Early voting: Democrats buoyed by mail-in voting
Despite Republican's disdain for vote-by-mail, they hold a slight edge on statewide ballots cast; in Palm Beach County, more Democrats have turned out.…
Fewer voters by mail, longer lines
If the trend continues, it means more voters at early voting and Election Day sites. The shift to voting by mail that gripped Florida during the COVID-plagued 2020 presidential campaign is over. The number of voters seeking vote-by-mail ballots is in sharp decline. Why…
Proposed county budget would raise taxes
Property values rose 10 percent countywide, meaning most property owners will pay more, even if the tax rate remains unchanged. Palm Beach County commissioners ushered in the budget season July 2 by setting the county’s maximum tax rate at the same level as…
Palm Beach County property values sizzle
The data will be used to determine local government budgets and how much landowners will pay in property taxes. The taxable value of property in Palm Beach County grew by 10 percent last year, a slowdown from last year’s 14 percent rise but the…
Some election winners but hot contests await
The 2024 election is more than just Biden vs. Trump. It is down-ballot races to decide everything from Florida’s U.S. senator to the Palm Beach County sheriff to county court judges. As of noon Friday, the matches are set. Both parties made it a point to field…
How big is big enough?
Palm Beach International Airport is facing increasing demand and considering the addition of parallel runways. The proposal has raised concerns about the airport's impact on neighboring communities and the potential for delays. Airport officials emphasize the need to accommodate growth and prevent…
Addiction hits home
The Palm Beach County Commission's heartfelt reaction to a recommendation on spending $150 million in opioid settlement money prompted Commissioners to share personal stories, advocating for support.…
Sheriff seeks $75 million budget boost
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw’s budget approaches $1 billion but he would spend nothing on new cars. In what would be a record-setting budget, Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw is planning to spend $952 million next year — a $75 million…
Spending opioid millions
Palm Beach County's $148 million opioid lawsuit settlement will focus on post-treatment care and social determinants of health, with input from affected community members.…
A showcase for mass transit
Transit champions urge everyone to climb aboard Palm Tran. Community leaders are riding the bus this month to promote Palm Tran. Why it’s important: Palm Beach County’s public bus routes connect riders to nearly 3,000 stops including the airport, hospitals and all Tri-Rail stations. What’s…
Justice system shakeup
State attorney, public defender races wide open The stage for a massive — and historic — shake-up in Palm Beach County’s criminal justice system is finally set. For the first time in more than a decade, county voters will choose a new…
Who gets the money to fight gridlock?
The fight between cities and counties over who gets the money developers pay for road work could be decided this year by the Florida Legislature.…
$100 million question
You could argue that the county saved downtown West Palm Beach. The downtown resurgence of the 1990s started with county decisions to invest in downtown in the 1980s, drawing the public and office workers to a center that had been depleted by suburban growth.…
Wetlands in peril: County in bidding war for Pal-Mar preserves
Private ownership, dispute over value jeopardizes county’s ability to salvage untouched properties on Martin County border.…
With a library card, you can rule the world
Stream movies and music, read the news, learn a language with the Palm Beach County Public Library. Last week, we were charmed by our library’s offerings beyond books. This week, we are blown away by the digital doors you can open with…
Racetrack chess board: Pieces in play
It’s happening, County Commissioner Sara Baxter told 250 racing fans Wednesday night. GL Homes is building a 200-acre off-highway vehicle park on its land west of The Acreage. And giving it to county residents free of charge, she said at a town hall…
Exclusive: City offers $1 million to retake Photo Centre spot
City officials haven’t said publicly what they want to put there but in legal papers, the attorney for the Photo Centre said officials wanted to get market-rate rents for the prominent Clematis Street location.…
Palm Beach County is growing, but it’s not crazy growth
West Palm Beach clocks in as our fastest-growing city.…
Sheriff’s opening bid
Greetings, Stetters! For you today, an $867 million budget proposal, $10 million in state money finds our science center, Disney’s snub, what the Census says about us and a moment for the turtles. Today’s newsletter is a 7-minute read. 🚨 Exclusive: Sheriff…
Next tourist draw: Auto racing
Hotel tourist tax money built the Palm Beach County Convention Center. It helped build two baseball stadiums primarily used for one month a year. It helps keep the beaches sandy. Could there be some dollars left for auto racing? “This is not a stop…
'Unpreserving the Ag Reserve'
Palm Beach County Commission moves forward with controversial land swap that opponents say will undo decades of preservation Supporters of a land swap that threatened to gut Palm Beach County’s decades-long efforts to save farmland in the Agricultural Reserve told commissioners at…