COUNTY 

Yahoo 

Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office van wins contest  

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office submitted their Honor Guard van into the Florida Association of Counties and the Florida Sheriff’s Association’s 2024 Vehicle Graphic Contest for the Administrative Vehicles Category — and they won, according to a Facebook post. 

 

Florida Today 

Brevard drafts letter urging federal funds for Brightline Cocoa station  

Brevard County is continuing to push hard to secure funding for a future Brightline station in Cocoa. On Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners voted to draft a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, urging him to grant federal money to the $75 million project. 

 

Herald-Tribune 

Select infrastructure projects to receive $45 million in funding  

The first round of more than $200 million in Hurricane Ian relief funding is on its way to a batch of infrastructure projects across Sarasota County. 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Citizen’s panel tries again to rein in Orange County’s growth  

Orange County voters may get an opportunity to rein in development at the county’s urban-rural borders after all. 

 

ABC Action News 

New FL program to help people connect to mental health and addiction services  

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and now, people in Pinellas County have a new place to turn to for help. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Tampa Bay Times 

Pasco County talks affordable housing: backyard homes, duplexes and more  

Pasco officials ready to create additional affordable housing discuss a menu of options. 

 

SWFL Business 

Lee commissioners award more than $41.6 million for rehab of affordable housing units 

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award more than $41.6 million in Community Development Block Grants-Disaster Recovery funds for six multi-family housing rehabilitation projects for 836 affordable housing units. 

 

HURRICANE SEASON 

Sun-Sentinel 

Sales tax ‘holiday’ teed up for 2024 hurricane season  

TALLAHASSEE — Retailers hope Floridians will heed multiple forecasts that the upcoming hurricane season will be more active than normal. 

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

Route-Fifty 

AI guardrails vs. ‘guiderails’: Navigating the curvy road ahead 

COMMENTARY | Rather than focusing on guardrails, which try to prevent undesirable outcomes, agencies should consider more proactive guiderails that make generative AI safe and easy to use.