Florida News That Impacts You – September 9th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- A new USDA report shows Florida’s agricultural acreage has significantly shrunk while production has continued to rise. The USDA’s annual Commericial Citrus Inventory report shows the state’s overall citrus production acreage down 17% from peak levels, amid a conversion of many farmlands for development. Nevertheless, Florida’s citrus production has reached record levels having grown by 12% year-over-year.
- A 14-year-old Broward County student has been arrested for posting school threats and other threats of violence against several Broward schools on Instagram. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the threats after being tipped off about the social media postings. The female student is being held in a Juvenile Assessment Center and has been charged with making written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting, threatening to use a destructive device and unlawful use of a communication device.
- 21 dogs recently rescued from what were described as “worse than horrible conditions” from a property in Loxahatchee are in need of foster homes and/or permanent homes through adoption. The chihuahua-mixed dogs are undergoing medical treatment at the Furry Friends Humane Ranch in Palm City. The organization said shelters are full and they could use the public’s help in caring for the animals.
- It’ll be hot today and humid with showers possible throughout the day and highs near 90. Temperatures will be about 5 degrees warmer than usual for this date. The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems. Potential Tropical Cyclone Six is developing in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane prior to making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border on Wednesday. A disturbance in the central Atlantic has a 70% chance of development over the next seven days and a disturbance just to the east of it has a 60% chance of development. Tomorrow marks the historical peak day of hurricane season activity.
- Gas prices dropped significantly over the weekend and are the lowest since February. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.15 per gallon, 15 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.35 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.14 and in Indian River County the average is $3.14 per gallon.