Florida Times

Disney and Universal Expand Autumn Attractions in Central Florida

Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort are introducing new seasonal programming and attractions as the theme parks seek to sustain visitor demand outside the summer peak.

National Hurricane Center Reports Rare September Lull in Atlantic Storm Activity

Federal forecasters reported no active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin during a period that is normally close to the peak of hurricane season.

Florida Insurers Expand Catastrophe-Bond Reinsurance

Universal Insurance and Allstate are increasing their use of private capital-market instruments to support Florida property portfolios ahead of the peak hurricane-risk period.

Blue Origin Starts Construction of $80 Million Cape Canaveral Payload Facility

The aerospace company broke ground on a new payload-processing center at Cape Canaveral, adding further commercial space infrastructure to Brevard County.

Florida Universities Expand AI and Semiconductor Degree Programs

Public universities are using new state grants to broaden engineering, machine-learning and semiconductor courses as employers seek more workers with specialized technology skills.

Florida Wildlife Commission Faces Opposition Over Proposed Exotic Animal Rules

Animal-welfare groups and sanctuary operators are challenging draft regulations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, arguing they do not provide sufficient safeguards.

Orange County Steps Up E-Bike and Scooter Enforcement Near Schools

Law enforcement agencies are using new statutory authority to enforce speed limits on electric bikes and scooters following several pedestrian collisions.

South Florida Accelerates Transit Expansion as Congestion Worsens

Regional officials are moving to speed up funding for the Miami-Dade Metromover expansion as population growth and commuter demand place greater strain on the existing transport network.

DeSantis Administration Clarifies Farm Exemptions Under Live Local Housing Act

New state guidelines confirm that active agricultural operations are exempt from certain affordable-housing zoning overrides included in Florida’s housing legislation.

Florida Lawmakers Prepare Further Changes to Public-Sector Union Rules

Republican legislators are drafting additional measures affecting collective bargaining after courts upheld recently enacted membership thresholds for public-employee unions.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Sues Netflix Over Children’s Data

The state filed a lawsuit alleging that Netflix improperly tracked and monetized information linked to minors in violation of Florida consumer-protection laws.

Blue Origin Wins $700 Million NASA Contract for Mars Communications Network

NASA selected Blue Origin to develop communications infrastructure for future Mars missions, bringing additional federal aerospace investment to Florida’s Space Coast.

Florida Home Insurance Rate Increases Fall Below 1%

Industry analysts say average statewide property-insurance increases have slowed to less than 1% for the next renewal cycle after years of steep premium growth.

South Florida Condo Listings Rise Ahead of Mandatory Safety Assessments

Owners of older coastal condominium units are putting properties on the market before deadlines for structural inspections and repair assessments introduced after the Surfside collapse.

Florida Affordable Housing Shortage Persists Despite State Subsidies

High home prices and limited wage growth continue to make housing difficult to afford for middle-income workers in major metropolitan areas despite funding provided through the Live Local Act.

Florida Lawmakers Propose Broad Property Tax Relief Package

Legislative leaders introduced measures aimed at lowering municipal tax rates and expanding homestead exemptions as rising housing costs intensify affordability pressures on homeowners.

Florida Population Growth Prompts Review of Water and Power Infrastructure

State policymakers are considering multibillion-dollar infrastructure financing as rapid population growth increases pressure on Florida’s electricity grid and freshwater supplies.

NTSB Says Pilots Received Speed Warnings Before Deadly Miami Cargo Jet Crash

New cockpit transcripts show the crew of an Amazon cargo flight received multiple automated speed warnings before the Boeing 767 crashed near Miami International Airport.

Miami Heat Veterans Address Health and Contract Questions Ahead of New NBA Season

Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler used Miami Heat media day to discuss availability concerns and contract matters as the team prepares for the upcoming NBA season.

Florida Panthers Prepare for Preseason Games Against Lightning and Hurricanes

The Florida Panthers will begin their preseason schedule against Tampa Bay and Carolina as the franchise prepares for another season following its championship defense.

Florida Gators Beat Florida Atlantic 66-21 in Season Opener

The University of Florida opened its college football season with a 66-21 victory over Florida Atlantic in Gainesville, easing pressure on the coaching staff after a dominant offensive performance.

Miami AI Startup Raises New Funding for Logistics Software Expansion

A South Florida technology company specializing in supply-chain automation closed a major venture capital round as Miami continues to attract investment in digital businesses.

