Stet News🏷️ West Palm Beach is moving forward with the sale of three vacant lots to Related Ross for a downtown Publix northeast of Banyan Boulevard and Sapodilla Avenue. Ross already owns most of the rest of the block, which, as Stet reported in 2023, his company assembled over years. The move would enable construction of a full-size Publix and the removal of the smaller Publix in Ross’ CityPlace development. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
🚨 Palm Beach County commissioners signed a $3.3 million contract with the sheriff’s office for security due to recent threats and safety concerns. The commission met in private on Sept. 30 and did not disclose what the security entailed, citing a law that excludes the disclosure of crime victims’ personal information. (WLRN)
🏡 Is Florida’s political climate ripe for a property tax overhaul? Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature have yet to find common ground. (Florida Trident)
💵 The property tax bill for President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago jumped by about $100,000 to $802,220 this year. The president’s total tax bill in Palm Beach County climbed 8.5% to about $2.2 million. (Palm Beach Daily News $$$)
Haunted by Brightline. A conductor landed his dream job. Then people started dying. (Miami Herald via WLRN)
🌊 The decades-long battle between Highland Beach and Palm Beach County over development of the oceanside Milani Park could be ending thanks to a compromise reducing the initial number of parking spots — with the county planning to put shovels in the ground as early as next summer for the $8.6 million project. (The Coastal Star)
🦉 Florida Atlantic University has achieved its goal of being ranked among the nation’s top 100 public universities by U.S. News and World Report. The board of governors, which oversees the university system, has made such rankings a priority. (Boca Magazine)
Gov. Ron DeSantis attended the groundbreaking on a huge new pump station in western Palm Beach County Thursday that he says helps assure completion of a reservoir essential to Everglades restoration years ahead of schedule. The pump station would move 3 billion gallons of water a day, nearly three times the amount pumps move in all the water supply systems from Kissimmee to Miami. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel $$$)
🌳 Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Anthony Segrich says 15 silver buttonwoods were planted in the waterfront Bryant Park without commission approval. Some colleagues say he is micromanaging. (Lake Worth Beach Independent)
✅ We love a meaty list, and Florida Trend is out with its annual 500 most influential executives. 561ers include Ava Parker, Gary Lesser and Kelly Smallridge. (Florida Trend)
🎙️ “Top of Mind Florida,” the podcast by Michael Williams and Brian Crowley, talks congressional shutdown and food options with Karis Engle, president and CEO of The Glades Initiative. (Listen now; watch after 4pm Wednesday)
