Good Morning, Sunland
It's Friday and we made it! But this weekend is going to be super cold. Apparently it's supposed to be the coldest it's been in the last 16 years, which is insane. Bundle up to say the least.
📅 ICYMI: Yesterday's events list has everything happening this weekend. Don't miss it!
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
Alright, let's jump right in!
⛅ Weather Update: Cloudy becoming partly cloudy.
☀️ Day: High of 70°F | Cloudy skies this morning. 7% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 51°F | Partly cloudy this evening. 12% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:08 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:01 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 3:41 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 5:17 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "Let's Stay Together" — Al Green
Ja’Min Devon
💰 Main Squeeze: Half-Cent Sales Tax Generated $15.5 Million This Year, Renewal Vote Coming November 2026
The Citizens Oversight Committee presented their 6th annual report Tuesday night on the half-cent infrastructure sales tax. The tax generated $15.5 million this fiscal year and has funded over $88 million in infrastructure investments across St. Lucie County since 2018.
The Numbers: 53 projects completed, 37 additional projects underway or planned. The money comes from residents, visitors, and tourists, meaning people traveling through the county help pay for local roads, sidewalks, and drainage improvements.
What's Coming: The tax is in its 7th year of the voter-approved 10-year program. It's coming up for renewal on the November 2026 ballot. Without renewal, some projects may be delayed or discontinued, and the financial burden would shift more to property taxpayers instead of being shared with visitors and tourists.
The Oversight: The Citizens Oversight Committee, led by Chairman Ken Croll, confirmed all sales tax proceeds for 2024-25 were spent in full compliance with Florida statutes and the approved ballot language. Committee members are volunteers who serve unpaid and meet quarterly to ensure every dollar is spent as voters intended.
What Do You Think? Should the half-cent sales tax be renewed? Leave your thoughts.
Sponsored: 🟣 I got a free quote and so should you!
Daisy at SE Benchmark has been on me about making sure I have all my insurance in place. It's the top of the year, so I'm already doing an analysis of what I'm spending and how much. Insurance is a big piece of that.
Here's the thing: there's probably savings sitting somewhere in your current setup. Whether it's home, auto, business, or life insurance, SE Benchmark can run a free quote and see if you're leaving money on the table.
🏫 Press Round: Festivals, Fixes & Facilities
🌊 Lagoonapalooza Draws Record 2,500 Attendees
The Environmental Learning Center's annual Lagoonapalooza festival drew more than 2,500 people on January 24, marking the largest community event in the organization's history. The free nature and music festival featured boardwalk trails, pontoon boat eco-tours, kayaking and exhibits from more than 30 environmental partners, with more than 40 families becoming new members after visiting the campus for the first time.
👉 Read more (WQCS)
🎨 Florida Highwaymen Artist R.L. Lewis Dies at 84
Robert L. Lewis Jr., one of the last four remaining original Florida Highwaymen artists, died January 26 in Cocoa, leaving only three of the original 26 artists alive. Lewis taught art in Brevard County schools for 32 years and was known as perhaps the most versatile of the Highwaymen artists, working in all mediums including landscapes, wildlife, portraits and sculpture.
👉 Read more (TCPalm, TCPalm subscription may be required)
💻 Indiantown Reviews 2 Million Square Foot Data Center
A 2 million square foot data center employing about 400 people is proposed for 606 acres at 13820 Silver Fox Lane in Indiantown, with construction potentially starting in 2027. The project requires three public hearings before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board and Village Council, with the first hearing possibly scheduled for March.
👉 Read more (TCPalm, TCPalm subscription may be required)
🎉 The Top 5 Events This Week!
Friday, Jan 30
🎸 Phil Collins Experience – Authentic Phil Collins and Genesis tribute at Sunrise Theatre, 117 S 2nd St, Fort Pierce. | 8 PM | Get Tickets
Saturday, Jan 31
🍹 3rd Annual Sip Tequila Fest – 50+ tequila brands, 200+ expressions, renowned distillers from Mexico at 2210 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart. | 1–5 PM | Buy Tickets
🎪 World's Largest Bounce Park Returns! - The Royal Duck – Giant inflatable slides, bounce arenas at MIDFLORIDA Event Center, Port St Lucie. | Jan 29-31, Noon–7 PM | $28.99 (10+), $34.99 (adult + child under 10) | Get Tickets
🛼 She Rolls PSL Meet Up – Rollerblade or walk, all levels welcome at Tradition Town Center, Port St Lucie. | 8 AM | Free | Join Us
Sunday, Feb 1
🎵 Music at the Mansion – Live band at waterfront location, German pastries, food and drinks for purchase at Indian Riverside Park, Jensen Beach. | 3–6 PM | Free admission | Details
If you have an event, send it to me here
💧 The Last Drop: Museums, Movement, and Home Repairs
🎨 Florida Highwaymen Museum soft opening Feb. 20 – City of Fort Pierce sponsors celebration 4-6pm at 1234 Avenue D. Features original artwork from all 26 Highwaymen artists. Mosaic graves unveiling 10am at Pine Grove Cemetery. Check out new Highwaymen Museum website
📝 Take this week's quiz: Test your knowledge of Treasure Coast headlines. News quiz here!
🏃 Quarter of Florida adults report no exercise – 25% of Floridians do no physical activity or exercise outside their job, per United Health Foundation report. U.S. average is 21.8%. Activity report
👁️ Favorite story from the week: A Night for Coach Adams. Great read if you missed it.
🏠 PSL opens $1.7M home repair program Feb. 18 – First 100 pre-applications accepted for deferred payment loans $15k-$50k for low to moderate income homeowners. Loans become fully forgivable over time for health, safety, energy efficiency issues. Home repair
If you have an event, send it to me here
📸 This is Sunland: Interview Finish!
I had a chance to sit down with Benard Taylor for an interview. 2026 is going to be a pretty big year. I want to make sure I keep you informed.
Quick Note: The newsletter will remain politics and crime free. I, along with many others, appreciate what started our day without a lot of that.
Check It Out: Interview is currently out right now on Patreon. We appreciate the support. Not possible without you to produce these high quality interviews so people can be more informed. See you Monday.
With Love, Ja’Min
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