Florida News That Impacts You – May 10th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Thursday that the state had taken substantive steps to crack down on the recent rise of smishing scams involving SunPass. The state shut down ten illegal websites designed to scam users into thinking they were legitimate SunPass sites. Additionally, the state’s fraud unit was able to identify and shutdown schemes associated with fake SunPass text messages. Moody advised users to register their phone numbers on the national “Do Not Call Registry” and to report any suspicious messages you receive to the text number 7726 or local law enforcement agencies.
- Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis highlighted the success of the state’s Hope Florida fund which is a state program that connects Floridians in need of assistance with private organizations and individuals in communities who can help. State data shows over 100,000 Floridians have received assistance under the program with a 73% success rate for helping those seeking employment, 68% success rate for those needing childcare services and 62% success rate in housing placement. The DeSantis’ also awarded close to $140,000 to nonprofits for continued work within the program.
- A new luxury community is coming to the Lake Worth Corridor near U.S. 441/State Road 7 and Hypoluxo Road. A Divosta development called Amara will offer single family homes with lots of up to three acres available and full clubhouse amenities. Prices will start at over $1 million.
- Today will be the hottest day of the year thus far this year with a high in the mid-90’s. That’s about 12 degrees higher than usual for this date. Temps will back off a bit over the weekend with highs in the low-90's tomorrow and mid-80's on Sunday.
- Gas prices dropped for the fifth straight day on Thursday by another three cents per gallon. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.49 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.71 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.51 and in Indian River County the average is $3.46 per gallon.