Florida News That Impacts You – November 19th, 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 Secretary of State Cord Byrd has advanced the proposed recreational marijuana amendment led by the Smart & Safe Florida PAC to the state attorney general’s office for consideration. The decision ends a legal standoff between the PAC and the secretary of state over the collection of approximately 200,000 signatures needed to qualify for ballot access for next year’s midterm election ballot.
- Martin County officials are warning local businesses and residents of a recent surge in counterfeit $20 bills being circulated throughout the county. MCSO says the bills are hard to detect and are urging extra diligence, including checking for color-shifting ink, texture, and a security thread. Counterfeit detection pens are also recommended for area businesses. The recent issues in Martin County have come following recent counterfeiting issues being discovered throughout the Florida Keys into South Florida.
- Palm Beach County is shelving a DEI-related study officials paid $430,000 to conduct in July of 2024 amid the state’s crackdown on unlawful policies. The study’s aim was to evaluate the disparity in minority and women owned businesses within the county. Florida law bans DEI-based speeding and decision making with taxpayer funds. The study appears to have been uncovered by the Florida DOGE team’s audit of Palm Beach County.
- Sunny skies and slightly warmer than usual temps today with highs in the low 80’s. The National Hurricane Center’s map is clear. Tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next 7 days.
- Gas prices rose by ten cents per gallon on Tuesday. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.05 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.19 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.11, it’s $3.05 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $3.04 per gallon.