Florida Removes Invasive Hydrilla From Ichetucknee Springs

State wildlife officials eradicated an invasive aquatic plant outbreak in the Ichetucknee Springs system before it could spread further and threaten native vegetation and local ecotourism.

South Florida Home Health Aide Charged After Allegedly Abandoning Elderly Patient

Miami-Dade authorities arrested a caregiver accused of leaving an 86-year-old patient on the floor after a fall, renewing scrutiny of oversight and staffing in Florida’s eldercare sector.

Florida Campus Police Say Open Carry Near University Did Not Violate State Law

University of Florida police declined to arrest two men openly carrying rifles on public sidewalks near campus, saying state law permits firearms to be carried openly in those locations.

Former Florida Senator Frank Artiles Convicted in Ghost Candidate Case

A Miami-Dade jury found former Republican state senator Frank Artiles guilty of illegal campaign contributions tied to a third-party spoiler candidate, concluding a closely watched election-finance case.

Southwest Florida Housing Market Shifts Toward Buyers as Inventory Rises

Home listings in Naples and Fort Myers have reached their highest levels since 2019, forcing sellers to offer more concessions as elevated mortgage rates constrain demand.

Airlines Expand Winter Service to Miami, Tampa and Orlando

Several U.S. carriers are increasing direct flights to Florida’s major tourism markets in anticipation of strong winter travel demand from the Northeast and Midwest.

Florida Citrus Growers See Early Signs of Recovery From Disease-Resistant Trees

State agriculture officials and growers in Central and Southwest Florida are cautiously optimistic about the next harvest as new citrus varieties show early resistance to greening disease.

SpaceX Shifts Kennedy Space Center Focus Toward Starship Development

After its 103rd Falcon 9 launch of the year, SpaceX said it will temporarily move standard Starlink missions away from Florida to prioritize Starship development and testing on the Space Coast.

Florida Transportation Officials Advance Brightline-SunRail Integration Talks

The Florida Department of Transportation is accelerating negotiations to connect Brightline with Orlando’s SunRail commuter system, seeking a more integrated passenger rail network in Central Florida.

Florida and Regulators Agree Tougher Pollution Rules for Suwannee River Basin

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reached a settlement with the Florida Springs Council requiring stronger pollution-reduction targets and septic restrictions aimed at restoring freshwater springs by 2038.

DeSantis Administration Touts Property Insurance Stabilization to Global Reinsurers

Florida officials are courting international reinsurers and Lloyd’s of London, pointing to fewer Citizens Property Insurance policies and lower litigation levels as evidence that the state’s troubled insurance market is improving.

Florida Cities Face Funding Pressure as Public Camping Ban Takes Full Effect

Local governments are working to establish state-approved encampment areas after new legislation prohibited people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in public parks and on municipal sidewalks.

Florida Private School Enrollment Rises as Voucher Program Expands

Education officials report a sharp increase in students using state-funded vouchers to attend private schools, intensifying debate over the program’s impact on public education finances.

Florida’s New HOA and Education Laws Take Effect

Dozens of new state laws are now in force, including stricter financial transparency requirements for homeowners associations and changes to standardized testing rules in public schools.

Florida Advances 2026 Ballot Measures on Property Taxes and Education Funding

State election officials certified several constitutional amendment proposals for the 2026 ballot, including measures that would sharply restrict local property tax assessments and require 40% of the state budget to go to public education.

UN Extends Haiti Security Mission as Florida Coast Guard Prepares for Migration Shifts

The United Nations Security Council renewed the Kenya-led security mission in Haiti for another year, a decision expected to influence U.S. Coast Guard planning for possible changes in Caribbean maritime migration.

Florida Ports Prepare for Potential East Coast Dockworker Strike

Port authorities in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville are activating contingency plans as a possible International Longshoremen’s Association strike threatens cargo movements and consumer supply chains along the U.S. East Coast.

U.S. Coast Guard Expands Search for Florida Family Missing Over Bahamas

American and Bahamian rescue teams are searching for a small aircraft carrying an elderly couple and their two grandchildren after it disappeared from radar en route from Great Harbour Cay to Miami Executive Airport.

South Florida Flooding Forces Temporary Flight Ground Stops

Several inches of rain overwhelmed drainage systems across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, flooding major roads and prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily halt incoming commercial flights.