Florida Times

AI Manager at San Francisco Store Recommends Firing Human Employee

Luna, an autonomous AI running Andon Market, moved to dismiss a worker who was late for 17 of 23 shifts; human supervisors reviewed and carried out the termination.

Former NBA Players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White Say They Will Enter 2027 WNBA Draft

The provocative declarations have pushed transgender eligibility into the WNBA spotlight even though no transgender woman has ever played in the league and neither former NBA player has been confirmed as eligible for the draft.

US Appeals Court Rules AI Agent's Website Actions Are Legally Attributed to the User

In a landmark dispute between Amazon and Perplexity, the Ninth Circuit ruled that a customer using an AI assistant to navigate Amazon is the party accessing the website under federal computer-access law, overturning an injunction against...

Minnesota: Two independent investigators posed as Muslims (one wearing a burqa) and showed how they could vote in elections without identification.

Poll workers allow one identified voter to vouch for the identity of up to eight others.

Advocates Renew Push to Open Florida Primary Elections to Unaffiliated Voters

Voting-rights groups and independent voter coalitions are intensifying efforts to change Florida’s closed primary system and give more than four million registered unaffiliated voters access to party primaries.

Small Helicopter Crash-Lands Near Pembroke Pines With No Injuries Reported

Two people escaped injury after a small private helicopter went down in rugged terrain west of U.S. Route 27 near Pembroke Pines, prompting a coordinated response from local and county rescue teams.

Miami Hurricanes Coach Mario Cristobal Reviews First Full-Contact Fall Scrimmage

Miami coach Mario Cristobal assessed the team’s opening full-contact fall camp scrimmage, focusing on offensive improvements and adjustments to the depth chart ahead of the new season.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Concludes Python Challenge With 96 Snakes Captured

A Tampa participant captured 96 invasive pythons during a 10-day removal competition organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to protect Everglades wildlife and won a $10,000 prize.

Tampa Bay Water Receives Regional Workplace Recognition for Second Consecutive Year

The regional water utility was recognized as a leading workplace, with the award highlighting its employee culture and role in delivering drinking water across six counties.

South Florida Hospitals Expand Autumn Wellness and Vaccination Campaigns

Healthcare networks across Miami-Dade and Broward counties have launched preventive-care and seasonal immunization outreach programs aimed at vulnerable residents.

Florida Citrus Growers Report Early Benefits From State Funding to Combat Citrus Greening

Growers across central and southern Florida say targeted state grants are improving grove health and helping strengthen trees affected by citrus greening disease.

Florida Universities Adopt Standardized Rules for Campus Demonstrations

The state’s public university system has introduced updated protocols for campus assemblies intended to balance free-expression rights with public safety and uninterrupted instruction.

Space Coast Contractors Prepare for Commercial Satellite Launch From Cape Canaveral

Aerospace teams at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station have completed launch-sequence checks for a commercial payload mission scheduled for the coming week.

Orlando Tourism Holds Steady Despite Frequent Summer Rain

Central Florida hotels and theme parks maintained strong occupancy during the mid-August travel period, supported by family visitors despite recurring afternoon storms.

Jacksonville Port Reports Strong Container Volumes as Southeast Trade Gateway Expands

JAXPORT officials reported continued growth in container handling, reinforcing the port’s role as a major import and export gateway for the southeastern United States.

Florida Highway Expansion Targets Central Florida Freight Bottlenecks

The Florida Department of Transportation has begun construction on an Interstate Four widening project intended to ease freight congestion and improve logistics efficiency across Central Florida.

National Hurricane Center Tracks Atlantic Tropical Wave as Florida Residents Urged to Prepare

Meteorologists are monitoring a tropical system in the central Atlantic and reminding Florida residents to remain alert as the hurricane season approaches its peak.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Steps Up Boater Safety Enforcement

Wildlife officers are increasing patrols and safety checks on Florida waterways while urging recreational boaters to follow speed limits in designated manatee protection zones.

Florida Housing Inventories Rise as Home Price Growth Moderates

Housing analysts in Tampa Bay and Orlando report a modest increase in single-family listings and slower price growth as buyers adjust to prevailing mortgage rates.

Army Corps Pauses Port Everglades Dredging After Environmental Lawsuit

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to suspend dredging for a Broward County sand bypass project after conservation groups raised concerns about potential damage to threatened staghorn coral.

Florida Insurance Market Shows Signs of Stabilization as Litigation Volumes Decline

Insurance filings in Tallahassee indicate that recent legislative reforms are improving insurers’ capitalization while reducing costly legal disputes across Florida.

Federal and Florida Authorities Intensify Enforcement Against Improperly Licensed Commercial Drivers

Federal immigration and state law enforcement agencies have expanded coordinated operations targeting commercial motor vehicle operators who are unqualified or improperly licensed to drive on Florida highways.

Florida Governor and State Leaders Unveil Coastal Resilience Funding Package

Florida officials announced a multimillion-dollar investment in stormwater systems, seawalls and flood-control infrastructure as the state strengthens protections for coastal communities against rising sea levels.

