Good Morning! On this day in 1967, rapper, actor, and television host Robert Matthew Van Winkle, known professionally as Vanilla Ice, was born. Van Winkle grew up in Miami and based his 1990 hit, Ice Ice Baby, on a weekend he spent in South Florida.
There’s so much going on in the state this weekend, from the annual international boat show in the “Yachting Capital of the World” to the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” at the Florida-Georgia football game. You can read about both in our Top Stories.
When disasters strike, The Flyover community always shows up. Hurricane Melissa has left thousands in Jamaica without homes, food, or clean water—and they need our help now. We’re partnering with Convoy of Hope to deliver immediate relief, and we’ll match the first $2,000 in donations, doubling your impact.Donate here!
Daytona Beach ☀️ 69/52° | Fort Myers ☀️ 76/54° | Jacksonville ☀️ 70/46° | Key West 🌤️ 77/71° | Miami 🌤️ 77/65° | Ocala ☀️ 69/43° | Orlando ☀️ 70/50° | Pensacola ☀️ 67/49° | Port St. Lucie ☀️ 73/55° | Tallahassee ☀️ 69/40° | Tampa ☀️ 73/51°
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Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Underway
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, held each year in the “Yachting Capital of the World,” started Wednesday and runs through Nov. 2, spanning seven locations with over 1,000 vessels.
Described as the largest in-water boat show in the world, it is expected to generate nearly $900 million in sales, create $1.7 billion in statewide economic impact, and attract more than 100,000 visitors. One feature of this year’s show is a self-driving boat.
Another highlight is the debut of the newly redeveloped Pier Sixty-Six Hotel and Marina, fully occupied by the show. Meanwhile, Pier South continues to serve as the Superyacht Village. See photos here.
This year’s show welcomes the Honours Awards—celebrating the “inspirational people and pioneers of the superyachting world”—which has relocated from Monaco to Fort Lauderdale.
Florida Georgia Preview
The Florida Gators will take on the No. 5-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in football on Saturday for the 103rd time in school history. The iconic rivalry game will take place at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, the matchup’s historic hometown since 1933.
Nicknamed “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” the rivalry remains an important game for both teams. The Bulldogs hold a 56-44-2 all-time lead in the series and have a four-game winning streak against the Gators, their best stretch in 40 years.
Florida is just two weeks removed from firing head coach Billy Napier after starting the season with a 3-4 record. Georgia, meanwhile, is 7-1 on the season and fighting for a top seed in the College Football Playoff.
The Gators enter the game as 7.5-point underdogs, but with a chance to upset a national championship contender.
Legend Tripping in Jacksonville
Exploring a reportedly scary spot with a group of friends has become known as “legend tripping,” and Jacksonville is gaining a reputation as home to many such creepy destinations.
Wiccademous Grave is located on Amelia Island and is also known as the “witch’s grave.” The strip of woods across from Fernandina Beach High School has a reputation for strange happenings since at least the 1970s.
The premier legend tripping destination in Northeast Florida is Annie Lytle Elementary School, also known as Public School Number 4. It has a reputation as the “most haunted building in Jacksonville.”
Hurricane Melissa—a Category 5 storm with winds up to 185 mph—hit Jamaica and left behind catastrophic destruction.
It’s one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, bringing torrential rain, dangerous storm surge, and widespread flooding and landslides that have destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.
Convoy of Hope is responding with food, clean water, hygiene kits, baby care items, tents, tarps, and other emergency supplies for families in desperate need—and we need your help.
➤ Statewide: On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis instructed the state university system to “pull the plug” on H-1B visa holders employed at the schools to ensure Florida citizens are first in line for job opportunities. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a bill of complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court against California, alleging that the state’s corporate tax policies violate the U.S. Constitution and unfairly harm Florida’s economy. (More)
➤ Brevard County: A Red Cross emergency shelter has opened to assist those hard hit by flooding this past week. As of Tuesday, 15 people were staying at the shelter. (More)
➤ St. Petersburg: For the third time in five years, the city is seeking a developer for Tropicana Field, also known as the Historic Gas Plant District. Those interested have a 30-day window to submit a proposal. (More)
➤ Sumter County: After 50 years, a cold case to identify the remains of “Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee” has been solved. Maureen L. Minor Rowan, known as “Cookie” to her loved ones, resided in Tampa and would have been 76 years old. (See Details)
➤ Sarasota: New College of Florida says it will be the first institution to adopt the Trump administration’s higher education compact, which promises priority for federal grants in return for implementing policies favored by the administration. (More)
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➤ The College Football Playoff will hold its 2029 national championship game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, officials announced this week. It will be the first time the game’s been hosted in Tampa since 2017. (More)
➤ Florida International University football fell to Missouri State 21-28 on Wednesday night. Former FIU Panther Shomari Lawrence rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns for Missouri State. (More)
➤ Four-star defensive end recruit Keshawn Stancil flipped his commitment away from the Clemson Tigers to the Miami Hurricanes this week. “You can do things beyond football at Miami,” Stancil said about his decision. (More)
➤ This Halloween, protect your home from scary repair bills with the ServicePlus Home Warranty Sale! Get coverage for appliances and major systems at unbeatable prices—no tricks, just treats. Right now, get 50% off plus 2 months free. 🎃 Claim your quote now!
➤ Nearly two years after a Sarasota County judge awarded more than $200 million to the Maya Kowalski family, a Florida appeals court reversed the decision in favor of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. The case gained worldwide attention and was the subject of a Netflix documentary. (More)
➤ Tampa-based fondue brand Melting Pot announced a national retail expansion that brings its Melting Pot at Home line to more than 2,500 grocery stores, including Publix. (See Photo)
➤Genesis Systems, a Tampa-based company, is reimagining the world’s water supply by pulling water straight from the atmosphere. (See Video)
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Double your impact—Jamaica recovery
Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with 185 mph winds, catastrophic flooding, and landslides that have left families homeless and communities cut off.
But help is on the way. Convoy of Hope is providing food, water, hygiene kits, baby care items, tents, tarps, and other emergency supplies for people who need them most. You can be part of this URGENT response with your generous donation, helping people who’ve lost everything.
➤ A shark attacked a snorkeler off Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay on Saturday. The man received 27 stitches from several bites to his arm. (More)
➤ Two of the four dolphins found beached on Lake Worth Beach Wednesday morning have been transported to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation, while two have died. Florida Fish and Wildlife is investigating the cause of the beaching. (See Photos)
➤ Flamingos are making a home in Florida again after the native population disappeared over 100 years ago. Scientists say efforts to restore the Everglades and Florida’s coastal ecosystems are beginning to show progress. (More)
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Are you looking forward to turning the clocks back for the end of daylight saving time on Sunday?
The ruins of a sugar mill can be found on the Dunlawton Plantation, now known as Sugar Mill Gardens, in Port Orange. What theme park was located on the grounds from 1948 to 1952?
