Florida News That Impacts You – August 18th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- A disturbance has formed north of Hispaniola and is expected to pass just south of Florida over the weekend – likely dumping rain along the way. Three other disturbances are in the Atlantic, it’s unlikely any become issues for Florida.
- 22-year-old Fernando Gaete had been arrested for threats made online against six students at Loggers Run Middle School in Boca Raton. The threatening message was posted on Discord and said: I Dominic Valentine vow to shoot up Loggers Run middle school on Monday morning gonna shoot 6 students. The threat was reported, and law enforcement quickly were able to make an arrest. Under Florida law threats against students and schools are felonies.
- What was originally believed to be an endangered Florida Panther spotted in Wellington has been determined to be a bobcat. A Zoologist from the Palm Beach Zoo studied the video which went viral on social media and determined the features were consistent with a large bobcat. Bobcats can grow to over four feet and up to 40 pounds.
- Twenty children were safely evacuated from a school bus struck by a tree during an afternoon thunderstorm. The bus loaded with students was on Parker Avenue near Belvedere Road when a large tree fell on the bus. No injuries were reported.
- Gas prices dropped a penny on Thursday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.84 per gallon – 8 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.98 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state and remains the highest in the start for the year.