What Is Key West The Newspaper (thebluepaper.com)?

Updated

Key West The Newspaper (thebluepaper.com) is a local news and editorial publication covering Key West and the Florida Keys. It publishes reporting and opinion on Monroe County government, water quality, housing, insurance, and development, along with letters to the editor. It is a news site, not a service, booking platform, or online store.

What the site covers

The homepage presents a mix of news reporting, featured stories, and reader letters. The topics shown in the page evidence cluster around local public affairs:

  • Water quality and environment — a resident group's Clean Water Act lawsuit against the City of Marathon, and a Florida International University study of pharmaceuticals in bonefish near Key West harbor.
  • Local government and policing — coverage of a police shooting case and a jury verdict, and profiles of county officials such as Sylvia Murphy.
  • Housing — letters describing military families' housing hardship and the loss of long-term rentals to vacation rentals.
  • Insurance — pieces on windstorm insurance costs and Monroe County property owners' relationship with Citizens.
  • Zoning and development — proposed zoning changes on Stock Island and the Safe Harbor Community Center Overlay.

Reporting plus opinion

The site does not separate news from commentary into distinct brands. Featured stories carry bylines and read as reported pieces or columns, while letters to the editor are clearly labeled as reader submissions. If you are citing the site, check whether a given item is a news story, a column, or a letter — the label on the page is the reliable signal.

Who it is for

  • Residents of Key West and the Florida Keys who want local coverage of county decisions, utilities, insurance, and development.
  • Anyone researching Florida Keys public issues — water quality studies, housing policy, zoning overlays — who needs local reporting and community reaction in one place.
  • Readers outside the region will find little of interest; the content is hyper-local.

What it is not

There is no indication on the site of paid subscriptions, accounts, or commerce. The page evidence shows news posts, an email opt-in form, and a Facebook link — nothing suggesting a storefront or paid service. Treat it as a free-to-read editorial site, and do not assume any paywall or account requirement either way without checking the page you land on.

How to use it

  1. Open thebluepaper.com and scan the homepage, which mixes the latest posts with featured stories.
  2. Use the posts pagination to move back through older coverage.
  3. For a specific issue — say, the Marathon clean water lawsuit or the Stock Island zoning proposal — read the featured story first, then the related letters for community response.
  4. If you want updates, the site offers an email opt-in form and a Facebook page.

The main limitation to keep in mind: this is a small local outlet with a strong editorial voice. For decisions that depend on verified facts — permits, insurance terms, legal outcomes — use its coverage as a pointer to primary documents and official records rather than as the final word.