Stet NewsSouth Florida charities mobilize as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica. (WLRN)
West Palm Beach city commissioners agreed Oct. 14 to buy back the leases on three city-owned, downtown waterfront properties, including Elisabetta’s Ristorante. They’ll borrow $40 million to pay landlord Navarro Lowrey $25.5 million. City staff expect profits over 23 years will cover the city’s costs. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
A massive data center that could consume as much electricity as 1 million residents and would cost $13.5 billion failed to get the backing of the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission Oct. 16. The 15 million-square-foot Sentinel Grove Technology Park would be built on 1,218 acres at Orange Avenue and Minute Maid Road in rural St. Lucie County. (Treasure Coast Newspapers $$$)
Two Palm Beach County child rape suspects could be the first in the country since the 1970s to be punished by the death penalty in a case that doesn’t involve a homicide. Prosecutors are using a 2023 Florida law that allows the penalty for adults who commit sexual battery on a child under 12. The case involves a 6-year-old girl who said her father and his roommate raped her every day. (Sun Sentinel, $$$)
The Lake Worth Beach City Commission censured Commissioner Chris McVoy Oct. 21 after he interrupted a resident during public comment. The dispute with the resident stemmed from earlier comments by “the Guatemalan princess,” a teenager from the Guatemalan Maya Center who spoke of residents “living in fear” because of immigration raids. (Lake Worth Beach Independent)
Palm Beach County residents who live in state House District 87 are likely to go without representation during the upcoming legislative session as Gov. Ron DeSantis set the date for a special election to replace Republican Mike Caruso for March 24, which is 11 days after the session ends. Caruso left to become Palm Beach County clerk. A primary would be held Jan. 13. Two Republicans and two Democrats are running. (Florida Politics)
To save money in the face of broad state budget cuts, Tri-Rail plans to end a ride-partner program with Uber, Lyft and others, and consider replacing its complex ticket scheme with flat fares. (Sun-Sentinel $$$)
Matt Luciano, who ran for West Palm Beach City Commission against Christina Lambert in March 2024, died Sept. 16 at age 53. (Obituary)
The Grandview Public Market food hall in West Palm Beach, which closed in July, is coming back in January as Caroline Station, with fewer vendors and an emphasis on events. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
Downtown West Palm Beach isn’t the only place Nashville’s Vanderbilt University is planning to expand. (The New York Times gift link)
🎧 “Top of Mind Florida,” the podcast by Michael Williams and Brian Crowley, welcomes Pap Corps publicist Kay Renz to discuss how artificial intelligence is helping speed mammogram analysis and may soon revolutionize breast cancer screening and diagnosis. (Listen now; watch after 4pm Wednesday)
