Community News
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 · Saint Cloud
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.
Tuesday, May 12, 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.
Tuesday, May 12, 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.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Saint Cloud Posts Annual Financial Reports Online
Saint Cloud residents can now review the city's audited financial reports for the past eight fiscal years online.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Saint Cloud Opens Financial Records for Public Review
Saint Cloud released audited financial reports for fiscal years 2017-2018 through 2024-2025, available for public review.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Registered Sex Offender Lives in Kissimmee
Joseph Monroe Brashear, a registered sex offender with convictions related to child exploitation, resides at 2412 Sabra Ct. in Kissimmee.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Osceola County Sheriff Seeks Help Finding Missing 16-Year-Old
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office is searching for 16-year-old Joeliz Anette Irizarry, missing from Kissimmee since going missing near Anibal Street.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
15-Year-Old Missing from Kissimmee; Sheriff Seeks Public Help
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office is searching for 15-year-old Demarie Spoonhour-Pizarro, missing from the Kissimmee area. Anyone with information should call 407-348-2222.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Sheriff Seeks Public Help Finding Missing 16-Year-Old Girl in Kissimmee
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office seeks the public's help locating 16-year-old Shayira Nadine Farmer, missing from the Anibal Street area in Kissimmee.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
St. Cloud Voters to Decide on Property Tax Exemption Increase
Saint Cloud voters will decide in November on a proposal to raise the homestead property tax exemption to $150,000, rising to $250,000 in 2028.
Tuesday, May 12, 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, May 12, 2026
Saint Cloud Completes Cleanup of Former 10th Street Power Plant
Saint Cloud completed environmental remediation of its former 10th Street power plant site in April after a partnership with Orlando Utilities Commission. The city will monitor groundwater for several months before deciding on future use.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Sheriff's Office Warns of Sex Offender in Kissimmee
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office identified Elihu Jacob Lloyd, a convicted sex offender, as a transient near East Carroll and Lucille streets in Kissimmee.
Tuesday, May 12, 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, May 12, 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, May 12, 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, May 12, 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.
Tuesday, May 12, 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.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026