Good Morning! On this day in 1986, tennis legend Jimmy Connors was given a 10-week suspension and a $20,000 fine after he stormed off the court against Ivan Lendl a month earlier at the Lipton Tournament in Boca Raton.
On Sunday, a man was pulled over on I-4 after several callers reported a pickup truck carrying two missiles, prompting a bomb squad response. The driver explained that the missiles were made of plastic and were only for show. Have you seen anything strange on the highway lately? Hit reply to tell us about it.
March 2026 has brought severe weather from coast to coast. In just three weeks, the U.S. has seen record-breaking snow in the Upper Midwest, 161 reported tornadoes, and catastrophic flooding and winds topping 100 mph in Hawaii. Is La Niña fueling the surge, and what’s ahead this week? Tune in to today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, where host Ayla Brown breaks it all down.
Are you getting everything you can from Amazon Prime? Watch your inbox later today for a message from our partner Brad’s Deals with nine perks you may be missing.
Today’s sponsor, Green Coffee Company, is turning explosive growth, major retail expansion, and exclusive Juan Valdez® North American rights into a bold push toward becoming a pre-IPO force in the $100 billion U.S. coffee market.
Daytona Beach ⚡76/65° | Fort Myers ☀️ 85/62° | Jacksonville ☁️ 67/60° | Key West ☀️ 76/70° | Miami ☀️ 81/65° | Ocala 🌥️ 78/62° | Orlando ⛈️ 84/65° | Pensacola 🌤️ 77/61° | Port St. Lucie ☀️ 84/61° | Tallahassee ☁️ 78/55° | Tampa 🌤️ 83/64°
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Career Criminals Face Tougher Prosecution
Attorney General James Uthmeier urged tougher prosecutions of repeat offenders at a press conference in Milton on Monday.
Speaking at the Florida Department of Corrections’ Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, Uthmeier announced an 81-year prison sentence for Mario Crawford, who used drones to drop contraband into state prisons.
Crawford allegedly orchestrated the drone operation to smuggle in over $1.5 million worth of contraband and had been convicted of 49 prior crimes.
Since taking office in February 2025, Uthmeier has consistently advocated for tougher law-and-order policies focused on repeat offenders and organized criminal enterprises.
Elections in Hillsborough, Palm Beach Counties
Special elections will be held today for Florida’s state Senate District 14, as well as state House Districts 51 and 87.
Republican State Rep. Josie Tomkow and Democrat Brian Nathan are facing off for District 14’s state Senate seat, covering parts of Hillsborough County, including South Tampa, Carrollwood, and Westchase. The seat has been vacant since Lieutenant Gov. Jay Collins was appointed last summer.
Republican Hilary Holley and Democrat Edwin Perez are running to replace Josie Tomkow in Florida House District 51. The House seat in District 87 became available after DeSantis appointed former state Rep. Mike Caruso as the Palm Beach County clerkof the circuit court and comptroller.
Over $1 million in cash and in-kind support poured into the Palm Beach County election for District 87, a seat Republicans are working to hold. Democrat Emily Gregory’s fundraising surge helped narrow the gap against Republican Jon Maples.
Report: Florida’s Economic Outlook
Florida’s economy has been booming in recent years, but it may continue at a slower pace, according to the latest economic outlook forecast through 2035 from Florida TaxWatch.
The report on the third quarter of 2025 found that Florida’s economy reached $1.85 trillion in GDP, making it the top state in the nation for economic growth. Researchers, however, said that the economic momentum of recent years is not sustainable.
“Overall, Florida’s economy is now set to return to pre-pandemic growth rates over the next five years, after experiencing high economic growth in the past three years,” Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp said.
The report projects that Florida’s GDP growth rate in 2026 will be 2.7%, but estimates that it will drop to 1.9% by 2035. Those numbers, the report notes, also suggest that inflation may decrease slightly in the coming years.
Flying together with our sponsor
An IPO Is Brewing in the $100B U.S. Coffee Industry
In the world of high-growth commodities, there are moments that signal a shift from regional producer to global powerhouse.
As Colombia’s No. 1 coffee producer, they’re now unlocking access to the $100 billion U.S. coffee market. How? Acquiring exclusive North American distribution rights to the legendary Juan Valdez® brand. This is a key milestone on the way to their targeted 2027 IPO.
