WAFC Local News – July 15, 2026, 8:06 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Three people died in Belle Glade as a pickup truck left Gator Boulevard and entered into a canal Tuesday morning. Palm Beach deputies are still investigating. The LaBelle City Commission had one of their members decry the condition of the ball fields in LaBelle. Commissioner Kevin Holland planned to address the Parks and Recreation Board when they meet Thursday to complain. He says the complaint in the past was the Parks and Rec Department didn’t have enough of a budget to properly care for the fields. LaBelle says it’s interested in taking back the ball fields and maintaining them. Holland says they need to do something about the system because it’s not working. It’s neglect. I don’t know how else to say it. And it’s bad. It’s embarrassing. And I don’t think the current system is working. Holland says he hasn’t heard recently about the need for more mowers and people in that department. But I go around look at it. None of it’s mowed. I know. And it’s just in weeding. It’s just it looks like like apocalypse now. A 54-year-old LaBelle man Daniel Sands is facing charges of attempted burglary, criminal attempt to conspire, and criminal mischief over a thousand dollars in damage. A disturbance in progress on Royal Palm Avenue led to the charges. Henry County’s finest said the victim told them several individuals attempted to break into the residence. He also had video evidence that showed Sands attempting to gain entrance armed with a hammer. Two other suspects were also detained for questioning at the scene. The victim also found a hole in the roof of the residence and also a window was broken. Congressman Byron Donalds is leading the pack for governor on the Republican ticket. He spoke to WOKC News recently about agriculture, rural growth, Lake Okeechobee, and other issues important to us. Donald says he does support property tax reform. I do support what the governor’s trying to accomplish because number one philosophically, I mean you shouldn’t have to continuously pay the government in order to keep your house. He’d like to help rural counties like ours get payments as we are cash strapped. Donald says some governments in the larger counties need to tighten their belts. People are not a never-ending piggy bank for government. We’re just not. Citizens, they have what they have, especially our seniors on fixed income, our working families in Florida, they have what they have. They can’t just be a never-ending piggy bank because a county or a city decided they wanted to do this next thing. You have to live within your means as a government the same way people have to, the same way small businesses have to. The Belgrade City Commission finalized their contract with new manager Emery Payne. He’ll be paid over $200,000 a year. It is a two-year contract. They did add a 30-day notice if Payne decides to leave the job. The commission is opposed to a plan to reduce property taxes by raising the homestead exemptions. The legislature agreed to put it on the ballot, an increase in the homestead exemption to $250,000 over the next few years. Mayor Steve Wilson says they need to campaign against this proposal like their life is on the line. Do not be misled on this. It’s going to hurt you more so than it’s going to help you. Vice Mayor Robert Reese says the property tax reform will likely impact all cities in Palm Beach County. We need to begin planning for how we’re going to respond to it in order to keep the city open. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).