DeSoto County

A proposal before the DeSoto County Commission to rezone hundreds of acres for a complex of data centers failed on Wednesday night, delivering the second major blow this week to developers who had sought to build more than 15 facilities in the rural county.

Like many local ranchers, DeSoto County's Newt Keen said he’s worried about the future of the industry, especially after President Donald Trump announced he will be easing tariffs for foreign beef — a move some agricultural experts fear could further weaken the country’s future beef supply.

Funds are part of a federal and state partnership to strengthen rural health.

DeSoto County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data centers Tuesday, but it won’t apply to rezoning applications tied to an 800-plus-acre data center project proposed earlier this year.

Sarasota commissioners voted on Wednesday to halt the “acceptance, review and approval” of any major data centers until at least July 2027, but seemed eager to push for an outright ban in perpetuity. The move comes as data center developments become a flashpoint for local governments across the country, including neighboring DeSoto County, which approved a similar moratorium this week.

The majority of brushy wildfires that burst into flames across Southwest Florida since last weekend have either been contained or close to it.

After nearly three hours of emotional public comment, DeSoto County commissioners on Tuesday took the first step toward a one-year moratorium on data centers. By a unanimous vote, four of the county’s commissioners — one recused himself — agreed to direct the county attorney to prepare language for an ordinance that would bar them from accepting new data center applications in the coming year.

The special needs shelter is at the South Florida State College DeSoto Campus in Arcadia.

A workshop on growth is Thursday, June 18 at the Turner Agro-Center.