Good Morning! On this day in 1936, Panama City Beach was incorporated in Bay County. After the St. Andrews Bay Bridge was built in 1929, it became a viable tourism destination.
A bill protecting state parks from development returned to the House as lawmakers struggled to agree on a state budget, pushing the legislative session beyond today’s deadline.
Did you know that the team that makesFlyover Florida also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, be sure to check out today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals, with nine Prime perks you may be missing out on.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 82/67° | Ft. Myers 🌤️ 89/67° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 87/67° | Key West 🌤️ 82/76° | Miami 🌤️ 81/74° | Ocala 🌤️ 89/65° | Orlando 🌤️ 87/69° | Pensacola 🌤️ 81/70° | Port St. Lucie 🌦️ 82/68° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 88/63° | Tampa 🌤️ 90/69°
Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.
Operation Tidal Wave Results
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a press conference with ICE officials at the ICE-ERO Center in Miramar to announce the results of Operation Tidal Wave, an immigration enforcement initiative.
The multi-agency surge resulted in more than 1,100 arrests in one week—the highest number in Florida’s history. The effort, described as the first of its kind, involved 287 officers and more than 250 members of the Florida National Guard assisting federal partners, including ICE.
Among those arrested were a Brazilian national with a history of aggravated assault, a Mexican national whose record includes kidnapping, and Colombian nationals convicted of murder.
Meanwhile, Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office has appealed a federal judge’s preliminary injunction against a new Florida law that creates state crimes for undocumented immigrants who enter or re-enter the state.
Trooper’s Law Protects Pets During Disasters
A bill inspired by a Bull Terrier named Trooper—the dog abandoned during Hurricane Milton and rescued by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper—awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature for final approval.
The measure, which passed unanimously in the Senate last month, makes it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a natural disaster—punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Trooper was found tied to a fence in belly-high water along I-75 near Pebble Creek. He was welcomed into a new forever home last December when the Spina family adopted him. If signed into law, the measure will take effect on Oct. 1.
Best Restrooms in Florida
Cintas, a restroom products supplier, released its annual list of the best restrooms in the country based on a public vote on its website. No Florida spots made this year’s list, but several Sunshine State locations have been honored previously.
Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Company in Melbourne was a runner-up on the 2023 America’s Best Restroom Award list, thanks to its unique lavatorial offerings. You can see a picture here.
On 2022’s list, Tampa International Airport won the top award for its Airside C washrooms, praised for their high design, spaciousness, quality, and craftsmanship.
If you’re traveling through Utah and need a rest stop, this year’s top prize went to the Maverik gas station and convenience store in Salt Lake City.
Sometimes we’d have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed. Then one day, out of the heavens, came Amazon. For many of us, free shipping and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Prime.
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➤Tallahassee: Lawmakers gave final approval to a bill reforming a condominium safety law passed in 2022 after the Surfside collapse, aimed at reducing the fees and costs shouldered by residents. (See Details)
➤ Loxahatchee: A 22-year-old man was arrested by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for making seven mass shooting threats on TikTok. He was also reportedly communicating with the teen responsible for the December school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin. (More)
➤St. Petersburg: According to a new report, at least 10 possible graves have been identified on the Tropicana Field property, potentially changing the city council’s redevelopment plans. (More)
➤Clearwater: The family of the man who died in a ferry boat crash on Sunday wants to know why no charges were filed against Jeff Knight, the captain of the boat that slammed into the ferry. (More)
➤Broward County: A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed in a Dillard High School student, prompting doctors to urge caution and recommend that students wear masks. (More)
➤ Former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis announced his medical retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. The decision is related to a leg injury Travis suffered with the Seminoles in 2023. (More)
➤ Swimmer Katie Ledeckyrecorded the second-fastest 1500m freestyle time in women’s swimming history at a swim meet in Fort Lauderdale. Second place finished 39 seconds behind Ledecky. (More)
➤The Miami Dolphins announced that the team will wear throwback uniforms for the 2025 season as part of a division-wide jersey partnership with Nike. (More)
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➤ Trump Media & Technology Group, President Donald Trump’s media company, has finalized its reincorporation in Florida after previously being headquartered in Delaware. (More)
➤Mayo Clinic wants to build out two floors at its South Jacksonville campus, seeking a permit for the nearly $19 million project. (More)
➤ A Volusia County woman is suing Roblox and Discord, alleging she was victimized by an online predator on the platforms when she was a child. (More)
➤Soccer Club FC Barcelona is moving its commercial operations in the U.S. from New York to Downtown Miami after receiving a business incentive grant from the Miami Downtown Development Authority. (More)
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➤ Jacksonville’s Golden Edge Sweets virtual bakery, founded by Chef Jeff Warren, delivers its treats to customers’ doorsteps nationwide. Florida’s cottage food law allows Warren to operate from home without a commercial kitchen. (More)
➤An American Bald Eagle family has returned to Honeymoon Island State Park, building a nursery in an undeveloped forest just off the Dunedin Causeway. (Watch Video)
➤A Little Palm Island photographer captured a surprise wedding crasher when an endangered Key Deer joined the party. (See Photos)
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