PORT ST. LUCIE — A man who reportedly “escaped” from a hospital told police he went in a house to get a drink of water, later noting he took a cold shower and grabbed some items from the residence, according to an arrest affidavit released Tuesday.

Justino Cruz, 27, went to jail on felony burglary and misdemeanor petit theft charges following the alleged Monday night incident on Southeast Berkshire Boulevard.

While the victims were telling police their home wasn’t as they left it, Cruz, of the 1500 block of Southeast Royal Green Circle, walked out of the backyard, according to a report.
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Before incoming seventh-graders step into their first classes this fall, they must brave the sting of a newly required vaccine against whooping cough and two other diseases.

Local health departments are offering the Tdap vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) this summer at health clinics or at residents’ request so students can be prepared for the start of school.

The new state requirement for students to take the vaccine before entering the seventh grade stems from concerns that adolescents and adults immunized against whooping cough in infancy are contracting the disease when they’re older. Before this year, the vaccine for adolescents, licensed in 2005, was suggested but not required. Counties have offered the vaccine every year.
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FORT PIERCE — Despite the Florida sunshine, a nationwide report by California-based ZipRealty that tracks the hottest ZIP codes nationwide pegged an area of Fort Pierce as not being so hot.

The report, which tracks how offers submitted by buyers and accepted by sellers compares to a home’s original list price, said 81.75 percent of all homebuyers gave lowball offers to sellers in Fort Pierce’s 34949 ZIP code. (more…)

FORT PIERCE — Eleven people trickled into the Fort Pierce Community Center Wednesday to spend the night as temperatures dipped into the 30s.

For the fifth night this year, the center had been turned into a temporary cold weather shelter for the homeless.

This morning, the folks who took refuge awoke before dawn to fold blankets, down some hot coffee and layer on their sweaters and flannel shirts. (more…)