Their vertically-integrated coffee supply chain has already:
Reached 1,000+ retail doors, including Target and Harris Teeter
➤ Statewide: The new Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics from the State University System’s Board of Governors was scheduled to meet for the first time on Monday to establish goals and review potential pending action from the federal government. (More)
➤ Central Florida: The Southeastern Food Bank in Ocoee is preparing to deliver 60,000 pounds of food to 1,000 families in Ocoee, Winter Garden, West Orlando, Apopka, and parts of East Lake County on April 4. (More)
➤Volusia County: Radio host David William Poore, known to the Melbourne community in Brevard County as radio DJ “Super Dave,” was arrested as part of a race week undercover sting known as Operation Last Lap for crimes against minors. (More)
➤Orange County: A $560 million expansion has begun at the county’s convention center and will continue through 2029. The project will add 650,000 square feet of additional space, including a 100,000-square-foot ballroom. (More)
➤Tampa: A playground has been renamed to Harrison Boonstoppel All Abilities Playground to honor one of the two people who were killed during a 2023 shooting in Ybor City. (More)
➤Marion County: Fire Station 20 held a public blessing ceremony for its new baby box on Monday, marking the 421st baby box location in the nation and the 12th in Florida. (More)
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➤ Atlético Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann is signing with Orlando City, further adding to the wealth of international soccer talent in the state. (More)
➤ No. 5 Florida softball beat No. 1 Tennessee this weekend, dealing the top-ranked team their first series loss of the season. (More)
➤No. 3 Florida women’s gymnastics narrowly edged out No. 1-ranked Oklahoma to win the 2026 SEC championship title this weekend. (More)
➤ Inter Miami doesn’t intend on resting Argentine superstar Lionel Messi ahead of the 2026 World Cup: “Quite frankly, without him, it would be impossible for us to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.” (More)
➤ Struggling to hear conversations clearly?The Audien Atom 2 offers an affordable, easy-to-use solution designed to enhance sound and reduce background noise. With multiple listening modes, a nearly invisible fit, and all-day battery life, it helps you stay connected and confident—without the high cost of traditional hearing devices. (LEARN MORE)
➤ NASA’s milestone Artemis II moon launch from the Kennedy Space Center may draw 400,000 visitors to the Space Coast, generating $160 million in economic impact for Brevard County. (More)
➤Empath Health has opened a new Dementia Education and Care Center in Ocala, offering resources and support for families and caregivers. (More)
➤High school students in Orange, Lake, and Sumter counties are learning about careers with hands-on lessons at Orlando hotels, resorts, and theme parks thanks to a partnership between CareerSource Central Florida and Rosen Hotels & Resorts. (More)
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Green Coffee Company controls its entire coffee-making process from seed to sale. As Colombia’s #1 producer, they’ve seen revenue grow from $1M to $37M since 2021.
Now, they have exclusive U.S. rights to the legendary Juan Valdez® brand, and they’re reigniting it in the U.S. coffee market. We’re now in the final days to become a pre-IPO investor in Green Coffee Company.*
This is a paid advertisement for Green Coffee Company’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.greencoffeecompany.com/. Timelines are subject to change. Listing on the NASDAQ is contingent upon necessary approvals, and reserving a ticker symbol does not guarantee a company’s public listing.
➤ On Wednesday, all 251 Jersey Mike’s locations in Florida will donate 100% of the day’s sales to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and Special Olympics Florida. (More)
➤ The 44th annual Palm Beach International Boat Show opens on Wednesday and runs through Sunday along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. Billed as America’s Favorite Boat Show, the event brings over $1 billion of inventory to the waterfront. (See Guide)
➤ Universal Orlando announced new details about this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, including the theme, Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, which will transform the theme park into a decrepit, fear‑fueled carnival. (See Video)
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➤ Tired of relying on ibuprofen for inflammation?New research highlights a natural compound found in everyday foods that works along similar pathways—without being just a temporary fix. Some doctors are even rethinking their recommendations. Discover this alternative approach to supporting your body and managing inflammation more effectively. (Learn More)
Have you ever watched a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center in person?
Career Criminals Face Tougher Prosecution
