Florida News That Impacts You – May 24th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed the Offenses against Certain Animals bill into law on Tuesday. The legislation increases criminal penalties for harming, harassing, or willfully resisting K-9s working with first responders. All related penalties are now felonies under Florida law.
- The Governor also received a batch of 38 bills from the Legislature on Tuesday including one key to his plans today – the Elections bill. The recently passed Elections bill includes a change to Florida’s resign-to-run law enabling an elected official in Florida to run for president or vice-president without resigning from their current office. The change in law is immediate upon its signing. Florida’s existing law mandates a letter of resignation 10-days prior to filling paperwork to run for another office – something Governor DeSantis will do today as he launches his presidential campaign with Elon Musk on Twitter.
- After a five-year pilot program, Publix is scrapping their GreenWise Market branded grocery stores. The stores which have focused on organic and fresh foods will all be converted to traditional Publix supermarkets.
- Brightline's soon to be completed expansion to Orlando is bringing with it another round of investment and jobs. Brightline is opening a new $100 million vehicle maintenance facility in Orlando which will employ 100 people to start. Service to and from Orlando begins September 1st.
- Gas prices are flat over the past day. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.39 per gallon – seven cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price fell to $3.62 per gallon, which is the 2nd highest price in the state.