Florida News That Impacts You – September 6th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- As we’re approaching the historic peak day of hurricane season, September 10th, the tropics remain active led by Tropical Storm Lee – which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane later today. The system is expected to continue to strengthen into a major hurricane passing north of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico and will likely take a northern turn prior to reaching the Bahamas. No other systems currently pose a threat to populated areas.
- In another sign of a recovery in Florida’s property insurance market, four Florida property insurers have been given the go ahead by state regulators to take up to 130,000 property insurance policies away from Citizens, the state’s insurer of last resort. Homeowners Choice, Florida Peninsula, Monarch National and Edison Insurance Co. will begin to assume Citizen's policies in late November. Once the process begins it will mark the first time in over four years that Citizens would be lowering its policy count which currently stands at 1.38 million policies.
- Jupiter’s town council has voted to take next steps in decoupling with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in lieu of its own fire department in an effort to save money. The 4-1 vote on Tuesday moves forward with a plan for the Center for Public Safety Management to assist in the creation of the Town of Jupiter Fire and Rescue Services Department. The process to convert will take place over 36 months and is estimated to save $6.8 million annually during the first decade.
- Lake Worth Beach has declared the city a LGBTQ+ “sanctuary city”. The unanimous vote by the city council is a largely symbolic measure led by the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council in response to state policies which they say are hostile to the gay community.
- Gas prices were a penny lower Tuesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.67 per gallon – 3 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.85 per gallon, which is the second highest price in the state.