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Studio 67FAC News Clips – October 13, 2026
COUNTY
WESH
Demings backs more than $800M in tourism-tax projects, including $46M for UCF
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is proposing more than $800 million in tourist development tax funding for 13 projects and programs across the county, including $46 million for a soccer stadium and track facility at the University of Central Florida.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Capitolist
122,000 still without power in Florida after Hurricane Isaias
Over 122,000 Florida customers remained without power Monday after Hurricane Isaias ripped through over the weekend, claiming the lives of four people.
Wink
Lee County first responders’ home after Hurricane Isaias
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — First responders from Southwest Florida are back home after spending four days helping communities hit by Hurricane Isaias.
PROPERTY TAXES
Orlando Sentinel
Florida property tax Amendment 3: The latest poll results
The most recent round of public, preelection polls show Florida voters are stressed about affordability and the cost of living.
Tallahassee Democrat
The real price of Amendment 3 shows up close to home | Opinion
Most people don’t spend much time thinking about community planning.
Tallahassee Democrat
Amendment 3 is a ‘shell game’ Florida can live without | Opinion
I’m a retiree on a fixed income and a virtual life-long Florida resident having moved here at the age of 5.
Midflorida Newspaper
Property tax reform: How about a little common sense? | Opinions
“I consider Amendment 3 a political stunt.”
WFLA
St. Pete renter says no on Amendment 3; Florida Realtors say yes
- PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The effort to raise the homestead exemption in Florida during the midterm political cycle will come to an end on Nov. 3.
FEDERAL
Florida Politics
Could a proposed Census rule cost Florida billions in aid — or even a House seat?
A POGO report said Florida suffers from an undercount, which will hurt worse if counts exclude undocumented immigrants.
FAC News Clips – October 12, 2026
PROPERTY TAXES
Bradenton Herald
If Amendment 3 is so great, why do so many oppose it? | Letter
Few are fooled by Amendment 3
Bradenton Herald
$40 million Sarasota County park plan faces Amendment 3 uncertainty
The Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved the master concept plan for the Wellfield Regional Sports Complex in Venice, though the timeline for development and funding remains in limbo until after Florida voters weigh in on Amendment 3.
Florida Politics
Republican support fell to 60%, and Black voters flipped from support to oppose.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
North Escambia
Escambia County Hurricane Recovery Need To Know Info
Escambia County is continuing recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias, including damage assessments and debris clearing across roadways.
My Panhandle
FPL working to restore power in Bay County following Isaias
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — Florida Power & Light (FPL) is having thousands of crews work around the clock to restore power to thousands still sitting in the dark from Hurricane Isaias.
Bradenton Herald
As power is restored, Escambia County eyes longer-term Isaias recovery
More than 55,000 Florida Power and Light customers had power restored on Sunday, Oct. 11, as the second day of recovery from Hurricane Isaias came to an end.
Florida Politics
‘We have some work to do. (But) it is inspiring to me … to see the resilience of Floridians.’
FAC News Clips – October 6, 2026
COUNTY
Spectrum News
Volusia County data center ban heads to first reading
DELAND, Fla. — Volusia County leaders are set to discuss a proposed ordinance that would ban large-scale data centers throughout unincorporated Volusia County.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Flagler Live
Landowners Rushing to Convert Farms Into Subdivisions as Florida Law Shifts Control to Tallahassee
Florida developers are racing to take advantage of a fast-track approval process for turning rural land into subdivisions, a process that state lawmakers expanded this year in their latest move to shift control over Florida’s sprawling growth from local governments to Tallahassee.
PROPERTY TAXES
WLRN
Tax relief or ‘fake relief’? Florida sheriff warns of cuts, new fees
With mail-in voting underway, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri warned that a property tax proposal on the November ballot may offer homeowners an appealing promise of relief but could threaten public safety and other programs.
Florida Politics
Kathleen Passidomo helped put Amendment 3 on the ballot. Now she’s voting ‘no’
‘I think it is a well-intentioned bill, but you know, the road to hell is paved with them.’
Florida Politics
Ron DeSantis rebuts argument that homestead exemption hike hurts renters
The Legislature may have changed the Governor’s plan, but he’s still a staunch advocate for it.
FAC News Clips – October 5, 2026
COUNTY
Sun Sentinel
Developers and residents weigh in on new Ag Reserve plan
A new vision for the Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve is closer to reality after many people came forward to share what they do and don’t want to see within the 22,000-acre region.
Bradenton Herald
Volusia council to vote on ECHO requests totaling $13 million
Volusia County Council members this week will consider spending some $13 million of ECHO funds on 10 projects, including public site improvements to The Brown, formerly known as the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.
PROPERTY TAXES
WFSU
DeSantis railed against ‘Defund the police.’ Amendment 3 could do just that
In Sarasota and Manatee counties, where law enforcement consumes the lion’s share of general fund spending, sheriffs say losses of the magnitude being projected could force them to reconsider services that extend beyond patrol and criminal investigations. Smaller police departments have even less room to maneuver.
