Florida News That Impacts You – June 30th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis signed six bills into law on Thursday including... The Local Ordinances bill will allow businesses to sue local governments over policies implemented which they believe are arbitrary or unreasonable. The new law, which takes effect October 1st, effectively ends sovereign immunity for local governments in certain situations. It's in answer to numerous local governments inventing lockdown and related policies during the pandemic which were proven to be ineffective and baseless. The governor also signed the Local Government bill into law. The new law preempts voter referendums on local land development, making local governments the sole arbiters of land use and zoning decisions.
- A jury has found former Parkland school resource officer Scot Peterson not guilty on all 11 counts brought against him following his response, or largely lack thereof, to the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Peterson was the first law enforcement professional to have had charges brought against him based on the response to a school shooting.
- The Palm Beach County metal detector pilot program has commenced at 4 area high schools. The metal detectors are installed at Seminole Ridge Community High School, Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, John I. Leonard High School, and Palm Beach Gardens Community High School. Use of the metal detectors will begin when school resumes for the 2023-2024 school year, August 10th.
- Gas prices dropped another penny on Thursday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded heading into the holiday weekend is $3.30 per gallon – 6 cents lower than a week ago and 11 cents lower than a month ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.47 per gallon, which is the second highest in the state.