Community News
Thursday, June 18, 2026 · St. Johns County
St. Augustine's Tree Committee Guides Urban Forest Management
St. Augustine's Street Tree Advisory Committee advises city departments on urban forest management and hosts annual tree-focused events.
Pamela Blalock Named Top Volunteer at Beaches Museum
Pamela Blalock volunteered 578 hours at Jacksonville Beach's Beaches Museum in 2023, making her the museum's top volunteer.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Augustine Seeks Federal Grant to Elevate Flood-Prone Homes
St. Augustine applied for federal funding to elevate 33 flood-prone homes two feet above the Base Flood Elevation, protecting residents while keeping them in their neighborhoods.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Augustine Protects Buried History Through Archaeology Program
St. Augustine's Archaeology Program investigates roughly 70 sites annually to preserve the city's buried history before development destroys it.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Augustine's 300-Year-Old City Seal Now Requires Official Permission to Use
St. Augustine's city seal, granted by Spain in 1715, now requires official permission to use. The city adopted the Coat of Arms as its official seal in 1991 and made unauthorized use illegal.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Saint Augustine Marks 460 Years as Nation's Oldest European Settlement
Saint Augustine, founded in 1565, remains the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, shaped by Spanish, British, and American rule.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Johns County Tax Office Faces Staffing Turnover, Seeks System Upgrades
St. Johns County tax operations face turnover risks as experienced staff retire. County officials say integrated software could preserve critical processes in standardized workflows rather than relying on individual employee knowledge.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
DeSantis Signs Bill Letting St. Johns County Keep More Court Fees
Gov. DeSantis signed legislation allowing St. Johns County to keep more of its court-related revenues, bringing an estimated $79,098 in additional funding to the Clerk's Office next fiscal year.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Johns County: Report to Courtroom Annex for July 13 Jury Duty
St. Johns County jurors summoned for July 13 should report to the Courtroom Annex at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center. The event runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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
St. Johns County Taps Real-Time Tax Data to Improve Budget Planning
St. Johns County now uses real-time property tax payment data to forecast revenue and spot collection problems early, replacing year-end reports with year-round monitoring.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Johns County Teen Court Holds Public Hearing June 17
St. Johns County Teen Court hosts a public hearing June 17 where juvenile offenders face juries of their peers.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
How to Keep Saint Augustine Children Safe During Summer Heat
Saint Augustine parents should keep children hydrated, protect their skin from sun exposure and never leave them unattended in vehicles during the hot summer months.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
St. Johns County Clerk Launches Free Property Fraud Alert Service
St. Johns County now offers residents free email alerts when documents are filed under their names in the Official Records, helping them spot potential property fraud.
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