by Sophie Pendrill | Katie Bente (CBS12) — Health officials have issued a rabies alert in St Lucie County after confirming a raccoon that attacked a dog tested positive for the virus The dog survived and is expected to be okay state health officials are sounding the alarm: rabies may be circulating in the area’s wildlife FDOH is urging residents and visitors to be cautious as rabies may currently be present in local wildlife Officials said it is important for people and their pets to avoid any physical contact with wild animals such as raccoons The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in St Lucie County said the incident happened on April 27 in a neighborhood just east of Florida’s Turnpike It’s the kind of place where people walk their dogs daily — a peaceful neighborhood where the biggest concern might be a loose sprinkler head I’ve never heard of raccoons around here with rabies,” said Johanne Bush who’s lived in the neighborhood for 42 years Bush said she’s used to seeing squirrels and sometimes she even hears coyotes The Florida Department of Health confirmed the rabid raccoon was found just a few blocks away Officials now urge residents to be cautious warning that rabies can spread quickly among animals like raccoons “The number one thing is just stay away from wild animals director of the Department of Health in St Bush said while she doesn’t often see wildlife Health officials say making sure pets are up to date on their rabies shots is key Rabies is nearly 100% preventable — but only if addressed quickly or unintentionally attracting wild animals,” Sperber said “That includes keeping garbage cans sealed and bringing pet food indoors.” If your pet is bitten or comes in contact with a wild animal take them to a veterinarian immediately and report the encounter to animal control contact your doctor or call the Florida Department of Health in St FDOH recommends the following safety measures: Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video LUCIE − A 30-year-old man was held May 2 in the St Lucie County Jail after his arrest on dozens of charges related to voyeurism and sexual battery of the 11600 block of Southwest Rossano Lane in Port St was arrested April 30 on charges including four counts related to sexual battery and 66 counts related to digital voyeurism Lucie County Jail is listed at $1.155 million said the investigation began April 1 when officers went to a home on the east side of Port St They met a woman who found “concerning videos” on Walters’ phone in which police said he videoed himself engaged in inappropriate activities while standing over a sleeping child “These videos and photos were sent via an app to a second party unknown to our complainant,” Mesiti said and Walters was arrested April 10 on obscenity-related charges Fatal shooting developments: Man near deadly shooting shown on surveillance video with two guns in St. Lucie County Fatal crash: Motorcycle rider dies after multi-vehicle crash in Fort Pierce Police got a search warrant for the phone and reported finding videos and photos of Walters sexually assaulting a woman as she slept Mesiti said there were multiple incidents involving inappropriate behavior as the woman slept An attorney for Walters could not immediately be reached Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com National Public Gardens Day is celebrated every second Friday of May before Mother's Day Here are 5 botanical gardens — the only three on the Treasure Coast and two nearby Opened in 2010 on 20 acres along North Fork of St. Lucie River; built using native plant communities as foundation Skateboarding: 5 of the best skate parks on the Treasure Coast Snorkeling: 5 of the best spots on the Treasure Coast this summer who established its collection of fruit trees to help produce new food resources 15 acres at Florida Tech; home to 400 species of palms at one point but freezes reduced number to about 60 A potential SpaceX rocket launch is on the horizon — and if all goes according to plan Though rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island people from the Treasure Coast can sometimes see this #SoFlorida phenomenon Below is more information on rocket launches from NASA and Cape Canaveral and suggestions on where to watch them from this part of Florida Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all the missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space have posted rocket launch photos and video on X the social platform formerly known as Twitter get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic Lucie Mets faltered in the first inning and could not complete a comeback as they lost the rubber game to the Jupiter Hammerheads 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Jupiter took two of three in the series but the Jupiter took two of three in the series but the Mets remain one game up in first place in the Florida State League East Division with the Hammerheads scoring all four runs in the first inning The Mets committed two errors in the inning leading to an unearned run but the Mets were able to eventually shut things down Franklin Gomez and the rest of the pitching staff settled things down after the first not giving up another run in the game Gomez finished with a final line of 2.2 IP and Jorge De Leon followed Gomez and combined for an impressive 5.1 IP settled in nicely despite giving up a hit to the first batter he faced retiring six batters in a row after that pitched just one inning but hit 96.9 on the radar gun and got three quick outs Despite the offense struggling in the first inning Yonatan Henriquez followed up his two homer Saturday night with an RBI in the second inning to get the Mets on the board who picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the week But Juan ran into bad luck after a line drive by Kevin Villavicencio was hit right to Hammerheads second baseman Carter Johnson for an inning-ending double play After scoring a run in the second and a run in the third with just two hits for the rest of the game The Mets would find some life in the ninth as rain started to come down but again were stopped in their tracks on a double play ball Ronny Mauricio appeared in his fourth rehab game for the Mets They return to the diamond on Tuesday when they start a six-game series against the Clearwater Threshers at Clover Park Tuesday is Silver Sluggers Night with an appearance from 1969 Miracle Met Art Shamsky FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (13-14) leaned on early offense and strong pitching in a 4-2 win over the St Lucie Mets (15-12) on a soggy Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Jupiter won the three-game series two games to one FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (13-14) leaned on early offense and strong pitching in a 4-2 win over the St Dillon Head went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base and Carlos Sanchez went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk to lead the Jupiter offense After Hammerheads starting pitcher Julio Mendez struck out the side in the top of the first inning Jupiter got the scoring started in the bottom of the frame Abrahan Ramirez worked a leadoff walk against St 0-1) and Andrew Salas laid down a bunt single Both runners advanced on a Gomez throwing error to put runners in scoring position Head brought both runners home with a two-RBI single to left field Andres Valor and Sanchez both had RBI singles later in the inning to extend the Hammerhead lead to 4-0 after the first inning The Mets found an answer in the top of the second inning Following singles from Simon Juan and Trace Willhoite Yonathan Henriquez drove in Juan with an RBI single to cut the Hammerheads’ advantage to 4-1 Kevin Villavicencio hit a hard line drive up the middle but Jupiter second baseman Carter Johnson snagged it and doubled Willhoite off second base to end the top of the second inning Lucie scored again in the top of the third inning Mendez hit Vincent Perozo and walked Trey Snyder to start the inning Perozo scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Colin Houck to trim Jupiter’s lead to 4-2 after the top of the third inning Mendez finished his start with 3 2/3 innings pitched and allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a no-decision Both offenses went cold in the middle frames in the ballgame 5-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings with just one hit and one walk allowed and struck out four hitters Lashutka’s five victories leads the Florida State League and he extended his