Florida News That Impacts You – January 14th, 2025

Florida News That Impacts You – January 14th, 2025 

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

  • Governor DeSantis has called a special session for the week of January 27th, five weeks prior to the start of the state’s regularly scheduled legislative session, for the purpose of addressing policy aimed at curbing illegal immigration (aiding the Trump administration with deportations), addressing the condo crisis and additional hurricane relief for hard hit communities. The move was met with atypical pushback from legislative leadership – citing the decision as ‘premature’ and suggesting that the legislature will take a lead role on these issues as opposed to strictly adhering to the governor’s agenda.  
  • Authorities believe an illegal immigrant from Honduras, who’s been charged with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in West Palm Beach, is responsible for other crimes. Authorities have now linked the man to an armed purse snatching in West Palm Beach on December 26th, and fear there may be other victims as well. All tips should be reported to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.  
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied a petition for Florida’s manatees to once again be protected under ‘endangered’ status. In 2017 manatees were moved from the ‘endangered species’ list to ‘threatened’ status. A host of organizations sought additional protections for manatees following the mass starvation event that occurred in 2021 and 2022 which led to a recorded record number of Florida’s manatees dying.  
  • The turnpike will be closed to northbound and southbound traffic between Boynton Beach Blvd. and Lake Worth Road from 8 pm until 5 am through at least Wednesday for construction. The current plan is to have the work completed on Wednesday, but crews will continue with a similar schedule beyond Wednesday if needed.  
  • It’s a milder start to the day with cloudy skies and a chance of morning showers. Todays highs are in the upper 60’s along the Treasure Coast to low 70’s in the Palm Beaches, a little cooler than usual for this date. Slightly cooler air is expected to arrive by Thursday.  
  • Gas prices rose five cents per gallon on Monday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.17 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.30 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.25 and in Indian River County the average is $3.17 per gallon. 

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