STATE NEWS BRIEFS
Storm forecast, change in Cuba, ‘Rooney Rule’
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Storm forecast predicts up to 16 named storms
More than two months before the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, the meteorological company AccuWeather on Wednesday predicted 11- to 16 named storms, with four to seven reaching hurricane strength.
Considered lower than the average in recent years, AccuWeather’s outlook anticipates some tropical development prior to the June 1 start of the six-month season due to “exceptionally warm waters.”
“Even if it’s expected to be a slightly below average hurricane season, we can still see major hits across the United States,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in a release.
AccuWeather, one of several outfits that will release outlooks for the season, included in its forecast the potential for three to five of the named systems to directly affect the U.S.
Last year, the Atlantic produced 13 named storms, just meeting predictions of 13 to 19 storms. Also, the season had five hurricanes, with four reaching Category 3 and three reaching the most severe Category 5.
None of them, though, made a direct landfall in Florida or the U.S.
From 2022 to 2024, Florida took direct hits from six hurricanes, including four that were Category 3 or stronger.
The AccuWeather forecast includes the potential development of El Niño weather phenomenon conditions, which would limit tropical activity to near or below historical average levels, especially in the second half and climatological peak of the season.
DeSantis: A “Pro-America” Cuba will thrive
Florida is planning for a regime change in Cuba that doesn’t lead to mass migration into the state.
While in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said a “a pro-Western, pro-America government in Cuba would be a boon for that island.”
DeSantis envisions those who fled the island nation under its communist government returning to help build up business and the government.
“It would not take much,” DeSantis said while at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s LeMieux Center for Public Policy. “If you just had a halfway legitimate government that wasn’t 100 percent corrupt and actually respected people’s rights and the rule of law, I think you could do better than that.”
“Kids and grandkids will be going to spring break there,” DeSantis continued. “They’ll be going on honeymoons there. People will be doing golf trips there. They’ll be doing all kinds of stuff. It will be a very successful island.”
Last month, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced in a video broadcast that economic talks are underway with President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump told reporters on Feb. 27 that the Cuban government is in “a big deal of trouble” and suggested a potential “friendly takeover of Cuba.”
Earlier this month, the Legislature approved a bill (HB 905) restricting government contracts with nations listed by Florida as foreign countries of concern — which includes China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria — and prohibits public officials and employees from accepting gifts from those countries.
The proposal, which has yet to be formally sent to DeSantis’ desk, also spells out support for “a free and independent Cuba.” The measure allows the governor to issue a temporary executive order suspending restrictions with Cuba if the federal government changes Cuba’s diplomatic status.
Uthmeier warns NFL over ‘Rooney Rule’
Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling a penalty on the National Football League, claiming its policies encouraging teams to hire nonwhite coaches violate Florida’s employment laws banning discrimination.
He wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday warning the league’s “Rooney Rule,” which requires teams to interview an African-American or other ethnic minority for a head coaching position before making a hire, is discriminatory.
“Under NFL policy, therefore, a franchise may wish to hire an experienced, highly qualified candidate, but it can’t do so for certain positions if the candidate happens to belong to a particular race. At least not immediately,” Uthmeier wrote. “These methods of directing the selection and training of certain executives, coaches and other employees based on skin color and sex is discriminatory and violates Florida law. “
The Rooney Rule is named after the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the uncle of former U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney. It was installed league-wide in 2003 after two Black head coaches, Tony Dungy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dennis Green of the Minnesota Vikings, were fired despite winning tenures. Dungy was an assistant under legendary Steelers coach Chuck Noll in the 1980s.
The rule has expanded since its inception, when it was applied to Black candidates for coaching jobs, to now cover all ethnic minorities and all senior football operations positions within a franchise. In 2022 it expanded further to require all teams to have at least one ethnic minority on its offensive coaching staff.
Critics of the rule have said it hasn’t achieved its stated purpose: hiring more Black coaches. In the current offseason coaching carousel, there were 10 head coach openings and none were filled by an African-American. There are three current head coaches in the NFL who are Black.
“The NFL’s use of the Rooney Rule violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring. Florida law is clear: hiring decisions cannot be based on race,” Uthmeier said in a video released on X. “We’re demanding the NFL suspend the Rooney Rule and failure to do so may result in enforcement actions against the league for raced-based discrimination.”
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