Category Archives: Bahamas

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United States, June 27, 2017 Utah More than 300 environmental rights advocates, environmental organisations trustees, supporters and volunteers who monitor the worlds waters gathered for the 2017 Waterkeepers Alliance conference in Park City, Utah, earlier this month but it was one of the smallest countries of all that took centre stage The Bahamas.

We were completely surprised that so much of the spotlight was on The Bahamas, said Joe Darville, chairman of Save The Bays. There were so many countries represented Australia, the U.S., Mexico, Asian nations like China and Bhutan and African nations like Senegal but the spotlight really shone on The Bahamas. I think it was because of the fragile nature of our coral reefs, the beauty of our waters and the very energetic legal battles we have launched in recent years to protect this rare gift from Mother Nature.

In fact, no other country was invited to make two presentations, only The Bahamas. The messages delivered were very different.

Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director Rashema Ingraham spoke of engaging diverse communities to create awareness about the importance of the environment.

Whether you are raising awareness with schoolchildren, bank presidents, the well-to-do or the person scraping to get by you need to make the environment real that wetlands are not swamp to be trampled, they are the nurseries that serve as infant habitats for the fish you will catch and eat later. If they are gone, the fish will be, too. We are always about how the health of our waters and our wetlands impacts you in a very real way today and how what you do today determines what you will leave for the Bahamians of tomorrow, said Ingraham.

Clifton-Western Bays Waterkeeper Fred Smith, QC, revealed the challenges of trying to protect the environment, fighting case after case for environmental rights in the face of a government that made secret deals for large developments without public consultation. Such projects, said Smith, disrupt life as it was known in a local community and may displace populations. They interrupt nature, paying no attention to what has allowed that community to survive for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and many of the projects outright destroy vast acres of precious natural resources, including coral reefs that protect many of the islands of The Bahamas from storm surge.

Waterkeepers Alliance grew out of an effort to restore the Hudson River in New York with now chairman of the largely volunteer non-profit organisation Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a professor of Environmental Law at Pace University, leading the legal charge. The goal of Waterkeepers around the world is to monitor and find means to improve the local waters to make them swimmable, fishable and drinkable. In The Bahamas, monitoring is now underway on three island coastlines.

Kennedy, who also serves as Co-Director of thePace Environmental Litigation Clinic and Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper Fund and Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, praised The Bahamas, Save The Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas highly.

We are thrilled that the dedicated water and human rights guardians from The Bahamas Save the Bays and Waterkeeper Bahamas Frederick R.M. Smith, QC., Rashema Ingraham and Joseph Darville brought the spirit of the islands to Waterkeeper Alliances annual conference at Deer Valley. Thank you, Fred, for acknowledging our longtime partnership in pursuit of ocean conservation and environmental justice during your group presentation about issues in the Bahamas, said Kennedy.

Press Release: Save the Bays

#GlobalConference

#SavetheBays

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Bahamas Environment Takes Surprising Centre Stage at Global Conference - Magnetic Media (press release)

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas First's top executive yesterday warned that this nation "can't afford to have more sovereign downgrades" due to the negative impact on private sector credit ratings.

Patrick Ward, its president and chief executive, said ratings for the insurer and other Bahamas-based companies could be threatened by increased 'country risk' stemming from this nation's reduced creditworthiness.

"I don't think the Bahamas can afford to have more sovereign downgrades," Mr Ward said, "looking at it from the point of view of entities like Bahamas First that have ratings which are in some way linked to the sovereign rating of the country.

"Future downgrades could start to challenge the ratings Bahamas First and other companies have."

The negative consequences for Bahamas-based companies as a result of this nation's eight-year sovereign downgrade trend were recently highlighted by the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) downgrade.

The move by the Fitch rating agency was directly linked to the Government's deteriorating creditworthiness, with Dionisio D'Aguilar, minister of tourism, saying it had a direct impact on NAD's debt servicing costs.

