Sunday, October 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1995, Hurricane Opal came ashore near Pensacola Beach as a Category 3 storm with 115 mph winds. Just hours earlier, it had been a Category 4 churning across the Gulf.

Francis Gardner, the owner of the Holiday Restaurant in Bonifay, turned 100. She still stays busy making her own pies to serve. Learn more in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counted down the seven pets linked to longer lives. One study that followed 3.4 million people over 12 years found that owners of a particular pet were 40% less likely to die during that period, and it’s not the one you’d guess. Some surprising animals made the cut, and the pet that landed at No. 1 isn’t even the most popular choice in American homes. Ayla ran through the full countdown and the research behind each one. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Dr. Steven Gundry, is sharing why he recommends an alternative to bone broth for collagen support and the simple “collagen reset technique” he says can help your body support its own collagen production.

Florida Narrows School Vaccine Rollback

The Florida Department of Health is dropping its push to expand school vaccine exemptions but still plans to end requirements for four shots.

The four are hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib, and pneumococcal vaccines, required for students from pre-K through 12th grade. The department will take public comment on the repeal at an Oct. 8 meeting in Lake Mary.

In August, the department struck a proposed opt-out for “moral or ethical” beliefs, so exemptions stay limited to religious grounds. Shots for measles, polio, and tetanus are required by state law and aren’t affected.

Family doctor Joel Rudman told WEAR that people “have the right to decide what they put in their bodies.”

The Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes the repeal, warning immunization rates will fall. It estimated the change would cost the state’s economy nearly $9 billion over a decade.

TECO Wants Data Centers to Pay

Tampa Electric wants future data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants, lines, and equipment built to serve them.

The utility filed its plan with the Florida Public Service Commission ahead of an Oct. 1 deadline. A data center law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in May requires every public utility to submit one.

Data centers would also cover part of the cost of running the existing grid, which TECO says could help lower bills for current customers. Residents at data center meetings across Tampa Bay have raised concerns about grid strain and rising bills.

“Right now, Tampa Electric does not serve any large-load customers, but this plan does pave the way for the future,” spokesperson Cherie Jacobs said.

Duke Energy filed its own plan in April. Regulators are expected to rule on TECO’s proposal late this year or early next year.

Ex-Congressman Rivera Gets 10 Years

A federal judge in Miami sentenced former Rep. David Rivera to 10 years in prison Friday for secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuela’s government.

A jury convicted Rivera in May of failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiring to launder money. Prosecutors said he signed a $50 million contract in 2017 with a U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company.

Prosecutors said he worked Republican contacts, including longtime friend and now Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to soften U.S. sanctions on the Maduro government. They said he kept the deal secret to protect his reputation as an anti-communist.

Rivera’s attorneys argued he didn’t believe he had to register. “David Rivera does not deserve to die in prison because he failed to file a FARA registration,” defense attorney Ed Shohat said.

Rivera’s lawyers plan to appeal and have applied for a presidential pardon. Co-defendant Esther Nuhfer received five years.

Flying together with our sponsor

Doctor unveils dark bone broth secret (avoid now)

If you think bone broth is a great way to get collagen, think again.

According to a former surgeon, animal bones are known for absorbing heavy metals.

This can potentially lead to brain fog, fatigue, or even muscle weakness.

That’s why he recommends a “collagen reset technique” instead.

To his knowledge, it’s the only technique that can help your body build its own collagen.

Anyone can do it without drinking broths.

See the technique here.

➤ Jacksonville: Republican state Rep. Wyman Duggan filed Friday to run for mayor, challenging Democrat Mayor Donna Deegan in the March 2027 election. (See Details)

➤ Central Florida: The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Florida $85 million to widen 20 miles of I-4 between State Road 434 and State Road 472 in Seminole and Volusia counties. The project adds a lane in each direction, plus new drainage, fiber, and traffic technology. (More)

➤ Wakulla County: Commissioners vote Monday on whether to keep negotiating to buy private land around the Lake Ellen boat ramp, where neighbors swam and fished for years until the owners built a fence that boxed it in. (More)

➤ Broward County: One person died and a man was critically injured Friday evening when two airboats collided in a remote stretch of the Everglades south of I-75 and west of U.S. 27. A rescue helicopter flew the injured man to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. (More)

➤ Ocoee: A juvenile was shot in the legs Friday night after several fights broke out in the parking lot following the Jones-Ocoee high school football game, police said. The injuries aren’t life-threatening, and no arrests have been announced. (More)

➤ Mount Dora: Third-grade teacher Meagan DeWitz started nonprofit Squirrel Around the World last August with an Amazon wish list for non-perishable food. In under a year, the organization has grown from serving one school to 77 locations across Central Florida. (Read Story)

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➤ The Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 1-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS, as Drew Rasmussen took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. He finished with eight innings, one hit, and 10 strikeouts. (More)

➤ No. 8 Florida was stunned 45-17 by No. 25 Missouri, which scored 35 unanswered points to pull away. Gators running back Jadan Baugh, the nation’s second-leading rusher, was held to just 13 yards. (More)

➤ Ashton Daniels set a Florida State record with five rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a 38-7 rout of Virginia, while No. 4 Miami pulled away from Clemson in the second half for a 41-13 win. (See Scores)

➤ No. 7 Florida volleyball hosts No. 3 Kentucky tonight, aiming to snap the Wildcats’ 29-match SEC regular-season win streak. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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California Surgeon: “Muscle Loss in Seniors is Real, But It Doesn’t Have to Be”

If you think collagen is only for supporting healthier skin, hair, and nails, think again.

Not only does it play a role in holding the teeth in your mouth, keeping your heart walls intact, and reinforcing your gut lining…

It’s also what allows you to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities without getting tired.

But unfortunately, eating more collagen isn’t the answer.

That’s why Dr. Steven Gundry has created what he calls the “collagen reset technique.”

And to his knowledge, it’s the only technique that’s designed to help your body build its own collagen.

See the technique here ==>

➤ The Miami Heat will debut new Vice City uniforms and a one-night-only court Nov. 18 against the Milwaukee Bucks, the night before Grand Theft Auto VI comes out. The video game is set in a fictionalized version of Miami. (See Details)

➤ A pair of Florida softshell turtles was spotted soaking up the autumn sun together at a pond in The Village of Richmond. (See Photo)

➤ A Bonifay restaurant owner turned 100 Friday and spent the day baking coconut pies and cornbread muffins, just like any other workday. Asked how she made it to 100, the former schoolteacher had a quick answer: “Work keeps you alive.” (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ “Impossible” Bone Density Improvements Linked to Overlooked Protein. Recent DEXA scans have shown surprising bone density improvements in some women over 60 after adding a specific protein to their diets. Researchers are examining how this protein compound may provide nutritional support that calcium supplements alone cannot, potentially offering a new approach to maintaining stronger bones as you age. Learn 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, straight from the heart of the country.

➤ Senior Trump officials gathered at Camp David as the seven-month Iran war fueled fresh fighting and a major U.S. military buildup. (Hear More)

➤ Amazon’s refund drama landed in shoppers’ inboxes with a proposed $309.5 million settlement and a deadline worth circling. (Listen Now)

➤ A ranking of America’s best fall foliage destinations revealed where travelers headed for autumn’s brightest reds, oranges, and golds. (Podcast Available)

A fire tornado spun up during a controlled burn in Volusia County on Monday, swirling for about a minute before it fizzled out. No homes or people were in danger.