COUNTY 

NWF Daily News 

Florida heat advisory. See county list, weekend forecast 

Will Florida residents get a welcome break from scorching heat this weekend or early next week? 

 

WUWF 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection argues it’s not responsible for manatee protection 

Describing the case as having “exceptional importance,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week argued a federal appeals court should overturn decisions that required the agency to take a series of steps to protect manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon. 

 

Islander News 

Miami-Dade’s budget crisis: $402 million shortfall means layoffs, cuts for nonprofits and more Facing what she called, “Without a doubt, a very challenging budget year,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava spent more than 90 minutes Tuesday evening outlining her proposals and answering questions during a virtual Coalition of Chambers Affinity Town Hall. 

 

Citrus County Chronicle 

Q&A: ‘Less clicks,’ more clarity; Citrus testing new permit software ahead of rollout  

The Citrus County Building Division is beta testing new software they believe will make the processing of permits far more efficient than in year’s past. 

 

DOGE 

Local 10 

Florida DOGE auditors in Broward County, reviewing finances 

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Auditors with Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency are in Broward County Thursday, reviewing how the county spends its money. 

 

The Palm Beach Post 

Florida DOGE auditors appear headed to Palm Beach County 

Incoming County Administrator Joe Abruzzo says he is looking forward to working with the state auditors 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Commentary: Mayor Demings says Orange County is prepared for DOGE review 

Next week, Orange County government will welcome members of the State of Florida’s DOGE team for a two-day information gathering visit.   

 

IMMIGRATION 

Orlando Sentinel 

Demings says Orange isn’t a ‘sanctuary’ county, blasts AG 

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings fired back at Florida’s attorney general Wednesday, contending his county isn’t a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants and he won’t back down to “mean-spirited” politics from “a young man that is over-aggressive.” 

 

Central Florida Public Media 

Governor DeSantis says he will suspend Orange County Mayor, Commission if needed 

Governor Ron DeSantis says he’s prepared to suspend the Orange County Mayor and the County Commission if they don’t comply with state immigration law. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Axios 

There’s a massive bipartisan housing bill moving forward in Congress 

The Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced a huge housing bill aimed at boosting the supply of homes in the U.S. 

 

AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y 

ARS Technica 

St. Paul, MN, was hacked so badly that the National Guard has been deployed 

Hacking attacks—many using ransomware—now hit US cities every few days. They are expensive to mitigate and extremely disruptive.   

 

LEGISLATION 

WUWF 

Florida calls for ruling blocking a key part in ballot initiatives law to be put on hold 

Legal wrangling over a judge’s decision blocking a key part of a new law that added restrictions to Florida’s ballot-initiative process has continued to escalate at a federal appeals court, as the state calls for the ruling to be put on hold “as soon as possible.” 

 

Florida Weekly 

Rewriting the rules 

Of the 269 new state laws, here are the ones you’ll likely notice