Public Camping

Florida Phoenix 

U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case  

WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. 

Tampa Bay Times 

Tiny homes for Tampa’s homeless welcome first residents after delays 

TAMPA — Tucked between the interstate and the railroad tracks, woven into the industrial sprawl of Tampa’s eastern edge, 99 tiny white homes sit in a sunbaked lot. 

County

Suncoast News 

Pasco County Commissioner Bradford dies 

First-term Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford died on Sunday after battling leukemia, a diagnosis that he announced not long after he was elected. He was 65. 

WINK 

The future of the Lee County government is in the hands of voters  

The decision to change how the Lee County government works could be placed in the hands of the voters. The Lee County government is considering transitioning into 5 single-member districts. 

The Gainesville Sun 

Single-member districts may be brought back to a vote this election  

Alachua County commissioners are looking to eliminate single-member districts by creating a ballot measure for 2024 that would ask voters to decide whether they want to keep the single-member districts 51.5% of them voted for in 2022 or move back to an at-large system. 

St. Pete Catalyst 

County considers increasing puppy regulatory requirements  

When a once-unthinkable partnership between SPCA Tampa Bay, a puppy broker and a local retailer dissolved due to public backlash, some Pinellas County commissioners suggested reassessing local regulations. 

News-Press 

Lee County, Cape Coral get 30 more days to save flood insurance discount  

FEMA granted Lee County and Cape Coral an additional 30-day extension to save their flood insurance discount, but crews are working 12-hour days, seven days a week to get the work done. 

Water

Orlando Sentinel 

Florida plans $850 million in Everglades restoration projects  

Florida officials and environmental advocates on Monday touted major progress toward Everglades restoration, which has been advanced by dozens of state-funded projects. 

Short-Term Rentals

TBN Weekly 

St. Petersburg, Pinellas County seek to rein in short-term rentals  

Pinellas County and St. Petersburg officials have been watching a boom in short-term vacation rentals driven by growing corporate interest, and they’ve come to a similar conclusion: They need to keep a closer watch on the industry.