scoreless streak to 7 2/3 innings Hammerheads relief pitcher Franklin Sanchez (H 1) struck out three over two perfect innings and Nick Maldonado (S 3) threw a scoreless ninth to finish the 4-2 victory Carlos Sanchez and Head each finished with two hits in the ballgame to lead the Jupiter offense The Jupiter Hammerheads remain in Jupiter as the visiting team for six games against the Palm Beach Cardinals in the second “Dual of the Dean” series in 2025 beginning on Tuesday the 110-acre complex/stadium is specially designed to house two Major League and two Minor League Baseball Teams The stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St The Florida State League’s Jupiter Hammerheads (Class A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Affiliate of the St Louis Cardinals) make their home at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium from April through September This year-round facility can accommodate the smallest birthday party to the largest corporate outing while never forgetting that each and every fan is our most important product FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (12-14) lost 9-2 to the St Lucie Mets (15-11) on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Jacob Jenkins-Cowart and Abrahan Ramirez both had two hits for the Hammerheads Jenkins-Cowart scored twice while Ramirez had an RBI and a stolen base Lucie opened the scoring in the top of the first inning With runners on first and second and one out Daiverson Gutierrez hit a sharp ground ball to Hammerheads third baseman Jesus Hernandez as he tried to go to second base but his throw bounced off the glove of the second baseman Ramirez Trey Snyder scored to give the Mets a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning The Mets tacked on another run in the top of the second inning with a solo home run by Yonathan Henriquez Jupiter got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning Jenkins-Cowart started the inning with an infield single and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Mets third baseman Yonathan Henriquez Ramirez brought him home with an RBI double into left center field to cut the St After a scoreless third inning for both teams Jupiter starting pitcher Liomar Martinez () ran into more trouble as Simon Juan scored on a wild pitch followed by Yonathan Henriquez’s second solo home run of the game to give St Martinez finished with 3 2/3 innings pitched and allowed four runs (three earned) With Jupiter relief pitcher Samuel Carpio on the mound in the top of the fifth inning the Mets added another run on an attempted double-steal which allowed Yohario Cuevas to score and make it a 5-1 St but Simon Juan was thrown out at second base Jupiter threatened against Mets relief pitcher Irving Cota putting the leadoff man on in three straight times between the sixth and eighth innings but Jupiter could not break through on the scoreboard After a scoreless top of the eighth inning from Hammerheads relief pitcher Kevin Vaupel the Mets got some extra separation in the top of the ninth inning Lucie loaded the bases on an error by Hammerheads shortstop Carter Johnson Yohairo Cuevas then hit a two-RBI single to left field to extend the Mets lead to 7-1 Riskiel Tineo then entered the game out of the Hammerheads bullpen Tineo got Juan to hit a ground ball back to him but Cuevas was able to score Vincent Perozo followed with an RBI single to stretch the Mets lead to 9-1 after the top of the ninth inning Jupiter was able to get a run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a Victor Ortega RBI single but Mets relief pitchers Eli Ankeney and Juan Arnaud were able to close out a 9-2 win for St The rubber match series finale takes place on Sunday, May 4th with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m. All reserved box tickets are just $10 for every Sunday game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Click here to purchase tickets A new Venezuelan-American restaurant with a bakery and cafe is opening within the next week in Fort Pierce Aji Dulce Cafe Gourmet announced it will open a second location in Fort Pierce after opening the first location in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 12, 2024 The restaurants are owned by husband-and-wife team Dave Shaw and Carolina Chopite They moved to Miami six years ago before they moved to Port St Carlo Chopite also runs the restaurant with his mom "We just want to give to the people the best experience of the Venezuelan and American food," said Carlo Chopite The new location will offer the same products but it also will have a selection of new desserts and items the quality that defines us will remain unchanged," said Carlo Chopite Port St. Lucie: Venezuelan-American restaurant opens first location Recently opened: New restaurants serve pizza, American-style sushi and finger-lickin' wings 772-353-5640, website, Instagram FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (12-13) shut out the St Lucie Mets (14-11) for the third time in 2025 and the second time by a final score of 4-0 with 4-0 being the final score in the series opener on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Jupiter got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning After drawing three walks to load the bases Abrahan Ramirez smacked a two-RBI single to give the Hammerheads the early 2-0 lead The Sharks also added one run each in the second and third innings as Victor Mesa Jr hit an RBI single in the second and Jacob Jenkins-Cowart hit an RBI single in the third as Jupiter took a 4-0 lead Hammerheads starting pitcher Keyner Benitez finished with just 3 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out just one batter in a no-decision as he worked in and out of jams It was his first appearance on the mound since April 19th when he earned his first state-side professional win against Daytona both teams went cold on offense leaving runners on base Jupiter relief pitcher Natanael Polanco (W 1-1) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit 1) followed Polanco with 1 1/3 scoreless frames Juan Reynoso pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning and the Hammerheads completed their third shutout of the Mets with the 4-0 final score finished 2-for-5 with an RBI at the plate as part of a minor league rehab appearance Julio Henriquez also finished 2-for-4 at the plate for just his second two-hit game of the season Jupiter goes for the series victory against St May 3rd with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m Stacker compiled a list of the most expensive homes in Port St. Lucie listed for sale on realtor.com Homes are ranked by price with ties broken by price per square foot PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Stacey Waner is holding tight to memories of her brother, Trevor Synder. For families like hers, Thursday's Senate decision marks a milestone as House Bill 6017 heads to the governor's desk We first told you about Trevor Snyder back in 2019 His family believes he died due to medical negligence Lucie family among those supporting repeal of 'Free Kill' law Waner said Trevor was admitted to the hospital with a broken leg after a motorcycle crash and died days later and he shouldn’t have died from a broken leg," Waner said Waner is encouraged that state lawmakers approved House Bill 6017 which would remove a 35-year-old law known as Florida's Wrongful Death Act The current law prevents loved ones of anyone above the age of 25 without a spouse and without children from suing for medical malpractice on behalf of their loved one "Our family was not able to file any sort of claim with the courts because of the She believes changing the law would lead to stronger accountability in the medical field It's a chapter she hopes to close and a promise she made to Trevor years ago "I promised him when I saw him last time at the funeral that I would fight for justice and I would not stop until I got justice for him," Waner said An elaborate scheme involving gift cards from Publix stores allegedly helped two suspected swindlers cash in big (CBS12) — An elaborate scheme involving gift cards from Publix stores allegedly helped two suspected swindlers cash in big Jeffrey Castillo and Janel Matos Castillo were busted for attempting to scam Publix shoppers in St officers reported responding to Publix on Becker Road when a store manager grew suspicious of the duo After word spread to other Publix locations officers say managers were on the lookout for the pair One manager spotted the accused traveling scammers leaving