Florida's DOGE effort, explained
Spending has grown at all levels of Florida government — including the governor’s office — since 2020. The increases are largely attributable to inflation and rising population, not government graft, local leaders say. Still, DeSantis says he’s cleaning up local government’s books. With so many different audits happening simultaneously, it can be hard to keep track of what DeSantis’ team says it’s looking for and what it says it’s found. More from the Tampa Bay Times and Yahoo News.
AI is changing the startup scene. Will it help Tampa Bay?
One of the region’s buzziest startup hubs announced this summer that it was to undergo a “strategic transformation.” New Tampa Bay Innovation Center CEO Rebecca Brown said artificial intelligence has changed how startups succeed — making outside capital less essential, and great ideas more important. The rise of AI as a tool for founders may help Tampa Bay overcome one of its biggest weaknesses: a lack of venture capital funding. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
From burgers to bills: Economic pressures reshaping Brevard’s dining scene
What used to be a casual night out now feels more like a splurge for many in Brevard. As some diners cut back on dining out, restaurants across Brevard are trying to find creative ways to stay afloat — from streamlining menus to offering special deals to fill the seats. Restaurant owners face challenges from increased food costs, rising labor wages, and historically thin profit margins. More from Florida Today.
Royal Caribbean’s next 2 Icon-class ships hit construction milestones
As Royal Caribbean nears a month of sailing its newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, from Port Canaveral, the company is also celebrating construction milestones on its next two Icon-class ships. Legend of the Seas, the third massive vessel in the Icon series, touched water for the first time earlier this month during a float-out at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean marked the beginning of construction on its fourth Icon-class ship with a keel laying ceremony in the dry dock just behind Legend of the Seas. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Jacksonville politicians won't get free tickets anymore for themselves or their families
Jacksonville City Council voted to ban elected officials and their immediate families from using free tickets to events at city-owned venues. The ban covers all events at venues like EverBank Stadium, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. The prohibition applies to the mayor, City Council members, and the city's constitutional officers. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Natural Resources
Florida takes over major Everglades restoration project from Army Corps
At a rainy news conference off the Tamiami Trail in the Everglades on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the groundbreaking of the first Everglades restoration project the state is taking over from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The groundbreaking marks the first project in an agreement between the state of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which allows the state to take over construction of several of the most crucial projects in the $26 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, otherwise known as CERP.
» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Florida Politics.
Florida Trend Exclusive
NextGen: Estimating fido’s age
Andria Beal always wanted to be a scientist. Interested in marine wildlife, she earned her master’s degree at Texas Christian University studying RNA in pipefish. In 2022, after earning her Ph.D. at FIU, Beal founded EpiPaws, a Fort Lauderdale-based company that would offer epigenetic testing for dogs and cats. EpiPaws’ initial product would be a test, with a simple mouth swab, that estimates a pet’s age, particularly useful for people who adopt their furry friends from shelters. That’s because many of the 4 million dogs and cats rescued each year have unknown ages or health histories.
» Read more from Florida Trend.