Community News
Thursday, June 18, 2026 · Dade City
Lake County cuts irrigation to one day per week as drought deepens
Lake County residents must cut landscape irrigation to one day per week under a new drought order from the St. Johns River Water Management District.
UF Professor Carves Wooden Comfort Symbols for Shands Cancer Patients
A UF professor carved over 200 wooden comfort symbols for cancer patients at Shands Hospital while recovering from long COVID. Students packaged the handcrafted carvings with encouragement messages for delivery to patients undergoing treatment.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Thursday, June 18, 2026
Two motorcyclists arrested after fleeing Brandon traffic stop
Deputies used helicopter surveillance to track two fleeing motorcyclists in Brandon on June 13. One suspect abandoned his bike; the other was stopped by an oncoming train.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 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.
Thursday, June 18, 2026