Local & National News (2/25/25) – Palm Beach & Treasure Coast Democratic Socialists of America

Local News
Nurse Attacked While Working: Leelamma Lal, a nurse at HCA Florida Palms West, was brutally attacked by a patient on February 18, leaving her with severe injuries, including broken bones in her face and the potential loss of vision in both eyes. Her children, Cindy Joseph and Chris Lal, shared their shock and grief in an interview, recounting the moment they learned of the attack when a male voice answered a call from their mother’s phone. Lal was attacked by Stephen Scantlebury, a patient under Florida’s Baker Act, and was later airlifted to the hospital. The family expressed frustration over the lack of proper psychiatric care training for nurses in non-Baker Act facilities and questioned why Scantlebury was brought to Palms West in the first place. The family also raised concerns about the hospital’s inadequate security and a 911 call from the hospital’s CEO, who seemed more focused on the Baker Act patient than on Lal’s condition. Attorneys are considering a negligence lawsuit against the hospital, citing the failure to provide necessary protections for staff. Scantlebury, who faces attempted murder charges, is also facing a potential hate crime enhancement. His attorney claimed his actions were due to a mental health crisis. Lal’s family is coping with the emotional toll, fearing for her recovery and expressing anger at the situation. Despite the trauma, Lal is awake, conscious, and responsive, though she is grappling with the possibility of permanent vision loss. The family describes her as a devoted mother and grandmother who has given much of her life to caring for others.

Riviera Beach’s Water Plant: The city of Riviera Beach announced plans to begin construction on a new water treatment plant in June 2025, after delays of over three years. The plant, originally estimated to cost $150 million in 2021, is now projected to cost around $400 million. The city’s Special Utilities District, which is overseen by the city council, faces over 100 violations related to water quality during this delay. Resident Mary Braham, who expressed concerns about yellow water from her tap, hopes the new plant will solve the utility issues and holds public officials accountable. City officials have also approved rate hikes to fund the project and are exploring loan options.

Garbageman Gets Attacked: A dispute began when a garbage collector tried to wake up 56-year-old Donnell Holloman, who was sleeping on a porch in Delray Beach. The argument escalated, and Holloman threw bricks at the collector and his truck, injuring the victim’s elbow. Holloman fled but was later arrested on charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief.

Florida Turnpike Noise Concerns: Residents near Florida’s Turnpike west of Boca Raton, particularly in the Whisper Walk community, are expressing frustration about the noise caused by the highway, especially since there’s no sound wall in place. At a recent WPTV event, locals, including Diane Weiner, Gail Carreras, and Nancy Hermele, spoke about the disruptive noise that makes it difficult to enjoy the outdoors. Despite previous requests for a sound wall, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) rejected their requests. With the expansion of the Turnpike, which includes adding a fourth lane, plans for a sound wall won’t be implemented until 2027. Residents are concerned about increased noise and dust during the construction. FDOT’s noise study focuses on decibels and costs, but doesn’t consider construction noise.

Laser Treatment Center Files for Bankruptcy: Body Details, a laser treatment center, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, leaving customers with locked doors, unanswered calls, and concerns about their prepaid services. Long-time customer Shae Lynn, who paid nearly $3,000 for treatments, was shocked to discover the closure online and faced canceled appointments without notice. The company initially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July to reorganize, but in December, it switched to Chapter 7, ceasing operations and liquidating assets. Customers are unlikely to get refunds, as Chapter 7 rarely allows full repayment to creditors. Attempts to contact the company have been unsuccessful.

St. Lucie County Ramps Up Immigration Enforcement: Over a month into President Trump’s second term, local law enforcement in St. Lucie County, Florida, is ramping up efforts to enforce immigration laws more aggressively. Sheriff Richard Del Toro has restructured his agency to enforce these laws and signed up for the 287(g) program, which trains deputies to work with ICE and execute federal immigration warrants. Nearly 70 inmates in the county have ICE holds, and the sheriff’s office has created a special division to focus on homeland security. Marine deputies may soon extend their jurisdiction into federal waters to enforce immigration laws offshore. Gov. Ron DeSantis allocated $300 million for immigration enforcement, which could support Del Toro’s department. While there haven’t been any migrant landings recently, deputies are vigilant due to potential threats like human trafficking and narcotics smuggling. Del Toro is optimistic about the impact of these efforts moving forward.

