After the hurricanes hit Southwest Florida, unlicensed contractors from these companies went door-to-door, telling homeowners they’d repair roofs, handle mold, and restore their homes. In reality, they took large payments, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars per household, but rarely started, much less finished, any of the promised repairs.

At a press conference in Sarasota held Friday, September 25, 2026, Uthmeier explained just how widespread the scheme was. The defendants specifically targeted storm-battered seniors, representing about 80% of the victims. They offered free inspections, used official-sounding titles, and operated without the home solicitation permits or contracting licenses Florida requires. Uthmeier says his office has found at least $1 million in losses so far, but he expects that number to keep rising as more victims come forward. The lawsuit covers at least 11 counties, including Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Volusia, St. Lucie, St. Johns, and Broward.

The state is charging Evolve Construction and its executives with two counts of unfair trade practices, seeking an injunction, monetary damages, and the full recovery of insurance money stolen from victims. “These people need to be made whole. These bad guys need to pay,” Uthmeier said.

He also clarified that this isn’t just about Evolve. At the press conference, he warned anyone pulling similar scams: if you abuse Florida homeowners, the state will find out and hold you accountable, civilly and criminally.

Secretary Melanie Griffin joined Uthmeier from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, leadership from the Florida Home Builders, and local business representatives. They all spoke about how unlicensed actors hurt legitimate contractors who follow the rules and actually help communities recover after storms.

The lawsuit follows a painful chapter for Florida homeowners. Too many Floridians desperate for repairs put their trust, and their insurance settlements, in the wrong hands.

If you think Evolve Construction or a similar company targeted you after the storms, Uthmeier urges you to come forward at www.myfloridalegal.com. If you’re considering hiring a contractor for home repairs, you can check their license status at myfloridalicense.com.

All details for this story come from a news conference held in Sarasota on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Attorney General’s Office, where officials outlined the scale of the fraud and the steps being taken to bring money and justice back to hurricane victims.

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Work kicks off with upgrades to parking and wider sidewalks along the seawall.

The need for action is clear: nearly six months ago, Hurricane Milton hammered the Manatee side of the pier, forcing authorities to close part of it for safety. Engineers found structural damage; that section has been off-limits ever since.

Construction crews plan to clear out unused sections on the Pinellas side and remove the damaged parts in Manatee County later this spring. The Pinellas County pier doesn’t escape attention, as DeSantis explained that planned improvements will add another two decades to its lifespan.

For now, crews are building temporary fishing piers to keep anglers coming back. The governor’s office described the project as an effort to restore one of Florida’s iconic spots for fishing, sightseeing, and outdoor fun.

DeSantis promised that the rebuild would move fast, returning this favorite destination to locals and visitors alike.

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The Florida House gave a unanimous thumbs-up to SB 302, a bill that leans into nature-based coastal protection and adds additional safeguards for aquatic preserves. Tucked inside is a clear block on a developer’s push to build a cruise terminal near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a project that drew fierce local backlash and a petition from nearly 20,000 residents wanting to protect the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve.

Sen. Jim Boyd, who represents Bradenton, pushed for an amendment that locks in extra protections for Terra Ceia. Now, dredging or filling submerged lands there is basically off the table, unless it’s for public health reasons or environmental restoration. The bill also tells the Department of Environmental Protection to set up statewide standards for “nature-based” coastal protection by 2027, living shorelines, seagrass restoration, oyster reefs, mangroves, and other solutions that work with, not against, Florida’s natural defenses.

These new rules for Terra Ceia mirror protections already in place for Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve in Miami. And SB 302 updates those too, making it easier to do restoration and shoreline stabilization projects that actually help coastal resilience.

Beyond the legal changes, the bill nudges state and local governments to get the word out about why nature-based methods matter. Lawmakers want the public to know this isn’t just about stopping one cruise port: it’s about making the coast stronger for the long haul.

Key Largo Rep. Jim Mooney pitched the Senate version in the House and called it a big step for Florida’s coastlines. Bradenton’s Rep. Will Robinson backed him up, saying the Terra Ceia protections are overdue and slamming the idea of mega cruise ships in such a pristine spot. “Your bill will do a great-great deal to stop that from occurring in one of the most important environmental areas in our state,” Robinson said. “It’s a wonderful bill, and maybe one of the more important environmental bills that we vote on this session.”

The next step is the governor’s desk. If he signs it, these changes hit the books on July 1.

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Port Tampa Bay faces a simple problem: newer, taller ships like Royal Caribbean’s Icon class can’t clear the bridge. So SSA Marine wants to step in. Their proposed port would sit just south of the Skyway on a 330-acre island called the Knott-Cowen tract, developed together with Tampa’s Slip Knott LLC. SSA claims this new terminal would complement Port Tampa Bay’s cruise business and help the entire region keep up as cruise ships keep growing and shifting toward lower-emission tech.

But here’s where things get complicated. That island is environmentally sensitive. SSA recently bought Rattlesnake Key, a nearby 710-acre island in Terra Ceia Bay, through a subsidiary called Rattlesnake Preservation Co. SSA says the purchase blocks private development and gives them a chance to partner with local officials and environmental groups on conservation. The company paints a picture of growth and stewardship, jobs and green technology.

Yet people aren’t buying it. Environmental advocates and neighbors are already pushing back, worried about what big development would mean for the fragile coastline and the waters around Rattlesnake Key.

On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” Tampa Bay Waterkeeper’s executive director, Justin Tramble, didn’t hold back. He called it a “clown proposal.” Tramble says the community is outraged. The area in question isn’t just a patch of land, it’s a pristine part of the Tampa Bay estuary, loaded with ecological and economic value. He described the reaction from environmental groups as “total shock” when news of the plan broke.

