Florida Times

Florida Homebuilding and Rental Market Reforms Gain Policy Attention

State and local policymakers continue examining housing affordability challenges as proposals emerge to expand rental supply and encourage long-term residential development.

Wizz Air-Style Data Center Ambitions Continue as Florida Tech Infrastructure Expands

Local officials say interest in large-scale digital infrastructure remains strong as communities across Florida evaluate proposals for new data centers and technology investment.

Tampa Sports Authority Prioritizes Buccaneers Stadium Funding Over Baseball Project

The authority said future public investment requests for Raymond James Stadium should take precedence over funding proposals tied to a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.

Lakeland Clarifies Status of Proposed Large-Scale Data Center Project

City officials said a major hyperscale data center proposal remains under review, correcting earlier reports that mistakenly suggested the development had been canceled.

West Marine Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

The Fort Lauderdale-based boating retailer has entered bankruptcy reorganization proceedings, citing inventory costs and changing consumer spending patterns.

Florida Emergency Management Initiative Links Colleges With Disaster Response Careers

Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a workforce development program in Orlando designed to connect students with future careers in emergency management and disaster recovery.

Florida Transportation Department Opens New Golden Glades Interchange Connection

A new flyover ramp at Miami-Dade County’s Golden Glades Interchange has opened to traffic, with officials aiming to reduce congestion and eliminate dangerous merging patterns.

Florida Michelin Guide Update Triggers Debate Across Tampa Bay Dining Scene

The latest Michelin selections excluded restaurants in Pinellas County and removed a Michelin star from a prominent Tampa establishment, sparking discussion among hospitality industry leaders.

Hillsborough Schools Defend Hiring of Former Deputy Linked to Cheating Investigation

School board officials faced criticism after appointing a former sheriff’s deputy to a campus security role despite the individual's resignation during a law enforcement cheating inquiry.

Florida Health Inspectors Shut Down Seven Restaurants Over Serious Sanitation Violations

State regulators suspended operations at seven restaurants across Central Florida after inspectors reported rodent droppings and cockroach infestations in food preparation and storage areas.

Moffitt Cancer Center Research Executive Resigns Following Data Integrity Review

The Tampa-based cancer center announced the resignation of a senior research official after an internal investigation identified significant irregularities in federally funded scientific data.

Federal Prosecutors Charge Tampa Wealth Adviser With Misusing Client Funds

A federal indictment alleges that a financial manager used $1.2 million in investor funds to pay off the mortgage on a personal luxury property, leading to wire fraud charges.

Florida Bar Reviews Ethics Complaint Against Former Attorney General Pam Bondi

The Florida Bar confirmed it is evaluating allegations of professional misconduct against former Attorney General Pam Bondi to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted.

Tampa Police Officer Arrested and Dismissed After High-Speed Interstate Chase

State troopers arrested an off-duty Tampa police officer accused of driving 134 miles per hour on Interstate 75, prompting immediate termination and felony charges.

Florida Health Officials Warn of Rare Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Miami-Dade Waters

The Florida Department of Health advised residents and visitors to avoid entering coastal waters with open wounds after several cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections were identified in South Florida.

BayCare and UnitedHealthcare Reach Last-Minute Agreement to Avoid Coverage Disruptions

The new multi-year contract preserves in-network access for thousands of patients after healthcare executives finalized terms shortly before a key deadline expired.

Miami-Dade Detectives Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide That Left Four Dead in Doral

Police have launched a forensic investigation after four people, including two young girls, were found dead inside a Doral residence in what authorities believe was a domestic violence-related incident.

National Hurricane Center Urges Florida Residents to Prepare as Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins

Federal forecasters and state emergency officials are encouraging households to review evacuation plans, assemble emergency supplies and confirm local risk zones as the Atlantic tropical cyclone season officially gets underway.

Florida Lawmakers Advance Major Property Tax Relief Measure for November Ballot

The Florida Legislature concluded a special session by approving a proposal that would place expanded homestead tax exemptions of up to $250,000 before voters, potentially reducing property tax burdens for primary homeowners across the s...

St. Johns County Opens School Athletic Facilities for Summer Community Use

The St. Johns County School District will make selected high school tracks and athletic facilities available to residents on designated Wednesday evenings throughout the summer to encourage health and wellness activities.

