Local News

Coast to Coast Pizza Company comes to Key Largo

Key Largo residents Ted and Deanna Dorr know a thing or two about what goes into making a great pie. For the last 20 years, they’ve owned two pizzerias in Colorado and say success boils down to high-quality ingredients. “When I read that these guys were using Grande cheese, I had…

Run and walk on Islamorada’s scenic Old Highway returns Saturday, Oct. 3

Events season in the Upper Keys gets underway on Saturday, Oct. 3 with a run and a stroll on the scenic Old Highway in Islamorada. Dubbed the Old Highway 5k Run/Walk, the race is back for a third year. The run and walk was organized by Baptist Health South Florida for a number of…

Mayor Kaufman and Monroe County Health Officials Discuss Key Community Health and Safety Issues

The greatest night in town: Scenes from the 2026 Best of Marathon

The jokes were flying, the drinks were flowing and no elected official was safe as the Keys Weekly and Rotary Club of Marathon welcomed 300 guests to the splendor of Hawks Cay Resort for the 2026 Best of Marathon Awards. Held to benefit the Rotary Club of Marathon every year…

Florida Keys Wild Bird Center breaks ground on new ‘Birdwalk’ at sanctuary

Funds generated from Florida Keys tourism are going to support a new “Birdwalk” at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary in Tavernier. On Sept. 17, local officials, community members and sanctuary staff put shovels to the dirt to mark the beginning of a $600,000 project. Entirely…

Officials vote to purse amicable separation with city manager

Key West officials this week voted 4-3 to direct the city attorney to negotiate an “amicable separation agreement” with city manager Brian L. Barroso. Mayor Sam Kaufman and commissioners Donie Lee, Chris Massicotte and Monica Haskell voted in favor of the negotiations.…

Tolls on Card Sound Road increase beginning Friday

Tolls on an alternate route into the Florida Keys will increase again, Monroe County recently announced. The latest adjustments to the tolls on Card Sound Road follow the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. The toll is fully electronic and uses Toll-By-Plate, SunPass…

Hurricanes run rampant over Glades Day in 35-0 Senior Night romp

Coral Shores celebrated Senior Night in style on Sept. 18, shutting out visiting Glades Day on the football field 35-0 in a game that gave the Hurricanes plenty to celebrate on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Sterling Keefe was nearly perfect through the air, completing five…

Puto gets a stadium: MHS field renamed after ‘Mr. Marathon’

A man known for his unwavering support of the Middle Keys community will see his name forever enshrined under Friday Night Lights. Undeterred by a weather delay during Marathon High School’s home football showdown on Sept. 18, school administrators, community leaders and…

Do your best Dolly Parton: Dive Bar hosts look-alike contest and fundraiser Sept. 25

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” — Dolly Parton Well, Dolly, we poured ourselves a cup of ambition and heard you loud and clear. And there’s no better place to do it than Dive Bar, 320 Grinnell St. On Friday, Sept. 25 (9-2-5 — get it?), Dive Bar will host the […]

Key West philanthropist John Padget dies at 89

It was sometime around 1998 when John Padget spoke at a Key West Chamber of Commerce lunch in the Casa Marina’s grand ballroom. At the time, Padget was a relatively new arrival to Key West, not well known, but clearly passionate about his topic — a little-known scholarship…

Federal agents interdict smuggling boat with Chinese nationals off Key Largo

Federal immigration agents intercepted a vessel off Key Largo carrying more than 20 individuals from various countries, U.S Customs and Border Patrol said on Sept. 21. CBP said an Air and Marine Operations aircraft conducting an Operation Vigilant Sentry patrol on Sept. 15…