National News
Warnings About Apartment Scams: Kevin Hines thought he found a great deal on a one-bedroom apartment for $650 a month, far below the median rent of $1,585. After contacting the landlord through Facebook Marketplace and paying a total of $1,500 (deposit, first month’s rent, and application fee), Hines discovered the listing was a scam. The ad disappeared, and he never heard from the landlord again. Realtor.com’s senior economist, Joel Berner, recommends negotiating with your current landlord for a lower rent by comparing similar properties or offering to sign a longer lease for a discount. Although rent prices are slowly declining, they won’t return to pre-2020 levels. To avoid scams, always meet property managers in person and inspect the rental before paying any fees.

Joann Stores Are Closing: Joann, a major fabric and craft retailer, announced that all of its stores will close pending bankruptcy court approval. The GA Group, along with the Prepetition Term Loan Agent, has been chosen as the winning bidder to acquire most of Joann’s assets. As part of the deal, going-out-of-business sales will be held at all locations. Joann, which has been in business for over 80 years with more than 800 stores nationwide, previously filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and planned to keep stores open by securing financing. However, it shifted focus to finding a buyer and closing 500 underperforming stores. Ultimately, Joann will close all locations. The company expressed gratitude to its employees, customers, and communities.

Shakes Recalled for Listeria: A recall has been issued for Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brand frozen supplemental shakes linked to a deadly listeria outbreak across nearly two dozen states. The shakes, distributed to hospitals and long-term care facilities, have been associated with 38 cases of listeria and 11 deaths. The FDA’s investigation found the outbreak strain in the facilities that purchased these shakes. Distributors and customers have been advised not to sell or serve these products.

Starbucks Fires Corporate Workers: Starbucks is laying off 1,100 corporate employees globally as new CEO Brian Niccol streamlines operations to improve efficiency, reduce complexity, and increase accountability. Niccol announced that affected employees will be informed by Tuesday. Additionally, several hundred unfilled positions will be eliminated. The layoffs do not affect baristas or warehouse staff. Niccol aims to simplify the company’s structure, cut unnecessary roles, and improve decision-making processes. These changes come as Starbucks faces sluggish sales, with a 2% decline in global same-store sales for fiscal 2024. Despite challenges, the company recently exceeded sales expectations, partly due to changes like removing extra charges for non-dairy milk and streamlining its menu. Starbucks’ stock rose slightly on Monday.

FDA Workers Reinstated: After mass firings at the FDA, some probationary staff were unexpectedly reinstated. Starting Friday night, employees in key areas, particularly medical device reviews, were notified their terminations were reversed. This decision followed pressure from lobbyists for the medical device industry, which contributes significant funding to the FDA. The reinstated staffers, including teams of device reviewers, had specialized expertise that could be hard to find in the private sector. While the FDA hasn’t confirmed the exact number of reinstatements, around 700 employees were initially let go. Some sectors, like food and tobacco, didn’t see the same rehiring efforts. The chaos from these firings, particularly in departments overseeing essential products like infant formula, led to significant internal disruption, with a resignation from the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods over the terminations.

Unions Challenge OPM Email: Unions representing federal employees are challenging an email sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requiring workers to list five accomplishments from the past week. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) argued that the request has no legal basis, conflicts with regulations, and undermines federal employees’ integrity. They criticized Elon Musk’s influence on the OPM, with AFGE president Everett Kelley demanding an apology. The union has also filed a lawsuit. Some agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Defense, have told their staff not to respond. President Trump supported the initiative, claiming it helped ensure accountability and identify non-working government employees.

U.S. Veterans Face Job Losses: Many military veterans, after serving in the armed forces, continued to serve their country by working for the federal government, making up about 30% of the workforce. Veterans bring valuable skills, including teamwork and a deep commitment to the country. However, with the Trump administration’s push to reduce the federal workforce, thousands of veterans may soon lose their jobs. Even those with years of service are at risk, with some already being laid off, including a retired disabled Army veteran with 18 years at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Experts warn these layoffs could harm veterans’ financial stability, mental health, and families, with critics calling it a major betrayal.

Federal Judge Blocks DOGE Data Access: A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday blocking Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive data at certain government agencies. The order prevents the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing personally identifiable information with DOGE, but does not apply to the Treasury Department. The data involved includes addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and more. The judge ruled that the Trump administration likely violated the Privacy Act of 1974 in granting such access. The order will last until March 10. This is part of ongoing legal efforts to stop DOGE from accessing sensitive government data.