Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! And I just want to make one correction from yesterday. The special election link wasn't working, which you should be able to find here. Sometimes links from certain cites don’t always work, but I very much appreciate anyone who let’s me know! Thank you! Alright…
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
Ja’Min Devon
📚 The Main Squeeze: Florida Remains Nation's
Deadliest State for Cyclists
Florida topped the nation again for bicycle deaths with 185 cyclists killed in 2025, bringing the two-year total to nearly 400 fatalities. Bicycle deaths jumped 38% from the 2014-2018 average to the 2019-2023 average, and nearly 10,000 bicycle crashes happened statewide in 2025 alone.
Home Sweet Home: St. Lucie County recorded 142 bicycle crashes in 2025 with one fatality, up from 120 crashes in 2024. That's out of 5,407 total crashes in the county last year.
It Was Written: Florida passed a law in 2006 requiring drivers to give cyclists at least 3 feet when passing. Only 130 drivers got cited statewide in 2024 for violating it. Attorneys say cops fall back on "I can't measure 3 feet" and one lawyer said he's "might have" won one case in the past decade where a motorist got a ticket for unsafe passing.
The dangers are real and expensive. One cyclist hit during a charity ride racked up $400,000 in medical bills after suffering a fractured tailbone and punctured anal canal. The driver who hit her? Got a citation for careless driving. A pro triathlete sideswiped on a county road spent 28 days in the hospital with a broken back, fractured neck, and broken leg.
Attorney Matt Scarborough who represents cyclists: "We're seeing in my practice that cyclists are just being ignored. If this was a motor vehicle vs. another motor vehicle causing this much damage to somebody, I think it would be a much different story."
What advocates want:
Protected bike lanes (not painted lines)
Comprehensive hands-free driving laws
Actual enforcement of the 3-foot rule
Sen. Erin Grall from Vero Beach sponsored a hands-free bill that passed the Senate 37-9 in 2025, but the House companion never moved
No similar bill filed yet for 2026
The other side: Law enforcement says cyclists share responsibility. One sheriff's sergeant noted at least four cyclists got critically injured or killed because they didn't stop at stop signs or red lights.
What's next: Explore the crash data yourself | National bicycle safety rankings
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🥳 Out-of-Towner: January 6-13
Saturday, Jan 10
🎨 Downtown Palm Beach Gardens Art and Craft Festival – Large outdoor art festival with craft artisans, ceramic planters, functional pottery, stylish hair accessories, unique handmade jewelry at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave, Palm Beach Gardens. | 10 AM–5 PM | Free | Details
🍔 Bands, Burgers and Brews 2026 – Live bands, craft beer sampling, delicious food, local vendors in family-friendly atmosphere at Abacoa Amphitheater, Downtown Abacoa. | 11 AM–10 PM | From $16.24 | Details
🎨 37th Annual Art by the Sea – Prestigious exhibition by Vero Beach Art Club artist members at Vero Beach Museum of Art, 3001 Riverside Park Dr, Vero Beach. | 10 AM–4 PM | Free | Details
Sunday, Jan 11
🎨 Jensen Beach Art League Pop Up Art & Craft Show – Local artists and crafters showcase work at Elliot Museum, 825 NE Ocean Blvd, Jensen Beach. | 10 AM |
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: New Laws, Wages, and Development
🐾 Florida's animal abuser database now live – Searchable registry shows anyone convicted of animal cruelty. "Dexter's Law" also increased penalties for abusers. Abuser registry
🩺 Three more Florida laws took effect Jan. 1 – Free follow-up breast cancer screenings for state workers, mandatory 30-day refunds for healthcare overcharges, new pet insurance protections. Watch here
💰 Florida minimum wage hits $15 next September – Current $14 hourly minimum reaches $15 by end of Sept. under 2020 voter-approved amendment. Starting 2027, wage adjusts annually for inflation. Minimum wage
🏪 Costco distribution center opens in PSL in March – New depot in Southern Grove will replace West Palm Beach facility. Not a retail store, but Mayor Martin still pushing for warehouse store location. Costco depot
💉 St. Lucie County kindergarten vaccination rate at 88% – Washington Post analysis shows 5.2M kindergarteners nationwide live in counties below herd immunity threshold. Florida's post-pandemic rate dropped to 89% from 94% pre-pandemic. Vaccination data
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