Monroe County /tags/florida-keys Monroe County en-US SAąúĽĘ´«Ä± Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT Cutting Florida property taxes could take a bite out of mosquito control /environment/2026-06-29/cutting-florida-property-taxes-could-take-a-bite-out-of-mosquito-control If passed, the state's mosquito control districts that rely on ad valorem taxes could lose a third of their funding, according to the Florida Mosquito Control Association. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT /environment/2026-06-29/cutting-florida-property-taxes-could-take-a-bite-out-of-mosquito-control Jenny Staletovich Property appraisers: 'Bedroom' towns face serious funding challenges under property tax relief plan /the-south-florida-roundup/2026-06-15/property-appraisers-bedroom-towns-face-serious-funding-challenges-under-property-tax-relief-plan A proposed Florida constitutional amendment aimed at slashing property taxes could offer immediate relief to homeowners, but county property appraisers are warning it will spark a major financial challenge for local governments and alter how public services are funded. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT /the-south-florida-roundup/2026-06-15/property-appraisers-bedroom-towns-face-serious-funding-challenges-under-property-tax-relief-plan Chris D'Avanzo Key West Pride kicks off with 'more passion' following DEI cuts, rainbow crosswalk fight /arts-culture/2026-06-04/key-west-pride-festival-dei-funding-rainbow Key West is this week celebrating the LGBTQ+ community “with a little bit more passion” — as it hosts its last Pride festival to be aided by public funding before a DEI ban kicks in. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:44:16 GMT /arts-culture/2026-06-04/key-west-pride-festival-dei-funding-rainbow Valentina Nuñez Gov. DeSantis’ property tax relief plan faces sharp pushback from top Monroe County officials /government-politics/2026-06-01/gov-desantis-property-tax-relief-plan-faces-sharp-pushback-from-top-monroe-county-officials Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln sent a letter Friday to members of the Florida Legislature expressing deep concerns over the proposed bill, known as SJR 2-F, just ahead of the start of Monday's special legislative session in Tallahassee. Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:47:04 GMT /government-politics/2026-06-01/gov-desantis-property-tax-relief-plan-faces-sharp-pushback-from-top-monroe-county-officials SAąúĽĘ´«Ä± News Staff Florida Python Challenge returns in July with $25,000 in prizes for Everglades hunt /environment/2026-06-01/florida-python-challenge-everglades-hunt Registration is open for the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day competition that offers participants a shot at $25,000 in prizes for removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades. The event runs from July 10 through July 19. Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:30:23 GMT /environment/2026-06-01/florida-python-challenge-everglades-hunt Mohamed Alkawaja NOAA predicts a slow hurricane season— but forecasters warn it’s a 55% coin flip /hurricane-coverage/2026-05-27/noaa-hurricane-season-forecast-south-florida The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a looming El Niño weather pattern could help produce a below average season, but warned uncertainty about the forecast put the odds for a slow season at just 55%. Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT /hurricane-coverage/2026-05-27/noaa-hurricane-season-forecast-south-florida Jenny Staletovich Record tons of sargassum arriving in Southeast Florida, Florida Keys, Caribbean /environment/2026-05-26/record-tons-of-sargassum-arriving-in-southeast-florida-florida-keys-caribbean By mid-April the seaweed, which looks a lot like a watery sweet potato casserole with the brown, crusty topping, had spread across the entire Caribbean Sea, with substantial amounts pushing into the Gulf. Huge amounts washed up along many Caribbean shorelines in what USF researchers call "beaching events" in the bulletins issued at the end of every month. Tue, 26 May 2026 10:46:06 GMT /environment/2026-05-26/record-tons-of-sargassum-arriving-in-southeast-florida-florida-keys-caribbean Tom Bayles Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay: Feds have not contacted him about possible Cuba drone threat /americas/2026-05-18/monroe-county-sheriff-rick-ramsay-feds-have-not-contacted-him-about-possible-cuba-drone-threat “I am monitoring the situation, but I have not been contacted by any government agency and I don’t believe there is any reason to be concerned,” said the Monroe County sheriff in a statement. Mon, 18 May 2026 05:22:56 GMT /americas/2026-05-18/monroe-county-sheriff-rick-ramsay-feds-have-not-contacted-him-about-possible-cuba-drone-threat Sergio R. Bustos South Florida AFL-CIO launches 'Labor 2026' to channel affordable housing anger into voter power /government-politics/2026-05-16/south-florida-afl-cio-launches-labor-2026-to-channel-affordable-housing-anger-into-voter-power Union leaders, citing local rents now averaging more than $3,100 per month, said the economic pressures facing South Florida families have reached a tipping point. Sat, 16 May 2026 19:05:44 GMT /government-politics/2026-05-16/south-florida-afl-cio-launches-labor-2026-to-channel-affordable-housing-anger-into-voter-power SAąúĽĘ´«Ä± News Staff Keys underwater memorial to wrecked slave ship draws pilgrims seeking to connect with their roots /south-florida/2026-05-14/keys-underwater-memorial-to-wrecked-slave-ship-draws-pilgrims-seeking-to-connect-with-their-roots A group of Black divers recently visited the site where the British slave ship Henrietta Marie sank 326 years ago. Thu, 14 May 2026 19:18:00 GMT /south-florida/2026-05-14/keys-underwater-memorial-to-wrecked-slave-ship-draws-pilgrims-seeking-to-connect-with-their-roots Associated Press