Florida Times

Spain in Ecstasy: "We Feel Unbeatable, We Taught the Whole World a Lesson"

European champions Spain beat France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final, extending their unbeaten run to 37 matches and setting a record with eight consecutive knockout victories at major tournaments.

Florida Tourism Shows Mixed Results as Balaton-Style Domestic Travel Challenges Continue

Florida tourism officials continue monitoring shifts in visitor patterns as international travel demand remains strong while some domestic travelers face higher accommodation and service costs.

Florida Airlines and Airports Prepare for World Cup and Summer Travel Demand

South Florida transportation officials are preparing for increased visitor activity as international sporting events and seasonal tourism continue driving travel demand across the state.

Florida Launches Financial Support Program for Landlords Housing Military Veterans

The state’s Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive provides financial support to landlords who keep units available for veterans and helps cover possible property damage.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Retires Kumba Roller Coaster After Thirty-Three Years

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has permanently closed the iconic Kumba steel roller coaster as the theme park continues updating its attraction lineup for future visitors.

ACLU Calls for Investigation After Man Dies While Fleeing Immigration Operation in St. Augustine

Civil rights advocates are seeking federal accountability after a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican national was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while fleeing a Department of Homeland Security operation on State Road 16.

Florida Withdraws Clean Air Lawsuit After Closure of Everglades Immigration Facility

The Center for Biological Diversity dropped its federal lawsuit against Florida after confirming through satellite imagery that generators at the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility had been removed following its closure.

Florida Renames Palm Beach International Airport and Highway After Donald Trump

A new state law redesignates Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport and renames a major South Florida highway in honor of the former president.

Florida Governor Sets July 28 Execution Date for Former Police Officer James Duckett

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant scheduling the execution of James Duckett, a former Mascotte police officer convicted of the 1987 rape and murder of an eleven-year-old girl.

Florida State Prosecutors Decline Charges in Viral July Fourth Fireworks Highway Case

The St. Johns County State Attorney’s Office will not prosecute a passenger accused of firing fireworks from a moving vehicle on Interstate 95, ending a widely shared holiday weekend incident.

Pinellas County Authorities Seize More Than Two Million Dollars in Cocaine Trafficking Operation

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office dismantled a major drug network and seized 132 pounds of cocaine valued at more than two million dollars in an operation targeting Gulf Coast distribution.

Florida Protects Homeowners From Higher Insurance Costs Through New Roof Coverage Rules

New insurance regulations prevent companies from denying coverage solely because of roof age while introducing a framework for resolving disputed claims, changes state officials say could help stabilize the property insurance market.

Florida Budget Talks Begin as Orange County Officials Review Spending Priorities

Orange County commissioners have opened public budget sessions in Orlando to determine funding priorities for the next fiscal year, focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and community services.

Florida Health Inspectors Temporarily Close Fourteen Central Florida Restaurants

State inspectors ordered temporary closures of fourteen restaurants over food storage and pest violations, reflecting continued enforcement efforts to maintain public health standards in the region’s hospitality industry.

Florida Lawmakers Restrict Foreign Agreements With Designated Adversarial Nations

A new state law expands restrictions on government ties with countries of concern, increases penalties involving foreign terrorist organizations, and bans certain pre-arranged adoption and surrogacy agreements involving citizens of desig...

Florida Attorney General Opens Investigation Into Chemicals in Commercial Baked Goods

The state attorney general’s office has launched a consumer protection review into potentially hazardous additives found in some commercially sold bread and baked goods following public concerns about food safety.

Florida Approves New Consumer Protections for Retail Pet Purchases

A new law requires pet sellers to disclose financing terms and allows buyers to cancel agreements without penalties when an animal is found medically unfit, targeting misleading sales practices and irresponsible breeding operations.

Florida Removes Permit Requirements for Some Small Residential Construction Projects

A statewide deregulation measure eliminates building permits for residential construction work valued under $7,500, giving homeowners and small contractors a faster process for minor projects.

Florida Launches Veteran Housing Incentive Program for Landlords

The state’s new Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive program provides payments to participating landlords who reserve vacant units for veterans and offers coverage for potential property damage.

Florida Legislature Raises Simplified Probate Threshold to $150,000

Florida has doubled the asset limit for its simplified estate administration process from $75,000 to $150,000, a change designed to lower legal costs and speed up probate procedures for families.

Miami Announces Free FIFA World Cup Watch Parties at loanDepot park

Miami organizers will host large public viewing events for the FIFA World Cup’s final matches at the climate-controlled baseball stadium, drawing tens of thousands of fans and highlighting South Florida’s growing role as an international...

Florida Introduces Tougher Penalties for AI-Generated Child Exploitation Material

A new law updates Florida’s criminal code by creating felony offenses for distributing artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material, targeting the use of emerging technology in crimes against minors.

Florida Expands Restrictions on Registered Sex Offenders Near Child-Focused Locations

A new public safety law increases residency and access restrictions for convicted sex offenders, adding public swimming pools to prohibited areas and expanding police authority to make arrests without warrants in certain cases.

