News Cast for April 4th:
The US Army Corps of Engineers stopped releases to Florida’s Treasure Coast on Saturday.
The Corps continued smaller releases to the west coast of 1400 cubic feet per second.
They also have been sending more water south into stormwater treatment areas.
Col. Brandon Bowman told the Rivers Coalition that the lake will be healthier due to the drawdown.
He said it is likely to be as long as five years before the next drawdown is necessary.
The east coast constantly complains about releases of lake water through a man-made estuary, the St. Lucie Canal, because it can threaten their economy and seafood industry.
The lake level was at 12.56 feet as of this morning.
“We are starting to some benefits on the lake. So far some good news. We are going to wait to see what the full recovery is in the lake. We hope to see the benefits we planned for and hope they are even greater than we thought.”
The target was to get the lake below 12 feet for 90 days or more this year to help submerged vegetation grow.
Okeechobee unemployment rates rose from 4.4 percent in January to 4.5 percent in February. The rate in February, 2024 was 3.6 percent.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity report showed Okeechobee with a labor force of 16,170 workers with 15,456 employed and 723 collecting benefits in February.
This compares to 16,116 in the labor force in January, with 15,410 employed and 706 unemployed.
Around the region Glades County had 5.3 percent, Highland 5.5 percent, Indian River 4.5 percent, Martin four percent, Osceola 3.8 percent, and St. Lucie 4.3 percent.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he is adamant about wanting to relieve some property tax pressure off Floridians.
He discussed the issue at a press conference Monday in Orlando.
Officials from the Florida Realtors Association also appeared at the briefing.
DeSantis said he wants a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would help eliminate property taxes. He said the move would save households around $1,000 per year.
He also has questioned a proposed reduction in the sales tax from six percent to 5.25%.
DeSantis said he thinks the state can make up some of the revenue from property taxes by taxes on hotels and motels that serve tourists.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue said an alleged intentionally set fire burned down a shed and did other property damage in Fort Drum.
The fire was reported at 451 NE 327th Trail, firemen said.
The report said a fence line, a boat trailer and the shed were damaged.
A sheriffs deputy old them the owner had started the fire to call for help because of neighbor trouble.
The State Fire Marshal will investigate the fire. There were no injuries reported.