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WATCH LIVE COVERAGE:Florida's governor says the Sunshine State is "fighting back" against the year-long shutdown of the cruise industry.Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced that Florida is filing a lawsuit against the federal government and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention, demanding that cruise ships be "reopened immediately.""This is something that we believe we have every right to insist upon," DeSantis said during a news conference at PortMiami. "We don't believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year."The CDC first issued its no-sail order at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 following coronavirus outbreaks on several ships.The order, which has been extended until Nov. 1, prevents cruise ships from allo...

Former Florida State football star Travis Rudolph used a rifle in a Lake Park shooting that left one person dead and another person injured, a witness told deputies.Rudolph, 25, was arrested early Wednesday on one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office probable cause affidavit, Rudolph shot two people during an altercation outside a home in the 500 block of North Redwood Drive in Lake Park just after midnight Wednesday.One of the victims fled after the shooting and was later found fatally wounded in the front passenger seat of a car near 40th Street and Broadway Avenue in West Palm Beach. The driver and back seat passenger were also in the car, but they were uninjured.Another victim was found with gun...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference on Thursday in Miami.The governor is scheduled to speak at PortMiami at 11:30 a.m.No other details have been released. Read More

The School District of Palm Beach County is one step closer to a new policy holding families responsible if a student's school-issued laptop is damaged, lost, or stolen.The school board approved the policy on Wednesday night, setting it up for adoption next month.The district's chief financial officer revealed there's been close to $1 million in damage -- about $810,000 to be exact -- to electronic devices since the school district started issuing them last spring.Some of that damage was covered under warranty, so about $98,000 has been passed on to families.However, the school district has only been able to recoup about $5,000 so far.Chief Financial Officer Mike Burke also said the district has about an 8% breakage rate for the electronics, which is higher than the national average of 6%....

The School District of Palm Beach County is one step closer to a new policy holding families responsible if a student's school-issued laptop is damaged, lost, or stolen.The school board approved the policy on Wednesday night, setting it up for adoption next month.The district's chief financial officer revealed there's been close to $1 million in damage -- about $810,000 to be exact -- to electronic devices since the school district started issuing them last spring.Some of that damage was covered under warranty, so about $98,000 has been passed on to families.However, the school district has only been able to recoup about $5,000 so far.Chief Financial Officer Mike Burke also said the district has about an 8% breakage rate for the electronics, which is higher than the national average of 6%....

By Dale King The Boca Raton philanthropist who gifted Florida Atlantic University with the lead funding to build an on-campus residence for the school’s president has just made her second seven-figure gift to Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s “Keeping the Promise” campaign, bringing her overall donation to $7.5 million. Eleanor R. Baldwin joins a list of Boca Raton’s philanthropic “Who’s Who” of seven- and eight-figure contributors to the campaign who have helped raise more than $193 million to date. “There is no way to characterize the level of gratitude we feel for Eleanor,” said Lincoln Mendez, CEO at Boca Regional Hospital. “She is another long-tenured member of our family at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.”  He said her contribution to the hospital’s major capital campaign ...

Barbara James, the executive director of Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach, said she’s always believed in giving back and mentoring. Now, she’s sharing her knowledge on how the hospital was able to pivot and fundraise successfully in a very trying time.“I realized almost immediately that we needed to engage the community,” said James. “I am a seasoned fundraiser, so I have done this for 35 years.”James said she’s proud of her team and their early efforts to engage donors during a very difficult time.“We really studied,” she said. “We have been able to raise well over a million (dollars).”Most recently, the hospital’s latest virtual event in March on its own raised a record breaking nearly $1 million.“We did a lot of surveys,” she said. “I surveyed our attendees of other events and said ‘w...

The Drowning Prevention Coalition (DPC) of Palm Beach County encourages parents, caregivers, pool owners and vacationers to make drowning prevention a top priority. According to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office, the county averages 48 drowning deaths per year with adults, seniors and children ages 1 to 4 years having the highest drowning rates in the county based on population. Don’t let a loved one become a statistic.  Use the following water safety recommendations: 1)    Maintain vigilant adult supervision when children are in or near water. 2)    Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. “Water wings” or “floaties,” inflatable water rings and other pool toys, are NOT safety devices. Only U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are de...

By: Robert S Weinroth The United States Constitution makes no mention of the powers related to local governments. The 10th Amendment reserves those powers to the state. During the 18th century, cities, counties and parishes across the nation derived their powers from their state constitutions, and those local governments relied upon their respective state legislatures for all powers. This was upheld in an 1860’s court case, called “Dillon’s Rule.”  John Forest Dillon, for whom the Dillon Rule is named, was the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court and was considered one of the greatest authorities of his time on municipal law and a prolific writer about local governments.     Judge Dillon was a man who greatly distrusted local governments and local government offici...

Palm Beach County’s Public Safety Department Divisions of Animal Care and Control and Victim Services has partnered together and will be offeringfree pet adoptions throughout the month of April.  This promotion is to raise awareness about sexual assault, the many services available to victims, and the link between animal abuse and intimate partner violence. Approved adopters will receive a lifetime of unconditional love and much more. All pets adopted from the shelter are spayed or neutered, current on vaccinations, microchipped, have a current county license tag, and are sent home with a free bag of Science Diet pet food. In addition, pet owners receive a health care certificate worth $500 in savings for their new pet. Stop by today to meet your purrrfect match. Animal C...