The Ledger

Allegiant Air is adding nearly 30 new and returning seasonal flights to Florida airports. Punta Gorda Airport will see six returning seasonal routes and one new route from Allegiant. The new and returning flights from Punta Gorda include destinations in New Jersey, Maine, and New York. Other airlines like American, Delta, and Southwest are also expanding their flight services in Florida.

Authorities said a search and rescue operation is underway in the waters off Cancun. The ship left Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, July 11. July 13, 2026, 1:03 p.m. ET A Princess Cruises crew member went missing from the Regal Princess ship. An active search and rescue operation was underway in the waters off Cancun. The ship, which departed from Port Everglades, canceled its planned stop in Cancun.

"Operation Southern Slow Down," an initiative intended to reduce "speed-related crashes and fatalities on interstates and state highways" begins today. That means an increased law enforcement presence along Florida's roadways. This year, the initiative will run from July 13 through July 18.

Lakeland Ledger Updated July 13, 2026, 12:40 p.m. ET For the second time in four days, a deputy-involved shooting has taken place in Auburndale. The Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the shooting happened the morning of July 13 on Fowler Avenue in the Sun Acres neighborhood of west Auburndale, off K-Ville Avenue just east of the Polk Parkway.

The end of summer can be measured in several ways, including culturally, meteorologically and astronomically. Labor Day, considered the unofficial end of summer by many, falls on the first Monday of September every year. Meteorological summer ends on Aug. 31, while the astronomical end of summer is in September. For Florida students, summer ends when school starts, with most districts returning on Aug. 10, 2026. What you consider the end of the summer season depends on how you measure it.

The boy was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are investigating what led to the shooting. July 13, 2026, 11:39 a.m. ET A 2-year-old boy from Georgia was fatally shot at a residence near Kissimmee, Florida. The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not released details on how the shooting occurred but stated there is no threat to the community. A boy, 2, from Georgia was fatally shot at a Florida residence, authorities said.

Updated July 13, 2026, 11:43 a.m. ET Universal Orlando is offering a new ticket deal for Florida residents. The pass provides unlimited visits to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure through December 16. Florida residents now have a new way to squeeze in more theme park days before the end of the year.

July 13, 2026, 11:25 a.m. ET A section of Haines City's 10th Street North will be closed to traffic through roughly July 18. The city closed a half-mile stretch of 10th Street North at 7 a.m. July 13 for underground wastewater conduit improvement work. The road will be closed to traffic from Patterson Road to Bates Road until the work is completed. The estimated completion of construction is noon on July 18.

July 13, 2026, 11:23 a.m. ET Jonah — the canine subject of a popular video that saw him watching another dog eat a hot dog at a Marlins game — helped drive donations for South Florida rescue dogs via his "dream day." Jonah was treated to a "dream day" at Loan Depot Park in Miami on July 12.

Lakeland Ledger July 13, 2026, 11:08 a.m. ET Haines City is inviting residents to attend an educational town hall to answer questions about a proposed state constitutional amendment that would significantly cut property taxes on homesteaded properties. The amendment, which will appear on the November ballot, would increase the standard homestead exemption from $50,000 to the first $150,000 of assessed value on a home by 2027 and $250,000 by 2028.