News Cast 9/29

ByJay Wiley

September 29, 2025

The Okeechobee School Board adopted a policy that will allow self-defense during fights.

It will ensure students who are only defending themselves from having suspensions and other punishments.

School officials said while fights often occur on campus, sometimes it is not mutual combat and often has one student simply trying to defend themselves from an assault.

Superintendent Dylan Tedders said having cameras installed with audio capability has captured more evidence and given them more insight into what really occurs.

Tedders said fights often disrupt an entire campus and can impact the learning process.

The US Department of Homeland Security cut checks that total nearly $40 million for state and local law enforcement.

It pays for the ongoing efforts to round up, detain and eventually deport undocumented migrants in the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he knew the federal government would reimburse Florida eventually and added the money would go toward continued enforcement of the president’s immigration initiatives.

Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D) held a round table discussion in Palm Beach on the state’s intent to remove vaccination requirements for students entering and attending public schools.

Local health experts, educators and lawmakers all warned that eliminating the school vaccine mandates could trigger outbreaks and strain Florida’s health care and education systems.

Florida could become the first state in the nation to make childhood vaccinations optional.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the proposed policy would lift mandates on immunizations for diseases such as Hepatitis B, chickenpox and diseases such as meningitis.

Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said there are several countries including Britain, Sweden and Denmark that don’t require these vaccines.

Two hunters from Miami Dade County were identified Friday and authorities believe the dead men were victims of a lightning strike.

The victims Alexander Getz and Peter Stansky had left to hunt Monday and didn’t return.  Their bodies were found Wednesday on a levee off Rucks Dairy Road in eastern Highlands County along with two dead hunting dogs.

The Highlands County Sheriff reminded residents to take lightning threats seriously and seek shelter when storms are nearby.