Florida News That Impacts You – May 18th, 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 the School Safety bill into law. The new law expands Florida’s Guardian Program to include public postsecondary institutions, requires public postsecondary institutions to develop active assailant response plans, threat management teams to identify and address potential safety risks, and family reunification procedures in the event of an emergency and increases penalties for discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
- Boynton Beach High School has retired Lamar Jackson’s #7. In a ceremony recognizing the local legend on Friday, the two-time NFL MVP told students: It's an honor to get this jersey retired. I wasn't looking for this to happen. Most importantly, shout out to God and don't let nobody tell you you can't do it.
- NOAAs latest forecast update shows the El Nino weather pattern developing faster than forecasters anticipated with the effects potentially being felt in the Gulf of America and Atlantic as soon as this month. The El Nino weather pattern, which develops over the Pacific and pushes east, is known to create high wind shear creating less favorable conditions for tropical development. Forecasters now say there’s an 82% chance of El Nino being in place prior to the peak of hurricane season in August and September.
- It’ll be mostly sunny and humid today with highs in the mid to upper 80’s throughout the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast – a little warmer than usual for this date. Showers and storm activity will increase starting Tuesday.
- Gas prices continued to fall over the weekend and are 19 cents lower per gallon than a week ago. The average price is currently $4.21 per gallon statewide – though prices remain higher locally. In Palm Beach County the average price is $4.41 per gallon, in Martin the average is $4.14, it’s $4.27 in St. Lucie, and in Indian River County the average is $4.29 per gallon.