Michael Caruso arrested

Michael Caruso was arrested today

Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael "Mike" Caruso was arrested and suspended from office on August 18, 2026, on criminal charges related to child sexual abuse.

Following the arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an official order suspending Caruso from his duties as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.

Arrest Details: The Arres--The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and local police agencies arrested Caruso early in the morning. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier initially announced the arrest. State authorities have indicated that the criminal investigation is ongoing.

The Palm Beach County Clerk's Office released a statement confirming that services and daily operations will continue uninterrupted. Executive leadership plans to manage the staff of roughly 650 employees while awaiting next steps from the Governor’s office.

Governor DeSantis originally appointed Caruso to the clerk position in August 2025. His Legislative Career prior to his appointment, served as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2018 to 2025.

2026 Election: Caruso is running uncontested in the Republican primary, meaning his name is not on the ballot, but he remains scheduled for the general.

Read about it...

Pedestrian killed by Brightline

Brightline gets another one

A person crossing the railroad tracks in Lake Worth Beach was struck and killed by a Brightline train early Sunday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.

At 12:12, deputies responded to North G Street and Lake Avenue. The unidentified person was walking west and crossing the tracks, according to the accident report. The train was traveling north approaching Lake Avenue.

For reasons unknown, the pedestrian walked into the path of the train and was struck by the front left side of the engine, PBSO said.

The person was declared dead at the scene by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. [Source: WPBF]

Man extradited from El Salvador to face trial in wife’s murder in Lake Worth Beach

Lake Worth Beach businesses dealing with tough code officers

Code Enforcement coming down hard on local businesses

Local businesses say code enforcement is coming down hard on them, and they're trying to understand why.

Over the last few months, business owners in the city of Lake Worth Beach say they're noticing more and more code citations for things that were never an issue in the past.

Thomas Conboy, with South Florida Engineering and Consulting, said that for him, it started with someone reporting him for not renewing his business license. "When the code enforcement officer showed up, he wrote me several additional violations. One of them was that the grass was too long," Conboy said. He maintains that it wasn't the case.

Conboy isn't alone.

Missy Vitone with Trashe Vintage said they were recently issued roughly 12 citations.

"The 12-foot skeleton had been up for over three years with no issues, then suddenly, after an unrelated situation, we were hit with multiple violations, including being told we needed a sculpture permit," she said.

The Mayor and Commissioner Christopher McVoy are looking into the various complaints as they do not want to drive businesses away.

Read more...

The City needs revenue and they're going where the money is. With Conboy there could be a shade of politics involved.

Boating accident in Intracoastal

The Cat that flipped looked like this Liberator.  They can reach speeds exceeding 100 mph

Catamaran flips 3 times in Intracoastal

Three people were injured, including two trauma alerts, when their 25-foot catamaran flipped over several times and partially sank in the Intracoastal Waterway near Summa Beach Park in West Palm Beach, responding local agencies and a witness told WPBF.

A witness said that the boat was probably going about 70, 80 miles an hour.

All three patients were taken by ground to St. Mary's Medical Center

The boat, which launched from Phil Foster Park, was moved by Sea Tow to Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach then FWC's Jupiter location. A representative with the company told WPBF the boat was green and a 25-foot customized Liberator.

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Barefoot Pools

Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies are searching for a burglary suspect caught on surveillance video at Barefoot Pools, a pool business in Lake Worth.

The break-in happened just before midnight on Friday, March 27, at the business, which is located in the 7500 block of Military Trail. One of the owners, Anthony Hellems, said he discovered the break-in Monday when he arrived at work.

"That's when I went to go use my tools, made the reports and here we are today," Hellems said. He said the suspect got onto the property by cutting through a chain-link fence on the north side of the business. Surveillance cameras captured the suspect on the property Friday night.

Hellems shared the video with WPBF. "We're looking at video of him actually coming in. This is him actually starting to take the extension cord, and then he moves his way over to the compressor pumps and the utility pumps," Hellems said.

He says the estimated losses, including damage, are close to $2,000.

Read about it...

Barefoot Pools service our pool at Lake Side Point Gardens.

