Florida News That Impacts You – November 18th, 2022
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida. Gas prices continued lower through the weekend.
- As we head towards the busiest travel week of the year, gas prices are a penny lower today averaging $3.50 per gallon statewide – which is 8 cents cheaper than a week ago. In Southeast Florida prices range from a low of $3.52 per gallon in Miami-Dade and Broward to $3.67 per gallon in the Palm Beaches.
- Federal Judge Mark Walker, an Obama appointee who has commonly been at odds with the state of Florida on policy matters, issued a temporary injunction against Florida’s Stop Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees Act. Referring to the legislation as “dystopian”, with a reference of Orwell’s 1984, in his decision. The law is designed to prevent educators and businesses from imposing the tenants of Critical Race Theory on students and employees. Walker’s decisions have frequently been overturned on appeal and the state confirmed they’ll be appealing this decision. This most recently occurred earlier this year with Florida’s election integrity law which was in force for Florida’s recently concluded midterm elections.
- The Florida Public Service Commission has approved a ten-year plan to harden Florida’s power grid. The plan which was a collaborative effort of Florida’s four largest utility companies, led by FPL and Duke Energy, will accelerate projects like the undergrounding of power lines and storm proofing power stations. The Commission approved the utility companies collecting a total of $368 million towards the projects from consumers over the next year. There will be a monthly assessment added to bills next year.
- Visit Florida announced a record 35.1 million visitors came to Florida in the 3rd quarter, a 6.9% increase over a year ago exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the fifth consecutive quarter. Domestic tourists accounted for nearly 93% of all visitors, though overseas visitors came at a rate that was 86% higher than a year ago.