November 23, 2011
Palm Beach County proposes fertilizer rules aimed at reducing water pollution /via sun-sentinel.com
Activists call on Macy's, Beall's to stop fighting ordinance cracking down on wage theft /via floridaindependent.com
November 10, 2011
Using Veterans Day as a teaching moment for children /via sun-sentinel.com
In Florida, foreclosure lull ends: signs of a ramp-up were seen as new filings spiked 28% in FL from Oct to Sept. (via palmbeachpost.com)
342 used cellphones to be given to domestic violence victims by Palm Beach County clerk /via palmbeachpost.com
Religious group: Palm Beach County's wage theft fight falls short -- Business leaders fighting push for local wage-theft law (via sun-sentinel.com)
October 17, 2011
Budget cuts will keep Palm Beach County schools from giving out flu shots /via palmbeachpost.com
September 30, 2011
Bogus home loans: Palm Beach County ranks 6th in nation /via palmbeachpost.com
September 29, 2011
Palm Beach County school district looks into using Palm Tran to help bus problems /via palmbeachpost.com
September 23, 2011
September 22, 2011
'Race for Hope' to raise funds to aid domestic abuse victims: October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) is hosting its "12th Annual Race For Hope" on Oct. 15 in Delray Beach. /via sun-sentinel.com
Water district finds $70 million for pump to resume 10-year-old reservoir project: The reservoir at the Palm Beach Aggregates rock mine has been dormant for lack of a massive pump to get the water out of the pit's 60-foot-deep holes. But the water district has found the money to build a pump. /via palmbeachpost.com
September 21, 2011
Palm Beach Atlantic University touts $309.7M impact on Palm Beach County economy this year /via palmbeachdailynews.com
September 20, 2011
Passage of a 'Caylee's law' no sure thing in Florida Senate: Lawmakers consider whether to impose jail sentences or fines for failing to report a child missing, or whether enough protections against child abuse and neglect are already on the books. /via palmbeachpost.com
September 19, 2011
The School District of Palm Beach County's "11-day count" conducted Sept. 6 found that the total enrollment for K-12, including charter schools, grew by more than 2,300 students compared with last year./via Palm Beach Post
Binge Drinking and Obesity Increasing in Broward and Palm Beach Counties /via browardpalmbeach.com
Palm Beach County Veterans Get New Affordable Pet Adoption Option /via prurgent.com
September 16, 2011
Palm Beach County's jobless rate ticks down from 11.2% to 11%; Florida sticks at 10.7 percent /via palmbeachpost.com
September 15, 2011
Emergency managers: One hurricane pet shelter not enough for Palm Beach County /via palmbeachpost.com
September 14, 2011
Officials look to cover costs of prisoner education: A law passed by the state legislature this year charges fees for previously free adult education classes, such as classes to help adults learn English or classes to prepare for the GED. /via sun-sentinel.com
September 09, 2011
New Norton exec Alswang, economy redesigning art museum's cultural identity; upcoming exhibitions will feature contemporary art and fashion /via palmbeachdailynews.com
September 06, 2011
Whooping cough claims the life of a Palm Beach County infant; health officials urge vaccination /via palmbeachpost.com
Elderly abuse is on the rise in South Florida. In PBC, there were 3,957 cases of elder abuse in 2010-11, up from 3,516 the year before. /via sun-sentinel.com
September 02, 2011
FL tourism increased 7% this spring over last year, a boost in visitors that added hospitality jobs and cash to the state's economy. 21.2 million travelers visited the Sunshine State during this period. /via tcpalm.com
August 31, 2011
The economic downturn has left 28% of PBC residents 64 and under without health coverage. The uninsured now number over 265,000, up from around 180,000 in 2004. /via palmbeachpost.com
August 29, 2011
Nova Southeastern University of Palm Beach Relocates to New Center in Palm Beach Gardens /via newswise.com
A year after a 2-yr-old died in a sweltering hot van at a Delray Beach child care center, the Palm Beach County Commission has adopted a new regulation mandating safety alarms in child care transportation vans. /via bocaratontribute.com
August 22, 2011
August 17, 2011
New ways of treating post-traumatic stress disorder for local servicemen and women /via wptv.com
August 16, 2011
Palm Beach County requires banks to register foreclosed homes for ease of complaints /via palmbeachpost.com
August 15, 2011
Florida Medicaid rates keep Loxahatchee man, others in medical limbo /via palmbeachpost.com
