Florida Times

Angie Nixon Wins Democratic Senate Primary and Advances to November Contest Against Ashley Moody

State Representative Angie Nixon defeated Alexander Vindman in the Democratic primary and secured the nomination to challenge Republican Senator Ashley Moody in November.

David Jolly Wins Democratic Nomination for Florida Governor and Will Face Byron Donalds

Former Representative David Jolly won the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a general election against Republican nominee and Trump-backed Representative Byron Donalds to succeed outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis.

Florida Insurance Market Shows Modest Stabilization as New Carriers Enter the State

Financial regulators say several new property insurers have received approval to write policies in Florida, pointing to gradual stabilization in reinsurance costs and premium rates following legislative tort reforms.

Florida Emergency Officials Urge Households to Prepare Seven Days of Disaster Supplies

The Florida Division of Emergency Management and local officials across the state's sixty-seven counties are urging households to maintain at least seven days of non-perishable food, water and emergency medications as tropical Atlantic a...

Florida Developers Shift More Capital Toward Mixed-Use Projects Near Transit Corridors

Commercial real estate firms in Miami, Tampa and Orlando are moving investment away from standalone suburban developments toward denser mixed-use projects combining housing, offices and access to high-capacity transit.

Central and Southwest Florida Airports Expand Biometric Boarding Technology

Airport authorities in Sarasota, Fort Myers and Melbourne have expanded automated facial-recognition boarding gates to increase passenger throughput, strengthen terminal security and modernize processing for domestic and international tr...

Florida Supreme Court Prepares Fall Docket With Environmental and Regulatory Cases

Florida's highest court is reviewing a broad calendar of civil and constitutional cases, including property-rights disputes, municipal home-rule challenges and environmental liability claims affecting local development.

South Florida Marine Industry Prepares for Autumn Boat Shows as Global Demand Remains Strong

Shipbuilders, yacht brokers and marine equipment suppliers in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are preparing for major autumn trade exhibitions, anticipating strong international buyer interest and continued demand for high-end manufactur...

Northwest Florida Military Bases Coordinate Severe-Weather Readiness Exercises With State Agencies

Military commanders across the Florida Panhandle are working with local emergency management teams on logistical drills designed to improve coordination during severe weather events.

Florida Launches Smart Highway Pilots on Interstate 4 and Interstate 95

The Florida Department of Transportation has deployed traffic-monitoring sensors and automated incident-management systems along congested sections of Interstate 4 and Interstate 95 to improve traffic flow and emergency response coordina...

Everglades Restoration Projects Receive Funding for New Water Storage and Flow Infrastructure

Federal and state environmental agencies approved additional construction phases for reservoirs and treatment marshes intended to move freshwater southward, improve ecosystem health and protect South Florida water supplies.

Southwest Florida Farmers Assess Citrus and Vegetable Yields After Variable Summer Rainfall

Agricultural producers in Hendry and Collier counties are evaluating crop yields after alternating dry spells and intense rainfall, while agronomists and state extension services work with farmers on irrigation management.

Florida Housing Costs Continue to Pressure Middle-Income Buyers and Renters

High housing costs and limited inventory remain a challenge for middle-income households in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, prompting renewed discussion of zoning reform across the state's major metropolitan areas.

Florida Keys Promote Sustainable Tourism to Protect Coral Reefs and Marine Wildlife

Monroe County officials and hospitality groups are introducing visitor guidance on reef preservation, responsible diving and marine wildlife protection as the Florida Keys seek to balance strong tourism demand with environmental conserva...

South Florida Hospitals Launch Public Health Campaigns Against Summer Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Healthcare systems in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are promoting mosquito prevention and early symptom recognition as humid summer conditions create favorable breeding environments.

JAXPORT Reports Record Container Throughput as Global Trade Routes Expand

The Jacksonville Port Authority reported higher container volumes for the fiscal year, citing increased imports and upgraded intermodal rail connections that strengthen Jacksonville's role as a logistics gateway in the southeastern Unite...

Tampa Bay Transit Planners Explore New Funding for Cross-Bay Ferry and Light Rail Projects

Transportation planners in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are examining public-private partnerships and federal infrastructure grants to secure longer-term funding for expanded commuter ferry service and high-capacity transit corridors.

University of Florida Researchers Develop Machine Learning Models to Forecast Coastal Erosion

University of Florida data scientists and environmental engineers have released a predictive artificial intelligence tool designed to model storm-surge impacts and beach degradation, giving coastal planners another tool for assessing vul...

Southwest Florida Speeds Up Stormwater Projects as Hurricane Season Enters Peak Period

Municipalities in Lee and Collier counties are accelerating drainage upgrades, retention-pond cleanouts and pump-station testing as the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its historically most active period.

Central Florida Tourism Holds Steady Despite Late-Summer Weather Disruptions

Theme park operators, hospitality companies and tourism officials across the Orlando and central Florida corridor report steady visitor volumes despite peak hurricane-season humidity and periodic heavy rain that has disrupted some travel...

Florida Space Coast Aerospace Suppliers Expand Production as Private Launch Activity Increases

Rocket manufacturers and component suppliers along Florida's Space Coast are increasing hiring and production capacity to support a heavy autumn schedule of orbital launches and heavy-lift payload missions.

