Aerospace Expansion: Northrop Grumman opened a 300,000-square-foot engineering facility in Melbourne, adding space for 1,200 engineers and 17 secure labs—another signal that Florida is deepening its role in next-gen aircraft work. Urban Mobility & Aviation Infrastructure: Joby Aviation inked an agreement to develop vertiport sites in California, Florida, New York and Texas, aiming to move flying-taxi operations from certification toward early routes. Public Safety Tech: Broward County could be next to deploy campus “Guardian Angel” drones designed to reach shooters quickly, though implementation details are still being worked out. Defense & Training: SOUTHCOM-linked PANAMAX 2026 ramped up multinational drills in Panama focused on protecting the Panama Canal and regional security. Real Estate & Housing Oversight: Florida’s condo inspection system is under scrutiny after a state report found thousands of milestone inspections were never completed and some buildings were flagged unsafe without clear follow-through. Food & Consumer Safety: A vegan coconut fudge sandwich recall in Michigan traces back to a Florida aquafaba powder issue that may have contained undeclared egg. Local Business Resilience: A St. Pete Beach boutique owner is still rebuilding after hurricanes, crediting a stranger’s help for getting her back on her feet. Back-to-School Costs: Florida’s sales tax holiday runs through Aug. 20, covering clothing and key school supplies under set price caps.