“Look at a map,” Tramble said. “You’d have to cut through dense mangroves just to get to the property. I don’t see any benefit. Sure, some folks see dollar signs, but for Manatee County as a whole, this is a negative.”

Experts say dredging a deep enough channel for cruise ships would devastate the area, creating a negative impact.

SSA counters with numbers: over 31,000 construction jobs, $1.6 billion in labor earnings, and long-term boosts for hospitality, transportation, maritime services, and logistics. But Tramble isn’t swayed. “A healthy watershed already accounts for one in ten jobs in our region, and over $30 billion in total economic output,” he said. “This proposal runs counter to all that. The community is watching.”

SSA says some mangrove removal would be necessary and promises mitigation, but environmentalists like Tramble insist they’ll fight it. A petition on change.org is already gathering signatures against the port. 

For now, the battle lines are drawn: economic growth versus environmental protection, and the soul of Tampa Bay’s coastline hangs in the balance.

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This event isn’t just a gathering, it’s a push for real change. All proceeds go straight to the Manasota ASALH Scholarship Program, fueling opportunities for students and driving academic excellence forward. 

This year’s luncheon carries the theme “An Unusual Emphasis on Scholarship: Carter G. Woodson, Omega Psi Phi, and the Power of Black History.” It’s a nod to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the visionary behind ASALH and the architect of Black History Month, and a tribute to the impact of education. 

Dr. Maurice Hobson, professor of Africana Studies at Georgia State University and lead historian for Omega Psi Phi’s latest history book, will give the keynote address. Afterward, Dr. Hobson sits down with Dr. Jim Stewart, a respected economist, Black history scholar, professor emeritus at Penn State, and past president of Manasota ASALH, for a lively conversation about how scholarship shapes communities, preserves history, and inspires the next generation.

“More than a celebration, this luncheon is a call to action,” says Jada Wright-Greene, executive director of Manasota ASALH. “With support from our community, we’re opening doors to education, lifting up talented students, and making sure opportunity keeps reaching the leaders of tomorrow.”

Wright-Greene has a clear goal: raise $50,000 for the Manasota ASALH Scholarship Program. Since 2000, the program has awarded over $701,000 to 333 students in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Many of these scholars have earned top grades and gone on to study at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including Ivy League schools and HBCUs.

At the 2025 Scholarship Awards Ceremony, Manasota ASALH gave $45,000 in scholarships to 17 local students. On top of that, they provided another $10,000 to help returning scholars continue their college journeys—a strong sign of their commitment to seeing students reach graduation and long-term success.

“These students bring determination and purpose into everything they do,” Wright-Greene says. “Our job is to break down financial barriers so they can keep moving ahead.”

About Manasota ASALH

Manasota ASALH is the local branch of the National Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month. Since 1995, the Manasota Branch has worked to research, preserve, interpret, and share the rich history and culture of people of African descent, both at home and globally. Their programs make an impact, like the Manasota ASALH Freedom School, which offers K–12 students a powerful and honest education about African and African American history. The branch also drives academic achievement through its scholarship program, supporting high school students from Sarasota and Manatee counties who are heading to college. In the past 23 years, Manasota ASALH has awarded more than $701,000 in scholarships to 333 local scholars. For more information, visit www.asalh-manasotafl.org.

Manasota ASALH Inaugural Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon  
Friday, February 6  
Marie Selby Botanical GardensTickets are $125, and there are options for sponsorships and tables. To grab a ticket or learn more, reach out at info@asalh-manasotafl.org or visit www.asalh-manasotafl.org.

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The games are coordinated by Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Manatee County Sports and Leisure Services and the City of North Port Parks and Recreation. The first event, a 5K road race, will take place on January 17, 2026. Additional events will run from January 24 through February 21, 2026.

Competition categories include basketball shooting, cycling, pickleball, rowing and paddling, shuffleboard, swimming and table tennis, among others. Organizers aim to promote active living for older adults and provide a pathway to compete at local, state and national levels.

A one-time registration fee of 13 dollars includes an event shirt. Each event costs an additional 4 dollars, and some sports may require separate facility fees. Registration closes two weeks before each event, with the first deadline on January 3, 2026.

Participants can register by visiting bit.ly/gcgflregister, calling 941-861-7275 or mailing a printed form available in the Gulf Coast Games for Life guide at Sarasota County, Manatee County and City of North Port government buildings.

Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age group. The Gulf Coast Games for Life serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Florida Senior Games, which will take place in December 2026. The top five finishers in each age division will qualify, except for target shooting and rowing and paddling, which are not included in the Florida Senior Games program.

For more information, call 311 or visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.

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The aquarium will include three STEM teaching labs and five workforce training labs where guests can watch scientists and students working on marine ecology, coral genetics, aquaculture, robotics and other fields. Mote expects more than 70,000 K-12 students from Sarasota, Manatee and nearby counties to take part in hands-on learning annually, including more than 26,000 Title 1 students at no cost.

Founded in 1955 in Placida by ichthyologist Eugenie Clark, Mote has grown into one of the world’s most prominent independent marine research institutions, with nine campuses across Florida and programs on every continent. President and CEO Michael P. Crosby said the new aquarium represents more than an attraction, calling it a hub for research, science education and community engagement.

For more information, visit https://mote.org/aquarium/sea-visitor-information/.

Tickets for the grand opening event and for general admission after October 8 are available at mote.org/tickets.

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