Florida Times

QC Capital Group Expands Car Wash Real Estate Holdings in Winter Haven

The private equity firm has opened a new ground-up development in Central Florida as it increases its exposure to the consolidating commercial car wash sector.

Five-Vehicle Crash Triggered by Alligator on Interstate 95 Kills Woman in Titusville

A 20-year-old woman died after a large alligator entered Interstate 95 and triggered a chain-reaction crash that temporarily closed major lanes along Florida’s Space Coast.

Florida Executes 14th Inmate of 2026

Harold Gene Lucas, 74, was executed by lethal injection for a 1976 murder, marking Florida’s 14th execution this year amid an unusually rapid pace of signed death warrants.

Broward Schools Consider Closures as Enrollment Falls by 11,000 Students

Broward County Public Schools is weighing the closure of multiple facilities after the superintendent reported 60,000 empty seats and a sharp decline in student enrollment.

Florida Healthcare Costs Rise as Residents Lose Federal Coverage

State health officials and hospital administrators are warning of mounting financial pressure as residents transition off federal healthcare plans, leaving some households with higher out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Florida Roof Insurance Reforms Reshape Property Market

New laws require insurers to consider the actual condition of roofs rather than relying only on age limits, easing pressure on homeowners while disrupting parts of the roofing industry.

Florida Property Insurers Seek Rare Premium Reductions for Next Year

Several insurers, including state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, have filed for lower property insurance rates following recent legislative changes in the state market.

Florida Homeowners Gain New Administrative Route for Property Insurance Disputes

New state insurance rules create a structured process for contested property claims and are intended to reduce litigation while limiting coverage decisions based solely on roof age.

Dengue Cases Rise to 33 in Tampa Bay as Mosquito Control Efforts Intensify

Local health departments are expanding aerial and ground spraying after the number of locally acquired dengue cases reached 33, prompting public health warnings across the Tampa Bay region.

Tropical Storm Edouard Raises Rip Current and Waterspout Risks Along Florida Coasts

Although the storm is moving west toward Texas and Louisiana, its outer effects are producing dangerous surf, heavy rain bands and isolated waterspout threats across parts of Florida south of Interstate 4.

South Florida Faces Flood Threat as Tropical Moisture Brings Heavy Rain

Emergency officials are preparing for localized flash flooding in urban and low-lying areas as remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly combine with seasonal moisture across heavily populated parts of South Florida.

Florida Records Surge in Immigration Arrests Amid Expanded Federal Enforcement

Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported nearly 50,000 arrests nationwide in July, with Florida experiencing a sharp increase in detentions under the Trump administration’s stepped-up enforcement policy.

Florida Orders Flock License Plate Readers Removed From State Roads

Governor Ron DeSantis has directed that automated license plate tracking cameras be removed from state-controlled roads within 30 days, citing privacy concerns over the technology.

Hope Florida Report Draws Casey DeSantis Into Medicaid Funds Controversy

A leaked investigative report says part of a major Florida Medicaid settlement was redirected to a charitable organization with close ties to First Lady Casey DeSantis, intensifying political scrutiny in Tallahassee.

St. Petersburg Business Community Mourns Entrepreneur Bill Edwards

Business and civic leaders in St. Petersburg are paying tribute to longtime entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Edwards following his death at age 81.

Power Design and University of South Florida Form Multi-Year Career Partnership

Power Design has become presenting sponsor of the University of South Florida’s student-athlete professional development program under a new multi-year agreement.

Asado Life Expands Into Nocatee Town Center

Argentinian-inspired restaurant chain Asado Life has signed a lease for a former retail space in Nocatee Town Center, extending its presence in fast-growing St. Johns County.

St. Pete Beach Ends Freebee On-Demand Transit Service

St. Pete Beach is phasing out its Freebee-operated door-to-door transportation program, ending a local service that allowed residents to travel through coastal neighborhoods without private vehicles.

Governor DeSantis Hosts State Policy Forum With Senior Florida Officials

Governor Ron DeSantis convened a statewide public affairs symposium attended by senior political figures including Attorney General James Uthmeier and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.

