WOKC Local News – April 20, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Another subdivision with WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Nearly 1100 acres of pasture on the north side of 70 could be developed between Starnes Loop and Crooked Creek Plantation. The project is known as the Heartland Crossings Development. The commission heard a report from George Lindsay, who said the project will include a variety of residential housing on various size lots, along with commercial, medical and parkland. Commission Chair David Hazelief says the county will be willing to be supportive of the project. I like your concept here. You know, you you’ve got the residential, you’ve got the parks, you’ve got the medical commercial use, but you also looked out for us on the fire station and sheriff’s department of place. We appreciate that. St. Lucie County doing some upgrades at their airport. They’re planning to bring a new fixed base operator in, and they just approved a lease for 30 years with Ident Aviation. They are a paint company. County Administrator George Laundrie says the RFP could take another year. The board remembers that as we move through this with with grace, when they start saying, how come we don’t have rent coming in at the airport? They’re currently undergoing one point two million in improvements. The county is actively negotiating with airlines and are also planning a 300 room hotel aimed at boosting local tourism and economic development. Glades County schools were left speechless after the IRS took $267,000 out of their checking account. It was due to a form mistake back in 2019, and the penalties had accrued. Superintendent Dr. Beth Barfield says they don’t owe the IRS anything, and this is an unfair penalty. And they are fighting for us because it’s not because we owe money. It’s not because we didn’t do something. Literally, we did what we were supposed to do. But this fine was from that school year. And so we have to continue fighting until we get the money back. Driver’s licenses in Florida have been wrongly suspended after a glitch with Geico insurance. If you do have Geico insurance and are driving, you might want to check to see if your license is suspended. Miami-Dade tax collector Daniel Fernandez says some insurance policies renewed between January 1st and April 13th were mistakenly transmitted to the state as canceled. If your driver’s license came suspended or came like it’s going to be suspended, you hit click and put your Geico insurance policy number. And that’s it. Seven arrests were made in western Martin County on 7-10 as the Sheriff’s Department does a drug activity operation on the road through dangerous sections of that highway. It is known as one of the region’s drug corridors. Deputies say they intercepted individuals coming from Palm Beach County and Okeechobee carrying fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine. The seven people arrested included 38-year-old Freddie Lee Mata of Okeechobee and 46-year-old Sean Tutterow of Okeechobee. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).