Lawmakers Return for Budget Special Session

Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee today for a two-week special session to pass the state budget after failing to pass one before the end of the regular session. Lawmakers have a July 1 deadline to avoid a government shutdown in the state.

The delay stems from disagreements among the House, the Senate, and Gov. Ron DeSantis over spending priorities, as well as political tensions among legislative leaders. The Senate earlier approved a proposed $115 billion budget, while the House backed a smaller $113.6 billion plan.

House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton later reached a tentative agreement on about $51.98 billion in general revenue spending for areas including education, health care, and criminal justice.

Key disputes remain unresolved, including tax cuts, education funding, and Everglades restoration, which DeSantis and Senate leaders have continued to prioritize.

Uthmeier Calls Surrogacy Modern-Day Slavery

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is pushing to intervene in a Broward County surrogacy case that could have far-reaching consequences for reproductive law in Florida.

The case began last August when two married men from France petitioned for early parental rights involving a child being carried by a Florida surrogate. Broward County Judge Marlon Weiss approved the request but also wrote that surrogacy itself may be unconstitutional if unborn children are considered legal persons.

After the child was born, Uthmeier’s office argued that surrogacy violates the 13th Amendment’s prohibition on slavery. In a statement provided to reporters, deputy press secretary Isabel Kilman said the attorney general believes surrogacy companies can profit from “the sale of children,” calling the practice “modern-day slavery.”

Uthmeier also claimed on social media that surrogacy poses risks involving foreign nationals and registered sex offenders obtaining children through surrogacy arrangements. Public filings have not accused the French couple involved in the case of wrongdoing.

Qatari Leader Meets White House Officials in Miami

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani departed Miami on Sunday morning, where he had discussed efforts to end the war in Iran with several White House officials.

In a statement, Al-Thani said he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Al-Thani also met one-on-one with Vice President JD Vance in Washington, D.C., on Friday, with no aides present.

The discussions centered on regional security, defense cooperation, and mediation efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East. The Qatari leader “expressed the need for all parties to respond to the ongoing mediation efforts.”

Qatar has reportedly been quietly operating as a go-between in efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire with Tehran, while allowing Pakistan to play the main mediating role.

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➤ Port Canaveral: The Caribbean Princess cruise ship, which docked today, has reported at least 115 people sick with norovirus. The ship concluded a 13-day cruise that originated in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, on April 28. (More)

➤ Clermont: After months of discussions with Lake County leaders about lagging EMS response times, the city is considering establishing its own independent ambulance service. (More)

➤ Fort Myers: A proposed multiuse sports complex in Midtown at the site of the old City of Palms Park would be a socioeconomic boon for the city, according to an independent study by Points Consulting. (More)

➤ Orlando: The Rolling Loud Music Festival, a three-day hip-hop event that took place May 8-10, is expected to have had a $200 million impact on the city’s economy. (More)

➤ Kissimmee: After 31 drowning-related calls in Osceola County in 2025, first responders are partnering with Experience Kissimmee to prevent pediatric drownings by offering the ABCs of water safety to visitors. (More)

➤ West Palm Beach: The Miss America Organization announced that its historic pageant will move to the city for the first time, running from Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, with events hosted downtown. (More)

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➤ Six Florida teams qualified for the NCAA softball tournament: Florida, Florida A&M, Stetson, Florida State, South Florida, and UCF. As top seeds, both Florida and Florida State will host regionals this weekend. (More)

➤ Santaluces High School football coach Hector Clavijo has been suspended for accepting $7,000 from a player to serve as his unlicensed NIL agent. (More)

➤ The Miami Heat will pick 13th in the 2026 NBA draft following the draft lottery this weekend. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ The Tampa Bay Rays opened a cashier-less concession store at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out artificial intelligence technology. The autonomous store allows fans to shop without stopping at a traditional counter. (More)

➤ Delano Miami Beach hotel, which was built in 1947 and has reopened after a $100 million renovation, is now home to two internationally known restaurants: the Mediterranean Gigi Rigolatto and the Japanese-inspired Mimi Kakushi. (More)

➤ A hospital safety report released by a nonprofit watchdog group gave 81 of 191 participating Florida hospitals an “A” rating, boosting the state’s overall hospital safety ranking from No. 15 in the nation last fall to No. 7. (More)

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➤ Hope Place in Daytona Beach turned donations from the community into a special Mother’s Day shopping experience for mothers living at the emergency shelter. (More)

➤ Applications for the Statewide Alligator Harvest Program and the Alligator Super Hunt are being accepted through May 18 and June 8, respectively. Winners will be selected randomly. (See Details)

➤ Six Palm Beach County restaurants are featured in this season of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, which kicked off on April 10 on the Food Network. Next up is Tropical Smokehouse, a Florida-meets-Caribbean barbecue spot in West Palm Beach featuring brisket and gator sausage, airing on May 22. (See List)

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Would you stop to photograph a tornado?

1. Yes
2. I have
3. If already safe
4. No way

Monday’s Results:

Have you ever driven a jet ski?

1. Yes: 55%
2. No: 45%

Where in Florida did the “first Presley riot” happen?

Show me the answer