Government weakens Endangered Species Act PAGE 2A The deal is Students go back to finally signed for school in Charlotte Murdock Village PAGE 1C PAGE 1C TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019 | YOURSUN.COM | AN EDITION OF THE SUN | $1.50 We’re still in Charley’s wake FEMA wants Charlotte, DeSoto counties to repay millions By BETSY CALVERT STAFF WRITER “We have no intention of paying this back.” PORT CHARLOTTE — Gordon Burger, Charlotte County Budget Director It’s the 15th anniversary on FEMA’s demand for repayment of Hurricane Charley, and Charlotte County has spent those years in a bureaucratic transport following the FEMA says private insurance quagmire that has turned into a category 4 storm that flattened should have paid this. potentially expensive loss. Punta Gorda and parts of Worn down by years of FEMA is demanding to be Port Charlotte. Also included struggle, the county’s Budget repaid $14.5 million of what it were costs for repair of public Director Gordon Burger said paid out to the county in the facilities such as the sheriff’s bluntly, “We have no intention SUN FILE PHOTO first few years after the biggest department, removal of downed of paying this back.” storm to hit the region in recent trees on water utilities, and FEMA’s demand is neither Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Arcadia were hit by Hurricane memory. repairs to the sewer systems. logical nor legal, he added. Charley’s Category 4 blast 15 years ago, on Aug. 13, 2004. These were funds spent The logic, revealed after The storm claimed the title of fifth costliest storm in U.S. on things like emergency years of legal letters, is that SEE FEMA, 6A history, according to information from FEMA. HURRICANE CHARLEY: 15 YEARS AGO WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER? Take this quiz to see how much you know about Hurricane Charley 1. Who was Charlotte County’s Emergency Management Department ONLINE director during the storm? Read this story at a) Wayne Sallade YourSun.com, answer eight b) Brian Gleason online-only questions and be c) Jerry Mallet d) Bill Prummell entered to WIN a $50 gift card courtesy of SUN Newspapers 2. Who was Charlotte County and Harbor Style Magazine. Public Schools superintendent during the storm? a) Doug Whittaker INSIDE b) Dave Gayler Images of the storm and now. c) Mike Riley See page 4-5A d) Sue Sifrit 3. Out of about 80 businesses in downtown Punta Gorda, how many survived the storm? a) 12 b) 80 c) none d) 50 4. Charley was originally forecast to hit: a) Houston b) Tampa c) Fort Myers HOW MUCH d) Miami DO YOU 5. Charley was directly KNOW? responsible for how many deaths See Wednesday’s in Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota Sun for the counties? answer key. a) 10 SUN FILE PHOTO b) 30 The clock in downtown Punta c) 6 Gorda stopped when it was IMAGE PROVIDED BY NOAA d) 0 damaged by Hurricane Charley The eye of Hurricane Charley struck Punta Gorda on Friday, Aug. 13, 2004. SEE REMEMBER, 6A on Aug. 13, 2004. New rules to deny green cards to many legal immigrants Administration announced set of rules as part of a dramatic overhaul of the nation’s immigration system By COLLEEN LONG Denying green cards to many charge,” in government speak most attention has focused permanent status. and JILL COLVIN migrants who use Medicaid, —but the new rules detail a on President Donald Trump’s Trump is trying to move ASSOCIATED PRESS food stamps, housing vouch- broader range of programs that efforts to crack down on the U.S. toward a system that ers or other forms of public could disqualify them. illegal immigration, including focuses on immigrants’ skills WASHINGTON — The assistance. It’s part of a dramatic recent raids in Mississippi instead of emphasizing the Trump administration Federal law already requires overhaul of the nation’s and the continued separation reunification of families. announced Monday it is those seeking to become per- immigration system that of migrant parents from their Under the new rules, U.S. moving forward with one of manent residents or gain legal the administration has been children, the new rules target Citizenship and Immigration its most aggressive steps yet status to prove they will not be working to put in place, people who entered the United to restrict legal immigration: a burden to the U.S. — a “public despite legal pushback. While States legally and are seeking SEE RULES, 6A TODAY’S WEATHER INSIDE SPORTS LOCAL DAILY BREAK 2016 PULITZER PRIZE WINNER 2B 5C High 88, Low 77 TODAY Lottery Obituaries Comics and 65% chance of rain Sports on TV 2B Opinion 7C Puzzles 2-5D Bible verse 2A Police Beat 2C Dear Abby 5D Charlie on Charley: SEE PAGE 2C Stocks 7A Calendar 6C Heloise 4D I’ve got a bad rep that