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Studio 67FAC 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.
FAC News Clips – May 8, 2026
COUNTY
Bradenton Times
BRADENTON — Manatee County’s Lakewood Ranch administration building, located at 9000 Town Center Parkway, will soon be receiving a backup generator system through a 20-year Supplemental Power Services Agreement with Florida Power & Light.
Orlando Weekly
Orange County expands access to cooling centers during extreme heat
County leaders agreed to lower the heat index threshold required to open these county-operated cooling centers
Alachua Chronicle
I appreciate School Board Chair Thomas Vu taking the time to address my letter at the School Board’s April 29 workshop.
PROPERTY TAXES
News Chief
Eliminate property taxes? Here’s what that would look like in Polk
Florida politicians have been talking for months about cutting property taxes.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WTSP
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, FEMA review panel members proposes major disaster response overhaul
The recommendation shifts more responsibility to states while speeding up how disaster aid reaches communities.
LEGISLATION
Hoodline
DeSantis Signs Permit And Land‑Use Bills In Jacksonville
Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 6, 2026 signed a package of five bills in Jacksonville that rewires how small residential work, plat approvals, septic systems, stormwater credits and bail-bond reporting are handled across Florida.
Click Orlando
Gov. DeSantis signs 6 more Florida laws. Here’s the full lineup
Many new laws take effect on July 1
Tampa Bay Times
DeSantis signs bill creating guardrails for data centers in Florida
FAC News Clips – May 7, 2026
COUNTY
Miami Times Online
Miami-Dade is asking hospitals across the county to improve their patients’ food
Hospital food has a reputation for being mediocre at best — bland, highly processed, nutritionally adequate, but not overly enjoyable, and served lukewarm or cold.
Hometown News
Volusia County Schools launches drone-based safety system
Volusia County Schools is the first school district in Central Florida – and the nation – to launch a drone safety protection program against mass shootings. This initiative began with a live demonstration at Deltona High School on May 1.
Florida Politics
St. Johns County government officials are jumping into the podcasting arena
In an effort to enhance outreach, St. Johns County is cross-promoting podcasts on multiple media platforms.
DATA CENTERS
Citrus County Chronicles
County seeks tighter rules for data centers
Citrus County is taking a closer look at how to handle the rapid rise of data centers and what that could mean for residents.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
‘It is doable.’
FAC News Clips – May 6, 2026
COUNTY
WFTV
Orange County updates extreme heat rules for cooling centers
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County is making changes to help keep residents safe during the dangerous summer heat.
WFTV
Orange County New Fee Would Fund $1 Billion Projects
Orange County commissioners are considering implementing a new stormwater utility fee to fund drainage and water quality projects.
DATA CENTERS
Jax Today
St. Johns commissioners worry about the possibility of data centers
Elected officials in St. Johns County are worried about what the rise of artificial intelligence could mean for their area.
STATE
Wink News
Lawsuits challenge DeSantis redistricting plan affecting Lee, Collier counties
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Several lawsuits have been filed claiming Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting proposal is unconstitutional and considered gerrymandering.
Fox 13
Florida CFO announces new hurricane preparedness initiative across the state
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With hurricane season less than a month away, state officials are making a push to make sure Floridians are prepared ahead of time.
TECHNOLOGY
Route-Fifty
Beyond 99.9%: Why public safety can’t afford ‘standard’ uptime
The report highlights how public safety leaders can leverage tech and operational changes to strengthen their defense against drone-enabled threats during large-scale gatherings.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Palm Beach County OKs Donald Trump airport naming deal amid profit concerns
The renaming follows a state mandate that stripped local control over major airport names and forced negotiations with Trump’s company.
Florida Politics
Legislative leaders direct members ahead of budget Special Session
The path forward is clear.
FAC News Clips – May 1, 2026
COUNTY
Orlando Sentinel
Lake board approve school property tax for November ballot
A proposed property tax increase to help Lake County schools will be on the November ballot after the Lake County Board of Commissioners agreed this week to let voters decide if they want to pay more to boost teacher salaries.
Fox 13
Polk County launches one-year pilot program to combat illegal dumping
HAINES CITY, Fla. – Illegal dumping has been on the rise over the past few years in Polk County, and now, the county is testing a customer convenience center to fight the problem.
Orlando Weekly
Orange County accepting applications for film incentive program
Qualified TV commercial and filmmakers can now apply to receive a partial rebate on productions filmed in Orange County — home to the so-called “Most Magical Place on Earth” — by applying for a new film incentive program launched by the county on Tuesday.
PROPERTY TAXES
When In Your State
Florida leaders have spent more than a year discussing major property tax cuts, with proposals evolving across political circles, yet no clear, unified plan has been agreed upon by state officials.
Miami Times Online
Ron DeSantis expects ‘entrenched interests’ to mobilize against property tax vote
Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to excuse the ongoing delays in releasing what seemed months ago to be a clean plan to eliminate homestead property taxes via constitutional amendment.
Florida Traffic
7 states pushing to eliminate property taxes in 2026
Property taxes have long been one of the most frustrating ongoing costs of homeownership.
GRANTS
Lake O News
EPA announces $4.8 million to protect waterways from sewage overflows in Florida
ATLANTA — This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced, on April 30, the availability of approximately $80 million through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program to help communities address stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs.
TECHNOLOGY
Route-Fifty
With driverless cars a reality, what can cities do to prepare for them?
Speakers at the Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas last week said the shift from pilot programs to implementation has accelerated in the last year, and will keep doing so.
Route-Fifty
How libraries can help the public engage with AI and their local government
With a better understanding of the technology, residents could be more trusting of and engaged with government’s use of AI.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Legislature passes Ron DeSantis’ Republican-friendly congressional map
The map could net Republicans 4 seats in the U.S. House.