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Studio 67FAC 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.
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.’