"Their [NAD's] debt got downgraded because Fitch said there's additional sovereign risk," the Minister previously confirmed to Tribune Business. "They went to downgrade NAD one rating below investment grade, and one effect of that was they needed to increase the bond reserve fund from $19 million to $38 million."

This, Mr D'Aguilar added, had forced NAD to increase passenger and other user fees at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in a bid to meet the increased debt costs.

NAD's situation shows Mr Ward's concerns are not without merit, with the Bahamas First chief pointing out that the Bahamas was not alone on the issue.

He added that all Caribbean nations, apart from Trinidad & Tobago, which is barely clinging on, had lost their 'investment grade' creditworthiness with one or both of Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's.

Mr Ward said the impact had already been felt by the region's insurance industry, with Barbados-based Sagicor - a multi-jurisdiction giant - having been placed on 'credit watch with negative implications' due to fiscal weaknesses in its home country.

Bahamas First and several competitors, including RoyalStar Assurance, Summit Insurance Company and Security & General, are also all rated annually by A. M. Best, the insurance industry rating agency, for their financial strength and creditworthiness.

Apart from focusing on each company, A. M. Best's analyses also factors in country risks such as the Government's fiscal position, state of the economy and condition of the insurance market.

Further downgrades by either Moody's or Standard & Poor's (S&P) would threaten to impact A. M. Best's ratings of Bahamian insurance underwriters, and the former has already indicated its alarm over the 2017-2018 Budget.

Moody's, as revealed by Tribune Business, warned the global capital markets that the Bahamas' fiscal condition is "significantly worse" than expected due to the new government's planned $722 million borrowing - intended in part to cover the expanded $500 million deficit for 2016-2017.

With rating agency trust in the Government's fiscal projections seemingly undermined, the Bahamas' sovereign credit rating will rely heavily on the Minnis administration's ability to provide a convincing explanation for the increased borrowing and deficits to remain at its current level.

Mr Ward yesterday said "there's a direct cost of capital imposed" on private companies by sovereign rating downgrades, explaining: "You have got to provide more capital to sustain a level of rating that would not have resulted if our sovereign rating was in good shape."

The Bahamas First chief also alluded to the "long-term impact if the Government's debt is written down", given that insurance and bank balance sheets are loaded with bonds and other debt for asset-liability matching purposes.

"I hope they're going to take a measured approach," Mr Ward added of the rating agencies, "and give this new administration an opportunity, but who knows."

Mr Ward said further exchange control liberalisation was key to Bahamas First's ability to both expand into other countries and diversify its investment returns.

"It's central to our focus in terms of expanding our footprint," he explained. "It makes the whole proposition to expand our footprint easier."

Glen Ritchie, Bahamas First's group vice-president and chief financial officer, recalled how the company had waited two months to obtain Central Bank approval to increase its equity stake in its Cayman affiliate, Cayman First.

He emphasised that had Bahamas First been competing with rivals to make such an investment, the wait for exchange control approval could have cost it the deal.

The exchange control regime has long been viewed as an obstacle to Bahamian companies expanding into other Caribbean nations. Mr Ward said it placed local firms at a competitive disadvantage to Caribbean rivals, some of whom - enjoying liberalised capital markets - were moving into this nation.

He argued that further exchange control liberalisation would also enable Bahamas First to diversify its investment portfolio and earn potentially greater returns, while reducing geographical risk associated with the current restrictions to this nation.

Mr Ward said investments abroad by Bahamian companies would ultimately benefit this nation by bringing foreign exchange earnings back to these shores.

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Bahamas 'Cannot Afford' More Rating Downgrades - Bahamas Tribune

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Bahamas, June 27, 2017 Nassau Another so called, fiasco of the Progressive Liberal Party government and this one is to the tune of $30M and involves the land for an at risk school to be called the Star Academy and built on property owned by the Seventh Day Adventist church. Minister of Works Desmond Bannister unearthed that there is no lease, there were no payments for rent of the land and yet nearly $30M dollars was spent in construction, on what the Minister labeled a fisasco.

