Tidings Media Year in Review: Florida’s Top 20 News Stories of 2025

Courts, Politics, Public Policy

1) U.S. Supreme Court keeps Florida’s “illegal entry” immigration law on hold
Florida tried to enforce a new state immigration crime, but federal courts kept it blocked and the Supreme Court declined to step in, leaving the law paused as the case continues. SCOTUSblog

2) Judge holds Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt in immigration case
A federal judge said state leaders violated court orders tied to the immigration enforcement fight, escalating the legal and political stakes around Florida’s approach. AP News

3) “Alligator Alcatraz” fight goes to the 11th Circuit, operations continue during appeal
A federal appeals court put the brakes on a lower-court order that would have required a wind-down, keeping the Everglades detention site operating while litigation moves forward. WUSF+1

4) DeSantis announces “Deportation Depot,” a second immigration detention facility
The state moved to expand detention capacity at Baker Correctional Institution, pitching it as a processing and removal hub tied to Florida’s immigration enforcement push. Florida Governor's Office+1

5) Florida becomes the second state to ban fluoride in public water systems
DeSantis signed a statewide restriction on adding fluoride to drinking water, drawing sharp reactions from dentists, local officials, and public-health groups. AP News

6) “Trooper’s Law” and “Dexter’s Law” change Florida’s animal-cruelty penalties
New legislation raised penalties for abandoning dogs during declared disasters or evacuations and created additional accountability measures for severe animal cruelty cases. Florida Governor's Office

Public Safety and Crime

7) Florida State University shooting kills two and injures others
A midday campus attack near the student union triggered lockdowns, a rapid police response, and a national spotlight on campus security and warning systems. AP News+1

8) Florida shatters its modern-era execution record
Florida carried out a record number of executions in 2025, driving major national attention to the pace and process behind death warrants. AP News+1

Housing, Insurance, Cost of Living

9) Condo reform (HB 913) becomes law
Florida revised condominium and cooperative association rules, a major focus for residents and boards dealing with post-Surfside safety compliance, costs, and oversight. The Florida Senate

10) Citizens Property Insurance signals broad average rate cuts for 2026
Regulators and market watchers tracked Citizens’ filings closely as the state-backed insurer moved toward lower average premiums in many areas. Public+1

11) Progressive auto policyholders get nearly $1 billion in credits/refunds
State leaders touted a massive premium credit event tied to Florida’s auto insurance market and litigation reforms, with many drivers expecting a sizable rebate. WJXT+1

12) My Safe Florida Home reopens with phased access and expanded funding
The state’s hardening program reopened the grant pipeline with a phased rollout and large new funding, drawing strong demand from homeowners focused on wind-mitigation upgrades. My Safe Florida Home+2Security First Insurance+2

Schools and Families

13) Statewide school cellphone restrictions expand under HB 1105
Florida set clearer statewide limits on student wireless device use (with stricter rules for younger grades) and launched a pilot to test full-day prohibitions. The Florida Senate+1

Environment and Health

14) Red tide stretches from Tampa Bay to Key West
A long harmful algal bloom along the Gulf Coast triggered health warnings, beach impacts, and renewed debate about nutrient pollution and storm-driven conditions. WUSF+1

15) Endangered sawfish “spinning” die-off resurfaces in the Keys
Wildlife officials tracked a mysterious condition causing erratic behavior and deaths, with researchers chasing potential environmental and toxin explanations. AP News

16) Locally acquired dengue cases reported in Brevard County
Florida health officials issued mosquito-borne illness advisories and alerts as local transmission was confirmed and expanded over time. brevard.floridahealth.gov+1

Space Coast and Aerospace

17) Florida’s Space Coast posts a record year: 109 launches
For the first time, Florida hit triple digits in annual launches, underscoring how central the Space Coast has become to global launch cadence. WUSF+1

18) Blue Origin’s New Glenn reaches orbit on its first flight
New Glenn’s debut successfully achieved orbit, marking a milestone for Blue Origin’s entry into orbital-class launches from Florida. Blue Origin+1

19) New Glenn’s second flight carries NASA’s ESCAPADE mission and lands the booster
Blue Origin flew a major NASA science payload toward Mars and notched a key reusability milestone with a successful booster recovery at sea. AP News+2Reuters+2

20) FAA briefly grounds traffic at major Florida airports after a Starship breakup
A SpaceX test-flight failure prompted temporary ground stops at multiple Florida airports due to debris concerns, showing how intertwined space activity and aviation have become. Politico

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