Good Morning! On this day in 1946, Tony Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer Ben Vereen was born in Miami.
In observation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, First Coast News in Jacksonville honored Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks, who founded the nonprofit Bosom Buddies in 1988, the first local support group for breast cancer survivors.
If you missed our story in yesterday’s email about a hero dog who saved the day in Okaloosa County, you can hear about it today on the Flyover Podcast with Ayla Brown.
If you’ve ever dreamed of investing in the booming surf industry, today’s sponsor, Surf Lakes’ revolutionary wave technology, is turning inland cities into surf destinations and creating seven powerful revenue streams along the way.
Daytona Beach ⚡ 78/71° | Fort Myers ⛈️ 86/71° | Jacksonville ⚡ 73/65° | Key West ⛈️ 83/78° | Miami 🌦️ 82/74° | Ocala ☁️ 77/66° | Orlando 🌦️ 80/69° | Pensacola 🌤️ 81/62° | Port St. Lucie 🌦️ 82/71° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 77/61° | Tampa 🌤️ 85/69°
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Space Systems Command announced on Tuesday that it had awarded Jeff Bezos’ company the contract to construct a space vehicle processing facility by 2028, which will prepare satellites for launch.
The award is the second under the National Security Space Launch Commercial Solutions Opening effort, intended to augment U.S. capabilities for preparing spacecraft for national security and commercial launches.
The Space Force relies on SpaceX and United Launch Alliance to launch its cargo from the Space Coast. Blue Origin has been approved to compete for future national security missions with its New Glenn rocket.
Real Housewives of Miami Husband Sues Bravo, NBC
Miami real estate investor Todd Nepola, the former husband of Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Nepola, filed an $11 million lawsuit this week against Bravo Media, NBCUniversal Media, and Purveyors of Pop Productions.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and alleges that the companies falsely portrayed Nepola as facing financial difficulties, as well as misused his name and likeness in later seasons of the show.
According to the complaint, Nepola raised concerns with the producers about inaccuracies, but the producers “continued to intentionally and maliciously air defamatory statements” with storylines suggesting Nepola’s business was struggling.
Nepola contends that the portrayals have damaged his reputation within the Miami business community. He is seeking $10 million in damages for defamation and $1 million for the unauthorized use of his name and likeness.
Florida Restaurants Dominate Hidden Gems List
Five Florida restaurants made the top eight on Tripadvisor’s list of hidden gems, according to the travel site’s Traveler’s Choice Awards. You can see the list here.
Urban Prime in Viera took the No. 2 spot, offering sushi made to order, a strong charcuterie lineup, and solid wines. The top restaurant on the list was 1 Kitchen in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cabbage Key in Pineland (No. 5), Bungalow By The Sea in Miami Beach (No. 6), Portugal Wine Bar & Grill in Palm Coast (No. 7), and Golden Lyon Vintage Pub in Fort Lauderdale (No. 8) were all recognized.
The annual honors highlight the best restaurants in various categories, including casual dining, date night, and pet-friendly.
At the heart of it all is their patented 360° Wave Tech, which enables 2,000 surfable rides per hour for both beginners and pros. That single breakthrough unlocks multiple revenue streams: licensing fees, royalties, memberships, day passes, media, coaching, food, retail, and direct park operations.
Another key aspect of this technology is that it enables the development of up to half a mile of beachside property, adding exponential value to each project.
Actor Chris Hemsworth even said this after his Surf Lakes experience: “What an incredible setup! Really thankful I got to test this out… an awesome day.”
Surf tourism is a $65B global industry, yet fewer than 1% of people can access real waves. Surf Lakes makes it possible anywhere, turning cities into surf destinations.
