🌅 🦫 Buc-ee's Billboards Say "Loading"

Good Morning, Sunland

It's Monday! And teachers are back! Welcome back, but students don't come back until tomorrow so roads still clear from buses.

👁️ Caught my eye: Lincoln Park Community Master Plan Workshop #2 is tomorrow, April 1 at 5:30 PM at Percy Peek Gym. Shape the future of Lincoln Park.

💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.

Alright, let's jump right in!

☀️ Weather Update: Sunny. Very warm.

☀️ Day: High of 85°F | Sunny. Very warm. Winds W at 5-10 mph. 2% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 56°F | Clear skies. Winds WSW at 5-10 mph. 6% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:22 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:34 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "Joy and Pain" — Frankie Beverly & Maze

Ja'Min Devon

Founder, Sunland News

Press Round: Hospitals, Highways & High Prices

🏥 Cleveland Clinic Cuts Hospital Losses by $20 Million

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital lost $28.7 million in 2025 compared to $49 million in 2024, with day to day operating losses dropping 76 percent from $29 million to $6.8 million. The hospital added 120 physicians and 100 advanced practitioners since taking over in 2019 and is now the county's largest employer with 2,600 workers, though more than 70 percent of patients are on Medicare and the hospital loses money on every Medicare patient.

👉 Read more (Vero News)

⛽ Gas Prices Jump Above $4

Gas prices in Florida jumped about $1 since early March, with a BP station in Vero Beach hitting $4.09 on March 20. Indian River County averaged $3.97, St. Lucie County $3.973, and Martin County $3.988, with the Florida average of $3.95 sitting above the national average of $3.912.

👉 Check prices (AAA)

🦫 Buc-ee's Billboards Say "Loading" as Site Plan Advances

Buc-ee's updated its I-95 billboards near Indrio Road to read "LOADING... ST. LUCIE" and submitted a new site plan to St. Lucie County, with staff comments due back to the company March 25. The site plan shows a 76,245 square foot store with 778 parking spaces and 120 gas pumps, and construction typically takes 12 to 15 months once all approvals are secured.

👉 Read more (TCPalm subscription may be required)

Don't Miss It

NAACP Freedom Fund Event — Boots on the Ground

19 DAYS LEFT

Saturday, April 11 · 5:00PM · Hobe Sound Farmer's Market

Get Your Tickets

🎉 Weekdayer: Mar 23 - Mar 27

Monday, March 23

🧘 Sunset Yoga at the Gardens – 7–8 PM at Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 2410 SE Westmoreland Blvd, Port St. Lucie. $7 members / $12 non-members. Registration required by 4 PM day of class. Register

Tuesday, March 24

🍳 Port St. Lucie Networking Breakfast – 8:15 AM at The Saints Pub, 2601 SE Morningside Blvd, Port St. Lucie. Hosted by the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce. RSVP required. Info

Wednesday, March 25

🌿 Wednesday's Farmers Market – 10 AM–7 PM at Marina Square, 101 Melody Ln, Fort Pierce. Fresh produce, local honey, baked goods, artisan crafts, and more. Free to attend. Info
🔍 Murder Mystery Dinner – 5:30 PM at The Brennity at Tradition, 10685 SW Stony Creek Way, Port St. Lucie. $25 per guest. Chef-prepared dinner, vintage detective attire encouraged. Info

Friday, March 27

🎼 The Orchestra – 7 PM at Sunrise Theatre, 117 S 2nd St, Fort Pierce. Tickets

💧 The Last Drop: Council Bonds, Burn Ban Lifted, and Safety Festival

🏛️ PSL Council meeting Monday 6pm – $75M bond refinancing for Torino Regional Park, 8-acre commercial rezoning at Crosstown/Verano, MIDFLORIDA Event Center catering contract, waterways grant. City Hall chambers. Agenda
🔥 St. Lucie County lifts burn ban – Recent rains dropped drought index from extreme (650-699) to moderate (450-499) wildfire risk. Ban lifted March 20 after Feb. 7 implementation. Officials urge continued caution. Burn ban lifted
👮 St. Lucie Safety Festival April 25 at Clover Park – Free 9am-2pm event features emergency vehicles, touch-a-truck, Kid Zone with bounce houses. 2K Color Run starts 8am, $30 for families up to six. Safety Festival