Democrat from Lake Worth arrested

'Malicious purposes': Democrat elections volunteer arrested for stealing sensitive computer equipment ahead of race barely won by Democrat in Trump's home district

PALM BEACH, Florida – A Democrat elections volunteer in Palm Beach County has been arrested for allegedly stealing an encrypted access key and sensitive computer equipment ahead of last week's special election in which a Democrat won by 800 votes in the district including President Donald Trump's home at Mar-a-Lago.

John Panicci, 59, of Lake Worth, Florida, was taken into custody Saturday evening, accused of taking sensitive computer equipment and other supplies on March 19, just five days before the March 24 special election.

WPBF-TV in West Palm Beach reports: "Sheriff's office detectives determined that on March 19, the Supervisor of Elections Office conducted a training session for volunteers assisting with the election scheduled for March 24. During the session, Panicci stole an encrypted access key from a voter registration terminal.

Panicci is listed as a registered Democrat in Palm Beach County on state voter records, with an active registration dating to 2001.

Read more about it...

Affordable Housing coming to Lake Worth Beach

$850,000 in federal funding announced for affordable housing in Lake Worth Beach

Housing that still will not be affordable

"We know that more than half of the people are spending more than 30% of their income on housing."

Federal and local officials announce $850,000 investment to help build affordable housing units in downtown Lake Worth Beach, targeting families earning below 80% of the area median income.

Frankel stated, "The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Palm Beach County now exceeds $2,200, and rising housing costs are continuing to price working families out of their neighborhoods."

According to Joan Oliva, executive director of the Lake Worth Beach CRA, rental rates will vary depending on unit size and occupancy.

"Those rents come out to be a little under $2,000. So, it depends on how many people are in the unit. But we're looking at a range of $1,500, maybe $1,400 to $2,000," Oliva said.

Read about it...

The Lake Worth Beach CRA says three vacant lots will be transformed into affordable housing units using these federal funds, at the following locations [WFLX]:

30 South K Street – Lake Worth Beach FL 33460 - Within the next two years
126 South J Street – Lake Worth Beach FL 33460 - Within the next two years
 24 South L Street – Lake Worth Beach FL 33460 - Within the next three years

House fire on Highridge Road

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue investigating residential fire in Lake Worth Beach

On Saturday at 8:26 p.m., fire rescue responded to the 1900 block of High Ridge Road in Lake Worth Beach for a reported residential structure fire.

When fire rescue units arrived at the scene, they observed black smoke from the rear of the structure.

The fire was extinguished without issue, and no injuries were reported. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue investigators responded to the scene to determine the origin and cause of the fire. [WBPF]

Walgreens was robbed in Lake Worth Beach

Suspect wanted in Lake Worth Beach Walgreens robbery

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is asking for help to find a man involved in a robbery at a Walgreens in Lake Worth Beach on Nov. 18, 2025, around 7:55 p.m.

Deputies say the suspect grabbed cash from a cashier during a transaction and ran away.

Described as a Black male with a thin build, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall. He was wearing a white sweatshirt with the words "Blood Donor," black shorts, and red sneakers.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Lowmaster at LowmasterE@pbso.org or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Click here... to see the criminal. 

Vandalism at Lake Worth Beach's parks

'It's disgusting': Vandalism to Lake Worth Beach park restrooms persists

A sink was lirerally pulled off the wall

Would you pay 50 cents to use a public restroom at a city park if it meant it would be clean? The mayor of the city of Lake Worth Beach proposed the idea as one way to stop the damage being done to park restrooms.

Officials with the city of Lake Worth Beach are desperately searching for a solution to the damage being done to park bathrooms.

At a recent city commission meeting, Mayor Betty Resch expressed frustrations with the state of the bathrooms at the city's public parks. She said it's disgusting what's being done to them.

"It's disgusting that people come in and destroy our bathrooms. They use them to have sex. They use them to shoot up. I don't know what the heck else. I mean, I've gone in there and there's like suitcases piled up," she said.

Read about it... and some of the suggested solutions.

Fire Rescue and Ambulances at Lake Worth High

Lake Worth High School fight, pepper spray incident sends 32 people to 4 hospitals

44 Fire Rescue units and private ambulances respond to school for 'mass casualty' incident

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. — More than 30 people were treated and taken to four area hospitals on Thursday after a fight that also involved pepper spray at Lake Worth High School, according to fire rescue.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said they were called to the school at about 12:30 p.m. for the fight.

