Unemployment remained at 3.7 percent in Florida during July.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said Okeechobee had 4.9 percent unemployment in July compared to 4.7 percent in June.
The report said Okeechobee’s labor force declined from 16,318 to 16,258. The number of unemployment rose from 750 to 789. The number of employed dropped from 15,559 to 15,466.
The unemployment rate in June of last year was 4.6 percent.
Around the region Glades County had 6.2 percent, Highlands six percent, Indian River five percent, Martin County 4.3 percent, Osceola 3.9 percent and St. Lucie 4.7 percent.
The illegal alien accused of causing a triple fatality on the Florida Turnpike in northern St. Lucie County last week had his first court appearance on Saturday.
Circuit Court Judge Lauren Sweet denied bond to Singh who is now facing three charges of vehicular homicide and three counts of manslaughter.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Tore said Singh felt he could flee to California, a sanctuary state, and avoid extradition back to Florida.
When asked about the video inside the cab of the truck, he commented he thought the crash looked intentional. He said the driver showed no remorse and made no effort to leave the cab and help the people in the SUV.
Troopers said Singh was attempting an illegal U-turn at the time of the crash.
Another drug house is shut down in Okeechobee County.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Community Action Team all were involved in the execution of a search warrant on Friday at a residence at 1104 SW 3rd Street.
They arrested Jason Gillis, 45, and Carmen Barber, 57 on multiple charges.
The narcotics task force said they were able to make purchases of trafficking amounts of methamphetamine during the operation. The search netted more methamphetamine, items of drug paraphernalia and live ammunition.
Gillis was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Barber was charged with possession with the intent to sell methamphetamine, resisting arrest without violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The sheriff said Gillis had a total of 15 felony convictions on his record.
Florida gas prices have been notoriously up and down this summer.
The American Automobile Association said the state wide average this summer was $3.07 a gallon. The average in Okeechobee was $3.12 per gallon.
The consumer group Gas Buddy said this is called price cycling. Gas prices have varied from $2.79 to $3.19 per gallon.
Price Cycling is when stations try to lure in more customers by lowering gas prices. That causes other nearby stations to lower their prices. Traditionally gas prices are higher in the summer because of environmental rules that change what type gas can be used.
The Pahokee city commission will not go to court with former city managers in an attempt to recoup alleged lost money.
Commissioner James Scott has advocated for the lawsuit. He said he thinks between $2.1 million and $4 million were misappropriated by the city since 2017.
Attorney Burnadette Norris Weeks said there is a statute of limitations on these thefts and advised the commission not to go to civil court but criminal court. She said it was unlikely the city could get the money back in a civil lawsuit.
The commission opted to send a letter to the State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County asking them to investigate allegations of fraud and theft.