I just can’t 7 05252 00025 8 Horoscopes 3D shake due to Hurricane Charley. VOL. 127, NO. 225 | $1.50 PAGE 2A TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2019 | The Sun | www.yoursun.com N/E/P/C ALMANAC no survivors. baseball Hall Today is Tuesday, Aug. 13, In 1995, of Famer Mickey Mantle the 225th day of 2019. Government weakens died at a Dallas hospital There are 140 days left in of rapidly spreading liver the year. cancer; he was 63. Phelps becomes In 2003, Iraq began Endangered Species Act winningest Olympic pumping crude oil from its northern oil fields for the Changes made that critics say will speed the loss of animals, plants athlete ever first time since the start of On August 13, 2008, the war. Libya agreed to set up a $2.7 billion fund for By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Michael Phelps swam into ASSOCIATED PRESS history as the winningest families of the 270 people Olympic athlete ever with killed in the 1988 Pan Am WASHINGTON — The his 10th and 11th career bombing. Trump administration gold medals. In 2008, a man barged into moved on Monday to the Arkansas Democratic weaken how it applies the On this date headquarters in Little Rock 45-year-old Endangered Species Act, ordering and opened fire, killing In 1846, the American flag changes that critics said state party chairman Bill will speed the loss of was raised in Los Angeles Gwatney before speeding for the first time. animals and plants at off in a pickup. (Police later a time of record global In 1932, Adolf Hitler shot and killed the gunman, extinctions. Timothy Dale Johnson.) The action, which rejected the post of vice BILL SCHAEFER chancellor of Germany, expands the adminis- saying he was prepared to Today’s birthdays tration’s rewrite of U.S. In this 2007 file photo, two sage grouse roosters challenge each other for hens. hold out “for all or nothing.” environmental laws, is the Idaho’s sage-grouse numbers have dropped 52% since the federal government Actor Kevin Tighe is 75. latest that targets protec- decided not to list the birds as an endangered species in fall 2015. In 1960, the first two-way Opera singer Kathleen tions, including for water, telephone conversation by Battle is 71. High wire air and public lands. Two allow the government to legendary. They have pitted said in a statement. “As satellite took place with the aerialist Philippe Petit is states — California and disregard the possible northern spotted owls, snail we have seen time and help of Echo 1. The Central 70. Hockey Hall of Famer Massachusetts, frequent impact of climate change, darters and other creatures time again, no environ- African Republic became foes of President Donald which conservation groups and their protectors against mental protection — no Bobby Clarke is 70. Golf Trump’s environmental call a major and growing industries, local opponents matter how effective or totally independent of Hall of Famer Betsy King French rule. rollbacks — promised threat to wildlife. and others in court and popular — is safe from is 64. Movie director Paul lawsuits to try to block the Commerce Secretary political fights. Republican this administration.” In 1961, East Germany Greengrass is 64. Actor changes in the law. So did Wilbur Ross said the revi- lawmakers have pushed for One of Monday’s sealed off the border Danny Bonaduce is 60. some conservation groups. sions “fit squarely within years to change the law. changes includes allowing between Berlin’s eastern Actress Dawnn Lewis is 58. Pushing back against the president’s mandate Previous Trump ad- the federal government to and western sectors before Actor John Slattery is 57. the criticism, Interior of easing the regulatory ministration actions have raise in the decision-mak- building a wall that would Actress Debi Mazar is 55. Secretary David Bernhardt burden on the American proposed changes to other ing process the possible public, without sacrificing bedrock environmental economic cost of listing divide the city for the next Actress Quinn Cummings is and other administration officials contend the our species’ protection and laws — the clean water a species. That’s even 28 years. 52. Actress Seana Kofoed is 49. Actor Gregory Fitoussi changes improve efficiency recovery goals.” and clean air acts. The though Congress has stip- In 1967, the crime caper is 43. Actress Kathryn Fiore of oversight while continu- The Endangered Species efforts include repeal of ulated that economic costs Act is credited with help- an Obama-era act meant not be a factor in deciding biopic “Bonnie and Clyde,” is 40. Actor Sebastian Stan ing to protect rare species. “The best way to uphold ing save the bald eagle, to fight climate change whether to protect an starring Warren Beatty is 37.