➤ Statewide: On Wednesday, President Trump endorsed Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s bid to keep his state Cabinet post in the 2026 election. (More)
➤ Miami-Dade County: Florida businessman Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump, flew to Egypt alongside White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday to help secure a peace deal and end two years of war in Gaza. (More)
➤ Seminole County: With rain expected through Saturday, county officials opened two sandbag sites in Geneva and Sanford “out of an abundance of caution.” (See Video)
➤Volusia County: The county council approved nearly $50 million in grants to focus on making the county drier as part of the Transform386 program. Actions include buying flood-prone property and expanding stormwater storage. (More)
➤Polk County: Sheriff Grady Judd said that when Walter Frymire was arrested, he tried to smuggle a thermos into the jail by having it inserted inside of him. Frymire was taken to a hospital where a specialist removed the thermos. (See Video)
➤ Dade City: State Rep. Kevin Steele filed House Bill 113 on Tuesday, which would require all of Florida’s public state universities and colleges to rename one roadway on their campuses after Christian conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (More)
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➤ Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host an official LaLiga soccer game between Barcelona and Villarreal on Dec. 20. It marks the first official fixture from one of Europe’s big five soccer leagues to take place on foreign soil. (More)
➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars traded cornerback Tyson Campbell and a seventh-round pick to the Browns for cornerback Greg Newsome and a sixth-round pick. (More)
➤Miami quarterback Carson Beck and FSU signal caller Tommy Castellanos were both named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watchlist for their play through the first portion of the season. (More)
➤ Get Whiter Teeth Overnight? Blast away plaque, tartar, and stubborn stains with the power of DentaBlast. Its ultrasonic cleaning action leaves your teeth looking brighter and feeling smoother in just minutes a day. Gentle yet effective, it’s the easy way to wake up with a more confident smile. (LEARN MORE)
➤ Lakeland-based Publix supermarket, which has nearly 900 stores in the state, is allowing open carry of firearms in its Florida stores after a judge overturned the ban last month. (More)
➤ Drug maker Lupin announced plans to establish a $250 million state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Coral Springs to enhance U.S.-based production of critical respiratory medicines. (More)
➤ The Jacksonville Aviation Authority and City Council will set up a joint committee focused on bringing more job-creating development to Cecil Airport after they split over what to spend on the Westside airport. (More)
➤ Florida avocados are facing a renewed threat from avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). For consumers, this could mean fewer locally grown avocados in stores and potentially higher prices. (More)
This Technology Makes Every City a Potential Surf Destination
Topgolf revolutionized golf by transforming it into a social, tech-driven experience for everyone. And they’ve made billions in annual revenue doing it. Surf Lakes is applying that same model to surfing. Their patented tech creates 2,000 ocean-quality rides per hour, anywhere in the world, across all skill levels.
Surf tourism is a $65B global industry, yet fewer than 1% of people live near real waves. They’ve already sold licenses across the U.S. and Australia, with plans for a first commercial park in the works.
Three-time world champ Tom Curren and surf icon Mark Occhilupo have joined as ambassadors and shareholders. Even actor Chris Hemsworth has praised Surf Lakes.
This is a paid advertisement for Surf Lakes’ Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.surflakes.com
➤ The Michelin Guide will open to the entire state in 2026, meaning that restaurants in any part of Florida can now be considered for a Michelin award, including stars and Bib Gourmands, in the years to come. (More)
➤ The University of Florida is the new home for Breeding Insight, a USDA-Agricultural Research Service-funded program that provides tools to accelerate the development of crops that are more resilient, pest- and disease-resistant, and nutritious. (More)
➤ Okaloosa Island Pier’s underwater camera offers real-time footage of marine life off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast. Launched six weeks ago, the livestream has had 1.9 million individual viewers. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ The #1 Washing Machine Hack I Wish I Knew Sooner. Your washing machine is dirtier than you think! X-All Washing Machine Cleaner’s AquaClean Max tablets dissolve mold, mildew, and odors—no scrubbing or harsh chemicals needed. Just drop one in and run a hot cycle for fresher clothes, cleaner towels, and a longer-lasting machine loved by 100,000+ users. (LEARN MORE)
Blue Origin to Build Space Coast Site
