Florida News That Impacts You – January 19th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Movers in Tuesday’s state legislative session included the Excusal from Jury Service bill. Under the proposal mothers who’ve given birth to a child within six months of a jury summons date may request an exemption from jury service. The Safe Exchange of Minor Children bill, aka the Cassie Carli bill, advanced which would require court-approved shared custody plans to include designated safe locations for children to be exchanged. The Antisemitism bill, which would define under law what constitutes antisemitism, passed the state House. Three Democrats voted against the legislation including outspoken Representative Anna Eskamani, who is of Iranian descent.
- A report from the Florida Department of Education identified 16% of Palm Beach County students as being “chronically absent” which is defined as missing 21 or more days of school during the year. The Palm Beach County School District is hiring the consulting firm Aly Solutions in an effort to attempt to combat the problem. The rate of student absenteeism is the highest on record.
- The Town of Lake Park is considering a ordinance change to allow standalone rental properties to be built on existing single-family home sites in an effort to create additional affordable housing units. The current proposal would allow accessory dwelling units to be constructed provided they meet appearance, parking and landscaping code requirements. The next step in the process will be public workshops for community comment.
- Vero Beach held a meeting of the City Council and Planning and Zoning Board which included public comment regarding downtown revitalization. The meeting was the next step in a potential process to add additional residential units downtown and to create walkable spaces. The next meeting will also include public comment on February 5th.
- Today’s forecast is much like yesterdays with highs in the low to mid-70's today which are close to the average for this time of year. There’s a chance of rain again throughout the day in advance of a cold front which will move into the area late tonight into tomorrow morning which will bring lows in the 40’s and 50’s on Saturday.
- Gas prices fell again on Thursday. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is $3.01 per gallon - 11 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.24 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.14 and in Indian River County the average is $3.03 per gallon.