Stet News⚕️ Florida is requiring every active Medicaid provider in the state to comply with enhanced scrutiny, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week in West Palm Beach. Investigators uncovered more than a dozen staged operations created to steal from the program, state leaders said. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
✍🏼 Florida TaxWatch’s annual list of state budget turkeys includes agriculture and parks projects in Palm Beach County. Gov. Ron DeSantis has line-item veto power over the $114.5 billion 2026-27 budget the Legislature passed last month. (TaxWatch report)
🚨 In her testimony to Congress, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime personal assistant, Sarah Kellen, disclosed that Epstein’s preferential treatment at the Palm Beach County jail may have been the result of him paying off Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies. (Miami Herald $$$)
💰 Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously last week to ask voters to pay up to $175 million to issue bonds to upgrade the library system and $275 million to upgrade parks. Repayment of the bonds would come from property taxes. (Library item, parks item)
🏝️ A community meeting with developers of the Singer Island Gateway condo project is planned at 6 pm Thursday at St. James Church, 1524 W. 35th St., in Riviera Beach. In March, Stet News wrote about the proposed high-rise on the Intracoastal Waterway.
✈️ The Federal Aviation Administration acted unlawfully when it put into place restrictions and procedures to keep planes from flying over Mar-a-Lago, attorneys argued in a new federal court filing. And, the filing claims, the FAA did so while knowing that new flight paths would affect more neighborhoods and possibly create safety issues. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
🍽️ The Lake Worth Beach City Commission will discuss the future of two popular waterfront restaurants on public property.
- Commissioners could decide whether to seek proposals for a new long-term lease at the municipal golf course restaurant, operated since 2013 as The Beach Club.
- They also will consider a request by Benny’s on the Beach to extend its lease on the municipal pier for another 10 years. (Lake Worth Beach Independent $$$)
🏗️ The general contractor of the $400 million Nautilus 220 in Lake Park filed a legal claim against developer Forest Development for $11.4 million. Kast Construction’s CEO did not immediately comment.
- Forest Development managing partner Peter Baytarian said the lien stems from a dispute over the condo project’s “final contract amount, change orders and contractor delay claims.” (The Real Deal)
🗳️ The Palm Beach County supervisor of elections is offering free tours of the main elections office this month. Participants can see voting equipment and ballot security procedures. (Register here)
🎂 The Palm Beach County Public Library has dozens of free events planned to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. Learn about our civil liberties, stories of our nation’s veterans and even how to craft patriotic decorations. (Library system’s website)
🌳 A green giant has fallen in Lake Worth Beach. Kick back with this engaging readabout a Lake Worth Beach landmark, one of the largest trees of its kind in Florida, that is being removed after safety concerns forced the city to approve its chopping. (Lake Worth Beach Independent)
🎙️ “Top of Mind Florida,” the podcast by Michael Williams and Brian Crowley, focuses on Florida’s road to November with their analysis of races from governor to U.S. House. (Listen now; watch after 4 pm today.)
