How Florida’s first failed national park kickstarted its thriving state parks
With the mystique of the Everglades, the tranquility of Biscayne Bay, and the ambient isolation of Dry Tortugas, Highlands Hammock State Park was a strong but ultimately unsuccessful contender for national park designation. The history of Highlands Hammock State Park is more than the origin of the Florida Park Service; it’s a century-old love letter to Florida’s often overlooked inland ecology. More from National Geographic.
Florida gas prices continue roller-coaster ride
Florida gas prices are declining again after abruptly rising 12 cents early last week, AAA reports. The state average went from $2.84 per gallon on Monday, up to $2.96/g on Wednesday. By Sunday, the state average was back down to $2.92 per gallon. That’s 6.5 cents more than a week ago, but 21 cents less than this time last year. “Florida gas prices continue fluctuating on a weekly basis,” said Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA - The Auto Club Group. More from WWSB.
South Florida commuter rail in limbo after latest ruling on Brightline lawsuit
The commuter rail system that Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County officials have for years been working to create remains in limbo after a judge paused the lawsuit that had been standing in its way. Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), the company that owns the railroad tracks Brightline trains run on, sued Brightline in August over an alleged breach of contract. More from the Miami Herald.
Construction coming to make Jacksonville's New Kings Road a 'premier corridor'
Twenty years after the idea first surfaced for creating a special improvement district along New Kings Road and Soutel Drive, the district is finally embarking on the kind of multimillion-dollar project that supporters envisioned. "What other communities have, now we will have it on the Northside of Jacksonville," City Council member Ju'Coby Pittman said. The work will start in the coming months and unfold in phases over a multiyear time frame. More from the Florida Times-Union and Jax Today.
Celebrity Xcel tops off trio of new ships to Port Everglades
With the arrival of Celebrity Cruises’ new ship Celebrity Xcel, Port Everglades is loaded up with new hardware for the winter sailing season. It joined Disney Cruise Line’s new ship Disney Destiny and Princess Cruises’ new Star Princess to sail out of the Fort Lauderdale port. The arrivals mark a major jump for the state’s third busiest cruise port behind PortMiami and Port Canaveral that saw it already approach 5 million passenger movements in the last fiscal year. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
PHSC’s bold vision for health care education
As Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) enters a new chapter under its recently appointed President Eric Hall, Ed.D., the institution is focused on a top priority: becoming Florida’s leading force in health care workforce education and innovation. Building on a solid foundation, PHSC is focusing strong efforts on its nursing and allied health programs. [Sponsored report]
Out of the Box
New board game Sanibel captures island shelling spirit
Countless visitors to Sanibel Island share memories of collecting seashells from its famously shell-laden beaches. Game designer and naturalist Elizabeth Hargrave has re-created that experience in her latest board game, Sanibel, set for release in January by Avalon Hill, a division of Hasbro. The game has already drawn attention in the tabletop community. The New York Times’ Wirecutter reviewer James Austin named Sanibel one of his top five games from GenCon 2025, a major North American tabletop gaming convention.
» More from Gulfshore Business.
In Memoriam
Aviation leader Peter J. Dolara, key to Miami’s global rise, dies at 87
Peter J. Dolara, a towering figure in Latin American aviation often credited as a driving force behind Miami’s rise as a global gateway, died on Saturday at age 87. Known as a “legendary figure” whose vision reshaped American Airlines’ presence throughout the hemisphere, Dolara spent more than four decades with the company and became one of its most influential leaders, CEO Robert Isom said in a statement.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.