Florida News That Impacts You – June 20th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed a total of 20 bills into law over the weekend. Among the new laws, the Sickle Cell Disease Medications, Treatment, and Screening law. The law mandates that detected sickle cell and related blood disorders are reported to families and primary care physicians to more proactively manage the diseases. The Authorization of Restrictions Concerning Dogs bill is also now law. The legislation prohibits discrimination of dogs based upon breeds ending local bans of specific dog breeds.
- Tropical Storm Bret has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to develop into a category one hurricane by Thursday on the approach to the Lesser Antilles before weakening back into a tropical storm as it passes near Puerto Rico. Another tropical disturbance behind Bret in the Atlantic is likely to develop in the coming days as well.
- The state has provided an update on Operation Lone Star, which is the state’s law enforcement response to the border crisis. According to the update, Florida’s team of over 400 people deployed to the southern border in Texas has interdicted over 10,000 undocumented migrants illegally crossing the border, including the arrest of an MS-13 gang member on the US Terror Watch List. The Florida contingent has also arrested 160 human traffickers and seized 230 pounds of illegal drugs.
- Florida’s Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez led a Florida contingent to the Paris Air Show where Florida had its largest presence since first participating in 1994. The Florida contingent included 42 Florida based companies, 17 exhibitors and 12 economic development organizations.
- Gas prices dropped a bit through the weekend. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.40 per gallon – 7 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.58 per gallon, which is the highest in the state.