Florida News That Impacts You – September 16th, 2025
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
- Law enforcement agencies across the state have revised firearm enforcement policies following last week’s legal ruling declaring Florida’s ban on open carry to be unconstitutional – a decision supported by the state. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that they no longer will enforce an open carry ban, nor will Martin or St. Lucie Counties. Indian River County is reminding citizens it’s still unlawful to open carry on school campuses, buses and at events. Florida AG James Uthmeier told me last week that the state will not appeal the decision, making open carry “the law of the land” in Florida.
- The Palm Beach County School District is preparing to push back against the attempt to end vaccine requirements for students to enter public schools. Recently Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo filed a rule change to end some vaccine requirements effective December 2nd. Most vaccine requirements for students are codified under state law and would need to be removed through legislative action. The District stated they’re adding opposition to any related legislative action a priority.
- The Creative Learning Lab in Fort Pierce announced a sudden closure on Monday amid a financial collapse at the infant care, preschool and elementary school that’s been in operation since 1972. The school opened on Monday only for families to retrieve personal belongings.
- It’ll be sunny much of the day today with afternoon thunderstorms possible and highs in the upper 80’s, which is typical for this date. A thin layer of Saharan dust is tracking through Cuba, the Carribean and over South Florida this morning, on its way into the Gulf of America, with a thin but more extensive plume behind it stretching from the Leeward Islands across the central Atlantic. Related...
- The National Hurricane Center is tracking two disturbances in the Atlantic. A disturbance in the southern mid-Atlantic has a 90% chance of development over the next seven days. The system is unlikely to be of concern to populated areas. A second disturbance is developing in the southern Atlantic off the coast of Africa and is being given a 20% chance of development over the next seven days.
- Gas prices surged by 15 cents per gallon on Monday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.13 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.25 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.21, it’s $3.09 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $3.14 per gallon.