Florida faces worst drought in 25 years
Florida is experiencing its worst drought in 25 years, increasing the risk of wildfires. The La Niña weather pattern has contributed to the dry conditions, which are expected to last until mid-May. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency, and over 30 counties have active burn bans. Residents are advised to create a 30-foot buffer of cleared vegetation around their homes to mitigate fire risk. [Source: Florida Today]
Measure to enhance cybersecurity at Florida financial institutions advances
A House bill designed to increase cybersecurity among financial institutions in Florida earned unanimous approval in its second of three committee stops. The measure (HB 381) would require loan originators, mortgage brokers and lenders, and money services businesses to “develop, implement and maintain comprehensive written information security programs for protections of information systems and nonpublic personal information and to establish written incident response plans.” [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida's iconic panther needs extra protection during breeding season
The Florida panther, one of the Sunshine State’s most iconic and endangered animals, is in one of the most sensitive and biologically active periods of its yearly cycle this month. As breeding increases and females begin preparing secluded dens for their soon‑to‑arrive kittens through spring, UF/IFAS is sharing timely, research‑backed information in the Ask IFAS publication Wildlife of Florida Factsheet: Florida Panther. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Florida Supreme Court asked to revive recreational pot push
The legal fight over legal weed goes on. Now, despite repeated efforts by state officials to keep recreational marijuana off Florida’s 2026 midterm ballot, the measure’s sponsor is asking the Florida Supreme Court to intervene. Smart and Safe Florida, the sponsor of the adult-use recreational marijuana proposal, wants the court to review state directives it says are creating roadblocks to gathering the signatures needed to qualify the proposal. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Amid penny pullback, Floridians could see totals rounded to nickels
The days of the 99-cent advantage, or “charm pricing,” a sales strategy is to price an item at, say, $9.99, believing consumers will consider it less expensive than a counterpart at $10, may be numbered in Florida. The Florida Senate is advancing a bill to manage cash transactions after the U.S. Treasury stopped minting pennies. The proposed legislation would require retailers to round cash totals to the nearest nickel. This change would only apply to cash payments, not electronic or card transactions. [Source: Tallahassee Demcorat]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› From palm trees to power plays: Florida’s hockey boom hits the Gulf Coast
Florida has become a hockey hotbed, and the Gulf Coast is at the center of the surge, powered by the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and the Florida Everblades’ record-setting run in Estero. What once felt improbable in a state known for beaches and palm trees is now a defining part of its sports identity. From sold-out crowds at Hertz Arena to championship banners hanging across South Florida, ice hockey has taken firm root in the Sunshine State.
› 57 St. Petersburg jobs cut as in-person tolls on Skyway eliminated
TTEC, a Colorado technology company, is laying off 57 employees in St. Petersburg who work on toll collection on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The company announced the job cuts in letter to St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch, dated Feb. 13. The Florida Department of Transportation has announced that it is transitioning to all-electronic tolls to ease congestion on the iconic span that crosses Tampa Bay.
› UNF manufacturers survey shows improvement in January
A monthly survey of Northeast Florida manufacturers by the University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project showed conditions improving and optimism about 2026, but businesses are not hiring more workers. A Purchasing Managers’ Index derived from the survey registered 52.4 in January, signaling modest expansion. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while an index below 50 indicates manufacturing activity is contracting. The PMI was below 50 for much of 2025.
› 29 swans died, but Lake Eola’s avian flu outbreak may be over
It’s been nearly a month since any swans have died at Lake Eola Park amid a bout with avian flu, signaling that perhaps the deadly outbreak among Orlando’s iconic swan population has run its course. Officials are remaining cautious this week, as they were advised to wait a full month since the last death, which would be Saturday, before potentially signaling the all-clear, a spokesperson said.
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› NASA's Artemis 2 mission faces new issue after rocket test in Florida
The Artemis 2 mission, which will send 4 astronauts around the moon, has been delayed until at least March 2026. A previous delay was caused by a hydrogen leak discovered during a prelaunch fueling test earlier in February. NASA has not yet scheduled a second full wet dress rehearsal or announced an official new launch date.
› Why escape rooms continue to captivate puzzle-hungry players all across South Florida
No longer considered to be a passing trend, escape rooms have become viable businesses with owners who are continually writing new puzzles and creating new fans. “Through COVID and then Hurricane Ian, we stayed in business,” Jimmy Brooks explained. Brooks is the manager of Escape Room Adventures, which is a job he turned to after being unable to find work utilizing his degree in computer science.
› Have more tickets to Ulta Beauty World in Florida been released?
It's nearly a month since the chaotic ticket drop for Ulta Beauty World 2026, with over 3 million people attempting to score one of the 3,000 available tickets. The nation’s largest specialty beauty retailer, which held its 2025 inaugural event in San Antonio, Texas, is hosting this year's convention at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, on April 16, 2026. Tickets went on onsale on Jan. 22 for just over $160 per ticket and sold out within minutes.
› Pandion Club development promises job growth in Estero
Hoffmann Family of Companies is moving ahead with plans to redevelop the former Old Corkscrew Golf Club site in Estero into a private golf facility known as the Pandion Club, a project the company says will create hundreds of jobs and contribute to the region’s economic growth. The 275-acre redevelopment, pending permitting approval, could begin construction later this year.