Florida News That Impacts You – May 1st, 2024

Florida News That Impacts You – May 1st, 2024 

Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.      

• Florida’s six-week abortion limit, with exceptions, is in effect as of today. The bill was signed into law over a year ago, however it was held up by a legal challenge to Florida’s previously passed 15-week abortion limit law. The Florida Supreme Court cleared the way for the law to go into effect just over a month ago. 
• Governor DeSantis announced he’d be signing sales tax holidays Floridians have become familiar with into law. All Florida State Parks will be free for visitors on Memorial Day weekend from May 24th through the 27th. The month of July will be the Freedom Month Sales Tax holiday this year which suspends sales taxes on dozens of items commonly used for outdoor recreation activities, sporting events, live entertainment and museums.  
• The Florida Department of Health has issued a health advisory, warning residents and visitors of Midtown Beach in Palm Beach and DuBois Park in Jupiter to avoid contact with water at the beaches. Water samples on Monday tested positive for bacteria that’s attributed to fecal matter in the water. Officials will be testing the water again today. 
• The Martin County Commission has amended The Ranches’ Comprehensive Plan to approve development of a 175-home community which will feature two golf courses. The Commission’s vote rezoned about an acre of land in the western community for the residential development project. 
• What’s being called “a living shoreline” has been installed by the Ocean Research and Conservation Association at Riverside Park in Vero Beach as part of an effort to curb beach erosion. Using a series of oyster reef balls, it’s expected the living shoreline will foster oceanic life as well. Researchers will regularly aid in the development of the project for at least the next three years.  
• Scattered showers continue this morning but most of the area should have sun and highs in the low to mid 80’s this afternoon, which is about three degrees warmer than for this date. We should have similar weather throughout the rest of the week. 
• Gas prices rose a penny per gallon on Tuesday. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.58 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.75 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.60 and in Indian River County the average is $3.57 per gallon.