Jacksonville Hosts Inaugural Ironman Triathlon

Jacksonville hosted its first-ever Ironman triathlon on Saturday, bringing nearly 2,000 athletes from around the world for one of the most demanding endurance events in sports. The event was expected to have a $5.2 million impact on the local economy.

The race is part of a multi-year agreement to keep the city on the circuit, joining Panama City Beach and Haines City as Florida Ironman locations. Organizers reported that participants spent up to 17 hours completing the grueling 140.6-mile challenge.

The competition began with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike course. Competitors finished with a full 26.2-mile marathon. Jennifer Sylva of Jacksonville was the first woman to finish, with a total time of 9 hours, 42 minutes, and 14 seconds. Here are the top finishers.

Race officials and local agencies implemented extensive safety and security measures, including river restrictions. Road closures affected numerous areas across parts of St. Johns County for much of the day, leading to delays and congestion for residents.

New Disaster Command Center Ready

Florida completed a new $180 million State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee that will serve as the headquarters for the Florida Division of Emergency Management as the state prepares for future hurricanes and large-scale disasters.

Officials unveiled the new facility in February, ahead of hurricane season, describing it as an investment in emergency response capabilities. The building replaces an aging center built after Hurricane Andrew, which was no longer meeting the demands of severe weather.

Built to endure winds up to 200 mph, the building exceeds the protections provided by the previous center, which was designed for Category 3 hurricane conditions and sometimes required contingency plans for powerful storms in Tallahassee.

At 208,400 square feet, the new facility is larger than its predecessor, providing more than twice the operational space. The design includes upgraded technology, such as a 95-by-13-foot video wall for live weather monitoring, mapping, and tracking.

Land O’ Lakes Named Hottest U.S. Neighborhood

Land O’ Lakes in Pasco County has been named the hottest housing neighborhood in the U.S. in a report from online real estate company Redfin. Plant City in Hillsborough County came in second.

The report ranked ZIP codes within the 100 most populous metro areas based on year-over-year growth in listing views, revealing where buyers are focusing their attention. Redfin said home shoppers are seeking out affordable areas that still offer access to major metropolitan job centers and amenities.

Pasco County has remained one of the state’s fastest-growing areas because of its proximity to Tampa, expanding residential development, and comparatively lower costs than some neighboring communities.

Redfin housing data shows that Land O’ Lakes’ median home sale price reached about $425,000 earlier this year, while homes typically spent around 2 months on the market.

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➤ Jacksonville: State Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat, was arrested Friday by Capitol Police after staging a five-hour sit-in outside Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office to protest redistricting and affordability. (More)

➤ Orlando: The release of the Royal Pop brand of Swatch watches at The Mall at Millenia caused a large crowd to form, forcing the store to close early due to concerns about crowd control. (More)

➤ Wakulla County: The Florida Redfish Series championships were held in Panacea for the first time this past weekend, bringing anglers from across the state to Woolley Park. Organizers said the tournament would generate over $200,000 for the local economy. (More)

➤ Boca Raton: The city council voted to convert the Holiday Inn & Suites near I-95 and Yamato Road into housing and a restaurant, making the 183 hotel rooms into 125 apartments, with 13 affordable units and seven workforce units. (More)

➤ Kissimmee: Skate Reflections, a roller rink, was on high alert after news of a planned “teen takeover” spread on social media. Police and security were on hand to prevent any trouble. (More)

➤ Wellington: Luxe Senior Living is closing, leaving residents and families weeks to move out of the facility before it ceases operations on June 4. In an April 20 letter, renovations were cited as a reason for the closure. (More)

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➤ Florida baseball earned the No. 5 seed in the SEC baseball tournament bracket released Saturday. In the ACC, Florida State secured the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, while Miami landed the No. 5 seed. (More)

➤ Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz homered as the Rays beat the Marlins 6-3 on Sunday in St. Petersburg, winning two of three during MLB Rivalry Weekend. Tampa Bay has won 18 of its last 22 games. (More)

➤No. 6 seed Florida advanced to the NCAA softball Super Regionals with a 5-2 win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. Elsewhere, No. 5 seed Arkansas eliminated South Florida 10-2 in six innings, and UCF earned its way to the Super Regionals by knocking out No. 9 seed Florida State 4-2 in an elimination game. (See Scores)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer | PGA Championship | NASCAR

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➤ Buc-ee’s has planned 16 new stores across the U.S., with four coming to Florida, including Fort Pierce in 2027, Ocala in 2029, Tallahassee, and Port Charlotte. (More)

➤ First United Methodist Church of Orlando is seeking redevelopment proposals in order to use its historic city-block campus to serve the community better. (More)

➤ PopUp Bagels, known for its simple menu and grip, rip, and dip technique, is opening two more Florida locations with dozens more expected. The Winter Park store opens on May 29, while the Rockledge store opens on June 5. (More)

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➤ A man found a fanny pack with over $30,000 inside at a Wawa convenience store in Riviera Beach and returned it to its rightful owner. (More)

➤ Florida’s annual lovebug season, which typically emerges during the late spring and fall, has seen reduced numbers of the insects this year, largely attributed to the state’s dry conditions. (More)

➤ Florida wildlife officials banned the import of sloths until July 10 as they revamp the state’s exotic animal permit rules after 55 sloths died at Sloth World in Orlando since December 2024. (More)

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Do you wear a watch?

1. Yes
2. Sometimes
3. No

Sunday’s Results:

How many Florida hurricane seasons have you been through?

1. Too many to count: 30%
2. 6-20: 26%
3. 1-5: 20%
4. 21-30: 16%
5. None: 8%

What Florida lawmaker was known as the Lion of St. Johns?

Show me the answer