Florida Times

The Secret Dolly Parton Kept Until Her Death: "She Was Much Sicker Than She Let On"

Dolly Parton reportedly concealed the severity of her cancer during the final months of her life, continuing to reassure fans even as her health deteriorated, leaving her bedridden, unable to travel and increasingly isolated before her d...

Florida Universities Introduce Updated Intellectual Freedom Curriculum Guidelines

The State University System of Florida has implemented new policy frameworks intended to promote ideological diversity and institutional neutrality in undergraduate classroom instruction.

Pensacola Airport Begins Parking Expansion as Passenger Demand Grows

Pensacola International Airport has started construction on additional parking facilities to accommodate rising passenger numbers and improve long-term access for travellers.

JAXPORT Installs Heavy-Lift Cranes to Increase Container Handling Capacity

The Jacksonville Port Authority has completed installation of new heavy-lift container cranes at its maritime terminals, improving cargo-handling capacity for international shipping lines serving Northeast Florida.

Orlando International Airport Introduces Automated Security Screening Technology

Orlando International Airport has activated new high-speed security lanes designed to reduce passenger wait times and improve the flow of travellers through busy terminal periods.

Florida Regulators Approve Expanded Solar Investment Across the State

The Florida Public Utilities Commission has approved multimillion-dollar investments in clean-energy infrastructure, allowing major investor-owned utilities to expand photovoltaic generation capacity.

Tampa Bay Water Board Approves Pipeline Expansion to Strengthen Regional Supply

Water officials in the Tampa Bay region have approved funding for a major transmission pipeline project intended to reinforce long-term drinking water supplies for millions of residential customers.

Major Florida Insurers Submit Plans Aimed at Stabilizing Property Insurance Rates

Leading residential insurers have filed revised underwriting plans with Florida regulators, pointing to potential stabilization in policy pricing following changes to the state’s insurance and tort laws.

Florida Retailers Face Slower Back-to-School Spending as Inflation Pressures Persist

Florida households are tightening their budgets during the key back-to-school shopping season as lingering increases in living costs constrain discretionary spending.

Florida Consumer Confidence Falls for Fifth Consecutive Month

Researchers at the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research reported another decline in consumer sentiment as Floridians continued to worry about household expenses and high borrowing costs.

National Hurricane Center Tracks Tropical Atlantic Activity as Peak Season Nears

Meteorologists in Miami are monitoring developing disturbances across the tropical Atlantic and urging Florida residents to review emergency plans as the Atlantic hurricane season approaches its peak.

Jacksonville Jury Convicts Mario Fernandez Saldana in Murder-for-Hire Case

A Duval County jury found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of first-degree murder and other charges in the 2022 killing of Microsoft design manager Jared Bridegan, bringing a closely watched case to a major legal milestone.

Florida Primary Election Results Set Up Competitive November Races for Statewide Office

Florida voters have chosen major-party nominees in closely watched congressional and legislative contests, setting the stage for general election campaigns expected to focus on property costs and economic policy.

Florida Streamlines Online Commercial Driver License Renewals

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has introduced updated digital verification portals intended to speed commercial driver license renewals and reduce waits at local tax collector offices.

Florida Wildlife Officials Expand Seasonal Boating Safety Zones on Southwest Coast

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has increased marine patrols and introduced temporary slow-speed zones in Charlotte Harbor and Lee County waters to protect marine wildlife during peak recreational boating periods.

South Florida Water Managers Adjust Canal Levels as Rainfall Patterns Shift

Water managers are fine-tuning canal controls across the Everglades agricultural area and coastal systems to balance flood protection with aquifer recharge as late-summer rainfall patterns vary.

Fort Lauderdale Convention Officials Target International Corporate Events for Autumn Season

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Bureau has launched overseas marketing campaigns aimed at attracting corporate conferences and hospitality bookings during the autumn and winter convention season.