Florida Early Voting Tops One Million Ballots Ahead of August 18 Primaries

County election supervisors reported that more than one million Floridians had already cast ballots before the August 18 primary contests, signaling strong early participation across the state.

Florida Voters Head Into August 18 Primary With Major Statewide and Congressional Races at Stake

Millions of Florida voters are preparing for the August 18 primary elections, with contests for governor, the U.S. Senate and congressional seats set to shape the state’s political direction for the next election cycle.

Skip Bertman, Legendary LSU Baseball Coach and Miami Beach Native, Dies at Eighty-Eight

The Florida sports community is mourning Skip Bertman, the celebrated Louisiana State University baseball coach and Miami Beach native whose career left a lasting mark on collegiate and youth athletics.

Fort Lauderdale Event Changes Venue After Community Opposition and Security Concerns

Organizers of a regional political event featuring democratic socialist figures have moved the gathering to another venue following community opposition and logistical concerns in South Florida.

University of Miami Running Back Jordan Lyle Arrested on Felony Warrants

University of Miami running back Jordan Lyle has been taken into custody on warrants stemming from an alleged high-speed driving incident involving reckless driving and evading law enforcement.

Miami Shores Police Detective Jailed on Identity Theft and Fraud Charges

Authorities have arrested a Miami Shores detective on multiple felony counts connected to an alleged identity-theft scheme, prompting an internal review of the officer’s recent cases.

Miami Gardens Raid Leads to Arrest in Alleged Illegal Machine-Gun Manufacturing Operation

Federal agents have arrested a suspect following a search of a Miami Gardens residence that investigators allege was being used to manufacture unregistered firearms and conversion devices.

Florida Keys Fishing Captain Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

A commercial fishing captain based in the Florida Keys has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple felony counts alleging cocaine smuggling through South Florida maritime routes.

Inter Miami Prepares for Eastern Conference Clash With Nashville SC

Inter Miami and Nashville SC are preparing for a key Major League Soccer regular-season match as both teams compete near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Miami-Dade Schools Assess Teacher Financial Strain Amid High South Florida Living Costs

Miami-Dade County educators and school administrators are examining updated survey data showing significant financial pressure on teachers facing persistent housing affordability challenges across South Florida.

American Federation of Government Employees Endorses Florida Congressional Candidates Ahead of Primary

The national labor organization has endorsed a slate of incumbent and challenger congressional candidates in Florida as campaigns enter their final weekend before the primary vote.

Florida Political Campaigns Intensify Ahead of August Eighteenth Primary

Candidates and political groups across Florida are entering the final stretch before the August eighteenth primary, with competitive congressional races and statewide legislative contests drawing increased attention.

Florida’s Agricultural and Coastal Communities Monitor Heat and Weather Risks as Summer Conditions Intensify

Communities across Florida are responding to persistent extreme heat and evolving weather risks as authorities continue issuing public health guidance and reviewing emergency preparedness measures.

Publix Restructures Express Checkout Policies Across Florida Stores

Publix is changing the way its traditional express checkout lanes operate statewide, replacing legacy item limits with streamlined queue-management procedures.

Miami-Dade Begins Long-Term Traffic Restrictions for Major Infrastructure Upgrades

Transportation agencies have closed key lanes across metropolitan Miami-Dade County to make way for underground utility and rail modernization work expected to continue for a year, creating new delays for commuters.

Florida Officials Face Legal Challenges Over Contested Congressional Redistricting Maps

Litigation over Florida’s newly redrawn congressional districts is continuing in state and federal courts, while election officials say the disputed boundaries remain in effect for the upcoming primary cycle.

Miami’s Historic Flagler Street Fully Reopens After Years of Construction

The completion of a long-running revitalization project has restored full vehicle and pedestrian access along downtown Miami’s historic commercial corridor, drawing celebrations from local businesses and city leaders.

Florida Proposes Six-Hundred-Megawatt AI Datacenter Near Western Palm Beach, Drawing Environmental Opposition

Environmental groups are challenging a proposed hyperscale datacenter near the northern edge of the Florida Everglades, citing concerns about the project’s potential energy and water demands and their effect on wetland restoration efforts.

South Florida Cities Crack Down on Illegal Short-Term Rentals in Residential Condominiums

Municipal code enforcement teams in Miami and neighboring coastal communities have issued cease-and-desist orders to dozens of unauthorized vacation-rental operators over zoning violations and disruption in residential buildings.

Extreme Heat Warnings Cover Northern and Central Florida as Temperatures Soar

Heat indices above one hundred and ten degrees Fahrenheit are affecting areas including Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Orlando, prompting local authorities to open cooling shelters and warn outdoor workers about dangerous conditions.

Florida Officials and Citizen Groups Clash Over Proposed Property Tax Amendment

State officials and citizen groups are challenging the wording and administration of a proposed Florida property tax overhaul ahead of the November ballot, with critics accusing the attorney general of overreach and a lack of transparency.

National Hurricane Center Monitors Tropical Wave in Central Atlantic With Potential Florida Path

Forecasters are closely tracking a strong tropical disturbance moving westward across the Atlantic, prompting emergency management agencies in South Florida to review preliminary contingency plans.