Good Morning! On this day in 1936, Florida’s first theme park, Cypress Gardens, opened to visitors. The attraction was known for its nature displays, water ski shows, and amusement park thrill rides.
Welcome to 2026! We hope you enjoyed our special New Year’s Day edition yesterday. Today’s edition is a little shorter, so our staff can spend time with family and friends.
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Lawmakers Reintroduce Rural Renaissance Plan
Florida lawmakers are poised to give a major boost to the state’s rural communities. When the full state Senate convenes for the 2026 legislative session on Jan. 13, it will consider a proposal dubbed the rural renaissance bill.
The legislation was reintroduced by Sen. Corey Simon, a Republican from District 3 in the Panhandle, and is sponsored by Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. The measure cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on Dec. 10.
If approved, the bill would help doctors establish practices in small towns, provide student loan relief for rural educators, and fund new roads and infrastructure projects throughout Florida.
Pensacola Singer on American Idol
Pensacola gospel singer Keyla Richardson will return to TV on American Idol’s Season 24 premiere on Jan. 26.
Richardson was spotted on Pensacola Beach in early December filming for the upcoming season. The results of how far Richardson made it on the singing competition show won’t be known until the show airs.
“I got to sing in front of @carrieunderwood, @lukebryan, and @lionelrichie, such an amazing honor,” Richardson captioned in a photo of herself on Instagram, while posing in front of the famed IDOL sign in Los Angeles.
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➤ The National Science Foundation awarded the University of North Florida $1.3 million to create a Dungeons & Dragons-style tabletop role-playing game called Adventures with Emmy. The game’s name pays homage to German mathematician Emmy Noether. (More)
➤ Dick Pope Sr., the founder of the first commercial theme park, is considered the father of Florida tourism. (More)
➤ Four Florida communities built hurricane-proof homes to weather the strongest hurricanes. (See Photos)
➤ Chowhound listed the best diner in every U.S. state, naming Chug’s Diner in Miami as the best in Florida. (See List)
➤ Legoland and Disney theme parks in Orlando were included on a list of new roller coasters opening in 2026. (See List)
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