Florida Budget Heads to DeSantis

Florida lawmakers sent a $114.5 billion budget to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, a week before the July 1 deadline to keep the state funded. In his final year, DeSantis has vowed at least $800 million in line-item vetoes.

Watchdog Florida TaxWatch flagged 621 budget “turkeys” worth $829.7 million, which it says skipped public hearings. Earmarks include $50 million toward a Tampa Bay Rays stadium, $250 million for a DeSantis-controlled emergency fund, and $4 million for the Groveland Four.

Republican leaders touted spending below last year’s $115.1 billion, while some Democrats criticized a nearly $300 million tax package.

Fugitive Caught in $3.7B Medicare Fraud

Federal authorities returned a South Florida businessman to Miami to face charges in an alleged $3.7 billion Medicare fraud scheme that officials call one of the nation’s largest.

Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi, owner of Delray Beach’s Sunshine Senior Solutions, fled the country in May 2025 before his capture in Cyprus.

Prosecutors say his network billed Medicare for catheters and equipment never provided. The FBI flew Hilmi to South Florida on June 19 as part of a health care fraud takedown.

He faces health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges. He is the second Sunshine Senior Solutions defendant arrested.

Marlins Search for the Viral Sad Dog

A heartbroken pup caught on camera eyeing a neighbor’s hot dog has gone viral, and the Miami Marlins want to make it up to him. The moment unfolded Monday during a Bark at the Park night at loanDepot Park.

The broadcast caught one dog devouring a ballpark frank as another stared longingly one row back during the Marlins’ game against the Texas Rangers. The clip quickly spread online.

The team posted a wanted ad for the “very good boy,” offering a “dream day” at the ballpark, and asked fans to help find him.

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➤Surfside: Families, survivors, and community leaders gathered Wednesday to honor the 98 victims of the Champlain Towers South collapse, marking five years since the Surfside condominium crumbled. (More)

➤ DeSoto County: Commissioners directed the county attorney to draft a proposed one-year moratorium on new data centers after residents packed a meeting to raise concerns about water use, pollution, and large-scale development. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: Police arrested the suspected getaway driver in Monday’s Regions Bank robbery, alleging he drove the robber to and from the bank, accepted $140 afterward, and lied about knowing the suspect. (More)

➤ Cape Coral: Councilwoman Rachel Kaduk appeared in court Wednesday as her DUI case moved forward, with a trial scheduled for July 14 on charges of driving under the influence and refusing a breathalyzer test. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: University of North Florida trustees approved a 5% increase in on-campus housing rates and a 15% hike in out-of-state tuition fees for fall 2026, marking the school’s first tuition increase since 2013. (More)

➤ Orlando: Traffic congestion and concerns about unsafe driving top the list of transportation frustrations in Central Florida, according to a new MetroPlan Orlando survey of more than 2,500 residents across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. (See Report)

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➤ Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara became the franchise’s all-time strikeout leader this week, passing Ricky Nolasco’s mark with career strikeout No. 1,002. (More) 

➤ USF unveiled a new look inside its $350 million on-campus football stadium, highlighting a field-level club where fans can watch the Bulls run through the tunnel ahead of the venue’s 2027 debut. (More) 

➤ Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was named TCU’s Chief Basketball Officer this week, a volunteer role advising head coach Jamie Dixon on player development and serving as a mentor to current players. (More)

➤ A Texas Tech booster criticized UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir after a UCF player sued the NCAA over eligibility rules, noting Mohajir had opposed a similar legal challenge involving Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby. (More) 

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ An Apopka man agreed to plead guilty to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges after prosecutors accused him of running a $328 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that promised returns from nonexistent investment pools. (More)

➤ Spirit Halloween is hiring more than 1,200 seasonal workers across Florida as the retailer launches a “record-breaking” Halloween 2026 hiring push to fill more than 52,000 jobs in the U.S. and Canada. (More)

➤ Breeze Airways is expanding its Fort Lauderdale network again, adding service to Dayton, Ohio, and Trenton, New Jersey, as the discount carrier continues growing in South Florida following Spirit Airlines’ shutdown. (More)

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A single Bible can be the beginning of real change for someone behind bars. It offers encouragement, clarity, and a sense of direction when it’s needed most.

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➤ A Jensen Beach High School graduate will see his winning gazebo design built at Langford Park after community donations funded the $85,000 project and helped turn a student contest into a permanent addition for local seniors. (More)

➤ A Jacksonville hospital worker rescued a tiny kitten she spotted lying face down in a grate along Interstate 95, nursing the animal back to health before giving her a permanent home and the name Tipsy. (Read Story)

➤ Florida sandwich fans may have bragging rights this year as Jersey Mike’s topped the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index, ending Chick-fil-A’s 11-year reign as the nation’s highest-rated fast-food chain. (More)

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A Yale study tracked 11,000 seniors for over a decade and found nearly half didn’t decline with age; they improved, and one hidden factor explains why. (Hear What)

➤  The military is reinstating flu shots for recruits after an outbreak swept a Texas training base. (Listen Now)

➤ The average couple drops over $6,000 on the honeymoon now, and Gen Z would rather splurge there than on the wedding. (Listen More)

What is your biggest driving frustration?

1. Traffic congestion
2. Aggressive drivers
3. Road construction
4. Lack of public transit
5. Other (reply and tell us) 

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you ever go for runs or long walks after dark?

1. Yes: 20%
2. No: 80%

Burger King was founded in Jacksonville, in 1953 under what original name?

Show me the answer