Fewer tourists visited Florida in first quarter of 2026
Florida attracted slightly fewer tourists in the first quarter than during the same period last year, data from the state’s tourism marketing agency released Tuesday show. Visit Florida reported an estimated 39.89 million people journeyed to the state between January 1 and March 31, down 1 percent from the first quarter of 2025. Florida’s figures remain bolstered by people traveling from other states, which accounted for 36.54 million, or nearly 92 percent, of the visitors in the first quarter. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Injury audit
Dr. John Draus dispiritedly predicted e-bikes — bicycles with electric motors that can surpass 28 mph — would be a popular gift this past Christmas. A sharp uptick in related injuries this January seemed to prove him correct. Draus is medical director of the Wolfson Children's Hospital Trauma Center and chief of pediatric surgery for Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville. The trauma center has seen a 3,700% rise in pediatric patients admitted for e-bike and e-scooter injuries since 2022, jumping to 115 cases in 2025. [Source: Florida Trend]
Hurricane season 2026: Florida had lull before, but then the tropics lined up a decade of storms
If you’ve lived in Florida for any length of time, you know hurricanes are part of life. But there was a period not that long ago when we caught a lengthy break. From 2006 through 2015, Florida avoided a direct hit from a hurricane. It was strange going through season after season without a major impact. Then came 2016, and that quiet streak ended. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Gas is up by double digits in Florida. Check the prices in your area
Gas prices are higher in Florida compared to a week ago as drivers get back to work after the long Memorial Day weekend. As of Tuesday, May 26, gas prices in the state are an average 10 cents higher across Florida. North Florida remains the cheapest to pump in Florida while Naples and Palm Beach County are the most expensive areas to buy gas, according to AAA. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida’s delayed $115 billion budget puts money toward AI, AIDS drugs
Florida’s legislative leaders, after weeks of negotiations and delays, are ready to give Gov. Ron DeSantis his final budget. Clocking in at around $114.5 billion, the budget will cover the last months of DeSantis’ tenure as Florida governor and the start of the next administration. Lawmakers intend to vote on the budget on Friday after a required 72-hour “cooling off” and review period. Here’s what to know about what the state could soon fund — and what lawmakers chose to leave behind. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Jacksonville City Council pledges to support up to $35 million in Culinary Institute of America incentives
The Culinary Institute of America could receive up to $35 million in incentives to open its fourth U.S. campus in Downtown Jacksonville, following City Council approval of the effort. Council voted 16-2 on May 26 in favor of Ordinance 2026-0419, which expresses Council approval for the CIA campus and authorize city staff to negotiate a finalized incentives agreement with the New York-based institute.
› What it takes to open a $6B theme park: Epic Universe exec reflects on Year One
Epic Universe opened one year ago as the first large destination theme park in the United States since 2001. Jeff Polk, executive vice president and general manager, achieved 95% execution on the original design concept. Universal opened three hotels totaling 2,000 rooms in 85 days to support the new theme park.
› Jupiter approves $10.66 million building for police and fire training
The Jupiter Town Council has approved a $10.66 million agreement to purchase a vacant office and warehouse space that will house the town's Building Department and potentially serve as a training site for the police and fire departments. The facility will house Jupiter's building inspectors, plan examiners, code-compliance officers and fire inspectors, according to town documents.
› Tampa Theatre’s 100-year history comes alive in Andrew Huse’s final book
As downtown Tampa’s iconic movie palace preps for its 100th birthday in October, a new book will help readers travel through time. “Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories” will be released in late September. The 272-page coffee table book dives into the design and lore of the local landmark. It features hundreds of illustrations, newspaper clippings and old photographs, plus interviews with over 30 theater employees, volunteers and patrons. It is also the last project from Tampa historian and bestselling author Andrew T. Huse, who died at 52 in August.
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› Blue Origin announces $600M Florida expansion, FAA clears New Glenn for launch
Look for Blue Origin to build a $600 million expansion of the space company's sprawling Rocket Park manufacturing complex on Merritt Island, supporting 500 aerospace jobs with average salaries topping $98,000. Labeled Project Horizon, this expansion will feature an estimated 830,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for upper stages of heavy-lift New Glenn rockets.
› Gateway Jax: For Pearl Square to work, it has to be done ‘all at once’
Gateway Jax Inc. CEO Bryan Moll shouted over the hum of construction equipment Tuesday and pointed toward a partially-built apartment complex sitting behind a sand mound-filled lot with porta-potties in Downtown Jacksonville’s NorthCore. The 205-unit Vandeveer apartment at 515 N. Pearl St. Downtown will start leasing to residential tenants in August or September, Moll said. The 22,000 square feet of retail could be leased and open by the end of the year, with the first being a coffee house, bistro and wine bar combination.
› Marco Island license plate case heads to appeals court
A legal group has come to the aid of the Marco Island residents whose lawsuit against automated license plate readers failed in October. U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida dismissed Schemel, et al. v. City of Marco Island, which sought to end the city’s use of license plate readers to track the movements of island residents. The lawsuit argued that the city continuously recorded residents’ movements for years without probable cause or warrants — in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
› Out-of-state IT company taps West Palm Beach for 2nd headquarters
IntegrityPro Consulting opened its second headquarters in West Palm Beach at Phillips Point. The Woodbridge, Virginia-based IT company plans to create a dozen local jobs. ServiceNow partner IntegrityPro will establish an AI lighthouse to support service offerings.