the store Investigators say the Castillos would swap real gift cards on the Publix shelf for 'fake' ones When the unsuspecting customer would activate the card with the cashier but all funds would be transferred to the Castillos which prevented the customer from obtaining the funds Forty-two-year-old Jeffrey and Janel Castillo Both suspects were booked on counts of fraud-swindle-obtain property under $20,000 Investigators noted Jeffrey Castillo was out on bond at the time of the crime This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The study examines each city’s murder and property crime rate per 100,000 people to figure out which spots were the best to live — and which areas you may want to avoid The top three cities on the lists were Augusta [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] the panhandle city had lower-than-average crime rates than many other similarly sized areas Florida actually had seven placements included in the ranking — more than any other state in the country On the flip side, U.S. News & World Report issued a similar study examining the most dangerous cities in the country In a fortunate turn for the Sunshine State no Florida cities were included on this list Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group For the next two nights, if you look up at the sky, you could get a glimpse of the ETA Aquarids meteor shower. The meteor shower will be visible across the globe, including in Florida, peaking on May 5 and May 6. However, the meteor shower started on April 19, according to the American Meteor Society Here's what to know about the celestial events kicking off this week and when the best times to head outside to watch them will be The Aquarids — sometimes spelled "Aquariids" — follows closely on the heels of the Lyrid meteors less than two weeks ago and is the final meteor shower for more than two months The meteors reliably become most active around early May each year as Earth passes through debris left by the famous Halley's comet The Aquarids will peak between May 5 and May 6 as Earth passes through the densest part of Halley's cosmic debris, according to the American Meteor Society While the meteors won't be as bright or dazzling after the peak stargazers could still catch some up until about May 28 The best view is actually in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the Treasure Coast is in the Northern Hemisphere, the meteors will appear as "Earthgrazers," or long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon, according to NASA. SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: Where to watch in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie Look up: How about a meteor shower to start your work week? Here's when to head outside in Florida How can I get the best view of the ETA Aquarids meteor shower?Look low on the horizon Look for an unobstructed view away from lights It'll take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness for you to be able to see the meteors Meteor showers like the Eta Aquarids don't have a specific time to head outside and watch in the same sense as something like an eclipse, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The best shot at catching a glimpse of the Eta Aquarid meteors is when it's darkest outside, with NASA suggesting going out at 2 a.m Visibility is dependent on sky conditions and cloud coverage. The National Weather Service shared graphics showing the cloud forecast across the U.S Click below to see the visibility in these three Treasure Coast cities, according to Time and Date AS which did not have information for Fort Pierce which takes about 76 years for each orbit of the sun won't be seen again by casual observers until 2061 Despite its rare appearance on Earth, Halley's impact is still present at least twice a year when we enter its debris path — first during the ETA Aquarids in May and then again during the Orionids every October Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene Brandon Girod contributed to this report (CBS12) — The secret is out about Port St and young professionals are all flocking to the area as it has the reputation of being safe "We moved here about five weeks ago," John Platz said "There's a lot of great new construction a lot of great value for buyers," Treasure Coast realtor Melissa Saumure said while also greenlighting dozens of new housing and commercial projects they are investing $127 million into 72 projects "Include everything from road improvements to water and sewer to storm water management," Port St Lucie Strategic Communications Manager Scott Samples said "We're really trying to find ways that we can expand on recreational activities quality of life in general," Samples said Along with roadwork projects like Floresta Drive which Samples said are a key part of investing in the people who live here "It's always good to hear that there's forethought and planning going into such a well-planned master community," Treasure Coast realtor Melissa Saumure said One local bride-to-be was trying to make it to the courthouse on time In body cam footage posted to social media an unmarked police unit can be seen behind the car tells the officer she's trying to get to the courthouse in Stuart for a 2:30 p.m "You're already late," the officer responds but first he tells the driver he has to issue a mandatory court date The post states the driver was going 105 mph on Crosstown Parkway "This stop gives a whole new meaning to racing to the altar," the post reads Nothing Bundt Cakes is opening its first Treasure Coast location in Port St Signage is posted on the windows at 1707 N.W The projected plan is to open the location by mid-summer a Nothing Bundt Cakes spokesperson told TCPalm on April 25 Nothing Bundt Cakes is a specialty bakery that makes bundt cakes with cream cheese frosting They offer full-sized bundt cakes and smaller personal-sized options with "bundtlets" and "bundtinis." New dining: 15 restaurants in the Heart of Tradition in Port St. Lucie All things food: Roundups of the latest reviews, inspections, new and best restaurants Nothing Bundt Cakes began in 1997 when two moms baked up the first bundt cakes in their Las Vegas home kitchens Since then, the bakery has expanded to over 600 locations, according to the company website. There are 50 locations in Florida Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene Lucie Properties was arrested Wednesday morning Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) said in a news release United States Marshals Task Force detained Montalto at his place of employment located at 11500 SW Kanner Hwy in Martin County Police said the arrest stems from an outstanding warrant from PSLPD for various property crimes relating to an investigation that lasted nearly two years WATCH: Victims speak to WPTV about arrest of Treasure Coast homebuilder three counts of theft from persons over 65 years of age and one count of racketeering Twenty-one property owners are listed as victims in Montalto’s arrest affidavit Police said the investigation began in May 2023 when multiple fraud complaints were filed against Port St 21 victims were identified who had contracted Port St paid out draws to the company per contract but were defrauded by Montalto in amounts ranging from several thousands of dollars to well over $100,000 as Montalto failed to pay his subcontractors WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE BELOW: Homebuilder accused of grand theft WPTV Investigative Reporter Dave Bohman learned back in 2023 that owners of more than 100 properties in St. Lucie County were stuck with property liens that at one point totaled $3.7 million forcing people who contracted the company to build their homes to pay up to hundreds of thousands of dollars extra or lose their property to foreclosure The contract dates ranged from December 2021 through September 2023 While some victims had their homes completed within the required 30 days after receiving funds per the contracts Below is the complete list of charges Montalto faces: Bohman first broke the story of homeowners and their burdens nearly two years ago and will have more details on WPTV.com as they become available WPTV Investigative Reporter Dave Bohman's previous coverage on Port St (CBS12) — A late-night blaze gutted a Port St Lucie County Fire District (SLCFD) was called to a blazing house fire on the 2900 block of SW Ventura in Port St firefighters say they were greeted by plumes of smoke and flames rising through the roof of the home the family dog was safely removed from