Tampa Council Member Lynn Hurtak Says She Will Continue Working During Cancer Treatment

Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak has publicly disclosed a cancer diagnosis while telling constituents she intends to continue performing her legislative duties during treatment.

St. Petersburg Activists Seek Ballot Vote on Municipal Utility Ownership

Local organizers have launched a petition campaign seeking to place the future ownership and operation of St. Petersburg’s electric utility before voters in an upcoming election.

Sarasota County Approves Arts Grants but Withholds Funding From One Theater

County commissioners approved millions of dollars in cultural grants while denying support to a local theater that declined to sign a diversity acknowledgment.

Florida High School Sports Adopt New Eligibility and Transfer Rules

The Florida High School Athletic Association has introduced updated rules governing student-athlete eligibility, transfers and competitive classifications across public schools.

DeSoto County Ranchers Oppose Federal Proposals for Cheaper Beef Imports

Cattle producers in DeSoto County say increased low-cost beef imports could weaken domestic herds and put additional pressure on Florida’s livestock economy.

Florida Officials Prepare Sales Tax Holiday for Firearms and Outdoor Goods

Florida’s Department of Revenue is preparing a scheduled sales tax holiday covering hunting equipment, emergency supplies and sporting goods, including firearms.

Florida Judge Orders Former Lawmaker Released After Flaws Found in Child Abuse Case

A circuit court judge ordered the release of former Representative Caruso after identifying significant evidentiary problems in the prosecution’s child abuse case.

Voting Rights Advocate Desmond Meade Withdraws From Florida Governor’s Race

Independent candidate Desmond Meade has ended his gubernatorial campaign, narrowing the field ahead of Florida’s November election.

Tropical Storm Edouard Forms as Atlantic Hurricane Season Nears Peak

Meteorologists are tracking the season’s fifth named storm, with Tropical Storm Edouard expected to remain to the west while bringing heavy inland rainfall toward the Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Dolly Remnants Bring Heavy Rain and High Surf to Florida

Moisture from Tropical Storm Dolly is producing widespread rainfall and elevated coastal surf across parts of peninsular Florida, prompting safety advisories south of Interstate 4.

Sarasota County Approves $32 Million for Flood and Stormwater Projects

Sarasota County commissioners have authorized $32 million for drainage and flood-mitigation work in Bahia Vista, St. Armands and the Celery Fields following damaging previous weather events.

Pinellas County Seeks Emergency Funding to Protect Wastewater Systems From Flooding

Pinellas County utility officials are requesting state assistance to strengthen coastal wastewater infrastructure threatened by rising sea levels and increasingly severe rainfall.

Palm Beach County Airport Renaming Plan Draws Thousands of Public Comments

A proposal to rename Palm Beach County’s regional airport has triggered extensive public opposition and thousands of comments as local authorities consider the controversial rebranding plan.

Florida Blocks Automated License Plate Readers on State Roads

The Florida Department of Transportation has restricted the installation and operation of Flock automated license plate recognition cameras along designated state highways and transportation corridors.

Companies Linked to Immigration Detention Bid for New Florida Highway Patrol Jails

Private operators with experience running immigrant detention facilities are seeking contracts to build and manage new adult holding centers planned by Florida law enforcement.

Florida Investigative Report Raises Questions Over Extended Immigrant Detentions

A journalistic investigation found that some Florida county jails have used repeated rebooking procedures to hold immigrants beyond standard federal detention guidelines, drawing attention to local enforcement practices.

Florida Grand Jury Report on Hope Florida Intensifies Election-Year Political Scrutiny

Findings involving the state-backed Hope Florida initiative have become a major issue in the November elections, increasing scrutiny of candidates and the program’s administration.

Florida Execution Schedule Remains Elevated Ahead of Autumn Court Deadlines

Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration continues to issue a high number of capital punishment warrants as legal deadlines approach, maintaining Florida’s position as one of the country’s most active states for executions.