Florida News That Impacts You – September 3rd, 2025
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
- Governor DeSantis announced the results of the first two years of Florida’s pilot SAFE, or State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication program. The program provides state grants to local law enforcement agencies to crackdown on drug trafficking. According to the governor, under the program 2,127 arrests have been made, 485 pounds of fentanyl, 545 pounds of cocaine and over 300 pounds of meth have been seized in addition to $4.6 million in cash, 730 illegally possessed firearms and 76 vehicles used for drug running.
- The governor also announced plans for a new detention and deportation facility that’s in the planning stages. The panhandle-based facility is to be named Panhandle Pokey. DeSantis also said Alligator Alcatraz will remain in operation and that the state and federal government will win the challenge attempting to close the facility under appeal.
- An administrative hearing on Delray Beach’s “pride” themed intersection at Northeast 1st Street and Northeast 2nd Avenue led to an extension of the state’s deadline for the removal of the display which was scheduled for today. The state and Delray Beach were directed to provide additional materials for consideration by Friday. Delray Beach Vice Mayor Rob Long called the hearing “a sham” and the city has now hired a lawyer representing Key West and Fort Lauderdale in the matter.
- Thunderstorms will be in the mix again today with highs in the upper-80's, which is slightly warmer than usual for this date. A thin layer of Saharan dust is tracking through the Caribbean Sea with another plume that’s in the Mid-Atlantic acting as a headwind for tropical development. Related...
- The National Hurricane Center is tracking one system. A disturbance off the coast of Africa is currently being given a 70% chance of development by the end of the week.
- Gas prices rose seven cents per gallon on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.11 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.25 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.15, it’s $3.11 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $3.13 per gallon.