But the former works Minister and Opposition leader in the House of Assembly, Philip Davis said the minister was misleading and explained that there were to be two buildings, one for administration and that the school was to serve as a new home for BTVI and would be used by the Technical Cadets in the evenings.

Davis said the move was critical because BTVI has outgrown its current location and he said there were similar arrangements made with other churches in The Bahamas; citing that Minister Bannister conveniently did not mention that one exists with the Catholic church, that Bannister is a Catholic. Education Minister, Jeff Lloyd also reported that despite a lease being drawn up, it was not signed and it is said that the lease is now misplaced.

#MagneticMediaNews

#newfiascoexposedbyBannister

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Bahamas: New 'fiasco' exposed by Education & Works Ministers - Magnetic Media (press release)

NEW YORK, NASSAU, MIES -- The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) today announced the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories who will travel to the Bahamas for the ninth Basketball without Borders (BWB) Americas Camp. The camp will be held July 5-8 at The Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBAs global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in the Bahamas. Nike will serve as the official partner.

NBA and FIBA players and coaches, including J.J. Barea (Dallas Mavericks; Puerto Rico), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks; Canada) and Sasha Vujai (New York Knicks; Slovenia), will coach the high school age campers. Barea, Powell and Vujai, will be joined by WNBA Legend Ebony Hoffman (U.S.).

BWB, the NBA and FIBAs global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 2,720 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 46 campers drafted into the NBA. Twenty-three former BWB campers, including four former BWB Americas campers, were on opening-night rosters for the 2016-17 season, including Bruno Caboclo (Toronto Raptors; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013), Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks; South Sudan; BWB Americas 2015) and Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics; Canada; BWB Americas 2009). Three former BWB campers were drafted in the 2017 NBA Draft: Lauri Markkanen (No. 7 overall pick Chicago Bulls; Finland; BWB Europe 2014/BWB Global 2015), Frank Ntilikina (No. 8 overall pick New York Knicks; France; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016) and Isaiah Hartenstein (No. 43 overall pick Houston Rockets; U.S.; BWB Europe 2015/BWB Global 2016).

Current NBA assistant coaches James Borrego (San Antonio Spurs), Jim Boylan (Cleveland Cavaliers), Darvin Ham (Atlanta Hawks) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trail Blazers) will also serve as BWB Americas coaches. Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) and Ronald Cass (FIBA Coach) will serve as camp directors for the boys and girls, respectively. Armando Rivas (Chicago Bulls) will serve as the camps athletic trainer.

Players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court, including movement efficiency, positional skill development, 5-on-5 games and daily life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication. One boy and one girl will be named BWB Americas Camp MVPs at the conclusion of the camp.

BWB Americas will also include a Jr. NBA clinic with local youth in the Bahamas in partnership with community organizations, which will highlight the power of sport to promote cultural understanding while teaching the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and the values of the game, including teamwork, integrity and respect.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.

The NBA and FIBA have staged 49 BWB camps in 30 cities across 25 countries on six continents. More than 230 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 185 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world.

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Hawks Assistant Darvin Ham To Coach In Basketball Without Borders In Bahamas - Hawks.com

The International Table Tennis Federation hosted a press conference Friday to introduce future plans for the table sport. Pictured (l-r) are Adrain Rolins, Keith Saunder, Shameka Fernander, Geoffrey McPhee, Richard McAfee, Wellington Miller and Carl

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas and the sport of table tennis itself made history.

The Bahamas Table Tennis Federation became one of the final four countries in the world to join the International Table Tennis Federation. With the additions of the Bahamas, Cape Verde, Eritrea and Guinea Bissau, the ITTF became the only sport in the world to have every country as a member federation. Global membership of the organisation now stands at 226 countries.

