Florida News That Impacts You – June 22nd, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed ten bills into law on Wednesday including the Physician Assistant Licensure bill which makes it easier for PA’s to begin to practice medicine. The Monuments bill was signed which will establish the Florida Space Exploration Monument on the Space Coast. The Operation New Hope bill is also now law which calls on the Florida Department of Corrections to work directly with the Florida non-profit Operation New Hope for skills training and job placement for Florida’s inmates once released from the corrections department.
- An affordable housing project is coming to Lake Worth Beach. The project which is being led by the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast will be building a series of cottages, in staying with the historic Lake Worth Beach cottage theme, which will be made available for families of 4 earning $97,400 or less. The CBS built homes with hurricane impact rated windows and doors will be made available to qualifying families for $205,000 – which is well less than half of the current market value. The homes are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
- Tropical Storm Bret has produced the first hurricane advisories of Hurricane season. The storm has top sustained winds of 70mph as it approaches the Lesser Antilles. It’s expected to dissipate over the weekend in the Caribean Sea. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Four has developed in the Atlantic which is expected to develop into a tropical storm over the next day before weakening into a depression north of the Bahamas. It appears unlikely to meaningfully impact land.
- The Brightline expansion to Orlando has been completed. The multi-year project connects Orlando via rail to multiple stops in the Palm Beaches, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Service to and from Orlando via Brightline is set to commence September 1st and tickets are available for presale now.
- Gas prices dropped another penny on Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.37 per gallon – 8 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.53 per gallon, which is the second highest in the state.