Lawmakers could face tight budget
After a contentious legislative session this year that required overtime to hammer out a budget, Florida lawmakers could again face decisions about limiting spending during the 2026 session. “Our work is not done,” House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said Friday after a joint House and Senate panel received an overview of the state’s long-range financial outlook from economist Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research. [Source: News Service of Florida]
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Small but powerful
If you live in Florida, you probably hear the names of the bigger electric providers, like Florida Power & Light (FPL), regularly. Although the smaller electric utilities are lesser known, many of them are experiencing notable growth and facing many of the same opportunities and challenges of their larger counterparts. Take, for instance, Ocala Electric Utility, with 57,709 customers. Ocala Electric has grown about 3% annually over the past two to three years compared with just 1% growth in the preceding years, according to Deputy Director Chad Lynch. With that growth comes the chance to improve efficiency, expand infrastructure and invest in new technology. [Source: Florida Trend]
Should a ‘Florida Springs National Park’ be created? Environmental advocates are torn
A Florida congressman’s proposal to stitch together a patchwork of springs in North and Central Florida into the country’s 64th national park won’t help protect the state’s outstanding, and crucial, freshwater resource, springs advocates say. U.S. Rep Randy Fine’s Path to Florida Springs National Park Act would direct the federal government to conduct a study on how to make the springs located across 2,800 miles of land into a national park. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Hurricane center says chances now high for next tropical depression in Atlantic
The National Hurricane Center on Sunday increased its forecast chances that a tropical wave in the Atlantic would develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm. The NHC’s forecast area of formation could mean it would threaten parts of the Caribbean. The NHC gave it a 10% chance to develop in the next two days, but a 70% chance to develop in the next seven days. If it were to develop into a named storm, it could become Tropical Storm Gabrielle. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Gas prices plunge by double digits in Florida
After several weeks of increases, gas prices have dipped by double digits in Florida, with most areas under $3 a gallon, including South Florida, according to AAA. “This is a welcome relief for Floridians after a summer of fluctuating prices,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As we transition into fall, lower fuel demand and the switch to winter-blend gasoline can help ease prices.” North Florida remains the cheapest to get gas in the state. Naples and Palm Beach County are among the most expensive areas. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Three Florida airports are among the best in the country
Florida has three of the best “resort airports” in the country, according to a new list compiled by travel experts. The list includes Key West, Sarastota-Bradenton and Northwest Florida. They are among 20 small airports that USA Today 10Best said were selected by travel experts for their convenience, charm and effortless feel. Now, they are asking readers to vote on their favorite airport for the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 to find the top 10.
› Orlando could build the ‘O-Line’, a Euro-style bike trail from downtown through SoDo
Orlando officials are considering a “green spine” through an industrial part of Orlando’s SoDo neighborhood, which they say could spark redevelopment, open the area up to safe bicycling and foot traffic and provide a European-style amenity along the train tracks. Early renderings show greenery, public art, lawn space and paths for walkers and cyclists — much different from the sparse, narrow strip that exists today west of the train tracks at the Orlando Health SunRail station, a road frequented by tractor trailers and commercial vehicles behind the hospital. While the plan wouldn’t remove the train tracks, it’s conceptually similar to the popular High Line in Manhattan or the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
› Pinellas County’s economy is shifting toward professional and business services
While the population of Pinellas County has been relatively stable over the last decade, increasing only 3%, the county’s real GDP, or GDP chained to 2017 dollars, grew by more than $14 billion between 2014 and 2023, an increase of 32%. The percentage of the county’s GDP attributed to professional and business services increased significantly over that time, from 14% in 2014 to more than 19% in 2023.
› How Miami and the Dominican Republic want to strengthen economic ties
The Dominican Republic and Miami-Dade Economics and Investment Opportunities Forum, held on Sept. 3 at the Dominican consulate in Brickell, attracted county leaders and representatives of the Dominican community. Their mission: to exchange ideas on how to bring the Dominican Republic and the United States, its main trading partner, closer together.
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› This intimate Florida restaurant was just named one of the best in U.S.
An intimate and inventive South Miami restaurant was just named one of the best restaurants in the country. In its 20 Best New Restaurants list for 2025, Bon Appétit praised Recoveco, the remarkable gem from wife-and-husband chefs Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez, which opened last summer.
› Historic Winter Park nursing home closing doors after almost 70 years
Almost 70 years ago, a Winter Park nursing home opened to help care for elderly Black residents who during segregation had no place to go. And for decades the institution fulfilled that mission. But operators of the facility, known today as The Gardens at DePugh Nursing Center, say it will close permanently in early December due to skyrocketing costs and stagnant Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
› Jacksonville mayor can veto budget amendments, city lawyer says
Jacksonville’s top city attorney has issued a legal opinion that says the mayor can line-item veto City Council member Rory Diamond’s amendments banning city-funded services from benefiting undocumented immigrants; diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; and abortion if they make it into the final city budget. But the Sept. 10 memo from General Council Michael Fackler to the mayor’s chief of staff, Mike Weinstein, adds, if that happens, the city Charter requires only 10 votes to override a mayoral veto.
› There’s a secret proposal to develop the Seaquarium land
Developers in Miami are pursuing the chance to build something new on the Miami Seaquarium property owned by Miami-Dade County while the parent company of the struggling theme park seeks to raise cash in bankruptcy court. Integra, a Miami-based marina operator and developer, submitted a proposal to the county for the 38-acre site, which sits on Miami’s Virginia Key and fronts Biscayne Bay. The contents of that proposal remain a secret.