Florida Cattle Ranchers Oppose Federal Plan to Import 300,000 Tons of Tariff-Free Beef

Florida cattle producers are criticizing a federal proposal to import three hundred thousand tons of tariff-free beef to help lower retail prices, arguing that government intervention could undermine efforts to rebuild the domestic cattl...

Palm Coast Cancels Special Business Meeting After Developer Withdraws Westward Expansion Project

Palm Coast officials said Raydient Palm Coast LLC has withdrawn all applications for its Westward Expansion project, ending the immediate review of a major annexation and development proposal that had drawn significant local scrutiny.

Florida Insurance Experts Urge Homeowners to Review Coverage as Reconstruction Costs Rise

South Florida insurance professionals are urging homeowners to update property and casualty coverage as higher material and labor costs raise the risk that older replacement-cost estimates will leave properties underinsured after major s...

Central Florida Counties Set Dates for 2026 Autumn Agricultural Fairs

County fair organizers have confirmed schedules for livestock shows, agricultural exhibitions and youth competitions celebrating the region’s farming heritage.

Key West Hotels Offer Local Packages as Peak Summer Travel Slows

Hotels and guest houses across Key West and the Florida Keys are introducing discounted packages to support occupancy after the main period of family summer travel.

Tampa Bay Restaurants Shift to Late-Summer Menus Featuring Gulf Seafood and Local Produce

Restaurants across Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater are introducing seasonal menus built around Gulf seafood and regional farm-to-table produce as harvest patterns change.

University of Florida Announces Upgrades to Athletic Training and Academic Facilities

The Gainesville campus is improving indoor training complexes and student-athlete academic centers as the university seeks to maintain its competitive position in the Southeastern Conference.

South Florida Interstate Ninety-Five Traffic Pattern Changes as Permanent Lane Configuration Takes Effect

Transportation engineers have introduced a permanent lane configuration on a heavily traveled section of Interstate Ninety-Five in Miami, aiming to improve merging safety and reduce recurring morning congestion.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Extend Vita Vea on One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed defensive lineman Vita Vea to a one-year contract extension, ending his offseason training camp hold-in and retaining a key part of the team’s defensive line.

Florida Homeowners Face Continued Pressure From High Property Insurance Costs

Insurance market conditions remain a central concern for Florida property owners as policymakers and analysts assess reforms, insurer participation and restrictive underwriting practices.

Secret Service Hazing Incident in South Florida Raises Questions About Workplace Culture

Federal ethics experts are examining institutional discipline and workplace practices after revelations of severe hazing involving a Secret Service agent stationed in South Florida.

Florida Wildlife Officials Warn Swimmers After Severe Shark Bite Near Key West

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urged swimmers and beachgoers to remain vigilant in coastal waters after a serious shark bite near Key West sent a victim to a local hospital.

Florida Court Ruling Clears Path for Higher-Density Rural Development in Orange County

Developers of Sustanee, an eighteen-home subdivision planned on former cattle ranch land in rural east Orange County, won a court ruling allowing the project to move forward despite strong local opposition.

Historic Miami Marine Stadium Moves Toward Revitalization Under New Management

Miami officials have advanced administrative plans to restore and reopen the long-abandoned waterfront stadium, setting the framework for its return as a cultural and entertainment venue.

Florida Watchdog Opposes Proposed Property Tax Amendment as Spending Concerns Persist

Florida TaxWatch is urging voters to reject Amendment Three, arguing that the proposed property tax cuts do not adequately limit municipal spending and could create risks for vulnerable residents.

South Florida Political Debate Intensifies Over Immigration and Miami-Dade Voters

Political strategists are closely watching voter sentiment in Miami-Dade as disputes over federal immigration enforcement and local mayoral messaging test the region’s long-standing Republican alignment.

Florida Population Growth Intensifies Housing Affordability and Infrastructure Pressures

Economists and urban planners say continued demographic growth and limited housing supply are driving debates over affordability requirements and the capacity of local infrastructure.

Florida Property Insurance Costs Remain a Major Concern for Homeowners and Investors

Analysts continue to watch insurance reforms and insurer participation across Florida as homeowners and real estate investors face high premiums and restrictive coverage terms.

Tampa City Council Schedules Vote on Financing Agreements for Proposed Rays Stadium

Tampa lawmakers voted four to three to place final financing and construction agreements for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium on the August twenty-seventh agenda, preserving the timetable for the multibillion-dollar development.

Florida Regulators Weigh Data Center Power Costs as Duke Energy Seeks to Exclude Consumer Group

Duke Energy Florida has asked state regulators to prevent Florida Rising from participating in hearings over how the electricity costs associated with rapidly growing artificial intelligence data center demand should be allocated among c...

Florida Officials Urge Severe Weather Caution After Lightning Strike Kills Mother and Young Child

Authorities in Broward County renewed warnings about lightning safety after a strike in Margate killed a mother and her two-year-old child.

National Hurricane Center Monitors Two Developing Weather Systems in the Atlantic

Forecasters increased the development chances for a tropical wave in the central Atlantic and a separate disturbance near Bermuda, prompting coastal residents to review hurricane preparedness supplies.

Florida Reef Restoration Effort Collects Millions of Coral Gametes in Major Conservation Push

Twelve marine science organizations working under a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant have collected and fertilized millions of elkhorn and staghorn coral gametes to support restoration of Florida’s Coral Reef.