FSU begins taking applications for film animation program in West Palm /via palmbeachpost.com
August 08, 2011
August 05, 2011
Riviera Beach giving low-income families chance to rent upscale homes /via sfltimes.com
August 03, 2011
Veterans are 10% of homeless population in PBC: New vouchers will help provide these homeless veterans with housing /via wptv.com
August 01, 2011
New digs for Palm Beach Dramaworks: bigger, better, and on Clematis St! /via tcpalm.com
July 26, 2011
July 25, 2011
Stop the insanity in Florida: Florida's criminal justice model for dealing with mentally ill doesn't work /via pbpost.com
Post investigation: Did stimulus money create jobs in Palm Beach County? /via pbpost.com
July 20, 2011
Palm Beach schools reported nearly 4,000 bullying incidents between 2008 and 2010. About half of FL school districts reported fewer than 10 incidents during the same time period. /via Broward-Palm Beach New Times
July 19, 2011
Big Water Users Get Flak in Drought: Calls for Surcharges as Vast Amounts Consumed by Wealthy Palm Beach Residents Draw Ire of Neighbors /via Wall Street Journal
July 18, 2011
Videotaped teen's death in West Palm Beach lockup raises questions about a new law that makes it illegal for government agencies to make photos or recordings of a death public /via miamiherald.com
July 14, 2011
Police repeat warning about 'relative in jail' scams after Boynton Beach man loses $4,600 /via palmbeachpost.com
The number of new Palm Beach County foreclosure filed last month more than doubled from May, a possible sign that banks are recovering from paperwork problems. /via palmbeachpost.com
July 12, 2011
The insanity verdict: 2 lawyers and a judge on mental health mission /via palmbeachpost.com
Delray housing authority struggles to find cash to build affordable housing /via sun-sentinel.com
July 11, 2011
'Alien labor' ads draw anger, criticism in Palm Beach County /via palmbeachpost.com
July 07, 2011
Palm Beach County cities troubled by public health, crime issues crack down on prostitution /via palmbeachpost.com
July 01, 2011
Center for Family Services' Pat Reeves Village - an emergency shelter for homeless families - got a face lift thanks to volunteers and a grant from the Church Mouse. /via tcpalm.com
June 30, 2011
County Drowning Prevention Coaltion pushing water safety after four kids nearly drown in past week /via wptv.com
Unsafe beaches: Water at three Palm Beach County locations scored poorly in testing /via palmbeachpost.com
123 workers take buyouts, possibly saving water district $12 million in salaries, benefits /via palmbeachpost.com
June 21, 2011
Palm Beach County Commission to discuss postponing wage theft ordinance today /via floridaindependent.com
Palm Beach County service industry employers not seriously seeking local labor, activists charge. U.S. program lets noncitizens take PBC luxury resort jobs /via palmbeachpost.com
June 20, 2011
Dosed in juvie jail: Troubled doctors hired to treat kids in state custody /via palmbeachpost.com
Many top local water users in Palm Beach, West Palm boost consumption despite restrictions /via palmbeachpost.com
June 16, 2011
June 15, 2011
Lawyers warn of "granny dumping" at Medicaid hearing in West Palm Beach /via palmbeachpost.com
June 13, 2011
Warmer Weather Triggers Increased Wandering among those with Alzheimer's & Autism: Project Lifesaver can help /via prnewswire.com
Many Doctors in Florida Juvenile Justice System Taking Large Payments from Drug Companies /via Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
June 10, 2011
Water managers: shortage near crisis level for West Palm Beach /via palmbeachpost.com
Three U.S. lenders -- Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo -- are losing government incentives for their failures in helping struggling homeowners with mortgage modifications. /via palmbeachpost.com
June 09, 2011
Why does property insurance go up, even after a string of hurricane-free years? /via palmbeachpost.com
June 08, 2011
Community Foundation Announces a Million Dollar Matching Opportunity: Alleviate Hunger and Affordable Housing Challenge /via prnewswire.com
June 07, 2011
"Millions of young people are facing the summer without their first job, without work experience, spending money, college savings and the perspective of what it's like to be a worker." - Summer hiring: Teens face even tougher job odds /via palmbeachpost.com
June 06, 2011
June 03, 2011
Hollywood developer Cornerstone Group accused of building apartments and condominiums inaccessible for people with disabilities, including Preserve at Boynton Beach /via sun-sentinel.com
June 02, 2011
Eastern Palm Beach County now in worst drought on record /via palmbeachpost.com
June 01, 2011
