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Studio 67FAC News Clips – May 27, 2026
COUNTY
WCTV
FEMA approves nearly $1 million to reimburse Leon County for Hurricane Helene cleanup
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County is being reimbursed nearly $1 million that was spent after Hurricane Helene.
WQCS
St. Lucie County to change its economic incentives encouraging development
- LUCIE COUNTY — St. Lucie County officials have approved sweeping updates to the county’s economic incentive programsin an effort tostandardize how businesses are rewarded for building and expanding in the area.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Today
Florida ending property taxes won’t really save us money | Opinion
We are in a season of giving, but one trendy giveaway idea has actually been making the political rounds for months.
DATA CENTERS
My Panhandle
Jackson County BOCC place moratorium on discussion for AI Data Center
JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. – Hundreds gathered outside and inside the Jackson County Commission board room to have their voices heard on an item that wasn’t even listed on the agenda.
Florida Politics
Citrus County places temporary halt on data centers
‘We’re trying to get the guardrails in place.’
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Florida Politics
Local leaders encourage Floridians to begin making preparations ahead of start to hurricane season
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – With the official start of hurricane season just days away, officials across Florida are advising residents to make sure they’re prepared.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Budget conference: Lawmakers want to spend millions on affordable housing
The Legislature wants to fully fund the state’s affordable housing trust funds.
Tampa Bay Times
Florida’s delayed $115 billion budget puts money toward AI, AIDS drugs
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s legislative leaders, after weeks of negotiations and delays, are ready to give Gov. Ron DeSantis his final budget.
FAC News Clips – May 19, 2026
COUNTY
Fox 35
Helmets, speed limits, fines: New e-bike, e-scooter rules being considered by Orange County
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County leaders are considering requiring helmets, setting speed limits, and/or fines to help enforce e-bike and e-scooter safety among kids and teens.
PROPERTY TAXES
USA Today
Why Florida’s property tax plans could upend local governments
These are trying times for municipal governments in Florida.
Flagler Live
DeSantis Renews Push For Florida Property Tax Cuts
Still without a public proposal to offer, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday doubled down on his year-long call to slash Florida’s property taxes.
FAC News Clips – May 18, 2026
COUNTY
News-Press
Collier County landfill expansion approved
While there isn’t a need to expand Collier County’s landfill yet, the county is planning for it.
News 4 Jax
Ironman Jacksonville hit its stride with athletes, but locals say the city wasn’t race-ready
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Ironman Triathlon wrapped up a busy weekend in Jacksonville, drawing nearly 2,000 athletes from around the world.
Bradenton Herald
Orlando teen’s death underscores concerns about e-bikes, e-scooters
The death of a 13-year-old Lake Nona boy, fatally injured on Mother’s Day while riding an electric scooter to buy flowers for his mom, has cast a pall over the Orange County commission’s scheduled discussion Tuesday about regulating so-called micro-mobility devices.
The Apopka Voice
Orange County recognized nationally for environmental health and extreme heat resilience efforts
Orange County was honored in the Extreme Heat category for its targeted, data-driven efforts to protect residents and strengthen long-term environmental resilience.
ENVIRONMENT
WFSU
Florida municipalities are spearheading shoreline resiliency
Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States with about 8,500 miles of tidal shoreline.
PROPERTY TAXES
BWHL
Property taxes already low in Escambia, Santa Rosa amid Florida debate
Despite all of the noise in the Florida Legislature over the possibility of Florida cutting or even eliminating property taxes, state homeowners are actually better off than much of the United States. And in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, it’s even better.
Florida Politics
Rick Scott throws salt on Ron DeSantis’ property tax repeal pitch
‘How are you going to fund education and transportation, the environment, things like that?’
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Good news.
FAC News Clips – May 15, 2026
COUNTY
105.9
Citrus County Considers Pause On AI Data Center Projects
Citrus County, FL – Citrus County leaders are considering a temporary halt on new artificial intelligence data center applications as residents continue raising concerns about the potential environmental and infrastructure impact of large scale developments proposed in the area.
Tallahassee Democrat
Leon County sends ‘historic harms’ back to charter review
The Leon County Commission is sending its “historic harms” charter amendment back to the citizens charter review committee so it can create a new version to comply with state and federal laws.
Town-Crier
County Commissioners Hit The Brakes On School Zone Speed Camera Plan
The Palm Beach County Commission is hitting the brakes on installing traffic cameras in unincorporated school zone areas, but they are not ruling them out entirely.
WGCU
About half of Florida is considered rural.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Orlando Sentinel
The hurricane cone will look a little different this season
Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, revealed the center’s new cone of uncertainty this week at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference in West Palm Beach, as well as an experimental cone that will be more definitive about storm tracks.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Route-Fifty
‘No time to waste’ in prepping governments for AI cyber threats, top Dem lawmaker says
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Department of Homeland Security to work closer with states and localities, and bemoaned the end of federal funding to an information-sharing center.
