Community News
Monday, May 18, 2026 · Monroe County
Afternoon Storms, Growth Strains Test Southwest Florida Infrastructure
Southwest Florida braces for daily thunderstorms and 100-degree heat this week as drainage systems strain under the weight of rapid growth.
Tampa Bay Times Shifts Resources to Florida-Focused Watchdog Reporting
The Tampa Bay Times is concentrating reporting on Florida government, business and neighborhoods as many regional outlets elsewhere have shrunk or closed.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Spectrum News 13 expands hyperlocal coverage across Central Florida
Spectrum News 13 tailors hyperlocal coverage across nine Central Florida counties, with weather updates every 10 minutes and traffic tracking focused on specific commute corridors.
Monday, May 18, 2026
NBC 6 Covers Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Broward
NBC 6 delivers local news and weather coverage to Miami-Dade, Broward and surrounding South Florida communities.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County names Neecie Scull to lead housing office
Monroe County names attorney Paunece Scull as director of a new Office of Housing and Real Estate to address workforce housing shortages in the Florida Keys.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County to Deploy 156 Concrete Reef Modules This Summer
Monroe County deploys 156 concrete reef modules this summer across three Gulf sites, expanding a program that has attracted over 90 marine species to its first completed location.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Asks Residents to Adopt Storm Drains to Reduce Flooding
Key West residents and businesses can now volunteer to monitor and clear storm drains near their homes, helping prevent flooding during the rainy season.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West residents volunteer to clear storm drains and reduce flooding
Key West residents can now adopt storm drains in their neighborhoods to help prevent flooding and protect local waterways from pollution during heavy rain.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Unveils 2026-2030 Strategic Plan
Key West presented its 2026-2030 strategic plan Tuesday, mapping priorities for infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience over the next four years.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Asks Residents to Dim Lights During Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Key West residents should dim outdoor lights near beaches through October 31 as sea turtles return to nest. Artificial lighting disorients hatchlings trying to reach the ocean.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Names Ilze Aguila Employee of the Quarter
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners named Ilze Aguila, senior administrator for operations in Growth Management, the Employee Service Award recipient for the first quarter of 2026.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Hosts Virtual Meeting on Tavernier Breakwater Repair
Monroe County meets virtually May 28 to discuss repairs to the Tavernier Breakwater, which protects a low-lying neighborhood from flooding.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Detective Certified to Teach FBI Resiliency Course
Detective Sgt. Jesse Hammers earned FBI certification to teach a resiliency course to Key West Police officers, addressing mental and physical health challenges first responders face.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Opens John Jones Navigation Center
Key West opened the John Jones Navigation Center on College Road, a 150-bed shelter offering services to help unhoused residents reintegrate into the community.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Planning Department Updates Comprehensive Plan, Works on Livable CommuniKeys Master Plan
Monroe County's Planning & Environmental Resources Department is updating the Comprehensive Plan and developing the Livable CommuniKeys Master Plan.
Monday, May 18, 2026
A Marathon Angler's Guide to Keys Species, Bait and Gear
Marathon anglers target seven prime species across reefs, flats, and offshore waters. Here's the gear and bait for each.
Monday, May 18, 2026
East Martello Tower Never Fired a Shot During Civil War
East Martello Tower, built during the Civil War, never fired a weapon or saw battle. The restored structure opened as Key West's first museum in 1950.
Monday, May 18, 2026
East Martello Tower Never Fired a Shot During Civil War
Key West's East Martello Tower, built as a Civil War defense, never fired a shot. Now it operates as a museum featuring folk art and a supposedly haunted doll.
Monday, May 18, 2026
East Martello Tower Never Fired a Shot During Civil War
East Martello Tower, built as a Civil War fort but never armed or used in battle, opened as Key West's first museum in 1950.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Five Candidates File for Islamorada Village Council Seats in November Election
Five candidates have filed for Islamorada's five open Village Council seats in the November 3, 2026 municipal election.
Monday, May 18, 2026
44 Women Pilots Stopped in Marathon During 1956 Air Race to Cuba
Forty-four women pilots stopped in Marathon on May 18, 1956, during an international air race from Canada to Cuba, marking a moment in local aviation history.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key West Restores 1892 Jail for Museum
Monroe County is restoring Key West's 1892 jail building and converting it into a museum, managed by the Key West Art and Historical Society.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Releases 700 Affordable Housing Units Immediately
Monroe County Commissioners released 700 affordable housing units for immediate development, a step toward addressing a persistent shortage across the island chain.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Key Largo Water Issues Usually Stem From Home Plumbing, Not Supply
Most tap water complaints in Key Largo come from household drains or water heaters, not the municipal supply. Residents can diagnose drain problems by smelling water away from the sink.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Updates Stormwater Rules for New Development
Monroe County is updating stormwater management standards for new development to protect water quality and account for sea-level rise and changing storm patterns.
Monday, May 18, 2026
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Shifts Endangered Species Permit Review for Big Pine and No Name Keys
Monroe County will shift endangered species permit reviews to its Permit Referral Process starting July 1, 2026, as federal permits expire for Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake on Big Pine and No Name Keys.
Monday, May 18, 2026
How Monroe County Controls Development in the Florida Keys
Monroe County allocates building permits through competitive point systems that prioritize development near infrastructure and protect environmentally sensitive areas.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monroe County Changes Overtime Rules for Salaried Workers
Monroe County commissioners approved changes to overtime compensation for salaried employees, limiting eligibility to specific circumstances and requiring county administrator approval.
Monday, May 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.
Monday, May 18, 2026
May 25 Milestones: A Century of Keys History
From shipwrecks to Cold War-era blimps, May 25 marks more than a century of pivotal moments in Keys history, according to the Monroe County Public Library's Florida Keys History Center.
Monday, May 18, 2026