Palm Beach activists call for county to move forward with proposed wage theft ordinance /via floridaindependent.com
May 18, 2011
May 17, 2011
Face-down restraint to become 'last resort' for Palm Beach County special-needs students /via palmbeachpost.com
May 16, 2011
South Florida watering rule breakers more likely to get a warning than a ticket, despite ongoing drought. /via sun-sentinel.com
May 13, 2011
The PBC School District may eliminate 500 permanent employees' positions this summer because of a budget crisis - including 244 school hallway and cafeteria monitor positions and 23 secretary clerks. /via sun-sentinel.com
May 12, 2011
The average length of time from initial court filing to bank repossession in Florida is 619 days, compared with the national average of 400. The national average in 2007 was 151 days. /via palmbeachpost.com
May 11, 2011
WPB Mayor Muoio is committed to an alternative to the juvenile court system for some juvenile offenders -- Neighborhood Accountabiity Boards, a program that would allow offenders to make restitution for their actions. /via palmbeachpost.com
FPL conducted its annual drill to prepare for hurricane season and showed off its mobile command center last week. /via wptv.com
May 10, 2011
Land once planned for a Palm Beach County landfill is now being reshaped to make way for Everglades restoration. /via sun-sentinel.com
May 05, 2011
Palm Beach County has the third-highest domestic homicide rate in the state for the second year in a row. /via sunsentinel.com
May 04, 2011
Hope wears thin, but jobless and homeless thankful for day of health care /via palmbeachpost.com
April 29, 2011
Smaller 'cone of probability' cuts down on hurricane fear /via palmbeachpost.com
April 25, 2011
Drought conditions in south FL could lead to a wading-bird baby boom in the Everglades. Last month's nesting count found 1,050 nests for endangered wood storks, compared to none last year. /via sun-sentinel.com
April 20, 2011
The Economic Council of PBC asks wage theft ordinance proponents to work on a pilot program that would educate employees and employers regarding existing duties, rights & laws related to wage theft, before passing a new law that would require "another layer of government." /via palmbeachpost.com
April 18, 2011
Palm Beach State College (formerly PBCC) opened an amphitheatre at its Palm Beach Gardens campus this month, giving students an area to socialize in while exposing them to the arts. /via palmbeachpost.com
April 15, 2011
A new program has the PBC Clerk's office alerting DCF when a restraining order is filed in a household that has minor children. Many agree this practice could save lives, but some have expressed concern that the exchange of information could violate victim confidentiality -- potentially deterring victims from filing restraining orders. /via palmbeachpost.com
April 12, 2011
P.E.A.C.E. assembly is being held about wage theft and youth crime. The group is in year two of an effort to get the Mayor of WPB to propose the establishment and funding of a Neighborhood Accountability Board. /via wptv.com
April 11, 2011
More than 3,200 people were found to be homeless in Palm Beach County in a 2011 count. /via sun-sentinel.com
Can water from 25 miles away replenish the Loxahatchee River? Water utility considers using water from former PB Aggregates rock mining pits to stop saltwater intrusion into the river. /via palmbeachpost.com
April 08, 2011
With budget cuts pending, South Florida jails brace for more mentally ill /via sun-sentinel.com
April 07, 2011
Construction jobs have increased in Florida as a whole, but are down 7% in the West Palm Beach / Boca Raton area /via heraldtribune.com
New Florida mortgage assistance program - the Florida Hardest Hit Fund - is launching April 18. Applications will be accepted online at www.flhardesthithelp.org /via wptv.com
Effort to override local laws that help workers cheated out of wages gains momentum /via floridaindependent.com
March 30, 2011
Florida's Legislature is looking at curbing local government's authority to regulate businesses. This legislation could prevent some local ordinances, such as the proposed wage theft ordinance in Palm Beach County. /via orlandosentinel.com
March 28, 2011
Section 8 Tenants: The Housing Market's Salvation? Section 8 housing tenants are moving into high-end condo complexes and single-family houses, because landlords are grateful to have a steady rent check from HUD. /via walletpop.com
March 24, 2011
Palm Beach County's Seniors vs. Crime program helps protect seniors' private info to guard against scams, abuse. /via palmbeachpost.com
March 22, 2011
