COUNTIES 

Keys Weekly 

DRONE SHOW & MUSIC FILL THE AIR AS THE FLORIDA KEYS CELEBRATE 200 YEARS  

The Florida Keys this year are celebrating their bicentennial — the 200th anniversary of the Territorial Florida legislature’s establishment of Monroe County, which contains the entire Keys island chain, that took place July 3, 1823. 

 

WCTV 

Leon County Commission tackling homelessness in upcoming workshop  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Commission will meet with law enforcement and community partners for a workshop to address homelessness on May 23. 

 

Marco Eagle  

Collier County VA nursing home coming from one-cent sales surtax  

Southwest Florida veterans are inching toward a nursing home getting built in Collier County for their aging needs. 

 

The Bradenton Times 

Manatee County Passes Gun Sanctuary Resolution 

BRADENTON — At Tuesday’s meeting, Manatee County Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of a resolution declaring Manatee County as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.” While largely symbolic, an element of the resolution that refers to the county declaring it would “legally defend” against laws it felt diminished the second amendment rights of its citizens was heavily debated by two commissioners. 

 

BROADBAND  

Route-Fifty 

Key Steps in Creating a Diverse Broadband Workforce  

COMMENTARY | States urgently need to identify and build robust workforces now or risk being left behind. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Palm Beach Daily News 

Florida House push to redirect tourist dollars not welcome by critics  

TALLAHASSEE – Tourism officials from across the state urged a House panel Tuesday to reject a proposal they say threatens the advertising and promotion of everything from local festivals to Florida itself when forced to try to bounce back from devastating hurricanes.   

 

Florida Politics 

Bill allowing local rules for short-term rentals advances in House  

Cities and counties could have more authority over vacation rental housing booked over platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.com, according to a bill advancing in the House. 

 

AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y 

Route-Fifty  

ChatGPT for State and Local Agencies? Not so Fast.  

Tasks that can benefit from automation such as software development, traffic management or rote tasks are good candidates for ChatGPT, but those that need more subjectivity still require human intervention, experts say.