Jacksonville Lifts Emergency Burn Ban After Weather Conditions Improve

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue officials have rescinded the regional burn ban following consultations with the Florida Forest Service, while continuing to urge residents to exercise caution during dry periods.

Jacksonville Begins Planning for America's 250th Anniversary Celebrations

City officials have outlined early preparations for nationwide semiquincentennial events in July 2026, with major family-oriented activities expected across Downtown Jacksonville.

Pulse Nightclub Memorial Event Marks Tenth Anniversary of Orlando Tragedy

Equality Florida and the Human Rights Campaign will host a June 13 discussion examining the legacy of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, progress in LGBTQ rights and ongoing concerns surrounding gun violence.

Manufactured Housing Market Remains Tight Across Florida

Statewide manufactured home sales were largely unchanged from a year earlier, but active listings fell by more than 11%, highlighting continuing affordability pressures in the lower-cost housing segment.

Little Greek Fresh Grill Plans Major South Florida Expansion

The Tampa-based restaurant chain has signed a development agreement that could bring as many as 30 new locations to Miami-Dade and Broward counties over the next decade.

Health Equity Summit to Bring South Florida Leaders Together in Pembroke Pines

More than 300 healthcare professionals, policymakers and community advocates are expected to gather in June to discuss disparities affecting maternal health, housing access and public safety in Black communities.

Hillsborough County Investigates Fatal Double Stabbing Linked to Student Altercation

Authorities are investigating a violent incident involving two University of South Florida students at an off-campus apartment complex that is believed to be connected to a nearby death investigation.

North Florida Land Trust Protects Key Wildlife Corridor in Bradford County

Conservation groups have secured permanent protection for more than 800 acres of environmentally sensitive land, preserving an important section of the Ocala-to-Osceola wildlife corridor near Camp Blanding.

New Florida Healthcare Laws Establish Memory Care Licensing Standards

Legislation approved this year introduces specialized licensing requirements and minimum operating standards for assisted-living facilities that provide memory care services, while also updating certain podiatry regulations.

Polk State College Selects Florida Education Commissioner as Next President

The Polk State College Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas to lead the institution beginning in July following a nationwide search.

Florida Education Association Criticizes State Budget Priorities

The state's largest teachers union argues that planned education funding increases fail to keep pace with inflation and has criticized the scale of spending allocated to private school voucher programs.

Central Florida Expressway Project Advances With Wildlife and EV Charging Technology

Construction continues on the State Road 516 corridor, which will feature a wildlife underpass and a test section of roadway designed to wirelessly charge electric vehicles while in motion.

Vast Space Secures French Partnership for Future Commercial Space Station Missions

The aerospace company, which maintains a significant presence on Florida's Space Coast, has reached an agreement with the French government to support future crewed missions to its planned Haven-1 orbital station.

Space Florida Backs Offshore Launch Infrastructure Project in Tampa Bay

Florida's aerospace development agency has invested in Seagate Space to help develop maritime launch capabilities at the Port of Tampa Bay, broadening the state's spaceflight infrastructure beyond traditional launch sites.

Commercial Real Estate Data Shows Miami Office Market Outperforming Other Florida Cities

New market analysis found Miami-Dade continues to post strong office demand, high rents and low vacancy rates, while Jacksonville and Tampa face softer leasing conditions and increased concessions.

Bain Capital Launches Miami-Based Corporate Aviation Financing Platform

Bain Capital and Brickell Asset Management have established a new aircraft financing venture in Miami aimed at meeting growing demand for lending and leasing solutions in the corporate aviation sector.

Reinsurance Costs Decline for Florida Property Insurers Ahead of Hurricane Season

AM Best reported that insurers secured notable reductions in catastrophe reinsurance pricing during June renewals, a sign of improving stability in Florida's property insurance market.

Coastal Cities Push Back Against Proposed Property Tax Overhaul

Municipal leaders across Florida's coastal communities are warning that major property tax reductions could significantly reduce funding for local police, fire protection and infrastructure projects unless replacement revenue sources are...

Florida Consumer Confidence Falls for Third Consecutive Month

University of Florida researchers said consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest level since February, reflecting concerns over inflation, higher energy costs and a weakening labor market.

Heavy Rain and Flooding Threaten Travel Across South Florida

Meteorologists are warning of localized flooding in Miami-Dade and Broward counties as a stalled cold front brings repeated rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall through midweek.