Fire Rescue Capt. Tom Reyes said that 44 Fire Rescue units and private ambulances responded to the school to "quickly assess, treat and transport" students and faculty who needed assistance.

As of 1:56 p.m., Reyes said they had taken 32 students and faculty to hospitals. They also assessed another 10-12 students, whose family members arrived and decided to take them home.

Arrest of Illegal by Florida Highway Patrol

Lake Worth traffic stop leads to arrest and escape attempt by undocumented driver

"On July 21, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted a white van with no front bumper and a broken taillight on Lake Worth Road near I-95. When the trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver kept going before eventually stopping in an empty parking lot.

Troopers discovered that neither the driver nor the passenger had a valid license, and both admitted they were from Guatemala. Border Patrol determined the men were in the U.S. illegally and requested that they be brought to their Riviera Beach station.

While being transported, both men jumped out of the patrol truck near I-95 and Blue Heron Boulevard, running into the woods. A perimeter search was put in place, but the passenger was not found.

The driver, who had been arrested for driving without a license, now faces an additional charge of escape.

Authorities are still searching for the passenger." [WPBF]

Plane crash at John Prince Park

Small plane that crashed in Lake Worth Beach was on test flight with new propeller, officials say

"Authorities have confirmed that a small plane that crashed last month in Lake Worth Beach was on a test flight after a new propeller had been installed.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said that about a minute into the flight, the plane experienced a loss of engine power.

The pilot brought the plane down on a road near a park (John Prince Park) but clipped a car on the way down (on Lake Osborne Drive).

One person on board the plane and five people on the ground suffered minor injuries. [WPBF]

Lake Worth beach Evacuated on Thursday

LAKE WORTH BEACH evacuation

"A beachgoer on Thursday discovered what appeared to be a military ordnance marker on Lake Worth Beach, prompting an evacuation and road closures.

Military ordnance refers to weapons, ammunition and other military supplies used by armed forces. It encompasses a wide range of items, including bombs, missiles, artillery and even smaller arms and ammunition.

The individual picked up the item and brought it to a nearby lifeguard, who immediately notified the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Upon arrival, deputies evacuated the beach and closed surrounding roadways, including the upper parking lot, as a precaution. Patrons at Benny’s on the Beach were advised to shelter in place until the incident was resolved.

PBSO’s Bomb Squad responded to the scene and safely removed the marker. All areas were deemed safe and reopened by 8 p.m. [WPBF]

Lake Worth Beach Great American Raft Race

Neighbors compete in Lake Worth Beach’s Great American Raft Race

The Tropical Ridge neighborhood won the competition

Homicide on Lake Avenue

Murder--body found on Lake Avenue

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide in Lake Worth Beach after deputies responded to a welfare check on Lake Avenue just after 10 p.m. Sunday.

Deputies found the body of an adult male with apparent stab wounds. A person of interest has been identified.

Click here for video

For The Children celebrating Haitian Heritage Month

May is Haitian Heritage Month

And we have plenty in Lake Worth Beach

"And as it wraps up, a local nonprofit is holding an event in Lake Worth. To highlight Haitian culture and 25 years of service to children, "For the Children" will be hosting a celebration at the Lake Worth High School ball field.

The event is Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear Haitian flag colors: red, white and blue."

Board of Directors of For The Children:

Lana St. Hillaire, Board Chairperson
Carmelle Chapman, Board Secretary
Ted Brownstein, Board Treasurer
Sam Goodstein, Board Member
Reverend, Floyd Narcisse, Grant Chapel AME Church/Board Member
Reginale Durandisse, Founder & CEO

Perhaps they will also fly the American Flag. It is estimated that there are 3,677 Haitians living in Lake Worth Beach.

Tar balls at Lake Worth beach

I thought it was a piece of algae': Lake Worth Beach swimmers report oily tar balls washing ashore

Thieves in Lake Worth Beach

The above cart was dumped off at our dumpster. Bodegon was called and they retrieved it.

It's not only shopping carts that can cost up to $300 but now there is a rash of car theft in Lake Worth Beach targeting Kias causing a lot of expensive repairs of those they attempted to steal.

My car Friday morning...towed to repair shop. Thieves broke back passenger side window to get in and tore apart the ignition system. Damage at $2,018 so far.