The ITTF international course conductor, Richard McAfee, officially represented the international governing body at a press conference to announce the partnership. ITTF is very proud to be the first international federation on earth to have every country in the world as a member. The Bahamas was one of the last four to come in and in honour of that the ITTF has launched a developmental project, which will last about a year in the country, he said. They have already sent in an equipment package, we will be hiring a local developmental officer and hopefully we will get table tennis back to the glory days you have had here before, but this time it is going to be interconnected to the ITTF and programmes around the world. Hopefully we will be able to raise it to a new height and support it in a lot of different ways.

The goal of the BTTF is to encourage, promote and control the sport of table tennis throughout the country.

To that end, the Bahamas hosted a two-day club coaching course, taught by McAfee at the home of table tennis, the YWCA on Dolphin Drive.

BTTF secretary Shameka Fernander said the organisation seeks to educate the public on the sport.

We want to give special thanks to the Bahamas Olympic Committee for assisting us in this process. Table tennis has been around in the Bahamas for a very long time and The Nassau Table Tennis Club has been playing for over 40 years. Our home is at the YWCA on Dolphin Drive and a lot of people dont know about it, but we want to increase the amount of players, clubs, she said.

One of our first projects is to integrate table tennis into the schools so we are hosting a course with the Ministry of Education teachers and we are very excited to have that.

Table tennis was once one of the leading sports in The Bahamas, and the sport is a part of the curriculum in schools. The BTTF has taken part and won numerous awards from prestigious tournaments around the region, and on the international circuit.

Said BTTF president Geoffrey McPhee: We hope the country can pick up the enthusiasm we have for the sport and we now have to share it with a younger generation. We want the younger kids to know there is an even greater sport they can participate in so we can grow this sport to the level of others in the country.

Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller said it was a step in the right direction to have another sport join the Olympic movement.

This discussion started last year in Rio. We sat down and went through it. We figured that if it was properly organised, everyone will be able to benefit from it. We look forward to the day when table tennis can benefit and be on our national teams, he said.

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Table Tennis Making History In The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune

#Ben Affleck and #Jennifer Garner have been divorced for weeks. However, the ex-couple continues to spend time with each other even if they are not together anymore.

A few years ago, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced that they were getting divorced. However, the ex couple's divorce filing took them almost two years to actually file. Still, the "Pearl Harbor" actors continue to spend time together with their kids as a family.

According to a recent report by The Inquisitr, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are believed to be in the Bahamas for a vacation together with their children, Seraphina, Samuel and Violet.

Their family is reportedly in Baker's Bay, which is a private resort near the Abacos area where the ex-couple also owns a house.

The publication unveiled that Garner, Affleck and the kids strive to visit the Bahamas every year. Even if they are already divorced, the ex-couple still plan to continue visiting the place and their home as a family.

An insider even told X17 that Garner and Affleck are trying to make their children feel that they are still a normal family. As per an insider, the exes are staying in different bedrooms, but their treatment to each other has not changed at all.

The publication even claimed that Garner and Affleck want their children to feel that their family is still complete. They have decided to take their children for a trip because they are out of school for vacation.

The family reportedly loves staying on the beach and have family meals together.

As for their three kids, reports claimed that they are still adjusting to the effects of the ex couple's divorce. The children are still trying to get used to living without their dad at home. Affleck already moved out of their Pacific Palisades house after their divorce filing.

Meanwhile, Affleck is reportedly doing well as he lives alone in his new home. Fortunately, the "Miracles from Heaven" actress visits the "Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice" with their kids from time to time. The publication revealed that the girls even chose the home decors for their rooms in his home.

Reports revealed that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are doing their best to be the best parents to their kids, Samuel, Seraphina and Violet. #jennifer garner and ben affleck latest news

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Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck spend time together in Bahamas - Blasting News

Aol.com Editors

Jun 26th 2017 3:51PM

While President Donald Trump and first daughter Ivanka Trump were attending Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's wedding over the weekend, Donald Trump Jr. and his family appeared to be having a great time on a Caribbean vacation.

