Florida’s once-pristine springs are under threat
Covering an estimated 100,000 square miles (250,000 square kilometers), the underground Floridan Aquifer is the source of 90% of Florida’s drinking water. Because of the porous nature of the state’s bedrock, millions of gallons of water find their way to the surface in the form of clear, clean springs that, in turn, feed into rivers. But these treasures are under threat from agricultural pollution, rapid development and climate change. More from the AP.
Florida gas prices have soared before Labor Day travel
Gas prices have increased this week as drivers prepare to hit the road for the long Labor Day weekend. The spike is a swing from early this week when gas prices across the state plunged double digits. Most areas in Florida are back up to more than $3 a gallon. North Florida remains the cheapest place for gas. More from the Miami Herald.
Palm Beach County rock mine project faces legal challenge
Environmental groups are taking legal action in an attempt to halt the progression of a Palm Beach County rock mining project in the Everglades Agricultural Area, south of Lake Okeechobee. The rock mine, dubbed the Southland Water Resource Project, proposes extracting limestone and eventually functioning as water storage on an 8,000-acre site adjacent to the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, which is under construction. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Tampa construction tech startup secures $7M investment
A Tampa-based tech start-up that bills itself as the “Uber for heavy equipment repair,” announced a $7 million investment this week. Built for the construction industry, Heave connects construction companies with certified and vetted mobile mechanics who can service machinery on-site, eliminating costly equipment downtime. The company currently services more than 600 machines each month and has more than 300 active mechanics in its network out of a total pool of around 850 nationwide. More from the Business Observer.
Mobile kitchens, local dreams: The rise of food trucks in Brevard
Once a novelty parked at weekend festivals and brewery lots, food trucks in Brevard County have become a full-blown movement. Across the Space Coast, mobile kitchens are serving up everything from smoky brisket to fresh grilled seafood bowls with a water view. According to a recent review of food service permits filed with Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, almost 74% of the new licenses applications in July and August were for mobile food operations. More from Florida Today.
Business Beat - Week of August 29th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Out of the Box
When science meets music: Florida’s oyster decline is being told through jazz
When science meets music: Florida’s oyster decline is being told through jazz A professor teamed up with student musicians to inspire interest in data about the ‘catastrophic scale’ of the crisis Richard Luscombe in Miami Wed 27 Aug 2025 07.00 EDT Share A university professor has set her team’s research on the plight of Florida’s declining oyster population to music, aiming to inform a receptive new audience about the “catastrophic” scale of the crisis. Heather O’Leary, professor of anthropology at St Petersburg’s University of South Florida (USF), partnered with student composers and faculty from its music department to create Oysters Ain’t Safe, a soft jazz alternative to crunching data into a “boring” technical report.
» Read more from the Guardian.