Florida Reacts to Iran Strike

President Trump launched joint strikes on Iran with Israel overnight on Saturday, monitoring the situation alongside members of his national security team, from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach County.

Later Saturday, Florida Republicans reacted to the strikes, voicing support for Operation Epic Fury.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said, “The days of the evil Iranian regime chanting ‘Death to America,’ threatening the very existence of our country and our allies, and oppressing its people are over. Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for your strong leadership.“

In addition, some Southern Florida communities are taking extra security precautions in light of increasing Middle Eastern tensions. The Miami-Dade Police Department announced that it was “increasing patrols to ensure the safety of our residents.”

Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, and Sunny Isles Beach police departments had previously announced an increased police presence ahead of the Jewish festival of Purim, which starts Monday.

Measles Cases Continue to Rise

Florida measles cases jumped almost 25% in a week, making it the state with the third most in the country, according to the U.S. Measles Tracker, a dashboard hosted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health reports that measles cases have climbed to 85 across two Gulf Coast counties—83 cases in Collier County and two in Lee County, as the outbreak continues to spread weeks after it was first identified in late January at Ave Maria University.

Despite the rise in cases, students at Ave Maria University say life is returning to normal.

“We had Mass at a different spot, we had events being canceled, but now it’s doing a lot better,” said junior Emma Schweitzer. “We officially got the Masses back in the chapel.”

As of Feb. 21, the total number of cases in the state was 114 across counties including Alachua, Broward, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Pinellas, and St. Johns.

Growth in West Palm Beach

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group unveiled plans for its first standalone residential tower in West Palm Beach’s so-called Billionaire Corridor—an 87-unit, 31-story luxury development slated to open in 2031.

The project rises beside a fast-growing business hub, where Vanderbilt University recently committed $300 million to a new campus and Tenet Healthcare has planned a $3 billion replacement for Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Over the last five years, Palm Beach County has seen the relocation of more than 140 companies, the creation of 13,110 direct jobs and more than $1.12 billion in capital investments, according to the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County.

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➤ Marion County: Residents in Dunnellon filed a class-action lawsuit against the company responsible for a fire that burned approximately 30,000 to 40,000 railroad ties, sending carcinogens into the air. (More)

➤ Palm Bay: Council member Chandler Langevin won a $55,000 settlement after he sued the city, claiming his first amendment rights were violated when he was censured due to controversial social media posts about Indian immigrants. (See Video)

➤ Gainesville: Gainesville Regional Utilities is increasing its electric fuel adjustment charges today to compensate for what it called a “record-breaking winter.” (Details)

➤ Tampa: Tampa International Airport went viral on social media Thursday for a post suggesting a ban on pajamas, which the airport staff now say was a joke. (Details)

➤ Panama City: House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly told donors in Florida that U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Panama City) may be terminally ill. Dunn announced in January that he will not run for re-election to another term. (More)

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➤ Miami Heat guard Norman Powell will miss time due to a groin strain and is considered “week-to-week” moving forward. Powell had averaged a career-high 22.5 points per game so far this season. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays have upgraded premium seating sections at Tropicana Field for the team’s return to the stadium in 2026. The upgrades will be ready before the team’s home opener on April 6 vs. the Chicago Cubs. (More)

➤ Scott McLaughlin won the pole position at the qualifying rounds of the IndyCar season-opening race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, yesterday. The race will begin today at noon. (More)

➤ No. 10 Florida baseball overcame a three-run, first-inning deficit to take down No. 17 Miami in an in-state clash. Sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec put the game out of reach in the ninth with this three-run blast. (See Home Run)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA 

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➤ Wesley Chapel Library in Pasco County debuted its new $11 million facility, featuring a dedicated children’s area, collaborative spaces, an outdoor reading porch, a multi-purpose room for makers, and more. (See Photos)

➤ Two married retirees have spent a decade working concessions side by side for the Atlanta Braves spring training at CoolToday Park in Venice. (See Interview)

➤ Neighborhood app Nextdoor ranked the friendliest cities in Florida, with Lighthouse Point, Key Biscayne, and West Miami taking the top spots. (See List)

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How often do you visit a library?

1. Weekly
2. Monthly
3. Seldomly
4. Never

Saturday’s Results:

Have you ever flown a drone?

1. Yes: 36%
2. No: 64%

Where in Florida can you see alligators, horses, and American buffalo on the same land?

Show me the answer