Florida News That Impacts You – February 23rd, 2026
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
- Austin Tucker Martin, the armed 21-year-old North Carolina man shot and killed by Secret Service and PBSO after breaking Mar-a-Lago's perimeter early Sunday morning, is said to have been motivated, at least in part, by what he believed to be a government coverup with the Epstein files. TMZ’s reporting includes a text message, and co-worker account points to the potential motivation behind the security breach. The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation. No secret service protectees, including President Trump, were present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the security breach.
- Florida set new tourism records last year according to VISIT Florida. Preliminary estimates show 143.3 million people visited Florida in 2025 – up slightly from 2024’s record year – with a record 33.6 million visitors in the 4th quarter of last year, also a record. Florida remained the top travel domestic travel destination over the past year.
- A Royal Palm Beach recovery room nurse for Palms Wellington Surgical Center, Joel Vega, has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two patients, with authorities concerned that there could be more victims. Anyone with additional information, or potential victims, should contact PBSO or Crime Stoppers.
- Cold and windy today, with temps starting in the 40’s and topping out in the upper 50’s to low 60’s throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. With heavy wind gusts, wind chills in the 20’s to 30’s are being felt throughout the area this morning. The unusually cold air will remain in our area into Wednesday.
- Gas prices are about flat over the past week. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $2.87 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.04 per gallon, in Martin the average is $2.87, it’s $2.93 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $2.92 per gallon.