Florida News That Impacts You – August 28th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- The Florida Chamber of Commerce released their Mid-Year Report on Tuesday. The report showed Florida continuing to lead the country in net migration, net wealth migration – including Palm Beach County being the top county in the state for net wealth migration and remaining a leader in job creation. The report also showed housing affordability trends improving, including a decrease in rent rates in all parts of the state.
- After successfully defeating the proposed development of Johnathon Dickinson State Park, as part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Great Outdoors Initiative, protestors have turned their attention on Tallahassee seeking to halt the plans at eight other state parks. Protests played out at individual parks and at the state capitol on Tuesday. Meetings for public comment have yet to be rescheduled for the other eight park proposals.
- A record number of manatee calves have died this year according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Through last week a total of 130 baby manatees were found dead according to state officials. That total is the highest on record and twice the 5-year average rate. Of particular concern is that most were stillborn calves in Brevard and Volusia Counties. Scientists believe it’s likely that the stillborn calves are linked to the reduction in seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. The Lagoon was ground zero for the mass starvation event that led to a record number of manatees deaths in 2021.
- It’ll be hot today with afternoon thunderstorms and highs in the upper 80’s. Temperatures will be about 3 degrees warmer than usual for this date. The National Hurricane Center is tracking two disturbances in the Atlantic. A disturbance to the east of the Bahamas currently has a 10% chance of development and is unlikely to impact any populated areas. A disturbance in the southern Atlantic is slowly moving towards Leeward Islands with a 20% of development over the next week.
- Gas prices rose 5 cents per gallon on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.30 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.43 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.21 and in Indian River County the average is $3.23 per gallon.