Florida News That Impacts You – September 16th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis has announced an independent state investigation into Sunday’s assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump at Trump International in West Palm Beach. The governor stated: The people deserve the truth about the would-be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, is a North Carolina native who had lived in Hawaii on and off since 2017 and who has an extensive rap sheet. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained that a perimeter hadn’t been established around the Golf Club due to Trump not currently serving as president of the United States.
- Florida ranks first for education freedom and for academic transparency for the third year in a row according to the annual Education Freedom Report Card produced by the Heritage Foundation - due to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education reforms. In addition to the top marks for education freedom, and transparency, due to the multiple avenues available for teachers to join the profession, the state ranks second in Teacher Freedom. Florida was also second in Educational Choice this year due to the state’s universal school choice program.
- The Palm Beach County Health Department has confirmed a case of locally transmitted dengue fever due to a mosquito bite. The DOH said it’s working with the Palm Beach County Mosquito Control Division to aid in preventing additional cases. Officials said residents are advised to use insect repellents, wear protective clothing and to eliminate standing water around homes. The DOH is also advising residents to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as it can be an indication of diseases in the area.
- It’ll be hot today and humid again today 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 two systems. Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is developing off the coast of South Carolina and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm prior to making landfall near the South Carolina-North Carolina border tonight. Gordon has weakened into a Tropical Depression in the mid-Atlantic where it’s expected to remain throughout the week. It’s not a threat to populated areas.
- Gas prices continued to fall through the weekend and are now the lowest since January. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.09 per gallon, 6 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.29 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.10 and in Indian River County the average is $3.07 per gallon.