The first son, his wife Vanessa and their children went scuba diving and fishing during their getaway to the Bahamas.

Trump posted a photo of his wife and his three youngest children -- 5-year-old Tristan, 4-year-old Spencer and 3-year-old Chloe. His two older children, 10-year-old Kai and 8-year-old Donald III, were not featured in any of his Instagram photos from this year's trip.

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Donald Trump Jr. and family enjoy Bahamas vacation

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Now that's a grouper. Took Vanessa and the kids away for the weekend and it seems we are off to a good start. #fishing #family #weekend

A little morning dive to kick off the day. #scuba #diving

Family boat day. Good times on the water. #family #weekend #familytime #water #sports

Before and after. #conch #freediving

Had some visitors come say hello at the beach today. #family #beach #weekend #bacon

Sun going down in a great weekend.

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Trump Jr. and his family are frequent visitors to the Bahamas, having vacationed there several times in the last couple years.

Back in Washington D.C., Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, President Trump and first lady Melania Trump were spotted at Mnuchin's wedding to actress Louise Linton on Saturday evening. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen were also in attendance.

RELATED: Inside Steve Mnuchin's wedding and relationship with Louise Linton

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Inside Steve Mnuchin's wedding and relationship with Louise Linton

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: United States President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House in Washington, DC on June 24, 2017. The Trumps left to attend the wedding of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton. The first lady is wearing a Gilles Mendel silk chiffon gown with Manolo Blahnik pumps. ( Photo by Ron Sachs-pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: (Exclusive Coverage) (L-R) First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Louise Linton, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence pose at the wedding of Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton on June 24, 2017 at Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Louise Linton is wearing a custom Ines Di Santo gown with wedding ring and earrings by Martin Katz. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LS)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: (Exclusive Coverage) Vice President Mike Pence (C) officiates the wedding of Louise Linton (L) and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) on June 24, 2017 at Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Louise Linton is wearing a custom Ines Di Santo gown with wedding ring and earrings by Martin Katz. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LS)

UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin testifies, as his fiancee Louise Linton looks on, during a Senate Banking Committee hearing in Dirksen Building titled Domestic and International Policy Update, on May 18, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Steven Mnuchin (L) and his financee Louise Linton watch as US President Donald Trump speaks during Mnuchin's swearing-in ceremony as the next treasury secretary in the Oval Office of the White House on February 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump (L) watches as US Vice President Mike Pence (out of frame) administers the oath of office to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (2nd L) watched by Mnuchin's fiancee Louise Linton in the Oval Office of the White House on February 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Stephen Mnuchin and fiancee Louise Linton arrive for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump became the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 07: Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton attend the 2016 Library Lions Gala at New York Public Library - Stephen A Schwartzman Building on November 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 19: Louise Linton, fianc of Steven Mnuchin, right, President-elect Trump's nominee for Treasury secretary, attends his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building, January 19, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Louise Linton smiles as her fiancSteven Mnuchin, Treasury secretary nominee for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, not pictured, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Mnuchin defended his record as an owner of a mortgage lender that was accused of unfair loan and foreclosure practices during the financial crisis. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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More from AOL.com: Ivanka Trump faces criticism on social media over off-the-shoulder gown at congressional picnic Poll: Majority think President Trump and the first family should travel less Inside the extravagant wedding of billionaire Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and 36-year-old actress Louise Linton

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Where is Donald Trump Jr.? First son shares photos of lavish Bahamas vacation - AOL

A South Florida chef who starred in a cable TV reality cooking show suffered third-degree burns Thursday after a gas explosion at his new restaurant in the Bahamas,Local 10 News in Miami reports.

