Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! One of my favorite breakfast places in the county, for sure, is Morning Munch. This is not paid. They don't even know I'm doing this. I don't even think they have context for Sunland News. But I truly love this place. If you're ever north on US 1 near Walmart and Sam's heading to or from the mall, stop into Sandpiper Plaza between 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. They have amazing food. I just had their coffee for the first time and it was really good. My order is usually one of their breakfast wraps on a spinach tortilla. Just want to show them some love. Check them out here. I probably will do a video on them soon.
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In today's newsletter:
💉 Florida proposing to remove four vaccines from school entry requirements
🙏 Proposed rule would broaden religious exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs
🖥️ Data center expansion sparks local resistance across Florida
🎓 College wage premium slips as AI skills demand surges
🛒 Publix removing 10-item limit from express checkout lanes
Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja'Min Devon
Founder, Sunland News
Blue Collar Big Dollar Concert
Live Music by Three O'Clock StormLive music, classic cars, and dinner by the water in Stuart, one ticket covers it all. Every ticket funds hands-on trades programs for young adults across the Treasure Coast.
📅 Saturday, September 26
🕠 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
🎟️ Admission includes dinner + museum access
🟠 Main Squeeze: Florida is proposing to remove four vaccines from school entry requirements and you have 21 days to weigh in
The Florida Department of Health approved a proposed rule on August 20th that would remove four immunizations from what children need to attend PreK through 12 public and private schools in Florida 💉.
The four vaccines being considered for removal 📋:
🦠 Hepatitis B
🐔 Varicella (chicken pox)
🧫 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
💊 Pneumococcal conjugate
What else the proposed rule would do:
🙏 Broaden religious exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs, not just religious tenets
📋 Allow parents and college students to opt out of having their records included in the state vaccine database
Important distinction: The four vaccines being proposed for removal are only agency rules, not state law. That means the Department of Health can repeal them on its own without going through the Legislature. The vaccines that remain required by state law, including MMR, polio, diphtheria and tetanus, are not part of this proposal and would remain in place.
What's next: There is a 21-day public input period before the rule can be finalized. If you want to weigh in, now is the time 📅.
🥳 Out-of-Towner: August 27–29
Thursday, August 27
🎤 Soulstreamz Open Mic, The Peach. 7PM to 10PM. Details
Friday, August 28
🎨 Art After Dark, Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. $10 adults/seniors, $5 students, free for members, live performances/film screenings/workshops. Details
Saturday, August 29
🎸 311 & Dirty Heads, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. 7PM.
🌍 Cultures United 2026: A Celebration of Diversity, Unity & Community, 301 NW 103rd Ave, Pembroke Pines. Hosted by Illuminate Heart. Details
💆 Wellness Social & Market, AKA Hotel Downtown West Palm Beach, 4th Floor Pool Deck & Lounge. 12PM to 3PM, free, celebrating Wellness Awareness Month. Details
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Three Florida Headlines
🖥️ Data center expansion sparks local resistance across Florida – Palmetto Bay vice mayor introduces legislation to ban facilities locally. Florida has 100+ data centers statewide, but hyperscale projects face lawsuits and recall efforts. Several counties issued moratoriums. Iron Mountain project in Westview drew backlash after being classified as "telecommunications hub" rather than "data center," limiting resident notice. Policy split emerging: DeSantis gave local governments rejection authority while governor nominee Byron Donalds pushes AI investment. Details
🎓 College wage premium slips as AI skills demand surges – National data shows college degree advantage fell from 60%+ a decade ago to 55.2% now. Students citing affordability concerns and AI-driven layoff fears. USF's new College of AI, Cybersecurity and Computing responds to employer demand for AI fluency in entry-level hires, with demand tripling since fall 2025. Short-term AI certificate programs now represent nearly a third of professional-certificate market, up from 2% in 2022. National | Florida
🛒 Publix removing 10-item limit from express checkout lanes – Grocery chain eliminating item caps at express lanes to reduce wait times and improve checkout efficiency. Change already underway at many stores and expanding to all locations. Publix ranked No. 2 nationally for customer satisfaction in 2026, behind Trader Joe's. Details
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