Good Morning! On this day in 1985, a new state law prompted the launch of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Water Patrol, created to maintain the safety of the waterways.
After a “super soaker” weekend and a flood-watch Monday across much of the state, sunshine returns today.
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Daytona Beach 🌤️ 86/67° | Ft. Myers ☀️ 87/68° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 85/66° | Key West 🌤️ 83/76° | Miami 🌤️ 84/71° | Ocala 🌤️ 84/66° | Orlando 🌤️ 88/69° | Pensacola 🌤️ 81/71° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 87/67° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 84/64° | Tampa 🌤️ 84/71°
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Volusia County Expands Dangerous Dog Law
Volusia County now requires the owners of “dangerous dogs” to carry five times the amount of liability insurance than what is mandated statewide by a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 1.
State law requires that owners obtain $100,000 in liability insurance. Following an investigation by Volusia County Animal Services, the county council approved an ordinance requiring a minimum of $500,000 in liability coverage for owners of dangerous dogs.
The move comes after two dogs attacked and killed an 8-year-old boy in DeLand last January.
Once a dog is officially classified as dangerous based on behavior, the owner must obtain a registration certificate, ensure secure confinement, post warning signage, provide permanent identification, and maintain the required liability insurance.
Cross Bay Ferry Service May Return
Pinellas County transportation officials plan to purchase up to two high-speed vessels for an enhanced ferry service between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The county would lease the vessels to a private company for operation.
The Cross Bay Ferry took its final voyage earlier this month, ending the popular Tampa Bay area commuter service that shuttled 72,000 passengers last year.
Hillsborough County commissioners voted to end the ferry contract six months early after the operator announced plans to replace the existing high-speed boat with a slower one, doubling crossing time.
An unused $4.86 million federal grant, set to expire soon, will fund the new ferry purchases. Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, said owning the vessels would reduce hourly operating costs by hundreds of dollars.
Culinary Students Take 4th in National Competition
Wekiva High School students from Apopka placed fourth in restaurant management at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore after impressing judges with their Mexican restaurant concept, Sabor.
More than 400 of the nation’s best culinary and restaurant management students on 96 teams from 47 states and the District of Columbia competed for top billing and their share of $200,000 in scholarships. The Apopka team earned up to $23,000 each.
The Wekiva students advanced after winning Florida’s ProStart competition in March, as well as Florida’s Banana Split Showdown in April.
Strawberry Crest High from Dover also advanced to the National ProStart and placed 12th with a sophisticated three-course meal.
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➤Holmes County: A state of emergency was declared late Sunday as thousands were without power after a tornado swept through the Panhandle on Saturday. (More)
➤Largo:Miami Hurricanes player Adarius Hayes was injured in a crash over the weekend that killed three people, including two children. (More)
➤Pasco County: Three teenagers are accused of kidnapping a man at gunpoint, driving him to a remote desert area an hour outside of Las Vegas, and stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and other digital assets. (More)
➤Walton County: An inmate charged with the murder of his mother and brother in 2024 was found dead in his cell with objects blocking his airway, prompting an investigation. (More)
➤Naples: The Revs Institute auto museum was ranked No. 3 in a USA Today list of the 10 best auto museums in the country. (See List)
➤Ocoee: The city celebrated its 100th anniversary with an evening of music, food, and family fun at Bill Breeze Park. (See Photos)
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➤ The state of Florida has six schools competing in the NCAA postseason softball tournament, the most of any state in the nation. (More)
➤ Two legendary Florida hockey players were named to the NHL’s Quarter-Century Team this weekend: former Lightning center Steven Stamkos and former Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo. (More)
➤Red hot Florida baseball took down No. 1 ranked Texas this weekend in a tight 2-1 series. The Gators have now won five straight SEC series and are headed into their final matchup with Alabama this weekend. (More)
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➤ Tampa-based FlyUSA acquired TRYP Air Charter, which offers flights from Lakeland Linder International Airport, making FlyUSA the largest combined turboprop and light jet fleet operator in Florida. (More)
➤Kind Designs, the Miami startup developing 3D-printed living seawalls, closed a $5 million Seed 1 round. The deal values the company at $30 million and includes a follow-on investment from Mark Cuban. (More)
➤Estero-based rental car agency Hertz has been hit with class-action lawsuits over a data breach that exposed its customers’ information to cybercriminals. (More)
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➤ A large waterspout was spotted roaring ashore along Pensacola Beach’s coast on Saturday. (WatchVideo)
➤ A Tampa General Hospital study of a cancer treatment called HIPEC, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, is showing promising results in treating women with metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer. (More)
➤ A Taylor Swift laser show is coming to the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa on May 15 at the new Saunders Planetarium & Digital Dome Theatre. (More)