Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! I've been trying a new thing and I want to run it by you. After surveying and asking around, I realized that most people, including me, don't mind hitting the road for something we really enjoy. There's a difference between having fun locally and going out of your way for an experience that is actually worth the drive. So I put together some events I thought were worthy of the trip and I'm going to start including them regularly. Let me know what you think as we move forward.
In today's newsletter:
💰 Florida's minimum wage hits $15 on September 30th and what happens after
🎤 Wu Tang Clan, Lionel Richie, Salt-N-Pepa coming to South Florida this week
⛽ Gas prices surge 21 cents in a week, hitting $4.33
🤖 Schools must implement AI guardrails by July 1
⚖️ Bar exam passage rate drops to 75.2%
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's minimum wage hits $15 on September 30th
This one has been a long time coming. Florida voters approved a $15 minimum wage back in 2020 and September 30th is the day it finally gets here 💰.
What is changing 📋:
💵 Minimum wage goes from $14 to $15 on September 30th
🍽️ Tipped workers: employers must pay at least $11.98, with up to $3.02 in tips counting toward the $15 total
📈 After this, the $15 is not a ceiling. It will adjust upward with inflation going forward
How we got here: In 2019 Florida's minimum wage was under $9. The 2020 constitutional amendment passed with 60.8% of the vote, just clearing the 60% threshold required, and set up a phased increase to give businesses time to adjust.
What people on both sides are saying:
Supporters say the old wage was not livable and that workers having more money to spend drives economic growth.
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association has concerns. Gas, food and transportation costs are already rising and adding labor costs on top creates real pressure for business owners. They also flagged something worth noting: a lot of employers may not realize $15 is not the end of it. The wage will keep rising with inflation from here.
Worth knowing: The federal minimum wage is still $7.25, which means Florida employers follow Florida's rate since it is higher. If the federal rate ever exceeds $15, Florida employers would have to match that instead.
💬 How is the minimum wage increase affecting you or your business? Call or text us at (772) 212-1504
🥳 WTF (Worth The Drive) Events: September 18–20
Wednesday, September 23
🎤 Wu Tang Clan, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. 7:30PM–9:30PM. Details
Thursday, September 24
Saturday, September 26
🎵 R&B and Southern Soul Bingo, Skeebos, 2280 Harris Ave NE, Palm Bay. Doors 6PM socializing, bingo starts 7PM, ends 10PM, 18+, $25 entry. Details
🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to ABBA, First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach. Details
🕯️ Candlelight (second showing, same venue), First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach. Details
Sunday, September 27
🎸 Space Coast Guitar Expo, Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E Hibiscus Blvd, Melbourne. 10AM–5PM, jam session 5PM–7PM, $10 at the door or advance at Marion Music. Vendors, clinics, live demos, gear buying on site. Details
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Three Florida Headlines
⛽ Gas prices surge 21 cents in a week – Florida average hit $4.33 Friday, highest since May, dropping to $4.30 Sunday. Filling a 15-gallon tank now costs $65, up $6 from last month. Details
🤖 Schools must implement AI guardrails by July 1 – State Board of Education approved framework requiring schools notify parents of AI tools, allow objections, and ensure AI supplements rather than replaces teachers. PreK-5 tools need age-appropriateness reviews. Details
⚖️ Bar exam passage rate drops to 75.2% – Summer 2026 saw 1,693 of 2,250 first-time test-takers pass, down from 78.4% last year. Florida State University led at 91.8%. Details
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