Florida Times
Florida: Driving America's New Greatness.
Saturday, Sep 12, 2026
Florida Times
Tampa Bay Business Groups Launch Early Literacy Initiative
Business organisations and education nonprofits in the Tampa Bay region are investing in childhood reading programmes intended to strengthen long-term workforce readiness.
Orlando and South Florida Tourism Operators Prepare for Autumn Visitor Season
Hospitality businesses in Florida’s largest tourism markets are launching targeted campaigns to maintain occupancy during the quieter period between the summer peak and winter holidays.
Florida Political and Business Leaders Debate Housing, Insurance and Workforce Pressures
The WLRN Sunshine Economy Summit has brought together gubernatorial hopefuls and economic stakeholders in South Florida to debate housing affordability, insurance costs and labour-market challenges.
Atlantic Hurricane Season Reaches Peak Without a Hurricane So Far in 2026
The Atlantic basin has reached its climatological peak without recording a hurricane this season, an unusually quiet stretch attributed in the source notes to strong El Niño wind shear.
Florida Lightning Death Toll Reaches Six as Officials Issue Safety Warning
Weather safety officials are urging greater caution during thunderstorms after Florida recorded six lightning fatalities this year, exceeding typical annual levels.
Florida Increases School-Zone Traffic Enforcement as Students Return
Police departments and county sheriffs are stepping up speed checks and school bus enforcement across Florida following the return of millions of students to classrooms.
Florida Expands Digital Driver Licence Integration on Smartphones
State motor vehicle authorities have widened support for digital identification on mobile devices, allowing residents to use smartphone-based credentials at participating verification points.
Central Florida Monitors Aquifer Levels During Wet Season
Water management authorities are tracking rainfall and aquifer recharge across central Florida to safeguard long-term drinking water supplies for rapidly growing suburban communities.
Florida Continues Multibillion-Dollar Everglades Restoration Spending
State environmental agencies are continuing major investment in wetland restoration and water-quality projects aimed at protecting the Everglades ecosystem.
Florida Citrus Acreage Declines Further Ahead of New Growing Season
Preliminary US Department of Agriculture figures show another contraction in Florida’s commercial citrus acreage, extending the long-term decline of one of the state’s traditional agricultural industries.
New York Renters Continue to Drive Housing Searches Toward Florida Cities
Zillow rental data show sustained interest from New York renters in Miami, Orlando and Tampa as households in higher-cost northeastern markets search for more affordable alternatives.
Miami Luxury Housing Market Remains Resilient Despite High Borrowing Costs
High-end residential properties in Miami-Dade County continue to attract domestic and international buyers even as elevated mortgage rates raise financing costs across the broader property market.
Florida Space Coast Expands Manufacturing for Record Launch Activity
Commercial space companies and defence contractors along Florida’s Space Coast are increasing manufacturing capacity and workforce development to support a rising cadence of rocket launches.
PortMiami and Port Everglades Maintain Stable Cargo Volumes
South Florida’s largest maritime hubs are reporting steady container traffic and resilient supply-chain operations despite disruptions to global shipping routes and changing trade demand.
Southwest Florida Economic Growth Slows Toward Neutral
Business surveys from Florida Gulf Coast University show growth in Lee and Collier counties losing momentum as employers and consumers become more cautious.
Florida Housing Agencies Expand Assistance for Workers and Low-Income Families
State housing programmes are distributing millions of dollars through initiatives including Hometown Heroes to help teachers, first responders and lower-income households meet rising down-payment and housing costs.
Florida State Universities Report Record Enrolment as Housing Pressure Grows
Public universities across Florida have enrolled record numbers of undergraduate and graduate students for the fall term, adding strain to campus housing while underscoring continued population growth in the state.
Florida Power & Light Projected to Miss 2035 Carbon Reduction Target
Regulatory filings indicate Florida Power & Light may fall short of an interim decarbonisation milestone included in its 10-year planning submission to the state Public Service Commission.
Florida Realtors Launch Campaign for Property Tax Overhaul
Florida Realtors has begun a multimillion-dollar campaign supporting Amendment Three, a constitutional measure that would expand homestead exemptions and limit assessment increases on non-homestead property.
Florida Rolls Out Major Budget and Tax Policy Changes Ahead of Autumn
State agencies are implementing recently approved fiscal and regulatory measures that will shape Florida’s tax, spending and economic policy environment heading into the final months of the year.
Florida Homeowners Continue to Face High Insurance Costs and Coverage Disputes
Homeowners across Florida remain under pressure from some of the highest property insurance premiums in the United States, keeping recent market reforms at the centre of state economic and political debate.
Florida Universities Enforce New Restrictions on Undocumented Students
Public universities across Florida are implementing state-mandated enrolment restrictions and visa reporting requirements affecting undocumented students following legislation adopted earlier this year.
Florida Proposes Criminal Liability for AI Companies When Chatbots Are Used in Crimes
Florida’s attorney general has proposed legislation that would expose technology companies to criminal penalties when artificial intelligence chatbots are actively used to plan or carry out criminal acts.
Florida Cabinet Approves Framework for Designating Domestic Terrorist Groups
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved rules allowing state security officials to designate certain organisations as terrorist entities under newly enacted legislation.
Florida Executes Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. for 1996 Murder
Florida has executed 72-year-old Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. by lethal injection following his conviction for the 1996 murder of Richard Allen Montgomery in southwest Florida.
