The Treasure Coast population has been growing for a while, but it shot up in St. Lucie County following the start of the pandemic.

Department of Government Efficiency risks safety of military, nation with cuts; health care a problem locally and nationwide; Ukraine, Russia issue.

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Palm Beach County and a Red Flag Warning is in effect for Okeechobee and Treasure Coast counties from 11 a.m. until Thursday evening. Wildfires could easily start and be hard to control due to drought conditions, low humidity, and gusty winds.

Summer-like warmth through Monday with high temperatures in the mid to upper 80s! Cooler weather arrives Tuesday and Wednesday.

Firefighters on the Treasure Coast prepared for Red Flag Day Thursday and were ready to respond. Fortunately, no issues were reported. Forest rangers actively monitored weather conditions throughout the day. A Red Flag Warning indicates the potential for large and fast-moving fires if conditions are favorable.

There are some fun activities to do on the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach County this weekend. When: Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

On the Treasure Coast, one former fifth grader's message in a bottle, sent out over 16 years ago as part of a school project at Port Salerno Elementary, was recovered on Jan. 27 in St. Kitts.

Across the Treasure Coast, rainfall varied on Monday, Feb. 24, with Vero Beach achieving new records for the area. Previously, the record rainfall in Vero Beach for Feb. 24 was 1.68 inches in 1975, and for any day in February was 2.65 inches on Feb. 23, 1966.