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. Tough recovery ahead for Tiger Woods:
Officials say Tiger Woods is lucky to be alive after a car crash shattered the tibia and fibula bones on his right leg in multiple locations, with additional injuries in the ankle and foot. Authorities had to extricate Woods through the front windshield.
A statement on his Twitter account says he was awake, responsive and recovering.
While speculation ran wild online, authorities say there wasn’t evidence Woods was impaired. Online critics cited Woods' 2017 arrest in Jupiter for driving under the influence.
2. Vaccine appointments return to Florida today... sort of:
Publix announced they will resume scheduling appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday morning, but only for some counties. In our area, only Okeechobee County will be making appointments after wintry weather in the U.S. reduced vaccine supplies.
Starting today, CVS pharmacies across Florida will begin scheduling appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, and select pharmacies in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties are included.
CVS is not disclosing which stores will be administering COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned on Tuesday there's a focus to bring the vaccine to Black and Latino communities. Keep an eye on our website/app as we will be posting the locations as they become available.
3. How the flag controversy ended:
Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed flags at three state buildings to be flown at half-staff Wednesday to honor Palm Beach resident and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who died last week.
Those buildings are the Palm Beach County courthouse in West Palm Beach, Town Hall in Palm Beach and the Florida Capitol building in Tallahassee. West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James told WPTV on Monday that the city would not be lowering the flags. Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay announced Tuesday night on Twitter that the county courthouse wouldn't be lowering its flag.
However, the point may be completely moot. If you noticed flags already at half-mast, President Biden ordered them lowered until sunset on Friday to honor the over 500,000 Americans lost to coronavirus.
4. New COVID-19 vaccination site opens today in Palm Beach Gardens:
Palm Beach County's newest mass COVID-19 vaccination site will open this morning.
Officials said about 500 people will be vaccinated at the Burns Road Community Center, located at 4404 Burns Road in Palm Beach Gardens, on Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday, the goal is to ramp up to 1,000 shots.
Anyone 65 and older can click here and complete an appointment request form. You'll then be placed into a "virtual waiting room" until vaccines become available.
5. The last straw and thing to know:
The city of Stuart is now cracking down on the use of plastic straws.
Businesses and vendors who continue to distribute them could face fines of up to $1000.
City of Stuart Public Information Officer Ben Hogarth said the ordinance was passed in late 2019 but that the year 2020 was used to educate businesses about the new policy rather than enforce it.
Today's Forecast
Quiet weather pattern this week:
Get your complete hour-by-hour forecast here.
On This Day In History
On February 24, 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached. The U.S. House of Representatives votes 11 articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson, nine of which cite Johnson’s removal of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, a violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The House vote made President Johnson the first president to be impeached in U.S. history.
Remember, you can join Mike Trim and Ashleigh Walters every weekday on WPTV NewsChannel 5 beginning at 4:30 a.m. And you can always watch the latest news from WPTV anytime on your favorite streaming device. Just search for "WPTV."