the home and cared for by neighbors until the family arrived at the scene SLCFD says fire investigators were called to determine the source of the fire OKEECHOBEE COUNTY − A long-time process server and former chairman of the St Lucie County Republican Executive Committee was arrested after officials said he gave paperwork containing cell phones chargers and drugs to an inmate at Okeechobee Correctional Institution was arrested April 25 in Okeechobee County on felony charges related to possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and introduction of contraband into a detention facility Lucie County Republican Executive Committee chair and one term as vice chair for a total of eight years According to statements in arrest documents from the Okeechobee County Clerk of Courts a colonel with the state Department of Corrections at the prison reported a process server arrived at the prison to serve inmate Alan Strattan with paperwork serving a life sentence following murder charges out of Columbia County A sergeant noted the documents were “extra heavy.” they reported finding 15 Motorola cell phones three whole Alprazolam pills and five “small pieces” of Alprazolam Alprazolam is frequently prescribed to manage panic and anxiety disorders and has also been misused for recreational purposes because of its disinhibition and euphoric effects according to the National Institutes of Health Nail told investigators he got the documents April 22 from “Amanda,” who lives in Winter Park Nail said he opened the package the documents were mailed in and $100 was inside ($50 per document served) and paper indicating who to serve and said it’s the fifth or sixth time he’s served paperwork at the prison for “Amanda.” Nail said he’s been involved in process serving for 31 years and said he didn’t recognize anything unusual about the documents “I just assumed that the reason why it was a little bit heavier was because the documents were thick," he said “I've never been through something like this before.” Records show the documents “had only the top few pages loose and the rest of them were glued together with the middle cut out of the paperwork.” “Once I moved the loose papers I observed a cut-out with cellphones cellphone charge(r)s and drugs inside,” records state Nail told TCPalm that at the prison in Okeechobee he handed paperwork to an inmate through a “sally gate.” When he arrives the inmate typically is waiting at the gate a security guard usually will come out of there and they would just watch the process,” he said Nail said he followed the same procedure he typically followed and experienced over the years “This September will be 15 years that I have been serving process in the 19th Circuit and going to that same prison to serve and it's always been that way there,” he said Convicted: Couple guilty of murdering 1-year-old son by starvation, a St. Lucie County jury decides 39 years later: St. Lucie County 1986 cold case homicide victim identified Nail said the experience has changed the way he looks at things go ahead and take work from anybody else other than … from an actual company that I physically will go to get work and walk out of the office,” Nail said I would still thumb my fingers through everything before I actually handed it to somebody.” Nail was released April 26 from Okeechobee County Jail on $12,500 bond — A knife-wielding man was shot after Port St Lucie police officers responded to a domestic violence incident Friday afternoon The shooting occurred in the Spanish Lakes Golf Village at about 3:30 p.m after two officers responded to a home on Montilla Way Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Alexander Taylor He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital "There were statements about a suicide by cop potential as the officers were arriving," Chief Leo Niemczyk said during an evening news conference they were confronted with an adult male charging them with a knife." The chief said the officers asked Taylor to drop a large butcher knife that he had in his possession prompting police to shoot him in the street "(The officers) started approaching the house carefully but the subject exited the house and charged them," Niemczyk said "These officers didn't have time to plan anything less lethal whatsoever They just reacted with what they had to do at the time." The chief said the two officers involved in the incident were not hurt but were taken to the hospital as standard procedure told 911 dispatchers he'd been battered by the suspect The victim also told investigators that Taylor had a history of mental health issues WPTV reporter Cassandra Garcia spoke with a neighbor more than eight police cars," said Jerry Lopez Lopez added that this neighborhood is "peaceful Niemczyk said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was contacted and they have taken over the investigation Lucie Police Department for about three years Niemczyk said a preliminary review of facts showed this was a justified shooting "You need a very significant amount of space to use any alternative other than lethal force in that situation," he said Lucie home over the weekend caused severe damage to the home as well as multiple vehicles that were in the driveway Lucie County Fire District and the American Red Cross Palm Beach & Treasure Coast showed the extent of the blaze that gutted the home's garage along alongside the remains of a boat Photos show heavy flames filling the three-car garage and flames rising from the boat that was sitting on a trailer Other pictures reflected the charred husks of the van and sedan that were next to it See Also: Five rescued from near drowning at Ocean Reef Park Two people were displaced by the fire and received assistance from the Red Cross the cause of the fire was still under investigation Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video Lucie police officer was suspended following three incidents in which investigators found she neglected or was inefficient in her duties who began working at the agency in March 2019 received the one-day suspension following the cases according to records and a police spokesperson police noted failures related to documenting and submitting evidence and records took a call regarding harassment in which a person police identified as a victim provided more than 200 printed pages of text messages as evidence Popovich didn’t submit the report for more than a month The victim in that case in April 2024 contacted a second officer “very upset that the information she provided was documented with several inaccuracies such as her employment among other details,” a police memorandum states The second officer learned the more than 200 pages of text messages had not been submitted to evidence Popovich said she didn’t know where they were though said they could be in her patrol car’s back seat The second officer determined that with the information The second officer made arrangements to get the messages printed again another officer was tasked with following up because Popovich hadn’t submitted the initial report Popovich noted a waiver of prosecution was received Popovich was told to get another prosecution waiver Popovich on April 11 reported the person identified as the victim in the case now wanted to report additional information and wished to pursue charges Police learned Popovich didn’t submit into evidence a GPS tracking device given to her as part of the case on March 22 property and evidence is supposed to be “logged and stored” at the end of the officer’s shift It’s not supposed to be stored in vehicles or desks Man arrested on DUI charge: Crash results in teen being flown to hospital, driver jailed Bike riders on U.S. 1: Florida's Tour de Force bicyclists rode up the state's east coast April 9, 2025 reports are supposed to be completed by the end of the shift Police found in the other March 2024 case that Popovich didn’t properly investigate and document a fraud case and complete initial investigation on an alleged crime but is not limited to completing a detailed report and processing the scene or having it processed to ensure all pertinent evidence is collected.”  — In the midday quiet of the Spanish Lakes Golf Village on Monday “I lost my son after a police response," he told me On Friday, Taylor’s 35-year-old son, Alexander, was shot and killed by officers responding to a domestic violence incident WATCH: Kent Taylor tells WPTV his son's death 'was a tragedy' Lucie police Monday sharing this photo of the butcher's knife they said Alexander Taylor was holding at the time of the shooting They also shared a 30-second body camera video clip of the moments leading up to the shooting where two officers arrive on scene and you can see the younger Taylor charging toward officers with a knife We paused the video - the moment police fired several shots Chief Leo Niemczyk said Alexander Taylor made threats of "suicide by cop." "There were statements about a suicide by cop potential as the officers were arriving," Niemczyk said during an evening news conference they were confronted with an adult male charging them with a knife." "This was a tragedy that could and should have been avoided," said Kent Taylor Lucie police have made big investments recently in body cameras and less than lethal force alternatives We reported last year as Port St. Lucie officers were being trained to use tasers, part of a million-dollar upgrade in police technology We asked the police chief for an interview Monday He did tell me that he stands behind his comments from the scene Friday where he said “these officers didn’t have time to plan anything less than lethal whatsoever.” Lucie Police Department to spend $1 million annually on Tasers the chief said he believes the shooting was justified and his heart goes out to all involved “I’m balancing my grief with my anger over what happened The families in the community deserve better than this," he said "I am going to hold whoever we can accountable before this is completed." (CBS12) — Law enforcement uncovered a $75,000 Visa card fraud scheme by ex-dealership employee Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Lucie woman for her scheme to defraud her former employer and grand theft McKisset is the former administrator for a local Fort Pierce automotive dealership The investigation began at the end of February when Fort Pierce Police Depart (FPPD) said they requested FDLE initiate an investigation into Kelly Marie McKisset McKisset was using company issued credit cards to make purchases for her own personal gain the investigation uncovered that over a period of five years McKisset used multiple company cards to purchase $75,000 worth of Visa gift cards agents served a warrant at McKissets residence and seized more than 100 stolen items including home goods FDLE says the case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney's Office and that the case is still being actively investigated LUCIE COUNTY − A prescribed burn east of U.S 1 on April 15 likely will emit smoke visible to the public according to the state Department of Environmental Protection Database: Check out the Florida wildfire and smoke tracker The burn at Savannas Preserve State Park is planned to start about 10 a.m The burn is expected to cover about 416 acres of pine flatwoods in an area east of Port St Lucie High School and north of Southeast Walton Road Port St. Lucie officer disciplined: Officer suspended in neglect of duty, inefficiency investigation in Port St. Lucie “Prescribed burning mimics natural fire cycles to restore healthy forests and natural communities reduce undergrowth that accumulates over time and decreases the potential for wildfire,” Cunningham stated in a release “Burned lands experience an increase in native wildflowers Here are five things to know about Florida's sixth-largest city: LUCIE COUNTY – State officials are monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area after a confirmed case in a raccoon according to the state Department of Health in St The agency on April 30 reported the actions follow one “case of rabies in a raccoon that was killed in Port St Lucie” off Southeast Merion Court on April 27 The agency did not provide details about that incident A phone message left May 1 with a representative was not immediately returned The location is south of Southeast Port St Lucie Boulevard between Southeast Westmoreland and Southeast Morningside boulevards “All residents and visitors should be aware that rabies may be currently present in the wild animal population,” the health department stated The agency stated people and domestic animals should not come in physical contact with wild animals “which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.” The agency recommended these steps to prevent exposure to rabies: Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as opposed to adopting wild animals or bringing them into your home.'Like the OK Corral': Deadly shooting in St. Lucie County 39 years later: St. Lucie County 1986 cold case homicide victim identified Lucie house along Airosa Boulevard near Lucero Drive Thursday evening the driver slammed a white pickup truck into his home following a domestic-related situation with his wife Lucie County Fire Rescue blocked off a portion of the road as they worked to put up temporary beams to support the house See also: Brightline battle continues: Stuart and Martin County still not on the same track John has lived in the neighborhood for more than 10 years and said he was shocked to see the vehicle in the home “So we were at the fair and we looked on Facebook and I thought that looked like my neighborhood and then I realize It’s the street right over from us," John said Lucie County Sheriff's Office said the house is no longer safe to live in Lucie intersection reopened on Thursday after a vehicle collided with a pedestrian Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) stated the incident happened at the intersection of Southwest Savona Boulevard and South Idol Avenue PSLPD did not provide any details regarding what happened or if any injuries were reported At this time the crash is still under investigation Lucie Police is seeking the public's help in locating a missing 17-year-old Yve Berlie Scavy Saint Cyr Lucie Police (PSLPD) is seeking the public's help in locating a missing 17-year-old girl last seen leaving her home Wednesday PSLPD says Yve Berlie Scavy Saint Cyr was last seen leaving her Port St Lucie home at the 4600 block of SW Albacore Street around 6 a.m See also: St. Lucie firefighters contain house fire in Fort Pierce Police describe Cyr as 5'1" with black hair and brown eyes Detectives urge anyone with information on Cyr's whereabouts to call 772-334-4236 or remain anonymous by calling Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-8477 (CBS12) — Palm Beach County Commissioners are considering a $2.7 million expansion of the Port St aiming to purchase up to three new commuter-style buses offers two morning and two evening trips from West Palm Beach to Port St which are leased and funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Palm Tran officials reported that the program is averaging about 44 riders each day providing connections between the Treasure Coast and opportunities for employment and entertainment in Palm Beach County and vice versa See also: Pay-to-park is coming to Fort Pierce beaches: What you need to know the program has completed nearly 6,000 rides as part of its non-stop one-hour service making it an affordable option for commuters The commissioners will debate a grant agreement on Tuesday with FDOT worth over $2.7 million for the purchase of three additional buses the population on the Treasure Coast has soared in recent years The Tradition community has been the epicenter of the city’s explosion in popularity, including the jobs corridor between Gatlin Blvd They didn’t that was going to get filled for another 20 years It took us about six years to almost completely fill that,” said Scott Samples the Strategic Communications Manager for the City of Port St given that it’s 110 miles in either direction to reach Miami or Orlando Those cities have populations of approximately 455,000 and 320,000 people respectively Lucie’s population of nearly 257,000 isn’t closer to those major hubs is the focus on single-family homes See also: Pet food sold in Florida recalled after cat dies from bird flu a little over 100,000 dwelling units that have been built across the city so that is going to limit some of that kind of growth that you’re going to see in some of the other locations that are also older and have a more established infrastructure,” Samples told CBS12 News so it makes sense that infrastructure is still being constructed The city says it has been asking residents for years for their input on the future of Port St This is why the focus has been more on building homes rather than skyscrapers “A lot of the things that you’re seeing now were decisions that were made 20 years ago," Samples shared "What we’re trying to do now is provide the best possible foundation for those city councils