down 7% from the same time last year.

"May’s foreclosure activity highlights nuanced shifts in the housing market," said ATTOM CEO Rob Barber. "While we observed a slight increase in foreclosure starts, the decline in completed foreclosures indicates resilience in certain areas."

Nationwide, about one in every 4,320 housing units had a foreclosure filing in May, according to the report. But the problem was worse in several states. New Jersey experienced the highest rate of foreclosures last month, with about one in every 1,939 homes receiving a foreclosure notice — more than double the national average.

RENT PRICES ARE STAGNATING, SUGGESTING HIGH INFLATION MAY STICK AROUND

Delaware registered foreclosure filings for every 2,595 homes, while Connecticut saw one for every 2,600 and Florida got one for every 2,638.

The problem could soon get worse as high home prices, steep mortgage rates, property taxes and rising insurance premiums bite Americans.

Housing affordability is the worst it has been in decades, thanks to a spike in home prices and mortgage rates. Combined, the two have helped to push the typical salary required nationwide for homeownership up to $106,500 — a stunning 61% increase from the $59,000 required just four years ago, according to Zillow.

There are several reasons to blame for the affordability crisis.

Years of underbuilding fueled a shortage of homes in the country, a problem that was later exacerbated by the rapid rise in mortgage rates and expensive construction materials.

WHY CAN'T YOU FIND A HOME FOR SALE?

Available home supply remains down 34.3% from the typical amount before the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, according to a separate report published by Realtor.com.

Higher mortgage rates over the past three years have also created a "golden handcuff" effect in the housing market. Sellers who locked in a record-low mortgage rate of 3% or less during the pandemic began have been reluctant to sell, limiting supply further and leaving few options for eager would-be buyers.

Economists predict that mortgage rates will remain elevated in 2024 and that they will only begin to fall once the Federal Reserve starts cutting rates. Even then, rates are unlikely to return to the lows seen during the pandemic. On top of that, investors are growing skeptical about the odds of a Fed rate hike this year given the string of hotter-than-expected inflation reports at the beginning of the year.

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Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on a 30-year loan fell to 6.95%. While that is down from a peak of 7.79% in the fall of 2023, it remains sharply higher than the pandemic-era lows of just 3%.

Most homeowners say they are nearly twice as willing to sell their home if their mortgage rate is 5% or higher, according to a separate Zillow survey. Currently, about 80% of mortgage holders have a rate below 5%.

LINK: Get updates on this story and more at foxbusiness.com.

Cookie dough sold at Costco, Sam's Club recalled due to salmonella risk

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 14:54:33 -0400

The Food and Drug Administration expanded a recall of frozen cookie dough that may be contaminated with salmonella, the organization announced on June 6.

The recalled products include "Costco Chocolate Chunk Frozen Cookie Dough," "Member's Mark Chocolate Chunk," "Panera Chocolate Chipper Cookie," "Rise Baking Jumbo Chocolate Chunk," "Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie," "Panera Oatmeal Raisin with Berries Cookie," "Panera Kitchen Sink Cookie," and "Rise Baking Company Cowboy Cookie."

"Member's Mark" products are sold exclusively at Sam's Club.

SUNSCREEN RECALLED AFTER MOLD DETECTED DURING TESTING

In total, the FDA is recalling 29,019 cases of possibly contaminated products.

The affected products were distributed in California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey and Georgia, said the FDA's website.

The recall was first announced on May 2, but in June it was further expanded and classified by the FDA as a "Class II recall."

A Class II recall is the second-highest classification of the FDA's recalls, says its website.

These are issued when there is "a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," says the FDA's website.

Anyone who has these products is advised to throw them away or return them to the store, and not to consume the cookies.

CUCUMBERS RECALLED IN 14 STATES OVER POTENTIAL SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION

Fox Business reached out to Rise Baking Company, LLC for additional comment.

Salmonella is a bacterium that lives inside the intestinal tracks of animals, says the website for the Mayo Clinic.

Salmonellosis, the scientific name for an

While some people with salmonellosis do not develop any symptoms, "most people develop diarrhea, fever and stomach (abdominal) cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure," said the Mayo Clinic.

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A typical healthy person can expect to recover from salmonella within a few days to a week, said the Mayo Clinic.

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However, a person is at increased risk of complications from dehydration due to diarrhea, or if the infection spreads past the GI tract, they said. infection with salmonella, occurs when a person consumes food or water that has been contaminated with the bacteria.

Read more of this story from FOX Business.