FAC 

WTXL 

Gadsden County commissioner NeSmith receives award  

(WTXL) — A commissioner who is a member of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners was recognized with an award. 

 

COUNTY 

Sun Englewood 

Residents favor end to plastic for yard waste bags  

SARASOTA — Sarasota County residents along with county commissioners apparently feel the time has come to discontinue the use of plastic bags for yard waste collections 

 

ABC7 News 

Early voting begins in Southwest Florida  

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – Early voting begins today across Southwest Florida for the Primary Election. Find out where you can vote in your county. 

 

WTSP 

Hillsborough County school district still looking to fill 680 teacher positions  

As students in Hillsborough County get ready to go back to school Wednesday, the district is facing a staff shortage. 

 

Click Orlando 

Primary election early voting kicks off in Orange and Osceola counties  

ORLANDO, Fla. – Early voting for the primary election has started in Orange and Osceola counties. 

 

WFLA Orlando 

Early Voting Begins in Hillsborough County  

Early in-person voting opens today in several Florida counties, including Hillsborough. Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer says registered voters can vote in person at any one of 26 locations across the county between now and August 21st. “Early voting is really easy,” Latimer said. “You can go to any early vote site, and we will print your specific ballot on demand at that early vote site. So we can print your ballot for you no matter which site you go to.” 

 

Florida Today 

Sex offender restrictions reaffirmed by Brevard County Commission  

Brevard County commissioners reaffirmed their tough stance toward registered sex offenders by making only making minor changes to a regulation limiting where they can go — even as the measure is being challenged in court. 

 

Suncoast News 

Pasco County paving rejuvenation program underway  

Drivers on Pasco County roads might notice something a little strange over the next several months: pink roads. It’s part of an asphalt pavement rejuvenation project underway on Pasco’s roads. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Kids head back to class this week. Schools still need more teachers. 

The big story: Schools throughout the Tampa Bay region and across Florida begin welcoming students back to their classrooms on Wednesday. 

 

PROPERTY TAXES 

Click Orlando 

Orange County voters to decide on keeping special tax for schools  

ORLANDO, Fla. – Voters in Orange County will decide this month whether the school district can keep a special property tax to prop up school programs.  

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Surfside condo owners hit with property tax bills totaling about $800,000 

When a Surfside condominium tower collapsed last year killing 98 people, a wave of sympathy reached all the way to Tallahassee: Gov. Ron DeSantis and state legislators forgave the unit owners’ tax bills, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

 

EDUCATION 

WSFL-TV 

New Florida law expands charter school approval powers to state  

They’re now considered the most popular school choice for parents in Florida. Over the past five years, the number of charter schools has increased 5% across the state, with student enrollment up by more than 20%, according to Florida’s Department of Education (FDOE). 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Florida Today 

Brevard affordable housing proposal headed to referendum in November  

Brevard County voters will soon have their chance to decide whether affordable housing is a priority for the county as part of a ballot measure in November.