1. BOATING FATALITIES: Florida leads the nation
The 2024 Boating Accident Statistical Report shows that Florida, dubbed the “Boating Capital of the World” by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is also the most dangerous.
With more than a million registered vessels, Florida leads the nation in the number of annual boating fatalities.
“The vast size of Florida’s inland, coastal and offshore patrol areas, combined with a significant population of avid and diverse boaters, presents a challenge for the FWC and local and federal maritime enforcement partners,” the FWC said in a news release.
The 2024 Report includes 685 reportable boating accidents occurred in Florida — 26 more than in 2023; 81 fatalities were reported — 22 more than the previous year.
The FWC is urging boaters to stay vigilant with the onset of summer.
For information on FWC’s boater safety courses, go to https:// myfwc.com/boating/safety-education. To read the 2024 Boating Accident Statistical Report, go to https:// myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/ accidents. – Lucia Viti/USA TODAY Network-Florida
2. GAS PRICES: Have risen slightly in the last week
Average gasoline prices in Southwest Florida have risen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.14/g, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 94 stations in our area.
Prices in Naples are 5.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 37.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 2.4 cents in the last week and stands at $3.465 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Naples was priced at $2.89/g while the most expensive was $3.49/g, a difference of 60.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.45/g while the highest was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.64/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.09/g. The national average is down 6.9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 41.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
3. COKE IS IT: Remains atop bestselling soda list
When it comes to soda, some brands pop off year after year. Regular Coke remained in the top spot on the annual list of bestselling soda brands, according to Beverage Digest, a trade publication covering the beverage industry that released its annual data measuring America’s bestselling soda brands.
Meanwhile, Dr Pepper entered the second spot and Sprite edged out Pepsi for No. 3.
The list ranked sodas based on each company’s sales performance in 2024. It also compared popular sodas with other beverage types, like bottled water and sports drinks.
While many Americans have longstanding opinions on the superior choice between Coca-Cola or Pepsi products, a few other popular soda brands have inched their way to the top of the ranking. This year, Sprite knocked Pepsi out of the top three spots on the list.
While Coke and Pepsi were the respective No. 1 and 2 bestselling sodas in the US for many years, Dr Pepper overtook Pepsi in 2023 as the No. 2 bestselling soda on the list.
This year, Pepsi fell another spot to Coke’s Sprite brand, making it the fourth bestselling soda in 2024, according to Beverage Digest’s data. – Melina Khan/USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: 3 To Know: Florida leads the nation in boating fatalities; gas prices up slightly
Reporting by Marco Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
