News Update for 1/31/23

Highlands County school board members met last night in a four-hour workshop to discuss vendor proposals to present a "comprehensive health education program" to local middle and high school students.
After hearing a pair of hour-long presentations, then a stream of comments from educators, citizens and members of a committee appointed by Highlands County Superintendent of Schools Brenda Longshore, the board called for a special meeting to deal with the "sex education" portion of the cirriculum.
The February 8th session will be held in the afternoon and will discuss the "Relationships Under Construction" program. In the meantime, the RUC staff will be getting a printed copy ready for citizen review, and county staff reportedly again will contact the state for direction on the issue.

It’s that time of year again, the Highlands County Legislative Delegation will make a whistle stop here tomorrow.
Florida District 29 State Senator Erin Grall and District 83 Florida House Representative Kaylee Tuck will receive legislative requests from local dignitaries and address critical issues and work to advance Highlands County’s priorities.
Both Grall and Tuck also may comment on local bills and other issues.
The session will be held in the board room of the Highlands County Government Center on S. Commerce Ave. in Sebring. The meeting will be held beginning at 9:30.

Ten people were injured – two seriously – in a Polk County drive-by shooting yesterday
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor says apparently four shooters opened fire from a dark blue, four-door Nissan with tinted windows and a temporary tag, then sped off.
Two victims reportedly are in critical condition, the other eight have injuries that are said to be not life-threatening. The victims are men between 20 and 35. No names have been released and no arrests have been announced.
There’s no word on a motive, but Taylor believes the victims were targeted, and drugs may have been a factor.