Space Coast Hotels See Strong Demand Ahead of Scheduled Rocket Launches

Hotels across Brevard County are reporting elevated bookings as aerospace enthusiasts and media travelers arrive for scheduled Falcon and Starship launch windows.

Orlando Tourism Holds Steady Despite Summer Weather Disruptions

Theme parks and hospitality businesses across Central Florida report resilient domestic and international visitor bookings through August despite intermittent tropical rainfall.

Florida Education Officials Report Early Gains in Elementary Literacy Measures

Preliminary school performance data from the Florida Department of Education shows measured improvements in foundational reading scores across participating elementary school districts.

Central Florida Libraries Expand Digital Resources for Students Returning to School

Public libraries in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties have expanded digital catalogues with academic databases, electronic textbooks and research tools for students beginning the autumn term.

Major Florida Airports Adjust Staffing Ahead of Autumn Travel Surge

Airlines and airport operators at Miami International and Orlando International are coordinating staffing and passenger-processing operations with federal security officials ahead of heavier holiday travel flows.

Tampa International Airport Expands Automated Parking Guidance Ahead of Peak Travel

Tampa International Airport has completed installation of real-time parking displays across public garages to improve vehicle circulation and help passengers find available spaces during busy periods.

Miami-Dade Advances Plans for Expanded Zero-Emission Electric Bus Fleet

Miami-Dade officials are reviewing plans to purchase additional battery-electric buses and expand charging infrastructure across the county’s urban transit network.

South Florida Transit Agencies Revise Autumn Bus and Rail Schedules

Transit operators in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are adjusting schedules to reflect changing commuter patterns and school start times as the autumn travel period begins.

Florida Trade and Corporate Relocation Activity Remain Strong Across Regional Hubs

Economic development agencies report continued international trade through Florida ports and sustained corporate relocation activity, supporting economic resilience as national growth slows.

Florida Citrus Growers See Early Signs of Crop Recovery After Favorable Summer Rainfall

Recent rainfall has improved tree hydration across central and southern Florida growing areas, although citrus growers remain cautious about harvest prospects compared with historical averages.

University of Florida Researchers Report Progress on Citrus Greening Resistance

Researchers in Gainesville have published field-trial findings on citrus rootstocks showing resilience to citrus greening disease, offering potential new approaches to a long-running threat to Florida’s citrus industry.

Florida Hospitals Expand Artificial Intelligence Tools in Emergency Departments

Healthcare systems in South Florida and Tampa Bay are deploying machine-learning tools to support emergency-room triage, speed patient intake and improve the allocation of clinical resources.

Florida Universities Increase Cybersecurity Spending Across State Campuses

University boards have approved additional digital infrastructure funding to strengthen threat detection, protect student data networks and secure research assets from cyber intrusions.

Jacksonville Port Reports Steady Container Growth as Shipping Conditions Stabilize

JAXPORT is seeing consistent growth in container volumes as retailers replenish inventories and regional supply chains stabilize ahead of the peak shipping season.

Florida Outlines Infrastructure and Property Tax Priorities for Upcoming Legislative Agenda

Governor Ron DeSantis and state legislative leaders are discussing plans centered on coastal flood resilience, transportation infrastructure and a framework for broader property tax relief.

Florida Officials Prepare for Peak Hurricane Season as Two Atlantic Systems Develop

National Hurricane Center teams in Miami are monitoring two developing tropical Atlantic systems and are urging Florida residents to review emergency supplies and evacuation plans as the peak hurricane season approaches.

Florida Housing Inventory Stabilizes as Mortgage Rates Hold Near 6.7 Percent

Residential inventory is gradually improving across Miami, Tampa and Orlando as buyers adjust to mortgage rates remaining near 6.7 percent, according to market reports.

Florida Insurance Assessment Set to Expire on September 30

The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association says its one percent emergency assessment on policyholders will end on September 30, providing some relief on insurance renewal bills after charges imposed following earlier insurer failures.