Local News in Key West
Community news from our local sources
Key West 29 storiesWiden to Monroe County

Local hip-hop artist joins grand marshals of Fantasy Fest parade
Editor’s Note: T-minus 51 days until the 2026 Fantasy Fest parade. Join the Keys Weekly each week for exclusive Fantasy Fest features highlighting the people and projects behind the island’s biggest annual party. Local hip-hop artist Mike Stack is about to join a venerable group…

Key West reimagines its rainbow crosswalks — virtually
It’s been nearly a year since state workers blacked out Key West’s rainbow crosswalks, as if redacting a document to conceal an identity. But it’ll take more than blacktop to suppress the island’s identity. The Key West Business Guild and its nonprofit partner, Gay Key West, will…

Baby’s Coffee prompts a happy buzz with new Old Town location
A buzzy chatter filled Baby’s Coffee Tuesday afternoon on Fleming Street, where curious customers were delighted to find the long-awaited downtown location open, inviting and serving the premium, high-mountain-grown coffee that has been satisfying Key West’s and the Lower Keys’…

Key West swimmers dive into the season with a pair of home meets
Key West dove into its season with a pair of home swimming meets on Aug. 28 and 29. For their home opener, the Conchs dispatched the Pirates of Port Charlotte in both boys and girls competition. The Lady Conchs outscored the Pirates 81-23, with strong times and performances from…

Conchs & ’Canes football battle loaded opponents as Marathon preps for spring rematch
Key West football got off to a late start on Aug. 28 as the Conchs awaited what was scheduled to be a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Tigers of Palmetto High School. It turned out to be a late night for both teams, especially the Tigers, who made the trip to the Southernmost City from…

Keys History: Recalling the railways and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935
It is safe to say that Henry Flagler was tickled when his private railcar, the Flagler Special, rolled into the Key West station at 10:43 a.m. on Jan. 22, 1912. Some 10,000 people gathered at the depot area to celebrate the arrival of the 82-year-old industrialist. While Key West…

What’s Cooking Key West: Cuban coffee adds zest to caffeinated martinis
Located closer to Cuba than to the U.S. mainland, Key West began welcoming its Cuban neighbors in the early 1830s. Many were cigarmakers, and the city’s first cigar factory opened in 1831. By the mid- to late-1800s, Key West was known as the cigar manufacturing capital of the…

Key West Back in the Day: The duck on a stick
One of the best birthday presents I ever bought anybody was a duck on a stick. It wasn’t a decision involving long forethought. After all, a duck on a stick doesn’t instantly leap to mind when you’re seeking the perfect birthday gift for a friend. However, this was the early…

New traffic light coming to north end of College Road on Stock Island
To anyone who spends their days at the golf club, the college or the hospital, this one’s for you. Crews are installing a new traffic light at the north end of College Road, where it intersects with U.S. 1 across from Beach Weekend Marina. No more waiting impatiently to turn left…

Just a Few Friends festival offers Jimmy Buffett film & new events
The life and legacy of Jimmy Buffett will be honored Sept. 3-7 in Key West, where the singer-songwriter developed the “tropical rock” style and carefree persona that made him a world-renowned musical icon. “Just a Few Friends Key West” will feature events including a “second…

Athlete of the Week: Chace Gaertner
Chace Gaertner Junior, Key West Running Back/Safety “Chace is one of those guys who is a leader in the locker room and on the field. He is a good student with good character who always does the right thing.” – Johnny Hughes, Conchs head coach Key West’s Chace Gaertner “does a…

Just a Few Friends festival unveils Jimmy Buffett Look-Alike Contest
The first Bubba Look-Alike Showdown, presented by Hogfish Bar & Grill, will take over the 200 block of Duval Street on Friday, Sept. 4, before Gary Roland and the Landsharks return to recreate the spirit of the 1998 Meeting of the Minds street concert, when Jimmy Buffett…