Ralph Pagano was airlifted to a Miami hospital after the blast at Resorts World Bimini. He was turning on the kitchen's gas burners when the oven blew up. "My hands were on fire, my shirt was on fire, my pants were on fire," Pagano told Local 10 News from Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The chef, who starred in the Lifetime showAll Mixed Up, suffered burns on his face, legs and hands. "I thought I was going to die," he said. "Luckily, I stopped, dropped and rolled."

"I'm going to need skin graphs and about a month in the hospital, but I'm alive," Pagano said.

Pagano has made other TV appearances, including competing onHell's Kitchen andIron Chef. He owns several South Florida restaurants: Naked Taco in Miami Beach, Naked Lunch in Miami and Naked Crab in Fort Lauderdale.

He was opening a new Naked Taco location when the accident occurred.

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Celebrity chef injured in gas explosion at new Bahamas restaurant - Palm Beach Post

The Illinois House of Representatives adopted aresolutionJune 22 to encourage airline travel to the Bahamas.

In an executive session called after the special session adjourned in just under 11 minutes, House Resolution 290 was adopted via voice vote. State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and state Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, sponsored the resolution.

The resolution encourages airlines flying between Illinois and the Bahamas to explore increasing the amount of flights between Illinois and the Bahamas.

And instead of encouraging in-state tourism, HR 290 promotes a newluxury resortin the Bahamas that opened in April.

While encouraging the taxpayers they represent to spend money out of state, Illinois still has no budget.

The Illinois Senate adjourned from special session June 22 after just 11 minutes and 54 seconds, and also failed to advance a budget. The special legislative session will cost taxpayers about $50,000 per day, according to an estimate from the Chicago Tribune.

Both sides of the aisle in Springfieldclaim to want a compromiseon a budgetto prevent Illinois from becoming the first state in the union with a junk credit rating. BothDemocratsandRepublicans have proposed plansto raise taxes by more than $5 billion, which wouldincrease the average Illinois households tax burden by $1,125 a year. But Illinoisans have expressed that they dont want a budget that hikes taxes.

Nearly two-thirdsof likely Illinois voters dont want an income tax hike as part of the state budget, according to polling conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates and commissioned by the Illinois Policy Institute. More than three-quarters of respondentsopposehiking sales taxes. Andnearly 80 percentagree Illinois state lawmakers should pass major structural reforms before passing any tax increase.

The Illinois Policy Institute has introduced a budget proposal that offers real reform without raising taxes. This kind of reform-minded, no-tax-hike proposal is in line with what Illinoisans want. Lawmakers should use that as a framework while taxpayers pay for their costly special session.

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The Illinois House of Representatives adopted a resolution June 22 to encourage airline travel to the Bahamas. - Madison County Record

Two Florida boys who disappeared on a fishing trip two years ago near Florida left behind a map and sent messages right before they set off, according to a new report from the Palm Beach Post.

Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, who were both 14 when they disappeared, messaged at least one friend if he wanted to join the day before.

Me and Austin r (siq) crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow come with us, Cohen wrote in an Instagram message to a friend, according to recently unsealed court documents, as reported by the Post.

Another friend of Austin Stephanos told officials that the boys were thinking about going to the Bahamas but said it was too rough to sail.

On Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released a report saying a weather-related incident was the cause of the pairs disappearance, while noting that the boats engine was working when it took on water. The evidence (is) not conclusive enough to confirm any particular scenario on what happened that tragic day, other than the fact that the vessel took on water and capsized, stated the report, Weather.com reported.

The new details were unveiled as part of a civil court filing in December over Austins cellphone, which was found when the boat was recovered last year.

On Monday, Cohens family said its considering a civil lawsuit after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement released a report saying Stephanoss mother, Carly Black, was negligent. It, however, didnt recommend charges against her.

Black filed a likely pre-emptie lawsuit against the Cohens to prevent a wrongful death lawsuit, NBC2 reported.

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Messages, Maps Indicated Missing Florida Teens Wanted to Head ... - The Epoch Times