COUNTY 

News 13 

Orange County invests $644K on mental health for OCFR 

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County leaders are allocating $644,000 for behavioral health evaluations for Orange County Fire Rescue, a move aimed at strengthening mental health support for firefighters and other employees who routinely respond to traumatic emergencies. 

 

WPTV 

STILL ON TRACK? Why this Brightline project is delayed 

County officials submit second federal grant request for $69.2 million Brightline station project 

 

MidFlorida Newspaper 

Polk County celebrates its 165th anniversary  

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners and county leaders celebrated Polk County’s 165th anniversary on Tuesday, Feb. 3 following the commission board meeting. 

 

ENVIRONMENT 

The Invading Sea 

Questions surround Florida’s attempt to expand its role in Everglades restoration  

A few weeks after the U.S. government began incarcerating undocumented migrants in the fragile Florida Everglades, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news event some 57 miles from the facility, in beachy Marco Island, that went somewhat unnoticed at the time among the national media. 

 

Florida Politics 

Wilton Simpson: Large tract of Hardee County land preserved for farmers 

The 1,300 acres of land will be blocked from having any urban development on the property. 

 

DOGE 

The Independent Alligator 

County officials, grant recipients express frustration over DOGE criticisms 

The report claimed the county and local organizations misused funds 

 

PROPERTY TAXES 

Florida Courier 

What ideas do Florida lawmakers have to cut property taxes?  

MIAMI — The window for Florida lawmakers to meaningfully debate cutting property taxes gets smaller with each passing day.