Speakers at Hope for Depression seminar link mental, physical health /via palmbeachdailynews.com
March 16, 2011
A veterans center has opened on Indiantown Road in Jupiter. The center, with five full-time counselors, is free to all combat veterans of all conflicts and their families. /via palmbeachpost.com
March 14, 2011
Gov. Scott's 'mixed signals' are keeping $1 billion from struggling homeowners /via palmbeachpost.com
March 11, 2011
Belle Glade commissioner fed up with slum living conditions for low income residents /via wptv.com
March 10, 2011
Palm Beach County's jobless rate fell to 11.1% in February, down from 12% in January. /via Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation/Bureau of Labor Statistics
March 09, 2011
DCF no longer will pay for brain injured man's treatment /via palmbeachpost.com
March 07, 2011
Florida is one of thirteen states set to receive federal funding to help move Medicaid recipients out of institutions and into their homes./via Health News Florida
State officials will decide whether to support a $1 million package of incentives to bring an aerospace company and 70 jobs to Palm Beach County /via Palm Beach Post
March 03, 2011
South Florida Water Management District reports that February was the driest month in nearly 80 years /via miamiherald.com
March 01, 2011
The State of Florida Child Abuse Death Review Committee identified three key recommendations in the 2010 Annual Report: to review ALL child deaths, to fully fund Health Families Florida, and to prioritize assessment of substance abuse in child abuse and neglect cases/ via FCADRC
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently issued guidance making it clear that residents who are denied or evicted from housing as a result of domestic violence may have basis to file a discrimination complaint with HUD under the federal Fair Housing Act. /via FloridaRealtors.org
February 24, 2011
The Supreme Court recently ruled that juveniles can't be given life without parole for crimes other than murder. Since the FL Legislature abolished parole nearly 30 years ago, efforts are underway to establish parole for these juveniles. In the meantime, 2 convicted rapists will be in Palm Beach County court next week seeking to have their life sentences thrown out. /via palmbeachpost.com
February 22, 2011
February 18, 2011
Energy project promises jobs, but top-ranked proposal tops $800 million /via palmbeachpost.com
The Palm Beach County Cultural Council has received a $200,000 grant to help cultural groups improve their business and governance practices. The SmARTBiz program will help arts organizations be more capable as businesses. /via Palm Beach Daily News
February 09, 2011
The Palm Beach Post has a new series focusing on foreclosure situations of individual neighborhoods. In the luxury Canyon Isles development west of Boynton Beach, more than 1 in 8 homes is in foreclosure. Read more and see the interactive map: palmbeachpost.com
February 08, 2011
The Florida Bar says attorneys must report suspected foreclosure fraud to a judge, even if the foreclosure case is over and the house has been sold. /via miamiherald.com
February 07, 2011
"Most incarcerated juveniles are guilty of nonviolent or property crimes. Forty percent of juveniles are in custody for probation violations." What might the national movement known as "Smart Justice" mean for these juveniles and others guilty of nonviolent crimes? /via palmbeachpost.com
February 02, 2011
Free, efficient water faucets to the first 2,000 in West Palm Beach /via palmbeachpost.com
PBC Commissioners push back vote on wage theft ordinance, waiting to hear outcome of Miami-Dade wage theft ordinance's legal challenge /via palmbeachpost.com
January 28, 2011
Business Forum of Palm Beach County has objected to a proposed wage theft ordinance that would levy fines on employers who underpay or refuse to pay their workers. /palmbeachpost.com
The West Palm Beach VA's new program - the VA Medical Foster Home program - is an alternative to a nursing home for dependent, chronically or terminally ill vets with limited family support who prefer a community family setting for their long term care. /via wptv.com
January 24, 2011
200 PBC volunteers will begin their 24-hour homeless count on Wednesday at noon. The population estimate will help local organizations apply for funding. /via palmbeachpost.com
January 20, 2011
The appropriation of state and local housing trust funds into Florida's housing programs in 2011-12 will create nearly 15,000 jobs in Florida and more than $1.4 billion in economic impact, if funds are not instead used to fill holes in the budget. /via Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County, Inc.
