Okeechobee City Council was among those with requests for the Florida State Delegation this year.
Mayor Dowling Watford asked the state to fully fund more transportation projects on state roads like route 70. He also asked for continued support and funding to purchase development rights from ranches under the Rural and Family Lands Program.
Watford also wanted lawmakers to give cities and local governments a fair shake as they determine property tax measures in 2026.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson promoted the return of whole milk to Florida Schools.
He said President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to return whole milk.
The Obama and Biden Administrations had supported skim milk only.
Simpson said skim milk was not popular with kids and the whole milk is healthier and provides more nutrition.
Simpson said it would also provide a boost to our dairy farms.
Two Frostproof residents were faced with drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop on the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation.
The arrest report from Seminole Police said Kevin Brown and Kalani Hutto were in a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign.
Police pulled the vehicle over not far from 15005 Reservation Road.
Officers wrote in the report that the two occupants acted nervous during the traffic stop. Hutto, the driver, repeated reached for a knife in the front seat.
Officers went on to report that Hutto gave permission to search the vehicle. They found a firearm and brass knuckles in a designer bag and three bags that contained 73 grams of methamphetamine.
The pair were also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Brown, a convicted felon, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Highlands County Commissioners said they intent to impose fines soon for those that let trash fall and blow out of vehicles as they travel to the landfill on Arbuckle Creek Road near Lorida.
County Commissioner Scott Kirouac said there has been an increase in road side littering. He said once the word gets out about fines he predicts people will change habits.
They are considering no fine but a warning for the first violation, and fines of between $50 and $100 for subsequent violations.
A former paramedic at Glades County EMS was charged with felony drug charges.
Lt. Gary Johnson of the Glades County Sheriff’s Office said the case was investigated in 2024.
It is alleged that Scott Durban used his medic license to have ketamine delivered to his residence for alleged personal use.
Ketamine is an anesthetic that has hallucinogenic effects. It is mostly used for chronic pain and severe depression but is also a drug with the significant potential for abuse.