Local News
Palm Bay Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Fire Station 7
Palm Bay Fire Chief Richard Stover stated, “The opening of Fire Station 7 will significantly improve the response times for our citizens and visitors in this rapidly growing part of our city. Our members are excited to have the opportunity and ability to increase citizen engagement from a modern facility that was designed to meet the needs of our community and the firefighters living there. None of this could have taken place without the continued support of our Mayor, City Council, and City Manager.”
City of Palm Bay Announces Grant Opportunity for Opioid Settlement Proceeds
In December 2023, the City received its first round of funds from the National Opioid Settlement, totaling $275,619.36. This amount includes $86,397.57 for Fiscal Year 2023 and $189,221.79 for Fiscal Year 2024. Under the terms of the agreement, a maximum of 5% ($13,780.97) may be allocated for administrative costs, leaving a balance of $261,838.39 available for grant awards.
Arrest of Teacher at Sunrise Elementary, Palm Bay
The investigation revealed that Rapisarda physically pushed the student and restrained the child by grabbing their wrists. These actions were witnessed by several individuals. After a thorough review of sworn statements and evidence, sufficient probable cause was established for her arrest.
Brevard County Primary Election Results
The Brevard County primary election results are in, setting the stage for a series of critical runoffs and general election contests in November. Several races have been decided, while others will continue to November, with significant implications for the future governance of the region.
Randy Foster and Nathan White Did Not Qualify for the Palm Bay City Council Elections, Find Out Who Did!
The qualifying period for Palm Bay’s upcoming elections in August and November ended on Friday, June 14th. Included in this article are Financial Disclosures (FORM 6) Filed by 10 Candidates.
News Around The World
Brevard County Charter School Operations and Oversight
According to Russell Bruhn, Chief Strategic Communications Officer for Brevard Public Schools, charter schools in Brevard County are financed through a combination of state, local, and federal funds, similar to other public schools. The primary source of funding is the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), which allocates funds based on the number of full-time enrolled students. Additionally, charter schools have the opportunity to enhance their funding through federal grants. One notable example is the Charter School Program Grant, which supports the planning and initial implementation of charter schools.
Brevard Public Schools Board Votes to Approve Expansion of Guardian Program
BPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell noted: “This is an additional layer of security for our schools. While this program is new to Brevard, it is not new to Florida as numerous other districts have had Guardians in schools for several years. The individuals who will be in the program are not classroom teachers or other positions that are part of the instructional staff covered by the teacher contract. All Guardians will have to go through the same screening process and intensive training that is required by our School Safety Specialists. I am thankful that we have employees who are willing to volunteer to serve in these positions. I am also grateful for the strong partnership we have the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office which provides such rigorous training.”
Profit Over Pupils? For-Profit Dynamics in Florida’s Charter Schools
Reports and investigations have revealed instances where for-profit management companies exert substantial control over charter schools’ day-to-day operations, sometimes funneling a significant portion of the schools’ revenue into fees or lease payments to related entities.
Emergency Alert Test @ 2:20pm Today !
WASHINGTON — FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.The WEA portion of the test will […]
Navy Veteran to be awarded in Palm Bay
This Thursday at the Palm Bay City Council meeting Deputy Mayor, Donny Felix, will present a flag to honor the service of Mr. Thomas Rebman.Mr. Rebman served in the US Navy as an Engineering Officer from 1978 to 2001. After his military retirement he returned home to earn his Elementary Education bachelor’s degree and Reading […]