Friday, May 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1931, George End of Arcadia began selling canned diamondback rattlesnake meat, one of Florida’s most unusual pantry staples, until End died from a snakebite in 1943.

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that means remembering those who served, perhaps traveling to visit family and friends, and of course, enjoying some kind of cookout. Everyone has their favorite main course, so let us know whether you prefer ribs, dogs, burgers, or something else by taking our Poll below.

The Democratic National Committee just released its long-buried 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election. What went wrong? Who was to blame for their losses? While the report assigns blame across the board, it leaves some of the biggest questions still unanswered. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown shares the 5 biggest revelations from the report, what it quietly leaves out, and how both sides are reacting. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, RAD Intel, is drawing attention for its explosive growth and AI-powered marketing platform, already being used by Fortune 1000 brands to predict campaign performance before ad dollars are spent.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

NOAA Forecasts Lighter Hurricane Season

NOAA unveiled its 2026 hurricane outlook Thursday from the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, predicting a below-average season with 8–14 named storms, 3–6 hurricanes, and 1–3 major Category 3+ storms.

A developing El Niño is expected to suppress Atlantic storm activity, but forecasters warned that a below-average forecast offers no guarantee, and that even a quiet season can produce a catastrophic storm.

Officials from NOAA’s National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center led Thursday’s news conference in Lakeland, highlighting new forecasting tools, including its new updated cone of uncertainty graphic, aimed at helping residents better visualize a storm’s potential track.

State Redistricting Map Draws Legal Fire

Florida’s congressional redistricting fight took a strange legal turn after Gov. DeSantis’s map-drawer admitted to the Legislature that he used partisan data to draw the districts, adding four GOP-leaning seats.

The Plaintiffs argue this violates the Fair Districts amendments, which voters approved with 63% support in 2010 to bar partisan gerrymandering. DeSantis’s legal team counters that those provisions are themselves now unconstitutional after recent Supreme Court rulings, meaning they weren’t required to comply.

Tallahassee judge Joshua Hawkes heard arguments this month and will rule on a temporary injunction before the 2026 midterms.

DeSantis Weighs Special Session on Property Tax Cuts

Governor Ron DeSantis says Florida lawmakers could be called into a third special session in July to place a homestead property tax amendment on the November ballot before his term ends.

The push comes after a bruising spring session that ended without action on different property tax bills. DeSantis says once lawmakers finalize the state budget, the effort to cut property taxes will take “center stage.”

Only primary homesteads would see relief under the proposal; commercial and investment properties, representing roughly 70% of property tax revenue, would stay taxed as-is. Any amendment approved by lawmakers would still need 60% voter approval in November to take effect.

Critics warn the tax cuts could gut funding for schools, fire departments, and law enforcement. DeSantis argues state surpluses can backfill smaller counties, and his DOGE audit task force is already scrutinizing local spending for room to cut.

Help Us Test Flyover Updates

Several days ago, we announced something new coming to The Flyover: Flyover Updates, a quick afternoon message with the top breaking stories of the day, delivered straight to your phone while the news is still happening.

The response so far has been encouraging.

Before we officially launch in June, we’re inviting Flyover Florida readers to help test the experience and give us feedback.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A simple afternoon text message
• The biggest developing stories you haven’t seen yet
• No apps, clutter, or endless notifications
• The same straightforward Flyover reporting you already trust

A lot happens between this morning’s edition and tomorrow’s. Flyover Updates is designed to help you stay informed without spending all day chasing headlines.

If you’d like to be part of our early test group, sign up here.

We’d love to have you help shape what Flyover Updates becomes before the full launch.

Thank you for reading Flyover Florida and being part of what we’re building.

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This AI Company Has F1000 Traction and 5400% Growth

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RAD Intel is already operating with real traction.

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That traction is already showing up in the business. RAD Intel doubled sales in 2025, secured recurring 7-figure enterprise contracts, and reported 3.5x ROI across campaigns with Fortune 1000 brands and agencies. Over the past five years, the company has delivered 5,400%+ valuation growth, raised $85M+ from 24,000+ investors, been selected by the Adobe Design Fund, and has backing from multiple institutional funds.*

Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI. Shares are currently available at $0.95, with the offering 95% allocated.

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➤ Tallahassee: The Florida Chamber of Commerce released its 2026 Legislative Report Card, grading all 156 state lawmakers on business advocacy—35 received perfect 100% scores. More grades may follow after a special session. (More)

➤ University of Florida interim president Donald Landry is set to receive a $2 million payout as part of an unusual contract provision entitling him to severance pay if he didn’t get the permanent job. (More)

➤ Tampa: A Hillsborough County middle school art teacher was fired and reported to the state after a viral video showed her hanging a black baby doll by a cord in her classroom as a display. (More)

➤ Orlando: UCF graduates booed their commencement speaker when she declared AI “the next Industrial Revolution,” a viral moment that reignited national debate over AI and job security among young workers. (More)

➤ Broward County: The state carried out its seventh execution of 2026 on Thursday, putting Richard Knight, 47, to death by lethal injection for the 2000 stabbing murders of a woman and her 4-year-old daughter. (More)

➤ Stuart: A Martin County man says Florida’s public sleeping ban has left him nowhere legal to rest. Rather than break the law every night, he’s begun calling on local leaders for relief. (More)

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➤ Hillsborough County commissioners approved nearly $1 billion in public funding toward a new indoor stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, though more approvals are needed. They’re targeting an opening in 2029. (More)

➤ Florida hosts Texas Tech today in the softball super regionals in Gainesville, while UCF opens their series against No. 8 UCLA tonight at 9 p.m. (See Schedule)

➤ Meanwhile, Florida State baseball opens ACC tournament play tonight in Charlotte as the No. 3 seed. (See Schedule)

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➤ Florida homeowners’ insurance premiums surged 75% between 2021 and 2025, far outpacing the national average and straining budgets across the state. (More)

➤ The owner of Fritz & Franz Bierhaus, a longtime Coral Gables restaurant staple, says he’s pulling up stakes and leaving the city following a dispute with local officials. (More)

➤ Rural Florida tourism communities are seeing steep visitor drops in 2026 as trade tensions and inflation weigh on travel budgets. Local officials are pivoting strategies to attract regional day-trippers rather than out-of-state visitors. (More)

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RAD Intel Shares Are Available at $0.95

RAD Intel shares are currently available at $0.95 through an SEC-qualified offering, but the current window is closing.

The round is now 95% allocated as investor demand continues rising. Support now includes operators from Google, Meta, and Amazon as the company expands its AI platform across Fortune 1000 brands, agencies, and enterprise workflows. Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI.

Learn more before the $0.95 pricing window closes soon.

This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company’s Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker “RADI” has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.

➤ Cape Canaveral: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched 29 Starlink satellites Thursday at 6:04am, leaving a jellyfish-shaped cloud visible across Florida and the Southeast—quickly going viral on social media. (See Photo)

➤ Florida: Scientists warn 2026 is on track to be a record sargassum year, with a massive Atlantic seaweed belt heading toward Florida beaches just as summer tourism season hits peak. (More)

➤ Panama City Beach: St. Andrews State Park ranked #2 on Dr. Beach’s 2026 top 10 U.S. beaches list. Caladesi Island and Delnor-Wiggins Pass also cracked the top 10, three Florida beaches total. (More)

➤ Orlando: Disney Hollywood Studios’ new Walt Disney Studios Lot quietly soft-opened early Wednesday—the courtyard and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! debuted days ahead of the official May 26 launch. (More)

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