January 19, 2011
Ludy Green, an expert on U.S. domestic violence and human trafficking issues, to speak at No Excuse for Abuse luncheon on March 9, 2011 /via palmbeachdailynews.com
The JPMorgan Chase Foundation granted $50,000 to the Palm Beach County Cultural Council for the new Workforce Development for Artists (WDA) program and Building Learning Communities Through Arts and Culture (BLCTAC) program. /via PBC Cultural Council
New memorial dedicated to Gulf War veterans unveiled in Boynton Beach /via palmbeachpost.com
January 14, 2011
Is the end in sight for the foreclosure epidemic? The PBC Clerk & Comptroller's office reported that initial foreclosure filings declined last year by 37 percent from 2009, the first annual decline in five years. /via sunsentinel.com
January 12, 2011
Over 2,000 juveniles on probation in Palm Beach County are being monitored through the Juvenile Arrest and Monitoring Unit (JAM). JAM is responsible for monitoring hard-core juvenile offenders currently assigned to probation programs, with the aim of reducing the cycle of juvenile violence by creating positive partnerships with parents, community leaders, and other entities committed to assisting juveniles.
Lake O is 2 feet lower than normal and a drier-than-normal winter and spring have been forecast for south FL. As a result, South Florida Water Management District may soon reduce PBC watering allowances to twice or even once per week. /via orlandosentinel.com
January 07, 2011
Fluoride in drinking water - credited with dramatically cutting cavities and tooth decay - may now be too much of a good thing. According to the CDC, flourosis, or splotchy tooth condition, is unexpectedly common in kids ages 12 through 15. /via palmbeachpost.com
Up to 2,500 gallons of raw sewage may have poured into the Intracoastal Waterway before city utilities workers repaired a leaking pipe Wednesday morning, officials said. /via palmbeachpost.com
January 04, 2011
2010 saw troubling signs on the domestic abuse front, including three murder-suicides in which entire families died. These extreme cases may be due in part to cuts within various local agencies that have made it more challenging to offer intervention programs aimed at reducing domestic violence. /via palmbeachpost.com
Renovations to the Palm Beach Par 3 golf course eliminate the need for treated water from the City of West Palm Beach; stop discharge of water from the course into the Intracoastal Waterway; and use natural pressure to provide water to the course for irrigation. /via palmbeachdailynews.com
December 31, 2010
Broken New Year's resolutions aren't necessarily a failure /via palmbeachpost.com
December 29, 2010
December 28, 2010
Improperly served foreclosure notices may be the mortgage industry's next roadblock to repossessing homes. /via palmbeachpost.com
December 27, 2010
Medicaid fraud crackdown to affect where seniors buy medical equipment /via tcpalm.com
Palm Beach Circuit Court launches Florida's first court dedicated to consolidating veterans' cases /via dailybusinessreview.com
Novice Florida lawyers draw suspicion in foreclosure mess /via palmbeachpost.com
December 16, 2010
Due to major lenders halting foreclosure proceedings this fall, filings in Florida plunged 42 percent in November. But the state still has the nation's second-highest foreclosure rate. /via sun-sentinel.com
December 13, 2010
Wreaths Across America honors those who served their country /via palmbeachpost.com
December 10, 2010
Boynton Beach's Community Improvement Division seeks to raise awareness about fair housing laws. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status or handicap. /via sun-sentinel.com
December 09, 2010
Unfinished Everglades reservoir may be downsized: Massive, multimillion-dollar project was shelved for U.S. Sugar land deal /via sunsentinel.com
December 08, 2010
Palm Beach County art teachers show their creative sides at Jupiter Community Center /via palmbeachpost.com
December 07, 2010
Bank evicts, then offers Boca Raton couple a loan modifican /via palmbeachpost.com
December 03, 2010
Habitat for Humanity to build first home in Boca Raton since 2001 /via sun-sentinel.com
December 02, 2010
Foreclosures account for 31 percent of Palm Beach County home sales in the 3rd quarter. Traditionally, foreclosure sales make up no more than 2 percent to 3 percent of the market. /via palmbeachpost.com
November 30, 2010
Through an array of programs such as reading classes, parenting classes and spiritual growth lessons, local nonprofit Urban Youth Impact has been working for over a decade to reduce youth crime in Palm Beach County. /via palmbeachdailynews.com
Through an array of programs such as reading classes, parenting classes and spiritual growth lessons, local nonprofit Urban Youth Impact has been working for over a decade to reduce youth crime in Palm Beach County. /via palmbeachdailynews.com
November 29, 2010
