South Central Florida Life
HURRICANE NEWS

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Featured Story

Lake O level at 16.3 feet and rising

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Hurricane News

NFIP issuing advance payments to policyholders after Hurricane Ian

FEMA has also taken steps to ease burdens on its policyholders as they begin to clean up and repair...

DCF waiting on approval of Disaster SNAP benefits for families

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Department of Children and Families (DCF) has submitted a request to the United States Department of …

Spotting scams after the storm

After disasters sweep through an area, an unfortunate reality usually follows: fraudulent offers of funding...

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Current conditions
Observed from: Witham Field Airport
Partly Cloudy, 81 °F
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Get the full forecast
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Coronavirus Updates
Most of Florida is now at high risk of COVID-19. Glades and Hendry County (highlighted on map) are at medium risk. [Image courtesy CDC]

Most of Florida at high risk for COVID-19

Most of Florida is now considered at “high” risk for COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) map shows counties at high risk for COVID-19 in red, medium risk in yellow and low risk in green. Okeechobee County (medium risk in yellow) is outlined.

Palm Beach County at high risk from COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spreading again in Florida, according to data shared June 3 by the Florida Department of Health.

New covid positivity in Florida at 3.8%

TALLAHASSEE – For the week of April 1-7, Florida’s new COVID-19 positivity rate was 3.8%.

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Human Interest
Meet Snoopy

Adopt a Peet: Meet Snoopy

Hi Doggo Peeps just checking in to see if anyone is looking to fall in Love this fall!
Meet Linx

Adopt a pet: Meet Linx

INDIANTOWN — Are you looking for a sweet loving boy?
Meet Sterling

Adopt a pet: Meet Sterling

Meowiser power peeps!  I am wishing for my very own pad to chill out and have a family of my own.

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Lake Okeechobee
Boaters warned of low power line on St. Lucie Canal
Federal funding for water storage north of Lake O delayed
Lake O rising as storm runoff flows south

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Community News

Treasure Coast Food Bank’s Holiday Online Auction returns

Treasure Coast Food Bank’s Holiday Online Auction returns this year just in time to fill holiday shopping lists...

TCFB receives $175,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities

The self-select mobile food pantry will expand Treasure Coast Food Bank’s program...

Foster & adoptive mom is all hands, feet and heart

Whether it’s money, time or even a long car ride, local foster and adoptive mom Kristin West puts everything...

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Government
The State Legislative Budget Commission has approved a $1 million Local Support Grant, sponsored by...
 Voters contacted by their county Supervisor of Elections office about signature issues on their vote-by-mail ballot envelopes have until 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 to …
On March 2, the United States Postal Service announced that it has delivered more than 270 million COVID-19 test kits to American households...

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Schools

IRSC enrollment on the rise, bucking state and national trends

This fall, enrollment is up +8.9%, and with more students choosing in-person and hybrid options...

High school students save time and money with IRSC dual enrollment

Area high school students can begin work on their college degree for free through Dual Enrollment at IRSC.

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Wildlife & Environment

Ghost orchid proposed for endangered species protection

Saving a rare and beautiful orchid could help save other endangered species in Florida.

More than 40,000 call for a brighter future for the Florida Keys

In a comment period that will help determine the fate of the continental U.S.’s only barrier reef ...

UF/IFAS appoints internationally acclaimed scientist to lead new ISRI

In this newly created role, Thomas will establish the framework for ISRI, which will bring...

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Opinion
NASA’s Artemis 1 mission is poised to take a key step toward returning humans to the moon after a half-century hiatus...
Move over bacon and ranch dressing – There's a new hot flavor in town.
If you have questions about cowboy hats, Jay “Jaybird” Crews at Eli’s Western Wear is the man to see.

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Health

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Agriculture
Scientists at the University of Florida have identified two new truffle species in North America...
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has approved a new conservation practice....
More than 65 species of palm trees in the United States are vulnerable to a wood-decaying fungus that can damage...

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Weather
Florida officials waived toll collections to facilitate evacuations as local officials issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders in anticipation of Hurricane Ian.
WASHINGTON -- President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. approved Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s request for an emergency declaration on Sept. 24, ahead of Tropical Storm Ian. The declaration authorizes …
On May 2, AARP Florida announced a variety of AARP resources available to Floridians as they prepare for Hurricane Season ...

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Nation & World

Thousands gather to mark Srebrenica massacre, bury victims

SREBRENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Thousands of people converged on the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica Monday to mark the 27th anniversary of Europe’s only acknowledged genocide since the …

New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond

The quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super contagious omicron mutant that’s worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including …

Srebrenica women honored for highlighting 1995 massacre

SREBRENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — They were the ones who lived in a world in which their husbands, sons, brothers, uncles and nephews were massacred. They were the ones who fought to make sure …

Some Russians won't halt war protests, despite arrest fears

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, Anastasia has started her day by composing an anti-war message and posting it on the wall at the entrance of her apartment block in the industrial city of Perm in …

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State

Early prescription refills permitted under State of Emergency

Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-219, expanding the State of Emergency statewide....

Boy dies in hot car parked outside Miami area Jewish center

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A 3-year-old boy died after being left in a car outside a South Florida preschool where both his parents are staff members, police said. The child was one of several …

Rural Florida county shocked by fentanyl deaths over holiday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A small, largely rural county west of Florida’s capital saw an unheard-of spike in deadly drug overdoses believed to be caused by fentanyl mixed with other illegal drugs, …

$28.4 million in funding awarded to 23 Florida communities

On June 21, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $28.4 million in funding for economic growth...

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