Community News
Sunday, May 10, 2026 · New Port Richey
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.
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.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
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.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
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.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Pasco County Acquires 4G Ranch, Its Largest Conservation Purchase
Pasco County and the state acquired 4G Ranch, a 1,893-acre property north of Land O' Lakes, to preserve agricultural land and create a wildlife corridor across the region.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Pasco County Removes 280 Tons of Trash in West Pasco Cleanup
Pasco County removed 280 tons of trash from West Pasco neighborhoods, with the Moon Lake area accounting for the majority of the debris collected during the recent county cleanup effort.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Pasco County Launches Online Registration for Vacant and Rental Properties
Pasco County now requires owners of vacant properties and small residential rentals to register online by April 30, 2026. Failure to comply after a warning can result in $500-per-day fines.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 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.
Sunday, May 10, 2026