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Monroe County, Florida

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About Monroe, FL

Local News
Complete local news coverage for Monroe County, Florida. Stay updated on local government, community events, business developments, and civic matters affecting residents of Key West, Marathon, Key Largo, Islamorada, and the Florida Keys.
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Key West, Marathon, Key Largo, Islamorada and 3,737 square miles in southern florida

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Newsroom monitoring local Monroe, FL developments. Next update cycle in 12 minutes.

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Wildfire closes Card Sound Road near Key Largo, blocking all lanes
Video

Wildfire closes Card Sound Road near Key Largo, blocking all lanes

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Veteran Kyle Dillon builds Key West lawn care business
Video

Veteran Kyle Dillon builds Key West lawn care business

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North Carolina man dies after snorkeling incident near Key West
Video

North Carolina man dies after snorkeling incident near Key West

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Dream Weaver wins Marathon dolphin tournament despite stormy offshore conditions
Video

Dream Weaver wins Marathon dolphin tournament despite stormy offshore conditions

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Philip Caputo remembered as literary giant, Key West fixture after death at 84
Video

Philip Caputo remembered as literary giant, Key West fixture after death at 84

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Key West creator uses children’s book to teach One Human Family
Video

Key West creator uses children’s book to teach One Human Family

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Leadership Monroe County class raises $25,000 at Marathon festival
Video

Leadership Monroe County class raises $25,000 at Marathon festival

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Monroe County track athletes earn state meet berths after strong regional showings
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Monroe County track athletes earn state meet berths after strong regional showings

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More Local News

North Carolina man dies after snorkeling incident near Key West
Healthcare

North Carolina man dies after snorkeling incident near Key West

Benjamin Lee Millspaw, 56, was pulled unconscious from the water near Cottrell Key during a guided snorkel trip, the latest tragedy to hit Key West waters.

Lisa Park2m read
Veteran Kyle Dillon builds Key West lawn care business
Business

Veteran Kyle Dillon builds Key West lawn care business

Kyle Dillon’s lawn-care company shows how veteran service, neighbor trust and small-business grit still shape daily life in Key West.

Sarah Chen5m read
Dream Weaver wins Marathon dolphin tournament despite stormy offshore conditions
Community

Dream Weaver wins Marathon dolphin tournament despite stormy offshore conditions

Dream Weaver topped Marathon’s 20th bull and cow dolphin derby with a 68.6-pound catch as 53 boats fished through rain and storms.

Marcus Williams2m read
Philip Caputo remembered as literary giant, Key West fixture after death at 84
Community

Philip Caputo remembered as literary giant, Key West fixture after death at 84

Philip Caputo’s death at 84 leaves Key West mourning a writer who lived near West Martello Tower and helped define the island’s literary identity.

Lisa Park2m read
Woman killed by speeding boat while diving off Little Palm Island
Community

Woman killed by speeding boat while diving off Little Palm Island

A diver was killed off Little Palm Island when a speeding boat struck her, renewing scrutiny of dive-flag rules and enforcement in the Lower Keys.

Marcus Williams2m read
Big Pine Key fire hospitalizes two Monroe County officers, destroys home
Community

Big Pine Key fire hospitalizes two Monroe County officers, destroys home

Two Monroe County officers were airlifted after a Big Pine Key fire destroyed their home, killed their pets and sparked a rush of help.

Lisa Park2m read
Key West creator uses children’s book to teach One Human Family
Community

Key West creator uses children’s book to teach One Human Family

Chad Remmert’s new children’s book turns Key West’s One Human Family motto into a lesson for children, tied to the city’s May 6 JT Day honoring JT Thompson.

Marcus Williams2m read
Leadership Monroe County class raises $25,000 at Marathon festival
Community

Leadership Monroe County class raises $25,000 at Marathon festival

A Marathon festival turned a Leadership Monroe County class project into a $25,000 boost for Keys AHEC, money aimed straight at school-based medical and dental care.

Lisa Park2m read
Deputies, county workers clear 1,600 pounds from Key Largo preserve
Government

Deputies, county workers clear 1,600 pounds from Key Largo preserve

Deputies and county workers pulled 1,600 pounds of trash from a Key Largo preserve in about 45 minutes, exposing the scale of an encampment on sensitive county land.

James Thompson2m read
Key Largo lionfish derby sets new record with 2,480 removed
Community

Key Largo lionfish derby sets new record with 2,480 removed

Key Largo divers hauled in 2,480 invasive lionfish, a new Keys record. The haul could spare native reef fish from nearly 1.5 million predation events.

Lisa Park2m read
Marathon High culinary instructor earns lifetime achievement award at ROSE Awards
Education

Marathon High culinary instructor earns lifetime achievement award at ROSE Awards

Marathon High’s culinary program feeds the Keys workforce, and Chef Flavor Stanton’s surprise ROSE honor put that pipeline front and center.

Lisa Park2m read
Key West couple sues city over rainbow fence, selective enforcement claims
Government

Key West couple sues city over rainbow fence, selective enforcement claims

A Key West couple says the city singled out their rainbow fence while ignoring similar violations elsewhere, turning one protest into a First Amendment fight.

