Florida News That Impacts You – September 13th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida’s first post-tenure reviews of college faculty have resulted in ten employees being fired and another 54 being put on a one-year performance improvement plan. In total 91% of Florida’s university faculty members met or exceeded the state’s minimum standards. The performance audits were part of 2022’s law aimed at ensuring freedom of expression on college campuses. 437 out of the 861 faculty members under review exceeded expectations and will result in bonuses of up to $10,000.
- A 16-year-old student was arrested on Thursday for posting threats against Vero Beach High School. According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office a social media post was flagged to school administrators who quickly engaged law enforcement in identifying the student responsible. The boy has been charged with a written threat to kill or cause great bodily harm.
- The Army Corps of Engineers has discharged over 5.5 billion gallons of freshwater into the St. Lucie River following the recent heavy rainfall the area has experienced. The Army Corps is stressing the discharges aren’t coming from Lake Okeechobee but are due to the C-44 Reservoir, aimed at reducing discharges, having reached “dangerous levels”.
- It’ll be hot and stormy again day today with showers possible throughout the day and highs returning to the low 90’s. Temperatures will be about 6 degrees warmer than usual for this date. The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems. A disturbance over the Lesser Antilles has a 20% chance of developing. Another disturbance is setting up off the coast of the Carolinas with a 30% chance of development. Tropical Depression Seven continues to meander in the eastern Atlantic and is expected to develop into a tropical storm, though it's unlikely to impact populated areas.
- Gas prices dropped two cents per gallon on Thursday and are back to the lowest levels since February. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.15 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.35 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.19 and in Indian River County the average is $3.15 per gallon.