Miami Hurricanes Set Seven Programme Records in 77-7 Win Over Florida A&M
The University of Miami football team tied or broke seven programme records in a 77-7 victory over Florida A&M early in the college football season.
SeaWorld Orlando Offers Free Admission to Florida Public School Teachers
SeaWorld Orlando will provide certified Florida public school teachers with free unlimited park admission for the coming year as part of an initiative aimed at educators and local attendance.
Brightline Safety Investigation Wins Major Florida Journalism Awards
A Miami Herald and WLRN investigation into safety failures and pedestrian deaths along Florida’s Brightline rail corridor won top honours at the Sunshine State Awards and received a Gerald Loeb Award nomination.
Flooded Recreational Fields Frustrate Brevard County Communities
Residents and youth sports organisers in Cocoa and surrounding parts of Brevard County are calling for relief after prolonged seasonal rainfall left recreational fields flooded and exposed weaknesses in local infrastructure.
Tampa Bay Chamber Opposes Florida Recreational Marijuana Ballot Measure
The Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce announced its opposition to Amendment 3, arguing that legalising recreational marijuana could create workplace-safety and business concerns.
20-Year-Old Disney College Program Worker Dies After Lightning Strike in Celebration
A 20-year-old participant in the Disney College Program died after being struck by lightning in Celebration despite rescue efforts by bystanders.
Lawyers Appeal Death Sentence of Convicted Sebring Bank Shooter
Attorneys for Zephen Xaver, sentenced to death for killing five women inside a Sebring bank, presented an initial appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
Florida Communities Mark 25th Anniversary of Sept. 11 Attacks
Memorial events across Florida commemorated victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, including observances in Kissimmee, Palm Harbor and the Sarasota classroom where the president was informed of the attacks.
Airbnb Launches Emergency Housing Programme for Displaced South Florida Residents
Airbnb is working with local nonprofit groups to provide free temporary accommodation to people displaced by natural disasters and severe weather across Miami and the Florida Keys.
University of South Florida Breaks Ground on $500 Million Uptown Landing Development
The University of South Florida has begun construction on a $500 million mixed-use expansion in Tampa aimed at supporting technology, healthcare and commercial research activity.
US Bank Plans Major Florida Expansion With New Branches and Business Lending Offices
US Bank intends to open its first physical branches and commercial lending offices in Florida, increasing competition in markets including Jacksonville, Tampa and South Florida.
Florida Regulators Face Scrutiny Over Licensing of Contractors Accused of Fraud
An investigative report found that some home-repair contractors accused of deceptive practices have retained their Florida business licences, prompting concerns about protections for homeowners and retirees.
Florida Completes Major Everglades Restoration Canal Project in Martin County
State officials marked completion of the C-23 canal diversion project in Palm City, designed to improve water quality and restore more natural water flows within the Everglades ecosystem.
Saharan Dust Cloud Heads Toward Florida as Hurricane Season Continues
Meteorologists are tracking a roughly 3,000-mile Saharan dust plume moving toward Florida, where it is expected to temporarily suppress tropical storm formation during an unusually active hurricane season.
Heavy Rain and Flooding Threaten Central and South Florida Through Weekend
Persistent thunderstorms are causing local flash flooding and creek overflows across Central Florida and the Miami metropolitan area, disrupting roads and outdoor events as saturated ground struggles to absorb further rainfall.
South Florida Mayors Oppose State Order to Remove License Plate Reader Cameras
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner and other local leaders urged Florida’s governor to reverse a directive requiring automated license plate readers to be removed, arguing the technology is important for crime prevention.
Miami Condo Fraud Investigation Alleges $6 Million Stolen From Property Associations
Authorities have detailed an alleged five-year fraud scheme involving about $6 million taken from several South Florida condominium associations, raising fresh questions about financial oversight of residential boards.
Florida Insurance Carriers Seek Rate Cuts of Up to 8%
Major property and auto insurers in Florida have filed for rate reductions averaging as much as 8% for the coming year, offering signs of stabilisation after years of market turmoil.
Florida Supreme Court Extends Statewide Immigration Grand Jury Through April
The Florida Supreme Court authorised a statewide grand jury to continue investigating government policies, local actions and corporate practices involving undocumented immigration through April.
Florida Sues Netflix Over Alleged Collection of Minors’ Personal Data
Florida’s attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing Netflix of unlawfully collecting and using data from underage users in violation of state consumer-protection and digital-privacy laws.
Blue Origin Wins $700 Million NASA Contract and Starts $80 Million Florida Facility
Blue Origin secured a $700 million NASA contract for a Mars communications network and broke ground on an $80 million payload facility at Cape Canaveral, expanding its presence on Florida’s Space Coast.
NTSB Cites Excessive Speed in Deadly Miami Airport Cargo Jet Crash
Federal investigators released cockpit transcripts indicating that an Amazon cargo aircraft was travelling too fast on approach before overrunning a runway at Miami International Airport in a crash that killed five ground workers.
Florida Executes Man Convicted in 1995 Hog Trail Murders
Florida carried out the execution of a man convicted in the 1995 Hog Trail killings in Polk County after last-minute appeals citing new DNA evidence were unsuccessful.
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Joint Base Charleston Officially Renamed in Honor of Senator Lindsey Graham
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