Community News
Monday, May 11, 2026 · Dade City
Collier County Celebrates Picayune Strand Everglades Completion
A cornerstone Everglades restoration project spanning 55,000 acres in Collier County has reached full completion, restoring natural water flows and revitalizing wetlands. The Picayune Strand Restoration Project marks another victory in Florida's massive Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Officials hailed the milestone as a model of federal-state collaboration.
Florida Bills Slash No-Fault Auto, Shield Homeowners from Roof Hikes
Florida's 2026 insurance reforms repeal the state's no-fault auto system and protect homeowners from coverage denials over old roofs, aiming to curb skyrocketing premiums amid hurricane risks. Effective July 1, new laws mandate fault-based liability for crashes and require human review of AI claim denials. Drivers and residents from Miami to Tampa face a transformed market promising rate relief.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Florida's Heat Wave Eases Slightly Friday After Record-Breaking Thursday
South Florida and Central Florida residents get a brief respite from scorching temperatures Friday, with highs dropping into the upper 80s at the coast and low 90s inland—but forecasters warn the dangerous heat pattern will persist through the weekend. Thursday's near-record temperatures set the stage for what meteorologists are calling one of the hottest stretches of the year so far.
Monday, May 11, 2026
DeSantis Signs 2026 Farm Bill in Sebring, Boosting Rural Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 290 into law Monday in Sebring, delivering wins for Florida farmers with protections for gas-powered equipment and farmland preservation. The measure bans local bans on gasoline tools, makes the Farmers Feeding Florida program permanent and curbs high-density rural development. Critics decry potential sprawl from related land-use changes.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Deputies Find No Gun After Evacuation at Fivay High Football Game
Deputies evacuated Fivay High School's football stadium Wednesday after receiving a report of an armed student. A thorough search found no weapon, and the game resumed.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco Sheriff's Office Searches for Missing 16-Year-Old in Land O'Lakes
Pasco deputies search for 16-year-old Zanieyah Brown, missing since Tuesday night in Land O'Lakes.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco County Opens Private Rooms for Domestic Violence and Mental Health Cases
Pasco County's Clerk's Office opened private Empowerment Rooms at two courthouses to provide safe, confidential spaces for residents filing cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse, and mental health matters.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco County Completes Largest Land Buy: 1,893-Acre Ranch
Pasco County acquired the 1,893-acre 4G Ranch north of Land O' Lakes in a state-county partnership, creating an ecological corridor that protects wildlife movement and reduces crashes on State Road 52.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco County Launches Court-Date Text Alerts Through E-Notify
Pasco County residents can now receive text and email reminders about court dates through e-Notify. Sign up at https://www.enotify.flcourts.org.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco Removes 280 Tons of Trash in West County Cleanup
Pasco County crews removed 280 tons of trash from three West Pasco neighborhoods in recent community cleanups, with Moon Lake accounting for the bulk of the haul.
Monday, May 11, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Pasco County Offers Free Help Cleaning Up Contaminated Properties
Pasco County offers free environmental assessments and cleanup planning for commercial property owners through a federally funded brownfields program.
Monday, May 11, 2026
San Antonio Tutor Builds Practice Around Individual Students
Angela Young, a former teacher, opened Yes You Can Tutoring to work one-on-one with students struggling in traditional classrooms.
Monday, May 11, 2026
GoPasco Launches Mobile Ticketing App for Bus Riders
GoPasco now offers mobile ticketing through the Token Transit® app, allowing riders to purchase bus passes and board faster using their smartphones.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Judge Irizarry Featured in Florida Bar News for Domestic Violence Work
Judge Irizarry was featured in Florida Bar News for her innovative work in Pasco County's domestic violence court, reducing recidivism and improving victim safety.
Monday, May 11, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Monday, May 11, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Survives Federal Court Challenge
Nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning cultivated meat sales in Florida, a federal appeals court upheld the controversial law as constitutional. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from California-based Upside Foods, cementing Florida's status as the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat—a move critics say protects the traditional livestock industry rather than consumers.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Florida Launches Mandatory Hurricane Drills Across All 67 Counties
With hurricane season looming just weeks away, Florida's Division of Emergency Management has rolled out mandatory public safety drills statewide to sharpen readiness. The initiative targets all 67 counties, urging residents to stock seven days of supplies and master evacuation protocols. Officials warn that recent storms underscore the need for swift action amid rising threats.
Monday, May 11, 2026
DeSantis Greenlights UFC, Colleges in Florida's New License Plates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill unleashing eight new specialty license plates, from UFC fighters to South Florida high schools and military academies. Drivers can start pre-ordering Oct. 1, but only if 3,000 vouchers sell in two years. With over 2.3 million special tags already on roads, these could boost scholarships, mental health and more.
Monday, May 11, 2026