Flyover Florida

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1990, Universal Studios Florida opened its doors in Orlando, welcoming guests to a movie-themed park that would become one of the most-visited attractions in the world.

Do you have memories or photos of the Northeast Florida Fair in Jacksonville? The organizers would love to see them. Find out more in Et Cetera.

On Friday, we accidentally paired the wrong trivia question with the previous day’s results. We apologize for the mix-up. The correct question was: Which Florida animal would you stop to photograph? Black bear was the winner with 24% of the votes, followed by dolphin (18%), manatee (16%), sea turtle (16%), alligator (15%), and other (11%).

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla broke down a Social Security shift that quietly took effect this year, one that could permanently shrink your monthly check if you claim at the wrong time. Retirement experts say knowing your exact number before you file could mean the difference of hundreds of dollars a month for the rest of your life. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, United States Tungsten, is highlighting a rare opportunity to invest in a critical mineral essential to industries from aerospace to electronics as the company works to revive domestic tungsten production at a historic North Carolina site.

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.

Supreme Court Takes Up Redistricting Fight

The Florida Supreme Court agreed to expedite the case challenging the state’s newly redrawn congressional map, escalating a legal fight that could reshape multiple U.S. House seats before November.

Voting rights groups filed an emergency request Thursday asking the court to block the map entirely—and the justices’ decision to take it up on an expedited timeline was unexpected. Qualifying for U.S. House seats opens June 8, adding urgency to the ruling’s timeline.

The 24-4 map proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April targets four Democrat incumbents and has been criticized by voting rights advocates as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. A circuit court judge earlier let the map stand.

If the Supreme Court halts the map, Florida’s congressional landscape could be in flux heading into the midterms—an outcome that would carry national implications for control of the U.S. House.

Hurricane Season Quiet but Gulf Models Stir

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season’s first full week closed without a named storm, but forecasters are watching Gulf of America models that hint at possible tropical development in the weeks ahead.

The National Hurricane Center currently shows no developments expected in the next seven days—but rising sea surface temperatures in the Gulf, potentially hitting the 80-degree threshold needed for tropical development, have meteorologists watching closely.

June is historically one of the quietest months for Florida hurricane landfalls: just six June hurricanes have made landfall in Florida since 1851. Peak season is still months away, with August through October carrying the greatest risk.

Floridians are advised to treat this quiet opening week as a window for preparedness, not a signal to relax. Know your evacuation zone, refresh your storm kit, and bookmark nhc.noaa.gov.

Florida Ranks 6th Worst for Babies

A new report ranks Florida sixth-worst in the nation to have a baby.

ConsumerAffairs scored all 50 states on maternal health care access, childbirth affordability, postpartum support, and health outcomes. Only West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia ranked lower.

Eight of the 10 lowest-ranked states were in the South, a regional pattern experts say is driven by structural gaps in care access, hospital closures, and provider shortages that push up maternal death rates nationwide.

Florida has no statewide paid family leave for private-sector workers, leaving new parents on unpaid federal protections. Advocates proposed a 12-week paid leave program for Florida mothers earlier this year, but no legislation has passed.

Flying together with our sponsor

North Carolina’s Moment in the $10 Billion Tungsten Boom

The global tungsten market is surging toward $10 billion by 2030, and a historic site in North Carolina is drawing attention as domestic minerals become a national priority.

Modern industry has no substitute for tungsten. From the precision drills that build cities to the high-heat engines that power flight, it’s the indispensable backbone of global manufacturing:

Automotive: $3T+ market
Electronics: $500B+ market
Aerospace: $800B+ market

With global prices surging 557%, the demand for a domestic source has reached a boiling point.

That’s exactly where United States Tungsten comes in. The company is working toward reopening a domestic recovery and processing facility at the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten-bearing minerals.

The opportunity is here. Lock in up to 23% bonus shares as an early-stage United States Tungsten investor before June 12.

➤ South Florida: Iguanas are staging a comeback months after a February freeze wiped out thousands of the invasive reptiles, as wildlife experts say the population is recovering faster than expected. (Details)

➤ Miami-Dade County: County commissioners are proceeding with an eminent domain action to acquire a PortMiami fuel tank facility on Fisher Island after negotiations with the property owner broke down. (More)

➤ Bradenton: Manatee County commissioners voted Thursday to delay the county’s proposed comprehensive plan after residents packed the chamber with concerns about growth and development. (More)

➤ East Naples: A Florida woman held captive by her ex-boyfriend for three weeks during a cross-country ordeal escaped by leaping from a balcony in California; authorities have taken the man into custody. (More)

➤ Palatka: Two Putnam County Sheriff’s Office marine units were involved in a boat crash near Palatka’s City Dock while returning from assisting with Boaters Skip Day on the St. Johns River. (More)

➤ Statewide: Naples Republican Byron Donalds says a broad donor base is fueling his record fundraising pace as he campaigns for governor in the 2026 race to succeed Ron DeSantis. (More)

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➤ Harry Kane’s first-half stoppage-time header lifted England past New Zealand 1-0 in a World Cup warmup match at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (More)

➤ Florida and Duke will meet in Gainesville on Dec. 1 to headline the SEC-ACC Men’s Basketball Challenge, with Miami and the Gators squaring off the following day in the women’s edition of the event. (See Schedule)

➤ Tampa Bay Lightning veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his second Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best goaltender. Vasilevskiy paced the league with 39 wins while posting a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. (More)

➤ Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said that contract extension negotiations “are not anywhere close to what we were thinking” and that it’s “time to get something done long-term.” (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your daily routine with the Sonic Glow Toothbrush, a powerful electric toothbrush designed to help remove plaque, freshen breath, and support healthier-looking teeth and gums. Using advanced sonic technology, it delivers a deep clean while remaining gentle enough for everyday use. Discover why so many are making the switch. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

This Metal Has Already Jumped 557%

Tungsten powers everything from aerospace to EVs. That’s why it’s projected to be a $10 billion industry by 2030, and one company is positioning itself to transform the domestic tungsten supply chain.

United States Tungsten is working to reopen a domestic recovery and processing facility through the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten. Demand is expected to surge as the U.S. rebuilds its domestic mineral supply. With critical mineral legislation accelerating and defense budgets rising, domestic suppliers have a unique opportunity to lead the market. United States Tungsten is already in talks with the government about supply contracts.

You can now invest in United States Tungsten and lock in up to 23% bonus shares before June 12.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Corp. Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ Walt Disney World revealed details of a Monsters Inc.-themed Monstropolis area coming to Hollywood Studios, featuring the company’s first-ever suspended roller coaster and first vertical lift hill. (More)

➤ The Northeast Florida Fair is inviting the public to submit photos and memories as it prepares for its 79th annual event this October in the Jacksonville area, celebrating nearly eight decades of community tradition. (More)

➤ Broward County is hosting four free FIFA World Cup watch parties at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise during July, giving residents without tickets a way to experience the tournament as Miami prepares to host matches starting June 15. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Looking to lose weight with the help of a GLP-1 medication? Direct Meds is offering a limited-time $150 discount on eligible weight-loss treatments, making it easier and more affordable to get started. See if you qualify online and take the first step toward your health goals today. (LEARN MORE)