Florida News That Impacts You – March 18th, 2025
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
- Florida’s economy continues to outperform the national economy. On Monday Governor DeSantis announced that while previously announced job growth nationally has commonly been revised down from original reports – Florida's job growth was understated by 162,000 jobs over the past year. In total Florida added 113,600 net new jobs over the past year beating the U.S. economy on a rate basis. The governor also pointed to 393,000 job openings statewide currently – saying that there are jobs available for every Floridian who wants to work.
- An illegal immigrant pled guilty in the Southern District of Florida, to four federal charges including identity theft and using a legal citizen’s identity to vote in two federal elections. The 36-year-old man, and father of two daughters, also attempted to obtain U.S. passports using the stolen identity. Sentencing takes place June 10th, and the man faces up to 22 years in federal prison.
- A major illegal vape operation has been taken down in Martin County. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation dubbed “Operation Smoke Signals” resulted in the arrests of 27 people across 20 vape stores within the county. According to MCSO, those arrested were selling vapes to underage buyers and were busted through a sting operation with an underage person purchasing products from the suspects. A related investigation found that numerous vape shops were also selling illicit drugs.
- After a cold start in the low 50’s today will be sunny and nice with highs in the mid-70's – cooler than usual for this date. We’ll have another similar but slightly warmer day on Wednesday.
- Gas prices fell three cents per gallon on Monday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.07 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.23 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.10 and in Indian River County the average is $3.09 per gallon.