Community
Leah Suarez is the founder and president of Our Village Okeechobee.

Our Village to host summer camp in Douglas Park again

Leah Suarez, executive director of Our Village told the BOCC during the March 27 meeting...
[Photo courtesy Voices for Children]

Voices for Children is Calling all Heroes!

Join us at Clover Park on April 18th for an action-packed night with Voices for Children of Okeechobee...

New K9s United specialty license plate now available

K9s United, a national nonprofit dedicated to advocating for and supporting law enforcement canines...
Current conditions
Observed from: Okeechobee County Airport
Partly Cloudy, 77 °F
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Get the full forecast
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Lake levels
12.68 feet
Last year: 15.37 feet
Depth given in feet above sea level.
Human Interest
Okeechobee resident Mary Kennedy has made it her mission in life to bring benches back to the local Walmart.
Honoring Jessica Lea – Community Leadership Award Recipient
An off-duty ER nurse credits God with saving a toddler from choking Sunday morning...
Schools
Indian River State College will host a series of Academic Department Open Houses this spring,...
Indian River State College (IRSC) has received $1.5 million from Governor Ron DeSantis' Rural Infrastructure Fund...
Business leaders, educators, and community members are invited to learn about the College’s latest initiatives...
Wildlife & Environment
Spotting manatees in the water can be challenging, but going slow and looking out below helps boaters...
Visitors to the St. Lucie Lock Recreational Area can experience a variety of activities while surrounded by nature’s beauty
Government
Join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for upcoming public meetings in the next three weeks.
Since March 2024, approximately one year prior to the installation of Waste Management’s new automated collection process …
Beginning April 11, Canadians visiting Florida will have to comply with immigration rules being enforced by the Trump administration.  
Police/Fire
A man and woman were arrested earlier this week after a passerby reported a potential brush fire at Nubbins Slough.
Two were arrested and one free to leave after a traffic stop by a member of the narcotics task force.
Opinion
I have virtual physical therapy to thank for the miraculous recovery. And my story isn't unique.
What can you say and do about a world gone mad?
A coalition of health advocacy organizations advocating for Medicaid expansion in the South...
Hurricane News
FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers in Glades, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties …
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has placed tarps on more than 7,100 homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton...
Veterans

Welcome home Honor Flight veterans 

Saturday, April 12th, Southeast Florida Honor Flight volunteers will be escorting a full load of veterans...

MCHF spotlights Florida during Nationwide Marines Across America Program

On March 21, The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (MCHF) celebrates the Marines of Florida...
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Agriculture
Aspiring vanilla growers and seasoned agriculturalists in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are invited...
Farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) have a powerful new ally in the fight against crop diseases.
Do you have a green thumb? Maybe you’re interested in growing something that will blossom in your yard.
Health

Alzheimer's Assoc. offers virtual class for caregivers to learn new communication skills

As people living with dementia progress in their journey and lose the ability to use words, caregivers can discover new...

Latest stats show adults, kids aren’t getting enough physical activity for heart health

Less than half of adults and less than one-in-five children in the U.S. get the recommended amount...

Register for Alzheimer Association's virtual Managing Money - A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances

The Brain Bus raises awareness of Alzheimer’s and related dementias and addresses the benefits of early detection

Spring break travel: 5 ways to protect your health and reduce stress

Spring break is just around the corner for many Floridians offering a chance to relax, explore, and spend more time with family. So, how do you make sure your vacation stays memorable for the right …
Business
Sunday's state average was $2.97 per gallon. That's 2 cents less than the 2024 low and the lowest daily average price since December 2023. 
Lakefront Estates will feature 1,000 homes …
The District’s talented team of procurement professionals establishes contractual relationships with businesses...
Traffic & Road Work

Okeechobee County Road Watch Report for week of March 23-29

Crews will begin the installation of pedestrian/bicycle detection systems, conduits and electrical components, and connections to the bridge tender building.

AAA: Florida’s average gas price is 3 cents more than last week

Florida gas prices averaged $3.10 per gallon on Monday, March 17.

AAA: Florida gas prices decline 3¢

Florida gas prices declined 3¢ last week. The state average on Sunday, March 2, was $3.07 per gallon.

Okeechobee County Road Watch Report for week of March 2-8

The following column is the Road Watch report for Okeechobee County for the week beginning Sunday, March 2...
State

Trump-backed Byron Donalds makes his campaign debut in the 2026 race to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis

With the endorsement of President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is holding his first campaign rally in the 2026 Florida governor’s race. The rally begins Friday evening in Donalds’ …

‘The floodgates have really opened’: Democrats raise millions in special House elections in Florida

Democrats, with few electoral outlets for their outrage at President Donald Trump’s dramatic restructuring of the federal government, are pouring millions of dollars into two special elections in …
National & World

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:11 a.m. EDT

An AI-based drone that speeds up the detection and monitoring of wildfires is presented in Germany EBERSWALDE, Germany (AP) — A company that specializes in early wildfire detection has …

US defense chief says stronger deterrence needed against China in disputed sea

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the Trump administration would boost military ties with the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against “threats from the communist Chinese” …
HURRICANE NEWS
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