It will be Brevard County’s only 4-star hotel when it opens in 2027. But now, the Westin also wants control of the public beach park next door.

Two of Brevard County’s top officials were reelected for a new term in office this week after the write-in candidates they were facing in the November election withdrew their candidacies.

Party primaries for an open U.S. House seat, school board races, city races, and more are all on the ballot for the statewide primary on Aug. 20.

Brevard County’s supervisor of elections will move onto a general election in November after beating his challenger in the Republican primary on Tuesday.

The tax that helps clean the polluted Indian River Lagoon doesn't expire for two more years, but some are already calling for extending the half-cents penny sales tax another 10 years.

An argument between local governments over who pays what share of the costs to put lifeguards on beaches could mean fewer eyes on the water during the rest of spring break and the summer.

In the latest twist in how Brevard County spends tourism tax money, three long-running events that bring thousands of visitors to the Space Coast will no longer receive grants from the county, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

Brevard County commissioners want three municipalities to chip in for 50% of the cost of lifeguards stationed at their beaches, in locations where there are adjacent city-maintained parks.

Months since Brevard County commissioned a study on what it might cost to make Merritt Island a city, the final feasibility report concludes, “The initial impacts on residents of Merritt Island would be very limited. There would be no new ad valorem taxes.”

Brevard County will spend nearly $900,000 to staff some south county beaches with lifeguards all year and not just during certain seasons.

Brevard County commissioners — ignoring its own advisory panel's recommendation — approved a controversial proposal to grant of up to $30 million to the developer behind the planned Westin Cocoa Beach Resort & Spa.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County commissioners on Tuesday voted to advance with deregulating alcohol sales hours at bars and restaurants in unincorporated communities of the county. Commissioners supported author John Tobia, who called county restrictions preventing alcohol sales between 2 and 7 a.m., “pointless regulations.””This would increase the freedom of residents, visitors and business owners in Brevard County,” Tobia wrote in his proposal. “If bars are open longer, people will leave when they want to leave,” Smith said. Selling alcohol 24/7 would not apply to the county’s municipalities, like spring break hotspot Cocoa Beach. Tobia said commissioners must hold one more vote on the ordinance before it goes into effect.

Ad[TRENDING: Tiger Woods’ leg shattered in rollover crash | Orlando City player faces sex charge | Woman loses $100,000 to romance conman]“This is a simple policy looking out for the well-being of the citizens of Brevard County,” Tobia said at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. I’m not going to support a mandatory vaccine, but I do get your point,” Commission Chair Rita Pritchett told Tobia. “But it’s their choice, not ours.”The announcement of Tobia’s proposal drew concern and frustration last week from some local firefighters and their supporters, including the Brevard County Professional Firefighters union. Tobia balked at the frequent comparison during the meeting between his vaccine mandate and a countywide mask mandate, proposed last summer by Lober. “I’ve got union firefighters advocating for up to a 30% raise,” he said.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – There are already incentives in place for first responders in Brevard County to get the COVID-19 vaccine. County Commissioner John Tobia wants to make it mandatory. He’s scheduled to propose a new policy requiring firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to get the COVID-19 vaccine during the next commissioner’s meeting. Tobia is referring to the results of a survey, conducted by the Brevard County Firefighters Union in December. I want them to be protected.”Michel Bramson, president of the Brevard County firefighter’s union said the commissioner didn’t even talk to him about this policy or get any insight from other firefighters.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County Commissioners targeted an outgoing Florida Today editor with a resolution Tuesday “honoring” her but instead the commissioners targeted the journalist’s nationality and the decline of newspaper sales. Florida Today engagement editor Isadora Rangel announced last week she was leaving after 3.5 years at the Brevard County paper for a new position with the Miami Herald. After reading the “more palatable” of his suggestions to add to the resolution, Lober removed his mask to read the second. After laughs all around from the Brevard County Commission, Tobia recommended the commission stick with the first addition Lober suggested but not the second targeting Rangel’s Brazilian nationality. Editor’s note: News 6 has a content sharing agreement with Florida Today that does not include opinion or editorial pieces.

Brevard County gives away more PPE to small businessesBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Nearly $2 million will be going toward helping Brevard County’s small businesses recover from COVID-19 losses. [TRENDING: Rare ‘Christmas star’ puts on a show | Suspects sold ‘jail broken’ Amazon Fire Sticks | Who will be the next to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?] Commissioner Bryan Lober responded that federal CARES money would not come out of first responders’ paychecks, it would be cut from capital projects. The owner of a salon in Melbourne said he’s taken advantage of the county’s PPE giveaways since they started. The owner of the Younique Spa also said his employees are anticipating receiving the next round of stimulus checks.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. Brevard County small businesses and nonprofit organizations will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $10,000 apiece to offset some of their expenses and lost revenue related to the coronavirus pandemic, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. The grant program with a total budget of $10 million was approved Tuesday by the Brevard County Commission. Money for the grants will come from Brevard County's $105.03 million federal allocation from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. With a maximum of $10,000 per grant, the $10 million would help at least 1,000 small businesses and nonprofits. Commissioner Curt Smith said that its really critical that we get the money out there to small businesses.