Florida News That Impacts You – August 29th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s controversial Great Outdoors Initiative is on hold. Governor DeSantis addressed the plan that would have developed parts of nine state parks and that has faced extensive backlash over the past week prompting the withdrawal of the proposal from Jonathan Dickinson State Park. DeSantis called the plan “half-baked” stating: This was something that was leaked. It was not approved by me. I never saw that. They're going back to the drawing board. I'd rather not spend any money on this. If people don't want improvements then don't do it. I am totally fine to just do nothing and do no improvements. If that’s what the general public wants, then that’s fine with me. DeSantis said no decisions on the outstanding park proposals will be made this year and that state officials will be listening to residents before making decisions.
- Foot Locker has become the latest New York-based business to relocate to Florida. On Wednesday company officials announced plans to relocate the world’s largest footwear retailer from New York City to St. Petersburg. “Expense discipline” was cited as a key reason for the decision.
- The Jewish Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County has announced the creation of a new organization to combat antisemitism throughout the community. Following a meeting on Wednesday, the JLA announced that the organization will represent the interests of Jewish people across the area while focusing on combating antisemitism and hatred.
- It’ll be hot today with afternoon thunderstorms and highs in the upper 80’s. Temperatures will be about 4 degrees warmer than usual for this date. The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance in the Atlantic. The disturbance in the southern Atlantic is slowly moving towards Leeward Islands with a 20% development over the next 7 days.
- Gas prices rose 5 cents per gallon on Wednesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.35 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.48 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.31 and in Indian River County the average is $3.31 per gallon.