Cities Fight Florida Property Tax Proposal

Florida cities and counties are mobilizing against a November ballot amendment that would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028, with local governments warning it could gut their budgets.

The DeSantis-backed measure phases the exemption up from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, shielding only non-school taxes. A House analysis pegged the revenue hit to local governments at more than $8.4 billion a year. South Florida is among the loudest opponents, warning of cuts to police, fire, and parks.

Supporters say the cut would give Florida a new edge over Texas in the contest for residents and businesses. Voters need to approve it by 60% for it to take effect.

Screwworm Spurs Florida Import Ban

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson issued an emergency rule Friday restricting warm-blooded animal imports from high-risk Texas counties after the flesh-eating New World screwworm was found in cattle there.

The parasite, whose larvae burrow into living flesh and can kill cattle, was eradicated from the U.S. decades ago. Its return has put Florida ranchers on alert in a major cattle-producing state.

Federal officials confirmed a second Texas case Friday and are reviving a sterile-fly program to stop the pest from breeding, though a new production facility isn’t expected until 2027.

Owner Charged after Dogs Kill Neighbor

A Florida woman is charged with manslaughter after her two dogs mauled a neighbor to death in Brevard County, a death the sheriff says was entirely preventable.

Jodi Cowan, 50, was walking her small dog on Blue Bonnet Drive after midnight on May 19 when the loose dogs climbed a fence and dragged her across the ground. Her partner swung a knife to drive them off, but she died hours later. Her little dog survived.

Neighbors had called the sheriff at least 14 times about the animals since 2024. Owner Linda Cutler, 29, knew they kept escaping and had bitten before, deputies said. She’s held without bond, and the dogs will be euthanized.

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➤ Lee County: Overnight closures will disrupt the I-75 and Daniels Parkway interchange today as crews work on overhead signals, prompting brief ramp shutdowns and traffic detours through nearby routes. (More)

➤ Jupiter Island: Officials say a new state assessment identifying more than 100 flood-vulnerable assets validates ongoing efforts to strengthen storm readiness, improve drainage, and secure funding for future resilience projects. (More)

➤ Key West: Rainfall of 4.34 inches on June 5 more than doubled the city’s daily record set in 1936, flooding Old Town streets and spotlighting drainage concerns as wet season arrives, the National Weather Service said. (More)

➤ Indiantown: A brush fire near grew from about 38 acres on Friday to 125 acres over the weekend after authorities say it likely rekindled, though crews have now contained 99% of the blaze. (More)

➤ Kissimmee: A small Cessna 150 airplane crashed near West Clay Street and South John Young Parkway on Saturday, sending two people to the hospital as authorities investigate the cause. (More)

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➤ The Tampa Bay Rays moved left-hander Steven Matz to the bullpen Saturday after two difficult starts following his return from the injured list. Manager Kevin Cash said the move is not permanent as Tampa Bay evaluates its rotation options moving forward. (More)

➤ Florida landed its fifth recruiting commitment of the week Saturday, adding four-star linebacker Ellis McGaskin of Mobile, Alabama. (More)

➤ Dolphins rookie safety Michael Taaffe is drawing praise from former Texas teammate Jahdae Barron, who called him “one of one” in a recent NFL-produced feature. Miami selected Taaffe in the fifth round after he recorded 222 tackles and seven interceptions during his college career. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | NCAAB | Golf | Tennis | NASCAR | F1

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➤ The $100 Billion IPO Everyone Is Watching. Elon Musk’s Starlink project could become one of the biggest IPOs in history, and investor James Altucher says there may still be a way for regular investors to position early for less than $100. He’s even revealing the free ticker behind his top pick. (More)

➤ Port Canaveral’s financial reports show cruise operations generated roughly $182 million of the port’s record $220 million in operating revenue last year, dwarfing space-related income despite the Space Coast’s explosive launch growth. (More)

➤ MG Developer and Vertical Developments secured a $100 million construction loan for Alhambra Parc, a mixed-use Coral Gables project featuring 74 luxury residences, office space, and street-level retail. (More)

➤ Alva Country Diner, one of only two restaurants in the community, will remain open after a Massachusetts couple purchased the longtime local gathering spot from Nadine Stoll, who plans to return to Switzerland. (More)

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➤ Growing numbers of Florida homeowners are canceling windstorm insurance to cut costs, leaving themselves dangerously exposed as the state enters peak hurricane season, according to a Miami Herald investigation. (More)

➤ The fourth annual Sergeant Anthony Muhlstadt Defender Ruck brought participants together in St. Petersburg for a symbolic 2.2-mile walk promoting military mental health awareness and suicide prevention while honoring veterans lost to suicide. (More)

➤ Cape Coral Parks & Recreation expanded its Summer BreakSpot program to six locations, offering free weekday meals for children and teens throughout the summer while helping families address food insecurity. (More)

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How important are locally owned restaurants to your community?

1. Extremely important
2. Somewhat important
3. Not very important
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Would lower living costs make you move?

1. Already have: 58%
2. Maybe: 18%
3. No chance: 18%
4. Seriously considering it: 6%

Which Florida port was home to the first true cruise ship departure in 1913?

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