James Thompson2m read
Key West art program gives students gallery space, sales share
Education

Key West art program gives students gallery space, sales share

Somerset Island Prep students showed and sold work at the Key West Art Center, where they keep 65% of each sale and learn from working artists twice a week.

Lisa Park2m read
Monroe County track athletes earn state meet berths after strong regional showings
Education

Monroe County track athletes earn state meet berths after strong regional showings

Monroe County sent athletes from all three high schools to Jacksonville, led by Justice Lee Isom’s throw sweep and Marathon’s school-record 4x800 relay.

Sarah Chen2m read
Monroe County kicks off tourism week with paddleboard proclamation
Business

Monroe County kicks off tourism week with paddleboard proclamation

Monroe County opened tourism week from paddleboards at Old Wooden Bridge Marina, spotlighting an industry that supports more than 24,000 Keys jobs.

Sarah Chen2m read
Grant helps Monroe County fox therapy program support children
Community

Grant helps Monroe County fox therapy program support children

A $5,000 grant will keep rescued foxes visiting Monroe County children through therapy, art sessions and enrichment.

Marcus Williams2m read
Golden Road brings Marathon retail comeback, local style to Overseas Highway
Business

Golden Road brings Marathon retail comeback, local style to Overseas Highway

From fish wholesaler and music teacher to boutique owner, Allison Sayer opened Golden Road with family help in Marathon. The shop targets locals and visitors as the Keys’ visitor economy tops $3.5 billion a year.

Sarah Chen2m read
Key Largo man arrested after leaving child alone at resort beach, deputies say
Community

Key Largo man arrested after leaving child alone at resort beach, deputies say

A 5-year-old was left alone at Gilbert’s Resort while his father drank at the bar, deputies said. Luis Fernando Del Ra Ortiz was arrested after staff took over child care.

Marcus Williams2m read
Marathon senior Justice Lee Isom becomes Monroe County's most decorated track athlete
Community

Marathon senior Justice Lee Isom becomes Monroe County's most decorated track athlete

Justice Lee Isom closed her Marathon throwing career with three more district golds, a four-year total of 100 points and Monroe County’s top track résumé.

Marcus Williams2m read
Monroe County cuts tourism funds for Key West LGBTQ events
Government

Monroe County cuts tourism funds for Key West LGBTQ events

Monroe County's cut could strip about $200,000 from Key West Pride, Tropical Heat and Womenfest as new state law rewrites tourist-tax grants.

James Thompson2m read
Prosecutors fight to keep cellphone evidence in Ramsingh case
Government

Prosecutors fight to keep cellphone evidence in Ramsingh case

Prosecutors are fighting to keep Rajindhar Ramsingh’s cellphone evidence in play, arguing the warrants were valid and the messages could shape the Key West corruption case.

Marcus Williams2m read
Gimenez delivers $3 million for Reynolds School, workforce housing plan advances
Education

Gimenez delivers $3 million for Reynolds School, workforce housing plan advances

A $3 million federal check could restore Reynolds School and unlock up to 150 workforce apartments at Trumbo Road, a housing fix for Monroe County schools.

Lisa Park2m read
Key West Songwriters Festival marks 30 years with 30-plus shows
Community

Key West Songwriters Festival marks 30 years with 30-plus shows

More than 250 songwriters filled Key West’s bars and stages for 80-plus shows, turning the festival’s 30th year into a citywide traffic of music and money.

Marcus Williams2m read
Monroe County judge jails fisherman over 30 lobster violation counts
Government

Monroe County judge jails fisherman over 30 lobster violation counts

A Keys fisherman got 30 days in jail after 30 lobster counts near Woman Key, a sharp warning in Monroe County’s most watched fishery.

Marcus Williams2m read
North Carolina man dies after diving into shallow water near Marvin Key
Healthcare

North Carolina man dies after diving into shallow water near Marvin Key

Edward Eugene Stills, 50, died after diving into shallow water near Marvin Key, a reminder of how quickly a Keys sandbar can turn deadly.

Lisa Park2m read
Marathon gala raises $324,000 for Fishermen’s Community Hospital nursing program
Healthcare

Marathon gala raises $324,000 for Fishermen’s Community Hospital nursing program

Nearly 200 guests in Marathon helped raise more than $324,000 for the nursing program that keeps Fishermen’s Community Hospital staffed around the clock.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
Key West woman gets 36-month prison term in cocaine case
Government

Key West woman gets 36-month prison term in cocaine case

A Key West controlled buy in December 2024 ended with Judith Lucas getting 36 months in prison, plus probation, fines and a license suspension.

Marcus Williams2m read
Emaciated manatee calf rescued in Florida Keys, flown to SeaWorld rehab
Healthcare

Emaciated manatee calf rescued in Florida Keys, flown to SeaWorld rehab

A severely emaciated manatee calf was pulled from the Atlantic side of the Keys after rescuers found its mother nearby but not nursing. The male calf was flown to SeaWorld Orlando for intensive rehab.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read
Monroe County moves to curb overtime costs after policy review
Government

Monroe County moves to curb overtime costs after policy review

Monroe County said 2025 overtime costs topped federal standards by more than $360,000, with airport management pay drawing fresh scrutiny.

Marcus Williams2m read