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac gave the go-ahead this week to restart sales of their foreclosed properties, which had been on hold since September when it was revealed that flawed or fraudulent court documents may have been used to repossess homes. /via the Palm Beach Post
Students from a Glades Central Community High School, whose theatre classes were eliminated due to budget cuts, recently travelled to the Kravis Center to see 'Cane' thanks to a local attorney and her husband. /via wptv.com
November 24, 2010
South Florida's 2-1-1 helplines hearing from more women veterans: Mental health experts say they ask for and need different programs than most men /via sunsentinel.com
November 23, 2010
Palm Beach County's Alpert Jewish Family and Children's Service Recieves $10,000 Grant from Verizon Foundation to Prevent Teen Dating Abuse /via jfcsonline.com
November 22, 2010
Supreme Court approves Everglades land deal, with exception /via miamiherald.com
November 19, 2010
A new report shows that wage theft in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties occurs not only in low-wage industries but also in professional and higher salary jobs, including those in the legal profession, at architecture and accounting firms, public and private schools and in medical fields. /Via miamiherald.com
November 17, 2010
New 12,000 sq. ft. senior center in Delray offers recreation, health activities, job counseling and support groups. /via Palm Beach Post
November 16, 2010
The Florida Bar is ramping up foreclosure-related activities; in particular, stepping up efforts to prevent mortgage-related fraud and to discipline attorneys who may be contributing to the foreclosure mess. /via floridabar.org
November 12, 2010
November 11, 2010
Water managers blast federal Everglades cleanup plan /via Miami Herald
CNN Heroes features Roy Foster, a formerly homeless veteran who founded Palm Beach County's Stand Down House, a transitional living facility for veterans. /CNN Heroes
November 08, 2010
Palm Beach County cleared 9,846 cases from its foreclosure backlog between July and September 2010, with 36,592 cases still waiting for resolution. /via Palm Beach Post
November 03, 2010
Palm Beach County schools have traditionally closed on odd years for Veterans Day. But after a group of veterans petitioned the school board, Superintendent Art Johnson is recommending that the schools close for Veterans Day every year, beginning in 2012. /via Sun Sentinel
November 02, 2010
Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition aims to help unknown number of needy in the Glades /via Palm Beach Post
Gulfstream Goodwill program aims to help juvenile offenders 'figure out their lives' /via Palm Beach Post
October 26, 2010
A law-enforcement mentoring group, FL Community Alliance, works with teens who have been in trouble with the law. The program has had 120 juveniles referred since it started, with a 15% recidivism, or repeat crime, rate in Palm Beach County. /via Sun Sentinel
October 23, 2010
Palm Beach County collecting used cell phones for domestic violence victims /via wpbf.com
October 20, 2010
Palm Beach County drafting law to keep employers from stiffing laborers /via Palm Beach Post
Research by scientists at Scripps regarding serotonin (a neurotransmitter) could ultimately have a profound effect on new therapies for disorders like schizophrenia and depression. The findings provide insight into the mechanisms that underlie the hallucinations that occur with schizophrenia. /via Science Daily
October 14, 2010
A 144 unit affordable housing complex is under construction in Delray Beach. Apartments will cost between $350 and a $1,000 dollars a month. /via WPTV.com
In Palm Beach County, 734 foreclosed homes were repossessed in September, more than double that of last year. /via Palm Beach Post
October 12, 2010
Florida celebrated the two year anniversary of its Silver Alert program, which assists in the return of missing seniors, on October 8, 2010. /via thegovmonitor.com
The South FL Water Management District is set to close on a $197 million Everglades restoration land deal with U.S. Sugar. /via Sun Sentinel
A recent PBSO anti-gang summit was aimed at keep violence down in PBC. Although violent crime is down 25% and homicide is down 50%, there are about 160 gangs with a combined membership of 6,000 members in Palm Beach County. /via Sun Sentinel
Palm Beach County is one of 5 counties to receive a federal grant that will provide $2 million for military veterans suffering from alcoholism and drug abuse. Approximately 30 more people each month will have access to services such as detoxification, counseling, medication and life-skills development. /via the Sun Sentinel
October 08, 2010
In Miami-Dade, a handful of companies has paid out $25,000 to current and former employees in the last 5 months thanks to the county's new Wage Theft Program. /via Miami New Times
October 06, 2010
Sales of foreclosed homes so far in 2010 make up roughly 25% of total home sales. A RealtyTrac spokesman noted that while a healthy market sees only 1-5% foreclosure sales, it's a good thing to see these sales right now because the foreclosure inventory needs to be cleared. /via Palm Beach Post
