While you were sleeping, we compiled the biggest stories of the day in one place. Each story has a quick and easy summary, so you're prepared for whatever the day brings. Just click on the links if you want to know more!
1. Why is Palm Beach County trending? They refused to lower flags to honor Rush Limbaugh
The county's courthouse flags remained at full staff, ignoring DeSantis' Tuesday order directing its U.S. and Florida flags to be flown at half-staff.
DeSantis also ordered the town of Palm Beach and the state Capitol in Tallahassee to fly their flags at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday. Those flags were lowered.
The governor's press office released this statement regarding Palm Beach County's decision:
"It is unfortunate that Palm Beach County would rather engage in petty politics than honor the death of one of their county's and state's most prominent residents and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient."
2. Florida to open the vaccine to law enforcement and teachers 50 and older:
As the FDA determined Wednesday that Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 one-dose vaccine is overall safe and effective, DeSantis discussed expanding vaccine access.
DeSantis said starting next week, Florida will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to law enforcement personnel and teachers who are 50 and older.
"The clinical trials were very, very effective in terms of preventing hospitalization, " said DeSantis. "You should start seeing Johnson and Johnson sometime next week."
3. No charges will be filed, but Tiger Woods faces 'months and months of recovery'
Investigators in Southern California said the SUV crash involving Jupiter Island resident and golf legend Tiger Woods was "purely an accident," and no charges will be filed.
However, Woods was seriously injured, and his career is now in jeopardy. Woods underwent emergency surgery on his lower right leg after the bone was broken into more than two parts.
"We know that if anybody can come back, it's Tiger, and we hope that he can,” Dr. James Clancy said.
4. 20-year debate moves forward in Juno Beach:
Hours of debate and the Juno Beach Town Council approved the first reading of a discussion that dates back 20 years. It's a hot-button issue that pits the Waterford Senior Living Community against its neighbors.
Wednesday evening's meeting was about the move to annex seven vacant lots plus a public right of way in Pleasant Ridge, an unincorporated neighborhood. The annexation gives Waterford an opportunity to build an assisted living and memory care unit, plus additional parking.
The Waterford project has passed its first hurdle. But it will take a second reading before the project can move forward.
5. New Mars rover photos give panorama view of red planet
In the week since Perseverance landed on Mars, it has already returned stunning images at a quality never seen before from the red planet. On Wednesday, NASA released additional images captured by the rover.
In order to make the panorama, NASA was able to stitch together a series of 142 images. The images can capture details as small as three to five millimeters.
Part of the rover’s mission is to take a sample of Martian soil and return it to Earth someday. While samples of the Moon have been returned to Earth, a sample of Mars has never been returned.
Today's Forecast
Low rain chances through early next week:
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On This Day In History
On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. The dreaded Liston, who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory, boasting that he would “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and knock out Liston in the eighth round.
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