South Central Florida Life
Featured Story

Florida Cracker Trail Ride celebrates history

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Hurricane News

FEMA extends deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance

FEMA has extended the application deadline to Jan. 12, 2023, for survivors in...

FEMA is hiring Florida workers

FEMA is conducting local hiring for more than 300 jobs in Brandon, Fort Myers, Kissimmee, Orlando and Sarasota. The agency is seeking people with experience in customer service, logistics, …

Federal support for Hurricane Ian recovery nears $1.3 billion

More than $1.27 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided....

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Current conditions
Observed from: Witham Field Airport
Partly Cloudy, 70 °F
Sunny, with a high near 78. East southeast 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
Corps resumes lake releases to St. Lucie River
Water managers concerned about high lake level
Water managers concerned about high lake level

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Community News

Civil Air Patrol squadron plans two open houses

The Treasure Coast Composite Squadron, the local unit of Civil Air Patrol, is hosting two open houses ...

Living History Series returns to IRSC beginning Feb. 16

The Indian River State College (IRSC) Living History Series returns to locations in Martin County beginning Feb. 16.

Prevention program demonstrates potential to keep kids out of foster care

Communities Connected for Kids, the non-profit organization that oversees the child welfare community...

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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

Dr. Terri A. Graham named Onyx Magazine 2023 Woman on the Move

Indian River County resident Terri A. Graham, Ed.D., has been named one of Onyx Magazine’s 2023 Women on the Move.

‘Cold Case, College Students, and Community’ is April 20 at IRSC

“Cold Case, College Students, and Community,” a lecture by Indian River State College...

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Wildlife & Environment

1,285 acres in Highlands County to join Florida Wildlife Corridor

Thanks to a unanimous Cabinet vote, 21,063 more acres of the Florida Wildlife Corridor gained permanent protection ....

What to do with an armadillo?

It is very common to find your yard being dug up throughout the year in our area due to...

Deadly alligator attack reported in St. Lucie County

ST. LUCIE COUNTY – An 85-year-old woman was killed by an alligator in the Spanish Lakes area on Monday, Feb. 20, according to FWC ...

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Opinion
AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor answers questions about Social Security
Senate Bill 404 aims to exempt autopsy reports on child victims of domestic violence from public disclosure.
Comments may be posted on the newspaper’s Facebook pages, emailed to okeenews@iniusa.org or mailed to 313 N.W. Fourth Ave., Okeechobee, FL 34972.

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Health

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Agriculture
SNAP recipients can get double the value of their benefits when they purchase fresh fruits ... .
On Dec. 21, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the EPA to reconsider its decision to expand the use of sulfoxaflor …
Scientists at the University of Florida have identified two new truffle species in North America...

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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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