Tourists Expected This Weekend

According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, and New York are the three most popular destinations over Labor Day weekend, with many Americans squeezing in a final trip before summer ends.

Domestic round-trip flights are 6% cheaper than last year, averaging $720 a ticket. Many travelers fly into Orlando, New York, Denver, and Atlanta for sightseeing, attractions, and events.

AAA data also shows hotel rates are 11% lower, and car rental costs are down 3% from last Labor Day.

Transportation data and insights provider INRIX says the best times to get on the road over the weekend are before lunchtime each day. If traveling on Saturday, the earlier, the better.

New Natural Gas Plant in Jacksonville

A new $1.57 billion natural gas power plant is being constructed in Jacksonville. It could generate up to 675 megawatts of power, which would cover up to 300,000 households in the First Coast region.

The JEA Board of Directors voted to build a combined-cycle natural gas plant on the city’s North Side on an old JEA location known as the St. Johns River Power Park. A combined-cycle facility uses energy generated by natural gas and steam turbines.

Vickie Cavey, the JEA CEO and managing director, will oversee the development of natural gas operations. Cavey will negotiate the project’s finalization with GE Vernova, an offshoot of General Electric that specializes in building combined-cycle power plants.

The city-owned utility voted to take on the project itself instead of an alternative plan to buy additional power from Florida Power & Light.

FSU Alumna Designed Swift’s Engagement Ring

A Florida State University (FSU) alumna with roots in Duval County is gaining attention worldwide following Tuesday’s announcement of Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce.

Kindred Lubeck, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from FSU, designed Swift’s engagement ring. It features a 10- to 12-carat old mine-cut diamond in a yellow gold bezel setting. See the ring here.

Jewelry experts estimate that the vintage-inspired ring, designed with Kelce’s help, is worth between $675,000 and $1 million.

The daughter of Duval County jeweler Jay Lubeck, Kindred Lubeck learned goldsmithing from her father during the pandemic and owns Artifex Fine Jewelry in New York. The family’s Neptune Beach-based jewelry store has been a local staple for 50 years.

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➤ Orange County: Gov. Ron DeSantis and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced that subpoenas were issued concerning a Florida DOGE audit into the county that was conducted in early August. (More)

➤ Everglades: A federal judge denied a request by state and federal officials to keep Alligator Alcatraz detention facility operating while they appeal an order to shutter the facility. A top official said the facility will likely be empty in days. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: Gov. Ron DeSantis challenged President Trump’s plan to expand the number of Chinese students admitted to the U.S., arguing that students from China and H-1B visa holders threaten American security and prosperity. (More)

➤ Ormond Beach: Police are looking for anyone who has information about or believes they may have been a victim of abuse at Riverbend Academy and Riverbend Community Church over the past 25 years. (More)

➤ South Florida: Stephen Muss, a well-known businessman, died Saturday. Muss rescued the famed Fontainebleau Hotel from bankruptcy in the late 1970s and invested around $100 million for improvements. (See Video)

➤ Volusia County: Daytona International Speedway’s checkered-flag crosswalks will be removed, as FDOT enforces a new law on street art that is causing conflicts around the state. (See Video)

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➤ Lionel Messi scored two clutch goals—including a last-minute game-winner against Orlando City to send Inter Miami to the MLS Leagues Cup final. (See Goal)

➤ Florida Panthers president of business operations Matthew Caldwell is leaving the team to become the CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. (More)

➤ Every student-athlete at the University of Florida—including walk-ons—is receiving a customized Chipotle gift card that covers all meals for the duration of their respective season. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open | Golf

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➤ Orlando-based Azure Hotel International is bringing a new hotel and state-of-the-art convention center to downtown Kissimmee. The $180 million redevelopment of the civic center site is expected to open in 2028. (See Video)

➤ Meanwhile, the historic Edgewater Hotel in Winter Garden closed and is being sold. Built in 1926, the 28,855-square-foot property began operations the following year with 53 guest rooms. (See Photo)

➤ Several Central Florida businesses were recently targeted by extortionists who threatened to damage the companies’ reputations with negative Google reviews unless the owners paid for the online comments to be removed. (More)

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How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups for outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900%. 

No wonder 10K+ regular people are taking the chance on Pacaso. 

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes a $1.3T market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same investors that backed Uber, Venmo, and eBay also backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Invest before this opportunity ends September 18th.

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to to other companies are for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

➤ A photograph of longnose gars spawning in a Florida river is among the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition winners. The exhibition at The Natural History Museum in London opens Oct. 17. (See Photos)

➤ A Romanian man in the country illegally is accused of stealing $400,000 worth of jewelry in Martin County. Arrested in Stuart, deputies found jewelry inside a child’s stuffed animal in his vehicle. (See Photo)

➤ A Flagler County funeral home is dealing with hogs causing damage to the cemetery, which has been in the community since the 1800s. (See Video)

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➤ Whistleblowing Doctor Links Common Health Issues to Widespread “Grocery Scam.” One of America’s top doctors is hoping you’ll read this before you set foot in another grocery store. Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry has found an “invisible problem” affecting almost everything we eat. But almost nobody knows it’s happening — except the big food companies responsible for it. And Dr. Gundry’s research shows it could be the true cause of low energy, digestive issues, and unwanted weight gain in millions of Americans over 35. Click Here to see Dr. Gundry’s report.

Are you traveling this holiday weekend?

1. Yes, out of state
2. Yes, locally
3. No

Thursday’s Results:

Do you think parents should have to pay the cost of a threat caused by their child that results in a police response?

1. Absolutely: 39%
2. Depends: 35%
3. No: 13%
4. Unsure: 13%

What was the name of Florida’s first waterski theme park?

Show me the answer