The last week of September 2010 saw three domestic violence murders in Palm Beach County. /via WPTV.com
September 16, 2010
West Palm Beach revitalizing Coleman Park community by lowering homes into community using a crane. The face lift is funded by four million federal dollars through the Neighborhood Stabilization fund, and will bring 18 new affordable homes to the area. /via wptv.com
WPB's Hanley Center bought an expensive new camera for taking brain images of those with drug and alcohol addictions. They hope the images will serve as a deterrent. /via Palm Beach Post
The Stand Down House for Homeless Veterans in Lake Worth held a homeless outreach program this week, in an effort to connect with some of the 500 homeless veterans in Palm Beach County. (via WPTV.com)
The Stand Down House for Homeless Veterans in Lake Worth held a homeless outreach program this week, in an effort to connect with some of the 500 homeless veterans in Palm Beach County. (via WPTV.com)
September 07, 2010
South FL Water Management District has 10 years to build at least 42,000 acres of treatment areas so that water flowing into the Everglades meets federal standards. /via Palm Beach Post
Work has begun on the Glades' first Habitat for Humanity home, located in Pahokee. /via Palm Beach Post
HUD has announced the expansion of a program - First Look - that gives municipalities and nonprofit agencies the chance to buy foreclosed homes before they're made available to private investors. /via Sun Sentinel
The Fair Housing Center of the Palm Beaches has filed suit on behalf of 6 families living in Pelican Lake Village near Pahokee. Residents were informed that anyone with children under the age of 18 had to move out. To legally ban children, apartment complexes must qualify as "housing for older persons" under fair housing laws, and prove that 80% of the units have at least one resident 55 or older. /via WPTV News Channel 5
August 30, 2010
Palm Beach County leads state in number of Silver Alerts: Of about 200 issued between October 2008 and July, 24 were from Palm Beach County /via Palm Beach Post
Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County to hold 3rd Annual Home in One Golf Classic on Oct. 8: From the Course to the House: Playing to Make a Difference /via TCPalm
There are five youth empowerment centers in five Palm Beach County ZIP codes with high crime. On Oct. 1, 2010, funding for these centers in West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth and Belle Glade runs out, and it's likely there will be some closures. /via Palm Beach Post
The Palm Beach Post reports that a Boca Raton condo association is being sued for banning children, in violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. To legally ban children, condo associations must qualify as "housing for older persons" under fair housing laws, and prove that 80% of the units have at least one resident 55 or older.
August 19, 2010
A Riviera Beach youth center, originally created by PBC's Criminal Justice Commission, may close due to lack of funding. The city council has been asked for $150,000 to fund the center at a time when layoffs and budget reductions abound. A Riviera Beach police officer noted that the center is "a positive alternative to the influences of drugs and gangs." /via Palm Beach Post
August 16, 2010
Foreclosure filings spiked 77% last month in Palm Beach County as a backlog of pending cases abruptly moved through the court system. /via Sun Sentinel
In spite of these ugly numbers, the Clerk's office reports that new foreclosure filings in July were down almost 28% from July 2009. /via @ClerkPBC
August 15, 2010
Domestic violence calls increasing with high unemployment rate: Local 211 call centers have received large numbers of domestic violence reports this past year /via Sun Sentinel
Parking shortage at VA hospital makes criminals out of many senior patients /via Palm Beach Post
August 10, 2010
Scammers have been targeting grandparents in south Florida, calling to say a grandchild is in jail and needs money. The Club at Boca Pointe Performing Scam Troop, a group of actors over 60, acts out cons like the Grandma Scam or the Pigeon Drop for senior groups, educating them on what to avoid. /via the Sun Sentinel
August 05, 2010
Due to current economic conditions, South Florida Water Management District is considering reducing the U.S. Sugar land purchase, which is to be used for Everglades restoration. The reduction from 180,000 acres to approximately 26,800 acres would cost nearly $200 million, with the option to acquire an additional 153,200 acres over the next ten years. /via SFWMD, Reviving the River of Grass Fact Sheet Aug. 2010
July 29, 2010
Florida led the nation in foreclosures in the first six months of the 2010, accounting for nine of the top 20 metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates. /via the Palm Beach Post