PROPERTY TAXES
Raiders Wire
Florida property tax rates: Where does Florida rank in the U.S.?
According to Rocket Mortgage, Florida ranked 28th in 2025 in the amount of property tax burden with an effective rate of 0.79 percent.
LEGISLATION
WGCU
House and Senate budget talks remain unsettled on Everglades, citrus
TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate budget negotiators managing environmental and agricultural issues approached the special session’s first deadline with funding gaps still outstanding in areas involving citrus research, land preservation and Everglades restoration.
Miami Herald
DeSantis and Perez feud intensifies during budget talks
Gov. Ron DeSantis has grown frustrated at pieces of his agenda being thwarted by the GOP-led House, and lashed out at Speaker Daniel Perez on Thursday.
Florida Politics
Budget conference: Senate gives up on most of Ben Albritton’s Rural Renaissance proposals
Ben Albritton has been pushing for the state to invest more in Florida’s rural areas. It’s been a tough fight with the House.
FAC News Clips – May 13, 2026
COUNTY
Spectrum 13
Citrus County hits pause button on data center development
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – The ongoing discussions of building a data center in the Lecanto area are taking a pause.
Monticello News
County is awarded $93K to continue solid waste program
The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners recently reaffirmed an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
WTXL
Leon County set to hold workshop to discuss future of COCA funding
Leon County Commissioners will hold a workshop on the future of funding for the Council on Culture and Arts (COCA).
WCTV
Leon County Commission revives historical harms amendment, sends it back to review committee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County commissioners voted 4-2 to revive a historical harm charter amendment on Tuesday.
Florida Politics
James Uthmeier sues Jacksonville for $5M over ‘illegal gun registry’
‘The Second Amendment is not a second-class right.’
WUWF
These residents are fighting to save the ‘character’ of their community
A group of residents in the community of Poquito Bayou are fighting to save 40 acres of natural land from being a high-density development.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Times Union
Eliminating property taxes in Florida could affect schools. Here’s how
Floridians already don’t pay income tax, but could property taxes be eliminated as well?
STATE
Florida Politics
‘America 250: A Portrait of Florida’ docuseries tells the ‘incredible story’ of Florida
‘Florida is an incredible state with an incredible story.
LEGISLATION
NBC Miami
Florida bill signed to drop permitting from small building projects
The measure (HB 803) also limits local government officials from inspecting the work, allows certain out-of-state licensed building officials to work for one year after a declared state of emergency, and provides an exemption from building permits for certain temporary residential hurricane or flood protection walls.
Midflorida News
Lawmakers meet to resolve budget stalemate
TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers convened a special session Tuesday to resolve a $1.4 billion difference between the preferred spending plans of the House and Senate.
Florida Politics
Budget conference: House and Senate support $1.8B for road construction projects
Gov. DeSantis first announced his 4-year, $7B Moving Florida Forward effort in 2023.
Florida Politics
Expect the rural lines to come back, at a discount.
FAC News Clips – May 12, 2026
COUNTY
News 4 Jax
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Nassau County commissioners are considering a proposed moratorium on “data center facilities.”
WTSP
Hillsborough County 911 dispatchers adopt AI tool to support emergency response, language access
Hillsborough County’s 911 dispatch will begin using AI to improve emergency response, enable photo and media sharing, and support language translation.
BWHL
Sarasota County approves $18M waterfront purchase near Siesta Key
Sarasota County will proceed with an $18.1 million purchase of waterfront property in the 1500 block of Stickney Point Road near Siesta Key but will not make accommodations to save Siesta Key Watersports.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Tallahassee Democrat
When is hurricane season in Florida? Find your evacuation zone
NOAA and the National Weather Service just ended Hurricane Preparedness Week.
STATE
WUWF
Florida immigration enforcement costs were nearly $460M within the past year
The Florida Division of Emergency Management spent another $45.3 million for immigration enforcement-related costs, bringing the total for the year to nearly $460 million.
LEGISLATION
Florida Phoenix
Money, money, money: FY 26-27 budget special session is here
With billions on the line for Florida’s schools, the environment, and its neediest citizens, state legislators return to Tallahassee Tuesday to finally craft a new state budget.
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida Democrats call for suspension of gas tax
The Florida House’s top Democrat called for Florida’s gas tax to be suspended the day before lawmakers gather in Tallahassee for a special session to write the 2026-27 state budget.
Tampa Bay Times
Tourism funding cut for Key West Pride event as county cites state DEI law
“Monroe County emphasizes that these changes are not discretionary and are required to comply with state law,” a spokesperson said.