Community News
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 · Monroe County
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Monroe County Fire Rescue Trains for Aircraft Emergencies
Monroe County Fire Rescue holds specialized aircraft rescue training next week at Marathon International Airport.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 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.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026