Community News
Friday, July 17, 2026 · Summerland Key
Broward Brush Blaze: What We Know So Far About Recent Fire Activity
A brush fire in Broward County has prompted a multi-unit emergency response, with no immediate confirmed details on injuries or cause.
Hollywood Broadwalk Emergency: Update on Cardiac Arrest Call
A medical emergency unfolded on the North Broadwalk in Hollywood less than an hour ago, following reports of a cardiac arrest, with emergency services likely still on scene.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Crews Respond to Brush Fire in Broward County
Crews responded to a brush fire in Broward County Thursday evening. This is a developing story.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Cardiac Arrest Reported on N Broadwalk & Harding St in Hollywood
Emergency responders dispatched to a cardiac arrest incident on N Broadwalk & Harding St in Hollywood.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 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.
Friday, July 17, 2026