Florida News That Impacts You – January 12th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- There were numerous bills advancing in Thursday’s state legislative session including: The Health Care bill which would spend about $800 million on increasing medical student retention within Florida, incentives for medical professionals to serve rural communities and for those serving in mental health and specializing in assisting those with disabilities. The Online Access to Materials Harmful to Minors bill also advanced which would enhance age verification requirements for pornography-based websites. The Social Media Use for Minors bill which would ban social media accounts for Floridians under the age of 16 also advanced.
- A new Florida TaxWatch report entitled: Addressing Florida’s Escalating Physician Shortage: Strategies and Solutions highlights that Florida’s population of doctors has steadily risen, by about 30% over the past decade, however the growth of practicing physicians has grown as fast as the demand for medical care due to Florida’s booming population growth. Florida TaxWatch estimated that there will be more than 22,000 vacancies over the next decade, with only about 2/3’rds of the need physicians based on current trends. TaxWatch proposes a series of initiatives to bridge the gap starting with emphasis on Graduate Medical Education opportunities aimed at retention of medical students upon the completion of their degrees.
- Governor DeSantis released an additional $10 million on Thursday to fund ten projects that have been proposed in the effort to combat toxic algal blooms in Florida’s waterways which have taken a severe toll on water quality and estuary habitats through discharges largely from Lake Okeechobee.
- Scattered showers and much warmer weather are expected today. After spending the week below average temperatures for this time of year, warm air entered the area overnight and temps will be about ten degrees above normal today with highs in the low 80’s. This weekend more rain is expected along with a cold front which will have worked its way into our area by Sunday.
- Gas prices have dropped a penny for the fourth day in a row. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is $3.12 per gallon - 3 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.31 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.22 and in Indian River County the average is $3.11 per gallon.