Florida News That Impacts You – September 27th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Two disturbances are active in the Atlantic. Tropical storm Philippe is churning through the mid-Atlantic and is expected to weaken into a depression before dissipating later in the week north of Hispaniola. Another disturbance off of the Coast of Africa is expected to develop into a tropical storm in the coming days but isn’t expected to pose a threat to populated areas. There’s also the possibility of another disturbance forming off the coast of Florida, a la Tropical storm Ophelia. Our weather will be impacted by the system for the remainder of the week bringing multiple inches of rain to South Florida.
- Two pari-mutuels which have been fighting the state of Florida over the 2021 Seminole Compact in an effort to prevent sports betting in the state have filed a lawsuit before the Florida Supreme Court. West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. are alleging that the Compact violates a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2018. The lawsuit continues the pattern of challenges at both the state and federal court level. Most recently plaintiffs challenging the Compact in the federal court system have made an appeal to the US Supreme Court seeking an end to the Compact. Current federal court rulings have validated the Compact thus far and the Seminole Tribe currently has the authority to pursue sports betting activities in the state – though they appear to be waiting until there’s greater legal clarity.
- Four South Florida Public Adjusters have been charged with property insurance fraud. The Miami-based adjusters were found to have engaged in the practice of offering free home inspections for homeowners. Upon their inspections they would make false claims of property damage to property insurers – including forging the signatures of the homeowners for the claims. Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis stated: This is why the rates of Citizens goes up, because (of) the bad actors just like this.
- Gas prices continued lower on Tuesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is $3.56 per gallon – 11 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.77 per gallon, which is the fourth highest price in the state.