Florida Passes New Law Blocking Data Center Power Costs From Reaching Residential Customers

A new state measure prevents utility companies from transferring the infrastructure and electricity expenses linked to large commercial data centers onto residential and small-business customers, aiming to protect ratepayers from higher ...

Florida Heat Advisories Issued as South Florida Heat Index Reaches 109 Degrees

The National Weather Service has extended heat advisories across Broward and Miami-Dade counties as extreme temperatures and Saharan dust create dangerous outdoor conditions, prompting health officials to warn vulnerable residents to lim...

Florida Property Insurance Reforms Take Effect as Regulators Report Signs of Market Stabilization

New rules governing disputed claims and insurer coverage decisions are now active across Florida, with state regulators pointing to recent reforms as a factor behind Citizens Property Insurance’s planned premium reductions next year.

Harvard Astrophysicist to Lead U.S. Scientific Advisory on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Professor Avi Loeb appointed to advise the government on UAP data collection and analysis, emphasizing a data-driven approach over speculation.

South Florida Heat Advisories Continue as Heat Index Nears One Hundred Ten Degrees

The National Weather Service has extended heat warnings across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with Saharan dust limiting rainfall and pushing apparent temperatures close to one hundred ten degrees.

Miami-Dade Unveils Budget Focused on Housing, Transit, and Public Safety

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has presented Miami-Dade County's proposed budget, prioritizing affordable housing, transportation improvements, and public safety as the county responds to rising living costs.

Orange County Begins Budget Talks Focused on Rapid Population Growth

Orange County commissioners have opened budget workshops centered on public safety, transportation infrastructure, and other investments needed to support continued growth across the Orlando metropolitan area.

Colorado State University Lowers Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

Colorado State University now expects a quieter Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting nine named storms after strengthening El Niño conditions increased wind shear across the basin and reduced the projected threat to Florida.

Army Corps Advances Southern Everglades Restoration Planning

The United States Army Corps of Engineers has reviewed engineering alternatives for the Southern Everglades restoration project, seeking stakeholder input on plans to improve freshwater flows into Water Conservation Area 3B.

Alachua County Warns of Sharp Increase in Financial Scams

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office has launched a public awareness campaign after reporting a twenty-five percent rise in fraud cases, with financial losses now exceeding the combined value of local burglary and vehicle theft crimes.

Florida Develops Utility Rules to Shield Residents from Data Center Costs

The Florida Public Service Commission is drafting new tariffs and service requirements intended to prevent residential customers from bearing the rising electricity and water costs associated with large data centers.

New College of Florida Takes Financial Control of Former Sarasota-Manatee Campus

New College of Florida has assumed responsibility for the assets, liabilities, and dormitory debt service of the former University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus under the state's higher education consolidation plan.

Florida Expands Funding Authority for Future Air Taxi Infrastructure

The Florida Department of Transportation can now fully finance public vertiport projects when federal aviation funding is unavailable, supporting the state's plans to develop advanced air mobility networks.

Florida Tightens Bail Rules for Defendants Convicted of Violent Crimes

Courts across the state have begun enforcing legislation requiring defendants awaiting sentencing for dangerous violent or sexual crimes to be held without bond after a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or conviction.

Florida Overrides Local Restrictions on Gas-Powered Landscaping Equipment

New statewide legislation prevents cities and counties from banning or regulating gas-powered leaf blowers and other commercial landscaping equipment, replacing a patchwork of local environmental rules.

Twelve-Year-Old Girl Wounded in Northwest Miami-Dade Drive-By Shooting

Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputies are investigating after a twelve-year-old girl was shot while sitting in a vehicle with her siblings near Liberty City, adding to concerns about gun violence affecting children in South Florida.

Florida Limits Liability for Redevelopment of Former Phosphate Mining Sites

A new state law caps civil liability for developers that rehabilitate former phosphate mining land, a measure intended to encourage industrial projects and new housing construction on previously degraded sites.

Jacksonville Business Leaders Strengthen Hurricane Preparedness Plans

The Jacksonville Postal Customer Council brought together emergency officials, meteorologists, and business leaders to improve supply chain resilience and continuity planning ahead of the peak Atlantic hurricane season.

Florida Tightens Financial Reporting Rules for Out-of-State Bail Bond Companies

Bail bond insurers based outside Florida must now meet the same detailed financial reporting standards as local firms, providing regulators with expanded transparency on revenues, fees, and taxes.

Florida Classrooms Required to Display Portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

Public schools across Florida are preparing to comply with a new law requiring prominent portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in every classroom as part of the state's civics education policy.

Florida Schools Adopt New Alternative Graduation Pathways

Updated education guidelines allow high school students to substitute certain physical education and performing arts requirements with newly approved coursework as the state seeks to improve graduation rates and workforce readiness.

Florida Broadens Swimming Lesson Program to Strengthen Drowning Prevention

State health officials have expanded eligibility for subsidized swimming lessons to include children up to seven years old and now require hospitals to provide new parents with official water safety information before discharge.