Florida News That Impacts You – April 16th, 2024
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Governor DeSantis will sign Florida’s education bill into law today. The legislation will include reforms for conversion of “turnaround schools” into charter schools, streamlines the process for challenges for appropriate books in school libraries (allowing only parents with students in schools to seek challenges) and will establish what will be known as Purple Star School Districts in support of military families.
- State Senator Bobby Powell has submitted a resignation to Governor DeSantis effective November 4th, one day prior to Election Day, to run for the Palm Beach County Commission. The Democrat’s current senate term runs until 2026 and will trigger a special election. Powell will seek the commission seat currently held by the term-limited Mack Bernard.
- Palm Beach State College received a $1.75 million federal grant to expand workforce training programs in the trades. The school intends to use the funds to expand the college’s “living lab” that’s an actual construction site where students studying a trade can put their education into real work experience.
- Controlled open enrollment for Palm Beach County schools for the 2024-2025 school year is underway. Running through May 31st, families may opt into a lottery-based system that allows families to choose schools outside of a zoned district. 63 elementary schools, 25 middle schools and 7 high schools are currently open. Interested families should visit www.mypbchoiceapp.com.
- Another warm and pleasant day today with highs in the low 80’s, about five degrees warmer than usual for this date. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise through the week.
- Gas prices soared higher on Monday by eight cents per gallon. The average price statewide for regular unleaded is currently $3.59 per gallon. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.71 per gallon, in Martin the average is $3.55 and in Indian River County the average is $3.54 per gallon.