COUNTY 

Orlando Sentinel  

Seminole predicts deep budget cuts if voters reject sales tax  

Government leaders across Seminole say they could find themselves facing dire budgetary decisions — even cutting some services — if voters in November don’t renew the county’s penny sales tax for another decade. 

 

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS  

Pensacola News Journal 

Florida Power & Light enhances energy grid with Escambia County upgrades  

Throughout 2024, Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) plans to make the following upgrades in Escambia County as part of its ongoing commitment to avoid outages and restore power faster following severe weather. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Bay News 9 

Housing, local storm prep projects among state budget vetoes  

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A number of line items affecting Pinellas County projects didn’t make the cut in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ $116.5 billion state budget. 

 

The Florida Bar 

Public records exemptions for county and city attorneys and clerk employees bills become law  

County and city attorneys and their deputies, and circuit court clerks, their deputies, and court clerk “personnel,” will receive additional protection from death threats and stalking under bills Gov. Ron DeSantis signed late Thursday. 

 

Tallahassee Democrat 

Florida First Amendment advocates pushing for Sunshine Law protections  

Worried that Florida’s long-lauded government transparency laws are in “a state of crisis,” open access advocates are pursuing legislation they hope will turn the tides. 

 

Sun-Sentinel  

Recent legislation strengthens Florida’s leadership in flood resilience | Opinion  

As we have seen in recent days, Florida communities are on the front lines of flooding and sea-level rise. As storms increase in frequency and severity every year, these communities are more and more vulnerable to disasters. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING  

Bay News 9 

Habitat for Humanity celebrates new housing in Seminole 

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A new affordable housing subdivision is complete in Sanford, where six new families will have a place to call home.