July 27, 2010
Effective July 1, 2010, a new bill requires a teen dating violence and abuse component to be added to Florida's current comprehensive health education curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12. /via Circuit 15 Juvenile Justice Board DJJ Quarterly
July 21, 2010
Verizon Offers $100,000 in Grants to Florida Organizations Assisting Survivors of Domestic Violence /via WFLX, Fox 29
July 16, 2010
Guatemalan women who flee violence in homeland find it catches up in Palm Beach County /via Palm Beach Post
July 15, 2010
A group of tea party activists is protesting Florida's plan to purchase U.S. Sugar land to use for Everglades restoration. Environmental groups such as the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club say the purchase is crucial to restoring the Everglades and sustaining clean drinking water in south FL. /via Palm Beach Post
July 12, 2010
County staff has made the recommendation that the county invest NO FUNDING in Peer Place this year. This would mean a REDUCTION of $39,000 in funding for Peer Place at a time when the need is for $59,000. /via Pam Gionfriddo, Mental Health Association of PBC
$400,000 in funds from the FL legislature is being used to hire temporary employees to help with the backlog of PBC foreclosure cases. The PBC clerk's office estimates that the extra funds will allow for 16% (8,400) of the outstanding foreclosure cases can be processed. /via South Florida Business Journal
The Miami-Herald notes that although a wage theft ordinance was passed in February, many workers are unaware of the new law and continue to be unpaid or underpaid. /via Miami Herald
June 23, 2010
Is the Dept. of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is an undue financial burden for the state of Florida? An op-ed in the Post suggests re-combining the DJJ with the Dept. of Corrections to save money. -via Randy Schultz, Palm Beach Post
The federal Making Home Affordable loan modification program has provided permanent monthly payment reductions for about 15,050 borrowers in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. ~via Real Time, a Palm Beach Post blog
June 21, 2010
The Fran Reich Preserve in West Boca will be used to help restore the Everglades and increase south Florida's water supply. The preserve nearly became a landfill in the 1980s, but after a 12 year struggle, the West Boca Community Council succeeded in protecting the land that now has such an important role to play. / New Everglades takes shape: Palm Beach County project latest in transformation - Palm Beach Post
June 18, 2010
June 17, 2010
Riviera Beach police: 3 teens arrested for murder, carjacking - via the Palm Beach Post
June 16, 2010
The Lord's Place says that if 2% of the residents in Palm Beach County donate $1 a day ($30 a month), sufficient resources will be available to end homelessness in Palm Beach County.
"Florida's struggling homeowners could get an 18-month reprieve on mortgage payments under a state plan to spend $418 million in federal foreclosure prevention aid," of which Palm Beach County would receive $28.9 million. /via the Palm Beach Post
June 15, 2010
The Palm Beach Post reports that housing affordability is on the rise in PBC, as a result of falling home prices. Local nonprofit Housing Partnership notes that this is true for homebuyers, but renters in PBC still struggle to find affordable housing.
Thanks to stimulus funds, a onetime landfill site west of Boca Raton will be used to help restore the Everglades, grab stormwater runoff before it goes out to sea, and serve as a water reserve. - via the Sun Sentinel
Thanks to stimulus funds, a onetime landfill site west of Boca Raton will be used to help restore the Everglades, grab stormwater runoff before it goes out to sea, and serve as a water reserve. - via the Sun Sentinel
South Florida courts face huge foreclosure backlogs. "In Palm Beach County, one judge handles foreclosure cases full time, another spends half the week on them and 10 other judges devote a day a month to the hearings." -via the Sun Sentinel
June 14, 2010
Squatters are taking over S. Fla. homes, claiming "adverse possession," in what police call latest fraud in housing crisis. Via sun-sentinel.com.
Palm Beach County Utilities will begin flushing drinking water lines starting Tuesday, June 15, and continue for one month. Customers may notice a chlorine taste or odor in the water. Details at wptv.com.
June 11, 2010
The Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County says belonging to a youth club gives participants a stronger sense of self. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191549.php
June 10, 2010
The Palm Beach Post reports that 824 homes were repossessed in PBC in May 2010, six times that of May 2009. Temporary federal loan modification programs delay foreclosures. As the temporary modification period ends, some borrowers are approved for permanent loan modification, and others are denied, resulting in repossession of their homes.
