COUNTY 

Click Orlando  

Proposed federal coastal funding cuts would be devastating, Volusia County warns 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County officials are raising alarms over a Republican-backed budget proposal in the U.S. Senate that would eliminate all funding for State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) programs, funding the county relies on to protect its shoreline, promote tourism, and ensure public safety at the beach. 

 

News 4 Jax 

LIVE: With e-bike crashes on the rise, St. Johns County commissioners consider hot-button safety ordinance proposal 

  1. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – After several local crashes, St. Johns County commissioners will revisit a proposed e-bike safety ordinance during their meeting Tuesday.

 

Bradenton Herald 

Manatee County to vote on charging developers more for growth  

As development booms in Manatee County, leaders want to start charging builders millions more to pay for issues caused by growth. 

 

Flagler Live 

County Kills Half-Cent Sales Tax for Beaches as It Seeks Mystery ‘Alternatives’ to Save 18 Miles of Shoreline  

The half-cent sales tax increase the county administration proposed to pay for the long-term management and preservation of Flagler County’s 18 miles of beaches died today after weeks of comatose uncertainty. Commissioners Kim Carney and Pam Richardson summarily killed it.   

 

WESH 

Lake County is looking how to manage population growth 

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Growth is often inevitable — and Lake County is quickly becoming one of the places people want to move to. 

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

Miami Herald 

Kevin Guthrie: Florida prepared to take on more of FEMA’s role  

On the eve of hurricane season, Florida’s top disaster official promised Floridians that they will see no changes to the state’s hurricane response despite the turmoil at FEMA over staff cuts and proposed slashes to state disaster aid. 

 

WESH 

With FEMA cuts, Florida counties prep for hurricane relief burden 

ORLANDO, Fla. — The State of Florida and local governments might have to play a bigger role in leading relief and recovery efforts during this year’s hurricane season. 

 

Bay News 9 

Duke Energy provides $163K in storm grants to Florida groups 

FLORIDA — The Duke Energy Foundation is helping Florida communities prepare for the hurricane season with $163,000 in emergency preparedness and resiliency grants. 

 

ENVIRONMENT 

ABC 7 

State seeks to halt manatee protection ruling 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WWSB) – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has gone to a federal appeals court after a U.S. district judge last month ruled that the state has violated the Endangered Species Act as manatees face threats in the Indian River Lagoon. 

  

LEGISLATION 

Bay News 9 

Florida lawmakers strike budget deal, return to Tallahassee 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers will return to Tallahassee on Tuesday after legislative leaders struck a deal on the Florida budget. New and seasoned lawmakers are meeting in Tallahassee to get up to speed ahead of session. 

 

Click Orlando 

‘Rural renaissance’ plan, Florida sales tax cut sidelined amid budget battle 

Budget deal eliminates tax on commercial leases, offers sales tax exemptions 

 

Florida Politics 

Analysis: House tourist development tax plan would cripple Florida’s economy 

‘We could soon be watching high-value travelers fly over Florida.’ 

 

Florida Politics 

House, Senate reach deal on nearly $50B in budget allocations 

Agreeing on budget silos is a critical step toward finalizing the budget, and time is ticking. 

 

FEDERAL 

WGCU 

Homeland Security pulls down list of ‘sanctuary’ cities and counties after backlash 

The Department of Homeland Security removed a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” days after the agency posted it on its website.