Permanent Tax Cuts Kick In

Starting August 1, Floridians can count on tax breaks for back-to-school and hurricane supplies as part of a larger $1.3 billion tax package signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The new law makes school items, including supplies under $50, clothes under $100, and personal computers up to $1,500, sales tax-free for the entire month of August each year.

It also makes year-round sales tax exemptions permanent for hurricane and disaster-preparedness supplies, including batteries, generators, fire extinguishers, and more. See the full list here.

Critics argue that the relief is too narrow and doesn’t address larger costs, such as housing, but GOP leaders say more tax reforms may be implemented in 2026.

Housing Market Raising Concerns

As reported Monday, Florida home prices have jumped 53% statewide since 2019. However, higher mortgage interest rates and an abundant supply of condos have caused prices to dip 2.2% from last June, according to real estate brokerage Redfin.

The challenges for the housing market are regional. Realtor.com ranked the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach area the No. 2 top housing market in the U.S. this year, forecasting increases in both the number of sales and prices.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports that home prices in Cape Coral have dropped 11% over the last few years, reflecting frustration for sellers in some areas.

D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, has also reported persistent weakness in the state’s housing market, although experts agree that even a minimal drop in interest rates might quickly reverse those trends. 

Kennedy Space Center Ranks No. 1

The Kennedy Space Center was ranked the No. 1 tourist attraction in the U.S. and No. 3 globally in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Best of the Best Things to Do list.

The space center beat out icons like Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, earning over 15,000 five-star reviews for its immersive exhibits and historic space artifacts.

Both DeLand’s Stetson Mansion and Key Largo’s Coral Reef State Park were among the state’s top 10 national attractions, once again cementing Florida as a top-tier tourist destination.

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➤ Lake Worth: A small plane clipped a tree during takeoff, then skimmed the top of a car before crashing in a park, injuring seven people—including the two on board. (See Photos)

➤ Orlando: AdventHealth Orlando was ranked Florida’s best hospital and among the nation’s top 20, with high marks across 30 specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s review of 4,400 facilities. (See the List)

➤ Gainesville: A barricaded gunman was killed Tuesday morning after firing at deputies who were serving a warrant near the University of Florida campus. No deputies or bystanders were injured. (More)

➤ Everglades: Officials confirm that there is no official hurricane plan for Alligator Alcatraz and that the immigration detention center is only equipped for Category 2 storms, requiring evacuation in the event of anything stronger. (More) 

➤ Statewide: More than 1.4 million people, or 27% of Medicaid recipients in Florida, have been removed from coverage since 2023 as pandemic-era protections ended, raising alarms over access to care. (More)

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➤ Florida quarterback DJ Lagway showed up to the Gators’ training camp in a walking boot, adding to the list of injuries he’s suffered this offseason. (More)

➤ The Florida Panthers brought the Stanley Cup to a Coldplay concert, where they were featured on the now-infamous concert kiss cam. (More)

➤ Inter Miami’s majority owner, Jorge Mas, said that Lionel Messi is “very upset” with the MLS after being dealt a suspension for missing the league’s All-Star game. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Allegiant Air will launch six new Florida routes in November, including $49 flights from Punta Gorda to New Orleans and new service from Fort Myers to Allentown, Appleton, and Des Moines. (More)

➤ Florida will audit Orange County’s finances, claiming rising taxes have overburdened residents. Officials will conduct a review of spending on contracts, salaries, and services. (See Details)

➤ Orange County’s Vision 2050, a multimillion-dollar plan to curb sprawl and protect rural areas through stricter growth rules, was blocked by a hurricane relief law—made retroactive to August 2024—that limits new land-use restrictions. (See Details)

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➤ Historic photos show Duval County’s first day of school through the decades—from 1938 crossings to 2015 drop-offs—capturing generations of students, parents, and teachers. (See Photos) 

➤ Lobster mini-season starts today. Lobster seekers have two days to harvest spiny lobsters under strict size, permit, and location rules, with daily limits and protected zones enforced. (See Details)

➤ Robot bunnies have been deployed by researchers to lure and capture invasive Burmese pythons. The remote-controlled decoys emit heat, move realistically, and use motion-sensor cameras to alert scientists when snakes approach. (See the Robo-Bunny)

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Orlando native Delta Burke is most famous for her role in the TV series Designing Women. Which character from that show was your favorite?

1. Suzanne
2. Mary Jo
3. Julia
4. Charlene
5. I didn’t watch the show

Tuesday’s Results:

Have you ever had a WW (Weight Watchers) membership?

1. Yes: 29%
2. No: 71%

What is the name of the longest river in Florida, flowing northward for 310 miles?

Show me the answer

NOTE: The answer to Monday’s trivia question, which asked which city is home to the historic Pink Palace hotel, was technically incorrect. We said it was “St. Petersburg Beach,” but the town’s name was changed to “St. Pete Beach” in 1994. We regret the error, and we’d love to spend a week there in person making amends.