Florida leads nation with nearly 100 police partnerships with ICE to deport undocumented
The vast majority of local and state police departments nationwide that have signed written agreements to assist the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda on the street level are in Florida. As of Tuesday, 140 law enforcement agencies at the state, county and local levels have signed “task force” agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the nation, according to an ICE database. A total of 97 of them are in Florida, including the sheriff's office in each of 67 counties. [Source: WLRN Public Media]
'Revolutionary': Florida backers say NASA HQ would benefit by moving from D.C. to Space Coast
During Phil Metzger's lengthy NASA career, he noticed how the agency's culture differed within programs philosophically distanced from Kennedy Space Center's decisive "go or no-go" doctrine governing rocket launches. That's why Metzger — who was named KSC's Scientist/Engineer of the Year in 2011 — supports NASA moving its headquarters from far-flung Washington, D.C., to Florida's Space Coast. "The culture of NASA: The closer you get to a launch site, the more it's focused on efficiency and crispness and being prepared to make the right decisions," said Metzger, who is now director of the Stephen W. Hawking Center for Microgravity Research & Education at the University of Central Florida. [Source: Florida Today]
House to move on gun age bill
The Florida House could move quickly to pass a controversial bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18. The House is scheduled Wednesday to take up the bill (HB 759), filed by Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, and Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island. The Legislature and then-Gov. Rick Scott increased the minimum age for long-gun purchases to 21 after the 2018 mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Opinion | Don’t write off Florida citrus industry
As a fourth-generation Florida citrus grower, working alongside my brothers in our family’s groves is not a job – it’s a way of life; it’s our heritage and tradition. A heritage and tradition that we are determined to continue – and we’re not alone. Many third-, fourth- and even fifth-generation families are fighting to preserve the legacy of Florida citrus and its substantial impact on the state of Florida. [Source: News-Press]
Workforce training bill to help students with autism ready for Senate floor
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously advanced a measure that seeks to implement workforce training for high school students with autism spectrum disorder. Pensacola Republican Sen. Don Gaetz introduced the bill (SB 102) to the committee and detailed how the legislation was designed in hopes of closing learning gaps. After moving through three committees, it’s ready for the Senate floor. [Source: Florida Politics]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Experts reflect on future of the Florida panther as fourth killed in vehicle collision in 2025
The death toll of Florida panthers for this year continues to rise after the fourth panther death was recorded on March 10.
Thirty-six Florida panther deaths were recorded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision in 2024.
Environmental organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, said they are concerned about the panthers but hope they can continue to work with the state to improve their living conditions.
› Maryland buyer pays $72 million for housing near Florida Gulf Coast University
Capreit, a Maryland multifamily property operator, has bought a student housing community near Florida Gulf Coast University for $72.3 million. The property is at 19401 Skidmore Way in Fort Myers. It was previously owned by Coastal Ridge Real Estate in Ohio which, according to Lee County property records, paid $44 million for it in 2018.
› Florida Tech students piece together cyber sea cow 'spy' to gather intel on real manatees
Philip K. Dick's famous 1968 sci-fi novel, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,' explored blurred lines between what's real, what's fake, and dystopian cyberpunk notions about robot consciousness.
Fast forward five decades to Florida Institute of Technology, and one might ask: 'Do android manatees dream of other cybernetic sea cows?'
Deeper techno philosophizing aside, three Florida Tech students are developing a 'Mechanatee,' a robot sea cow they hope will one day allow scientists better study the gentle marine mammals.
› Build-A-Bear to open multi-level store at Florida entertainment center
Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) next year will open a "multi-level retail-tainment" store at Icon Park, growing its footprint at the entertainment center in Orlando, Florida.
The 20-acre, open-air Icon Park, anchored by the Orlando Eye Ferris wheel, is a complex of tenants offering carnival rides, attractions, retail, restaurants and bars. It is located in Orlando's International Drive commercial area near other theme parks.
› A 16th-century Spanish explorer claimed this Florida beach town. Now it’s a remote work hotspot
Lori Matthias and her husband had tired of Atlanta traffic when they moved to St. Augustine, Florida, in 2023. For Mike Waldron and his wife, moving from the Boston area in 2020 to a place that bills itself as “the nation's oldest city” was motivated by a desire to be closer to their adult children.
They were among thousands of white-collar, remote workers who migrated to the St. Augustine area in recent years, transforming the touristy beach town into one of the top remote work hubs in the United States.
› Free ride service launches in Palmetto, Bradenton
A new free ride service is now available in Manatee County. Freebee, which exclusively uses electric vehicles, is providing service for people traveling in Palmetto and downtown Bradenton.
Freebee operates in more than 45 markets across Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, according to its media kit. The Miami-headquartered company reports it receives about 5,000 requests for rides each day and has more than 1.5 million annual passengers.
› Major outdoor clothing retailer to open its first Florida store this spring
Outdoor retailer L.L. Bean announced it will open a 17,000-square-foot store at 111 N. Cattlemen Road this spring. The store — near the town center’s Target, Best Buy and Old Navy — plans to hire more than 30 employees as it nears opening, and its Bootmobile will make stops around the area from March 29 to April 5, according to a news release.
› 2 Florida zoos make top 10 list of best in the U.S. Here’s why
When it comes to zoos, there are hundreds in the U.S. But of the more than 200 facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and there can only be a few of the “best.”
USA TODAY’s 10 Best recently released its reader’s choice list of the top 10 zoos in the U.S. for 2025, and two Florida zoos made the list. If you’re stumped on how to keep your kids entertained this spring break and live in Jacksonville, you have one of the top five best zoos in the country at your doorstep.