Florida News That Impacts You – January 15th, 2025
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- There’s bipartisan backlash in Florida over President Biden’s announced planned lifting of the terrorist designation for Cuba. The designation which was lifted by President Obama was reinstituted during President Trump’s first term and has remained in place since. The announcement by the Biden administration is broadly opposed throughout Florida. Florida Democrat Party Chair Nikki Fried told the AP: While any return of political prisoners from the clutches of Communist Cuba is cause for celebration, the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people continues to be one of the biggest human rights violations of the last century. Should President Biden follow through with the action it’s likely President-elect Trump would quickly reinstitute the designation upon taking office.
- Over 100 condo buildings in Palm Beach County have missed a legally required inspection deadline under state law following the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside nearly three years ago. Mandatory inspections are required of condo buildings that are at least 30 years old. Of the 568 condo buildings in the county required to comply with the inspections, 113 haven’t complied. While the state has yet to take action against the noncompliant building associations, fines can total $500 per day. The deadline was December 31st. The state is expected to take legislative action, either in a special session at the end of the month, or the state’s regular legislative session which begins in March, aimed at reforming current laws to create greater flexibility and affordability for condo owners.
- Martin County has approved a lease for the French aviation company Daher at the Martin County Airport. As part of the lease Daher is to invest $30 million in the redevelopment of airplane hangars and is expected to create 180 new jobs.
- Vero Beach’s city council has approved the construction of a new boardwalk at Humiston Beach Park. On Tuesday the city approved plans to move forward with the boardwalk that was destroyed during 2022’s Hurricane Nicole. Donations to contribute to the construction of the boardwalk are being encouraged by the Indian River Community Foundation that quickly raised $175,000.
- It’s a cooler start to the day today with temps touching the 50’s. Partly cloudy skies today with highs in the upper 60’s along the Treasure Coast to low 70’s in the Palm Beaches, a little cooler than usual for this date. Cooler air is expected to arrive tonight with Thursday lows in the 50’s and highs in the 60’s.
- Gas prices rose another five cents per gallon on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.22 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.34 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.28 and in Indian River County the average is $3.24 per gallon.