What’s behind Florida's wave of congressional exits?
Five U.S. House members from Florida are stepping down this year. This is part of a larger national trend, with 64 House retirements being the most in over 30 years. The retiring Florida lawmakers have a combined 68 years in Congress and all are over age 70 except 47-year-old U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds who is leaving his House seat in southwest Florida to run for governor. Unlike Florida and other states, Congress has no term limits. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Gainesville Sun.
Commentary: If the economy is so strong, why doesn’t it feel like it?
Florida had once attracted people seeking warm weather and opportunities. Today, many residents are chasing the next big thing: the ability to afford their next month’s bills. Property insurance premiums have become a growing burden for homeowners, while rising costs for groceries, utilities, and everyday necessities continue to strain household budgets. For many younger Floridians, homeownership feels increasingly out of reach. Even those who have followed traditional advice: go to school, find a job, work hard, and save it up, often find themselves struggling to get a job their degree aligns with. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida subpoenas FICO in antitrust investigation
Florida issued a civil subpoena last week to credit scoring company FICO as part of an investigation into suspected anticompetitive practices. Over 90% of U.S. lending decisions are made using FICO scores. The company issues as estimated 27 million credit scores every day and plays a major role in Floridians’ purchases of homes and cars. The subpoena seeks an array of documentation to determine if FICO has violated the Florida Antitrust Act by engaging in anticompetitive conduct. [Source: The Center Square]
After ‘Alcatraz,’ environmentalists have a new target: the runway in the Everglades
With the one-time immigration detention camp known as “Alligator Alcatraz” closed down, environmental groups say the time has come to turn the remote airport into an environmental preserve. That could include ripping up the jumbo runway that was the subject of a huge environmental fight decades ago. Miami-Dade County owns the 17,000-acre expanse of wetlands that surrounds what’s officially known as the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a sleepy airfield 45 miles west of Miami International Airport. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida scientists built heated robo-rabbits to flush invasive pythons from hiding
To target one of Florida's most destructive invasive animals, researchers will be deploying realistic "robo-bunny" decoys that generate heat in hopes of coaxing Burmese pythons into the open. If the pilot program works, it could save biologists hours of searching through swamps while helping protect the native animals that play an important role in keeping the Everglades ecosystem healthy. More from The Cool Down and Yahoo News.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› After ups and downs, can Downtown Orlando rise again?
When Orlando first incorporated 151 years ago — just one year before Rufus A. Russell founded an Orlando Sentinel predecessor called the Orange County Reporter — there were few signs the cow and citrus town of 85 residents would one day become one of the world’s most recognizable destinations. Twenty-two registered voters decided to form the town, centered on the courthouse that once stood at present-day Magnolia Avenue at Heritage Square. The new municipality’s boundaries spanned just one mile north, south, east and west.
› Holon still plans to build autonomous vehicles in Jacksonville
Holon, the Germany-based manufacturer that says it plans to make a $100 million investment in Jacksonville, still intends to break ground on its manufacturing facility in 2026, show records provided to the Jacksonville Daily Record. Those records also show that Holon received a one-year extension to the company’s economic development agreement with the city.
› Sarasota tourism gets welcome news ahead of summer
Sarasota County saw a strong month for tourism in May 2026, with visitation increasing 6.8% year over year and direct visitor spending also rising 6.8%. Visit Sarasota shared with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that during the month, the county had 128,000 visitors, over 8,000 more than the 119,900 visitors in May 2025. Direct expenditures also saw an increase, jumping from $130.6 million in May 2025 to $139.4 million in May 2026.
› NASA's Kennedy Space Center VAB remains the heart of American space flight
Florida's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) was crucial for America's greatest space achievements. Originally built for the Apollo program's Saturn V rockets, the VAB later supported the Space Shuttle program. The massive structure is now used for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon. At 525 feet tall, the VAB is one of the largest buildings in the world by volume.
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› Florida utility breaks ground on $20 million substation to keep pace with fast-growing demand
As growth in Central Florida drives electricity demand higher, one local utility is expanding the grid to keep up. Kissimmee Utility Authority is constructing a $20 million substation to support new homes and businesses in a rapidly developing part of its service area. KUA held a groundbreaking ceremony June 24 as residential and commercial development continues in the northwest portion of its territory.
› Collier weighs tourism bureau privatization plan during workshop
Collier County commissioners this week continued exploring whether to privatize the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, a move that would transition the destination marketing organization from a county department to a standalone nonprofit. The Board of County Commissioners heard a presentation from seven members of a steering committee representing the hospitality, tourism, arts and business sectors.
› Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford stepping down
Nat Ford, CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, will leave his position with the authority, according to a July 3 news release from JTA. Ford, JTA’s CEO for 13 years, will remain with the authority through Jan. 8, 2027, according to the release. The JTA board is set to discuss selection for the authority’s next CEO at its July 29 board meeting.
› Developer once clashed with Tarpon Springs. It just donated $444K for conservation
A developer that spent years fighting Tarpon Springs and its critics over a riverfront apartment complex was welcomed at City Hall last month, handing the city a $444,000 check, the first private donation to a fund created to preserve green space. The Morgan group’s contribution marked a striking turnabout for a development that survived years of lawsuits, packed hearings and a 2022 election shaped in part by opposition to it.