Florida News That Impacts You – March 20th, 2026
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 signed two environmental bills into law on Thursday. The new laws protect the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve near Tampa Bay by prohibiting the dredging or filling of submerged lands, allowing for passive recreational fishing and boating rather than commercial transportation in these sensitive waters. The legislation ensures that any future changes to the preserve must go through a transparent, state-level approval process. Additionally, a new law mandates sufficient water supply along the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers, in North Florida communities and creates new standards for stormwater management around solar fields is rigorous to protect both the environment and adjacent property owners. The Governor also announced updates to Florida’s Sunshine Skyway fishing piers, letting Floridians know that reconstruction and renewal projects on the north and south piers are now underway. A new pier will be built on the Manatee County side, and the existing Pinellas County side will be improved and extended.
- Amid growing security challenges for air travel across the country during the partial government shutdown, Palm Beach International Airport has mostly avoided excessive delays to this point. Security wait times peaked during the 10 am hour, however still averaged less than a half hour at the peak.
- The NCAA tournament's first round action continues today with the University of Florida, Miami and the University of Central Florida set to play. The University of South Florida lost to Louisville yesterday. The biggest upset of the tournament thus far saw 12-seed High Point knock off 5-seed Wisconsin on Thursday. The second-half star who fueled the comeback win was Boca Raton’s Chase Johnston.
- There’s a chance of showers for this morning with conditions improving throughout the day. Today’s highs are in the low 70’s throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. We can expect sunny skies and warmer temps this weekend.
- Gas prices were flat on Thursday. The average price for regular unleaded stands at $3.95 per gallon statewide. In Palm Beach County the average price is $4.09 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.99, it’s $3.97 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $3.97 per gallon.