Florida News That Impacts You – October 23rd, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- It was another busy day of early voting on Tuesday with turnout nearly matching Monday’s record first day for early voting across the state. The two-day total for early votes cast is 51,408 in Palm Beach County, with 10,585 early voters in Martin and 7,790 voters in Indian River County. Republicans meaningfully outvoted Democrats in all three counties again on Tuesday.
- Early voting continues today. In Palm Beach County there are 26 early voting locations that will be open from 7 am to 7 pm daily through Sunday, November 3rd. For residents of Martin County, there are six early voting locations operating from 8 am to 5 pm daily through Saturday, November 2nd and in Indian River County early voting will be held at three locations from 8 am until 4 pm through Saturday, November 2nd. As a reminder you’re able to vote in any early voting location within the county that you’re registered to vote in. You need to bring a government issued photo ID when you go to the polls.
- Prior to the accounting for Tuesday’s early voting totals, 1,689,437 Floridians had voted via vote by mail ballots with Republicans having out voted Democrats by 18,204 voters.
- The Palm Beach County Commission unanimously approved the plans laid out by Vanderbilt University to bring a Graduate Campus to downtown West Palm Beach. Under the plan, Vanderbilt would spend $300 million to establish an AI & Data Science and Innovation Hub on land donated by the city and county. Under the terms of the plan, Palm Beach County will donate close to 5 acres of land with West Palm Beach donating approximately 2 acres for the project along Tamarind Ave. The new agreement comes following the previously scrapped effort to bring a University of Florida campus to West Palm Beach.
- The Martin County Commission unanimously approved a plan to propose two potential sites for a Brightline station within the county that aren’t contingent on Stuart’s participation. The two proposed sites, near the Martin County Courthouse and the other near the Martin County Fairgrounds, are being proposed following the City of Stuart’s reversal to participate in a previously agreed to plan for a station within the city. The county is hoping Brightline will opt for one of the two proposals for a quick turnaround vote in November.
- Passing morning showers will give way to sunny skies with highs in the low 80’s - which is typical for this date. The National Hurricane Center is not expecting tropical cyclone activity during the next 7 days.
- Gas prices dropped a penny on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.07 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.23 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.12 and in Indian River County the average is $3.04 per gallon.