Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Tuesday! and I had the chance to sit down with Josh from TreasureCoast.com on their podcast The Current.
If you want to hear me talk a bit about Sunland News, how it came to be, and the backstory of how we got here, this is a perfect primer. Watch here…
Big thank you to Josh for having me on. I’m just one of many guests they’ve featured, so take a look at their back catalogue. You might find some other interesting voices in there.
Alright…
Ja’Min Devon
Sponsored: 🍗 Stoney’s Summer Specials
Stoney is stretching your dollars and your belly. That $5 Tuesday Snack Pack? Now it runs Tuesday and Wednesday.
That means three days of full meals for under $10… in 2025. I know. Unheard of.
That’s why I’m so happy to share this, and even happier that Stoney’s is sponsoring the newsletter. Support those who support us.
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🍴 Check the menu here
🍋 The Main Squeeze: Florida Ends Certificates of Completion for Students
TL;DR: Starting this year, Florida students who don’t meet diploma requirements will no longer receive a certificate of completion when they finish school.
What changed: The Florida Department of Education recently stopped approving certificates of completion, which were previously awarded to students who finished high school but didn’t qualify for a standard diploma or GED.
For instance, a student might have met their personalized learning goals but didn’t hit the 2.0 GPA or credit benchmarks required for graduation. In those cases, a certificate of completion served as an acknowledgment of their work and time in school.
Now: The state says its focus is on preparing students for college, careers, and independent living through standard diplomas or GEDs. They have outlined five diploma pathways, including some modified for students with different learning needs.
Locally: School districts across the Treasure Coast are still waiting on guidance. St. Lucie Public Schools has not released a statement yet. Some other counties around the state had already stopped issuing these certificates in prior years.
Why it matters:Without a diploma or certificate, some students may now leave school without any formal recognition, something that, for years, helped validate effort and open doors after graduation.
Have thoughts or questions about this change? Share them here.
People Pass!
From school coverage to better tools like play.sunlandnews.com, every upgrade you see is made possible by readers who pitch in.
🥳 What’s Happening: 5 Out of Town Events
Wednesday, Aug 27
🎵 The Groove Experience with Derek Mack – Soulful live music and handcrafted cocktails at Sweet Desires Dessert Lounge in Vero | 7–10 PM | Reservations recommended | Details
Thursday, Aug 28
🎸 Motown R&B & Cool Cars – Live music under the oaks at Riverside Theatre's outdoor concert series | 5:30–8 PM | Free | Details
Friday, Aug 29
Sunday, Aug 31
🎤 Grateful Labor Day Show with Spiral Light – Two full sets of Grateful Dead tunes at Terra Fermata Tiki Bar in Stuart | 7 PM | Ticketed | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
🍔 Refill: Stack Burgers & Bourbon
Hey everybody, I made a rookie mistake. I went to this new spot in Stuart called Stack Burgers & Bourbon, took a picture of the menu with the intention of being responsible and showing what I’d be eating. But when the burger hit the table, the burger hit me. I started eating and didn’t get any photos.
I had the smash burger with lettuce and tomato and it was incredible. Juicy, flavorful, everything you want in a burger. They’ve got a bunch of burger options too and you can tell burgers are what they do best. I’m not a bourbon drinker but from what I hear their bourbon selection is just as solid.
If you’re in the Stuart area, definitely give it a try. You can check out their menu and photos at stack772.com.
💡 Pro Tip: I actually found this spot through 772 Eats, my local restaurant guide. You get 100 restaurants for free and it’s curated better than Google. Updated monthly, and purchasing it helps support the newsletter. Grab your copy and find your next food spot!
🧾 Last Drop: Uninsurable!
📵 Gen Alpha Faces Classroom Phone Crackdowns… More schools are banning cellphones, and students are paying attention. Gen Z had it easier between classes. Gen Alpha? Not so much. See what’s changing
📈 Uninsurable zones are growing… New data shows swaths of Florida are becoming too risky to insure, especially from wind and flood. See the map
🏫 St. Lucie Schools Are Running Out of Room… While most districts shrink, St. Lucie is one of just 6 school districts booming. Nearly 2,000 new students a year are squeezing the system. Here’s how they’re planning
How was today’s newsletter?
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