to come for the city leadership to come over the next 10 so that when they’re looking at their next decisions they’ve got a pretty good infrastructure in place to be able to build on thatthere will be more to come a lot of that land that is in Tradition is spoken for.” There is a height limit on buildings in Port St The hospital in Tradition is the tallest in the area right now and it is eight stories the area could see high-rise apartments or office buildings many years down the road that's not something the city is discussing resulting in one person being hospitalized Lucie County Fire District (SLCFD) stated that at 3:18 a.m crews responded to a home in the southwest area of Port St they could see flames coming from the garage See also: Agencies team up rescuing two people from overturned truck in Palm Beach County one person was transported to a hospital and the Red Cross was called in to help The cause of the fire is still under investigation National studies show the challenges facing Port St. Lucie renters, including one that shows how there are nine renters competing for each available housing unit, according to a RentCafe analysis With cost-burdened renters on the Treasure Coast The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has a living wage calculator that breaks down what an individual would need to earn hourly in their respective county to support themselves and/or their family and living wage for an individual supporting 0-3 kids and another adult Here are the living wages for the Treasure Coast counties according to the MIT living wage calculator: Moving soon?: Port St. Lucie still 'unaffordable' as renters carry huge 'cost burden' despite growth Florida's minimum wage is $13 an hour. It will increase yearly by $1 until the state minimum wage reaches $15 after voters voted yes and narrowly approved Amendment 2 in 2020. What is a living wage?A living wage is the amount a full-time worker needs in order to cover the costs of their family’s basic needs where they live To calculate the living wage for the different geographic regions and other necessities such as apparel and household items Add to that costs associated with income and payroll taxes The living wage calculator calculates the hourly rate that an individual in a household must earn assuming they work full-time for 40 hours a week to support themselves and/or their family working full-time Here's the hourly living wage for different demographics in Martin County: Lucie County?Here's the hourly living wage for different demographics in St Single with no kids: $22.46Single with one kid: $37.31Single with two kids: $46.02Single with three kids: $57.77One working adult one unemployed adult and no kids: $30.76One working adult one unemployed adult and one kid: $36.51One working adult one unemployed adult and two kids: $39.98One working adult one unemployed adult and three kids: $47.20Two working adults three kids: $30.37How much does it cost to live in Indian River County?Here's the hourly living wage for different demographics in Indian River County: LUCIE — The mission of the Treasure Coast's newest hospital is to meet the rapidly growing need for medical care in St The county's population has more than doubled since 1999, according to U.S. Census Bureau data but just one hospital opened during that time Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital opened more than a decade ago when the county's population was about 24% smaller than now Residents here routinely face months-long waiting lists for routine doctor's visits and sometimes have to travel to other communities to receive care Currently, two of the three existing hospitals here are expanding in some form that will see two floors added to parts of its main building and an increase of nearly 90 beds But the most significant addition of all may come not from an expansion but from a new facility Currently under construction near the Florida's Turnpike interchange at Becker Road It will be the sixth hospital in the Palm Beach Health Network a subsidiary of the larger Tenet Healthcare system In an exclusive interview with TCPalm at the future site of the hospital said the need for more medical care here is one of the things that attracted him to the job "The mission is right and the opportunity is right here but the opportunity for the hospital in this community," said Sherrill in the hundreds (of people) that I've met over 45 days Sherrill previously worked for three years at Tenet hospitals in South Carolina most recently as CEO of East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant I've really enjoyed their expertise and how they work together Then the opportunity to open a new hospital While the new hospital will open as part of Palm Beach Health Network — based two counties to the south — Sherrill hinted there may be plans on the horizon for more facilities on the Treasure Coast and we anticipate it to be the first of many if we do it all right," Sherrill said "We really see the Treasure Coast as maybe a potential for a new and expanding market one that's expanding and one that we can rise to meet," The Dallas-based for-profit company already has surgery centers in Vero Beach but Florida Coast Medical Center would be its first full-service hospital on the Treasure Coast "It is a full-service hospital," Sherrill said and while the focus will be on acute care and surgery the hospital will treat anyone who comes through its doors advanced cardiac care and diagnostic services There will also be an adjacent medical office building the roughly $200 million project is to include about 220,000 square feet of medical space The planned Sept. 9 opening date is nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, with a previous planned opening date of Sept. 20 having been announced last year Work is already underway to recruit physicians "We have quite a robust pipeline of physicians Some have worked in the area and are looking for alternative places We've got to recruit the right doctors to cover certain aspects," Sherrill said in advance of the first patients arriving in early September There are two aspects that Sherrill believes will help recruit doctors from other areas to move to the Treasure Coast so you start there," Sherrill said with a laugh Tenet is a great company to work with and partner with." With growth likely to continue on the Treasure Coast the hospital must be ready to adapt to whatever needs the community has and the thing I've continued to be reminded of is the hospital we were building a year ago and the hospital we're building today are different and the hospital that we are going to open with is going to be vastly different," Sherrill said Sherrill plans to do that through partnerships with the community and local physicians "I think that need changes as the community changes," Sherrill said While that is not the focus of this hospital it is a need Sherrill hopes to help address but we are focused on acute-care surgery," Sherrill said "There are some great independent primary cares in town and we will partner with them and work with them to grow the primary-care presence." More: Florida Coast Medical Center, new Port St. Lucie hospital, less than one year from opening More: Airport, hospitals, westward growth could top development trends in St. Lucie County in 2025 Those partnerships may include providing office space in the medical office building under construction at the site "There's office space here that we intend to grow with We know it's an issue that needs to be solved We'll find a way to work through it," Sherrill said If there is one thing that the community should know it is this: "We're here for the long haul." Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com ST. LUCIE COUNTY − A homicide victim found Monday in a hotel was identified Tuesday as Toni-Lynn Marie Trabb The hotel is on the east side of South U.S “The staff had maintenance men come and assist Lucie County deputies both arrived at the scene at the same time.” Rescue officials pronounced the woman dead The Sheriff's Office early Monday afternoon described the incident as a "suspicious death," though later in the afternoon officials said a search warrant was executed and Medical Examiner's Office and crime-scene officials determined the death was a homicide Bolonka declined to say what lead investigators to determine the death was a homicide Standing in a parking lot at the hotel Monday afternoon a man rented the room using a woman’s credit card relationship there is between the credit card and Trabb Bolonka said investigators have identified a person of interest but that person is not in custody Reported counterfeit cash in PSL: Port St. Lucie Police report linking man to three counterfeit money cases in Tradition Acquittal: Driver acquitted in 2021 crash in Port St. Lucie that killed a man cities in the largest increase in home prices over the last decade according to a Construction Coverage study The city saw a 175.9% increase in home prices from 2014-24, substantially out-growing national averages and standing out against other Florida cities in the real estate market, according to the construction and real estate consulting business. The median home price increased by $251,491 while the median household income was $74,928 Lucie was one of eight Florida cities that saw over 190% price increases — about double the national average 1 with a 280% increase from $74,000 in 2014 to over $281,000 today The study compared each city's median home value over the decade and calculated the percentage change in median home price over those 10 years then ordered the cities by their percentage change Oak Ridge Ranches: County has approved over half the developments Three Corners: Developer released new images in January The coronavirus pandemic dramatically accelerated home price growth That's because housing demand surged as remote work became more prevalent and people sought more spacious living environments supply chain disruptions and labor shortages constrained new home construction the Great Recession of 2008 devastated housing values The subsequent recovery and the pandemic's unprecedented economic effects created a perfect storm for home price increases Here's the percentage of the top 10 price increases: Rachelle Barrett is TCPalm's general assignment reporter Contact her at rachelle.barrett@tcpalm.com Lucie is the only the Treasure Coast city ranked among the best places in Florida to move in 2025 Port St. Lucie, the sixth-largest city in Florida, ranked No. 9 out of 47 Florida cities that ConsumerAffairs studied The overall ranking was based on its statewide ranking in these five weighted categories It started with the 50 most populous cities Pine Hills and Town 'n' Country because their crime data wasn't available It ranked Wesley Chapel as the best city and Miami Beach as the worst city Best attractions: 4 great green spaces in Port St. Lucie All things food: Roundups of the latest reviews, inspections, new and best restaurants Rachelle Barrett is TCPalm's general assignment reporter. Contact her at rachelle.barrett@tcpalm.com.Rachelle Barrett is TCPalm's general assignment reporter franchises and locally owned restaurants have opened in the Heart of Tradition — or will soon — as that area of Port St Lucie explodes with new residential neighborhoods and commercial shopping centers Many of the restaurants that have opened in strip malls along Southwest Village Parkway and Discovery Way offer fast-casual food focused on quick meals for pickup or takeout Here's a look at 13 restaurants that have opened or are coming soon to this burgeoning area of Port St which has grown to the sixth largest city in Florida since the coronavirus pandemic prompted people to move here Growing pains: Thousands of new residents drawn to Treasure Coast in past 5 years was still largely under construction in March just west of the Heart of Tradition sculpture These are the restaurants that have opened or are slated to open there soon: Port TraditionArgentine chef-owner Pablo Bouquet and partner Luis Rodriguez, who owns the Treasure Coast Pueblo Viejo chain aim to open their newest venture before summer combining all the richness of Mexican cuisine with all the healthiness of Mediterranean cuisine The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will feature tacos and a bar where mixologist Mike Merritt will create new concepts with mezcal and European wines Although the sign and a Facebook post advertises the restaurant as The South Kitchen and Bar A soft-opening menu will feature many of the same items that are on the soft-opening menu for TapasTerra Bouquet opened that tapas and bar on Southwest Martin Downs Boulevard in Palm City on March 9 The strip mall restaurant specializes in Spanish tapas and grills Bouquet previously owned Port Barna in the Treasure Coast Square mall in Jensen Beach, but sold his interests in that restaurant about a year ago. His Mediterranean menu there channeled Greek, Moroccan, French, Italian and Spanish influences, according to a TCPalm restaurant review also has owned restaurants in Buenos Aires This will be Treasure Coast restaurateur Kyle Greene's seventh existing restaurant, slated to open this summer. It will be his second Italian restaurant, the other one being the more casual Nonna's on A1A in Jensen Beach Diners will enter the lobby to find a polished classy but comfortable bar and lounge area The main dining room will have white tablecloths The outside patio will be modern but casual — come in your shorts and sandals — with a less expensive wine and pizza menu “We’re going to have a little bit of everything for everyone,” Greene said The style will be similar to the first restaurant he opened on the Treasure Coast, which was Kyle G’s Prime Seafood & Steaks at 10900 S That means you can choose a high-end steak and seafood experience or hanging out on the patio with oysters and flatbreads “We want to bring that idea to the west side of the county,” said Greene Southpaw Brewing Co.Thomas Neidhart and his sons, T.J. and Michael, are opening a second location of their New York brewery in Port St They opened their first location in Yaphank on Long Island in 2023 who has owned multiple pizzerias and restaurants in his hometown “We hope to make a big statement in the Heart of Tradition,” Neidhart said The Long Island brewery derives its name from him being left-handed and owner of Southpaw Construction in Wading River, New York, according to the Long Island Press brick-oven pizza that cooks in 3½ minutes in a Marra Forni rotator brick oven The 18 varieties on the menu include Mediterranean Appetizers include savory bar food such as beef empanadas and a Philly cheesesteak and Southwest chicken egg rolls combo A 22-foot-long bar has plush seats and indoor seating while the outdoor dining patio has a lounge area with comfy couches and a firepit Lucie location is the same concept with a similar menu brick-oven pizzas and TVs with seating outside Theodore Lena of Palm Beach Gardens is expected to open his Port St His original location is a breakfast and lunch restaurant on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens He first experienced the Tradition area in 2012 and has watched it grow and develop When Lena was ready to expand to a second location The Tradition location is more than double the size of the Palm Beach Gardens location with 115 seats indoors and another 40 seats outdoors The Tradition location will feature an urban and rustic design which is different from the old-school diner feel of the Palm Beach Gardens location Its breakfast menu features savory eggs Benedict Its lunch menu includes over a dozen sandwich and wrap options fresh and vegetable-filled salads and homemade soups all using the freshest locally sourced ingredients The Tradition location has all the same menu staples as the Palm Beach Gardens location but it also has an expanded menu with new dishes: a pancake charcuterie board an array of brunch cocktail favorites like an espresso martini tree and over-the-top bloody marys and a happy hour Owners Taylor Shull and Chef Dean Dupuis opened their first location in the Harbour Cay plaza on South Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce in 2023 Their restaurant combines Florida seafood and Southern barbecue into a unique menu that features Louisiana crawfish swordfish and salmon; and seafood that most restaurants don't serve ranch-hand barbecue sauce and a griddled potato bun Shull was a partner in RW Restaurant Group in 2012 when he hired Dupuis to open the now-closed Mussel Bar & Grille in Atlantic City Romanian native Vlad Bradescu spent six months working as a general contractor in downtown Fort Pierce and struggled to find authentic Middle Eastern cuisine inspiring him to open Swift Grill in Fort Pierce in 2022 Bradescu wants to bring a taste of his culture to the Treasure Coast while providing quick which Bradescu described as "vertical rotisserie fusion." He uses a Turkish mix of 80% beef and 20% lamb Swift Grill also serves locally produced kombucha on draft and fresh-pressed juices This South