Florida News That Impacts You – May 14th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed the Anti-human Trafficking bill into law on Monday. The new law which takes effect July 1st, raises the minimum age for adult entertainment workers to 21 from 18 and replaces use of the National Human Trafficking Hotline with the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline.
- The governor declared a state of emergency in 15 north Florida counties which were hit with tornadoes last Friday. The executive action allows for government assistance and relief for victims ranging from the Panhandle to the Georgia state line.
- DeSantis issued a $2.3 million grant through the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program to three Florida military communities: The Space Coast Economic Development Commission, The City of Cocoa and the City of Jacksonville. The Defense Infrastructure Grants support transportation and access, housing, utilities, communications, environment, and security needs for military communities across the state.
- Jupiter Medical Center has received a $10 million donation from Hugh and Nancy Elliot for the purpose of building the Elliot Family Center for Cardiac Electrophysiology. Electrophysiology is a cardiac test designed to diagnose abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmia.
- The Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency received a $500,000 federal award for affordable housing on Monday for the development of three-bedroom two bath homes on North E Street. The homes have already been built and are available for purchase for $205,000 for what are considered by the federal government to be “essential workers”.
- Hot and windy today with wind gusting in the mid 20’s and highs in the lower 90’s, which is about eight degrees higher than usual for this date and still hotter temperatures are in store after today with highs in the mid-90’s expected throughout the rest of the week.
- Gas prices rose for the first time in a week on Monday. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.48 per gallon - four cents higher than yesterday. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.67 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.40 and in Indian River County the average is $3.35 per gallon.