COUNTY 

Central Florida Express Authority 

ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR DEMINGS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY  

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) Governing Board by his fellow Board members at the agency’s meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023. Mayor Demings previously served as Vice Chair and has been on CFX’s board for four years. 

 

WGCU 

Lee County commissioners plan for Sanibel Causeway repairs and Cape Coral bridge replacement  

Lee County commissioners met for a workshop earlier this week to discuss plans for building stronger Sanibel Causeway and Cape Coral bridges. 

 

Sun Sentinel 

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue adds comfort kits to ambulances 

As a mother of twins who are on the autism spectrum, Candi Spitz, of Delray Beach, said she was “so excited” when she learned that Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has two new tools available to help firefighters and paramedics communicate with patients. 

 

WEAR TV 

Escambia County to improve alert system after issues with school shooter alert  

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Following Wednesday’s “swatting” scare at Pensacola Catholic High School, there are questions surrounding the alert system that notified the public of an active shooter. 

 

Sun Sentinel  

Should buildings and roads be named after living people? Broward refines policy 

County commissioners recently voted to allow buildings, roads and other properties to be named after living persons. Under the previous policy, commissioners had to wait until after a person died before naming anything in their honor. 

 

ECB Publishing 

County readies to begin redistricting  

A once every 10-year process that examines the county’s political districts with an eye toward judging their fairness, and redrawing them if necessary to make them more equal and proportionate, is about to begin.  

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING  

Action News Jax 

Florida affordable housing bill boosts funding, but limits local control 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Florida lawmakers are moving forward with legislation seeking to address the state’s affordable housing crisis, but it comes with a caveat. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Florida Politics 

Legislature sends $700M in hurricane relief to Gov. DeSantis  

Another $700 million is soon on the way for communities recovering from hurricanes Ian and Nicole. The Legislature is sending a bill (SB 2B) to Gov. Ron DeSantis that would establish an emergency bridge loan fund and replenish the state’s catastrophe fund. 

 

WQCS 

Bill Stripping Disney of Its Self-Governing Status Clears Florida House, Senate Votes Friday  

Florida – Thursday February 9, 2023: A bill stripping Disney of its self-governing status won quick and overwhelming passage in the Florida House Thursday afternoon and now moves onto the Senate where a similar outcome is expected on Friday. 

 

Florida Politics 

Bill to hike caps on government liability advances in House  

The cap on liability for cities, counties and other government entities would see a significant increase under a bill that passed through a House committee.