Bradenton Herald
Sarasota braces for Amendment 3 with spending cuts and new budgets
The new budgets are in for Sarasota County and its three cities, with a mix of spending increases, cuts and largely steady property tax rates as officials brace for a potential revenue hit if voters approve Amendment 3.
PUBLIC SAFETY
WFLA
St. Lucie County Finds 13 Unpermitted License Plate Cameras
St. Lucie County, FL – Officials are examining roadside surveillance equipment after finding license plate cameras installed without required permits.
PARTNERS
Florida Politics
TECO does it right: A model approach to serving data centers while protecting customers
Data centers are in the campaign ads, the candidate forums, and the direct mail this cycle.
FAC News Clips – October 1, 2026
ENVIRONMENT
WMNF
Florida faces bigger role in wetland protection after federal changes
Environmental activists, legal experts, and community leaders gathered in Fort Myers to discuss changes to federal wetland protections and what they could mean for Florida’s water.
PROPERTY TAXES
Florida Politics
Jeff Brandes: If Amendment 3 passes, Florida will need city hospice
‘Florida cannot fundamentally rewrite the economics of local government and then pretend the map of local government must remain frozen in time.’
Amendment 3: What It Could Mean
Homeowners are facing higher insurance premiums, housing costs, gas prices, and higher maintenance costs; so are cities and counties.
Lake and Sumter Style
Florida Amendment 3: What It Means for Your Property Taxes
Property taxes have become one of Florida’s hottest political issues, and when voters see Amendment 3 on their November ballot, the promise of relief may sound simple.
Flagler Live
Flagler Forum Exposes Deep Uncertainty and Evasions on Proposed Amendment 3 Homestead Exemptions
It was 93 minutes into last night’s Flagler Tiger Bay forum on Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional measure to raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028 then index it to inflation.
Your Observer
Live Local rulings bring mixed results in lawsuits against the county
Although Sarasota County commissioners received some relief in a Sept. 17 ruling by Judge Hunter Carroll of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, lawsuits brought by developers may continue in their quest to build affordable housing residential developments in largely rural areas in the northern part of the county.
Daytona Times
Tax policy group: Amendment 3 would cost local governments $12 billion a year
Local governments in Florida would see a cut of $12 billion in tax money every year if voters approve Amendment 3 on November’s ballot.
Bay News 9
State of Osceola focuses on Amendment 3’s potential impact
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — With election day just over a month away, Osceola County leaders are preparing for the possibility that voters approve Amendment 3 on Nov. 3.
PUBLIC SAFETY
WFLA
Palm Beach County Commission Wants Answers From PBSO On Flock Camera Data
Palm Beach County leaders want to know how data from Flock cameras are shared and who is allowed to search the data.
LEGISLATION
Pensacola News Journal
New Florida laws go into effect today Oct. 1.
Here’s what changed on Oct. 1
FAC News Clips – September 30, 2026
COUNTY
WFTV
E-bike speed limits set at 10 mph in Orange County
Orange County ordinance limits e-bike speed on sidewalks to 10 mph
WCTV
Jefferson County plans year-long celebration for bicentennial anniversary
County Manager Doug Baber says the county is putting $30,000 toward the celebration
CF Public
Orange County’s Vision 2050 will return — this time, with an opt-out for developers
Orange County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance allowing for developers to opt out of the county’s new comprehensive plan, Vision 2050, when submitting project applications.
Florida Politics
Pinellas adopts $5.14B budget with millage less than 1% above rollback
The final plan keeps funding for social services and preserves while collecting about $6 million less in property tax revenue than initially proposed.
TECHNOLOGY
Perry Newspaper
County working to add data center protections to LDRs
County working to add data center protections to LDRs
WPBF
‘Are they keeping tabs on me?’; Palm Beach County scrutinizes Flock cameras
Commissioners want answers about who can search license plate camera data, how long it is stored and whether law enforcement should need a warrant
Route-Fifty
When data centers come to town, public works must be at the table
COMMENTARY | Data centers are not conventional projects, so questions about water, utilities, infrastructure, traffic, neighborhoods and more should be asked early.
TRANSPORTATION
Spectrum News
Orange County commissioners give green light to STAR plan study
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County commissioners agreed to keep moving forward with the STAR plan, a public transit proposal aimed at addressing high-traffic corridors with rapid transit options.
PROPERTY TAXES
Fox 51
Florida Amendment 3 calculator: Projected county funding cuts
TAMPA, Fla. – Florida voters will decide on Amendment 3 in November, a measure that would increase the homestead exemption while lowering the cap on increases in assessments for non-homesteaded property.
Florida Politics
Seminole County Chamber rejects Amendment 3, warns most of its members oppose it
‘This proposal is simply too drastic and too sudden.’