Florida chain plans to open two new locations in Port St but the website does not provide the addresses nor the name of the strip mall where the other one will be located The Stuart coffee shop and bakery opened at 2644 S.E Federal Highway in the Baron Shoppes in 2023 sweet and savory pastries and an all-day brunch that includes omelets The Peach Cobbler Factory will open its second Treasure Coast location in the Heart of Tradition soon but gave no details and hasn't responded to TCPalm's request for information The menu includes 12 different flavors for cobbler They also have cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats The Peach Cobbler Factory was started by Tamira and Juan Edgerton in Nashville They partnered with 25-year franchise industry veteran Greg George in 2021 then divested their interest in the company when former Albertsons CEO and chair Larry Johnston acquired a major stake in 2022 The company opened its 100th location on Aug which was 30 months after it opened its first franchised location It now has locations in 19 states and Washington The Treasure Coast's first franchised location is "coming soon" to the Heart of Tradition, the company reports on its website. It will be at 10124 S.W You can order online for pick-up or delivery Robeks has egift cards and a rewards program which gives you $3 off your first purchase The first Robeks opened in Southern California in 1996 Now there are locations in 13 states and Washington This will be the national Italian ice chain's second location on the Treasure Coast. The other is in the Indian River Mall in Vero Beach Bob Tumolo was a firefighter when he and his mother started selling Italian ices from their front porch in a Philadelphia suburb in 1984 Since then, the Italian ice chain has opened 581 franchise locations in 28 states including 43 in Florida and three in the Philippines This strip mall on Southwest Village Parkway is home to the Ice Cream Cafe and Pulcinella Italian Gourmet Market & Wood Fired Pizza The Taco Rico Tex-Mex cafe is slated to open there soon Domenic Balzano opened this market with takeout pizza in July 2024 The wood-fired pizza — made with homemade dough cauliflower crust or gluten-free crust — is cooked in a brick oven so the hot and fast cook results in a crispy crust and a soft interior The market offers homemade parbaked bread; house-made sausages canned tomato sauces and jarred olives; olive oils and vinegars; and prepared meals but so many different things go into making that perfect crust," Balzano said "It's an art to making pizza from scratch — from the sauce to the dough." This locally owned restaurant describes itself as a relaxed Japanese eatery known for teppanyaki dishes and bubble tea which first opened in Coral Gables in 1992 Among the 10 locations throughout the Miami area some are run by the original owners and some are run by franchisees INNOVATION PLAZAThis strip mall on Southwest Village Parkway is home to Cool Beanz ice cream shop and Poke Poke Sushi Bowl & Bubble Tea "a new generation of sushi based on the Hawaiian dish with some Japanese influence." The menu features build-your-own poke bowls; hot bowls with your choice of eel teriyaki beef or teriyaki chicken; and 14 kinds of bubble tea This strip mall on Southwest Village Parkway is home to Luso Portuguese Grille Chef-owner Fernando Dovale opened the restaurant in 2018; he also owns Fernando’s Dockside Grille on Southeast Veterans Memorial Parkway in Port St Churrasqueira specialties are barbecued on an authentic grill and brushed with house special Luso marinade Appetizers are largely fish and seafood-based The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating with an open kitchen Cheryl Smith is TCPalm's entertainment editor LUCIE — About three weeks after Stuart stopped adding fluoride to its drinking water temporarily The announcement was made Wednesday and affects 95,000 water customers in the city and it takes about two days to refresh the system Lucie West Services District serves 6,800 customers in Port St Officials there stopped adding fluoride to their water Dec “Our top priority is to provide our customers with the safest and highest-quality product possible,” said Kevin Matyjaszek we felt it was in our customers’ best interest to temporarily halt adding fluoride to our water until more information is available.” Lucie stopped adding fluoride to their drinking water temporarily because of Florida Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo's concerns about the health risks The risks include "adverse effects in children reducing IQ cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," Ladapo said in a statement last month “The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks especially for special populations like pregnant women and children,” Ladapo wrote “It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation." A great health achievementLadapo's statements come following years of widespread certainty that adding fluoride to drinking water is good for dental health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have lauded the use of fluoride in drinking water as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century Medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association have endorsed the idea More than 70% of Floridians drink water with added fluoride according to self-reported numbers collected by the Florida Department of Health City officials looked at what Stuart did but ultimately decided on their own to temporarily stop adding fluoride to the city's drinking water City Manager Jesus Merejo worked with Matyjaszek to make the decision on Friday A 1989 county ordinance requires the city to add fluoride to its drinking water County Attorney Daniel McIntyre told Port St Lucie officials that it's best to avoid enforcing the ordinance considering Ladapo's concerns It was unclear Wednesday when the city would reconsider the temporary halt to the addition of fluoride to the water The decision will involve the City Council and St More: Stuart temporarily removing fluoride from drinking water following surgeon general warning More: Some Treasure Coast governments still considering warning about fluoride in tap water City officials will consider new data if it comes in, and the public will have the chance to weigh in when the issue goes before the City Council. Its next meeting is Jan. 13. The City Council is aware of the issue because Merejo mentioned it to them, Samples said. But no votes were taken. Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.  READ MOREHomicide victim found at Port St Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO) identified the woman as Toni-Lynn Trabb and said she was found shortly after 11 a.m by cleaning staff at the Best Western 7900 South U.S Investigators soon identified her death as suspicious and their concerns were confirmed several hours later when the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide See also: Vero Beach woman arrested after leaking nudes in sextortion plot This tragic loss is a heartbreaking reminder of the senseless violence that devastates families,” Sheriff Richard Del Toro said in a statement “We are fully committed to bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring the victim’s family receives the support and closure they deserve.” Andrew Bolonka explained that the hotel room was purchased by a man with a woman’s credit card on Sunday he did not confirm if the credit card belonged to Trabb Bolonka also noted that a person of interest has been identified but did not release that individual’s name Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is urged to call the St Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video Lucie could be eligible to receive some much needed help The city of Port St. Lucie said it reopened the application process Friday morning for eligible individuals The city said grant funds will be used to provide emergency rental assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance 2 Rapid-Rehousing Program This program seeks to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with stable Imminent risk of homelessness is defined as an individual or family that is facing a loss of housing within 14 days The program will remain open until the $400,000 in funding is exhausted or by Sept Individuals must meet eligibility criteria to qualify for the program. To learn more about eligibility, click here  To apply, click here or call the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council at 772-213-9040.