Florida News That Impacts You – June 9th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County has issued a blue-green algae bloom alert for the Pahokee Marina after a blue-green algae bloom was spotted in Lake Okeechobee. Aside from the ongoing concerns for those in and around Lake O’, concerns remain that the toxic blooms may be released through eastern discharges by the Army Corps of Engineers. A conference call with the Army Corps regarding potential discharges will take place today. Congressman Brian Mast issued this statement: It’s only the beginning of June and we are already fighting massive algal blooms on Lake Okeechobee that are testing well above what the EPA says is safe for humans. The situation at Pahokee Marina underscores what we’re worried about seeing in our estuary if the Corps dumps toxic lake water on us this summer.
- NOAA has confirmed El Nino is officially here and ahead of schedule. After eight years of a La Nina cycle which is the most conducive for tropical development in the Atlantic, we’ve now entered the least favorable environment for development with El Nino. Researchers believed we'd begin to enter El Nino in August. The early development of it is responsible for the proliferation of rain we’ve experienced and will act as a tailwind this hurricane season.
- New property insurance data from Lexis Nexis shows the average home insurance policy in Florida has risen 57% since 2015 – three times the rate of the national average. The average property insurance policy that’s been renewed in 2023 is now $6,000 – which is easily the most expensive in the country.
- Gas prices rose six cents per gallon Thursday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.39 per gallon – in line with a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.56 per gallon, which is the third highest in the state.