Good Morning! On this day in 1492, explorer Christopher Columbus missed Florida when he changed course, instead making landfall in the Bahamas several days later.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is offering free tips, training, and advice to help Floridians protect themselves against cybercrimes.
If you’re tired of mystery calls and feeling like your personal info isn’t private anymore, today’s sponsor, Incogni, can help you take back control by wiping your data from the web.
Daytona Beach 🌦️ 83/76° | Fort Myers ⛈️ 88/74° | Jacksonville 🌦️ 85/71° | Key West 🌤️ 85/80° | Miami ⛈️ 84/78° | Ocala 🌤️ 86/69° | Orlando 🌦️ 85/73° | Pensacola 🌦️ 84/73° | Port St. Lucie 🌦️ 85/77° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 90/69° | Tampa 🌦️ 89/73°
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Hillsborough’s Sheriff’s Office Cheating Scandal
Two high-ranking Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officials were placed under internal investigation last week, as two others left the agency, amid an ongoing academic cheating investigation that began with the arrest of former Chief Deputy Anthony Collins.
Collins resigned in September following allegations that he cheated on coursework for the FBI National Academy. The accusations came from his wife, who sent an email to the sheriff’s office claiming Collins paid Robert Roush to write his work.
Last week, it was revealed that Michael Hannaford and Chris Rule, both colonels with the sheriff’s office, exchanged emails in 2021 and 2022 seeking help with writing assignments. Both colonels remain employed and have not been suspended.
Capt. Lora Rivera, who oversaw the standards bureau, resigned Thursday amid allegations she had paid Roush to complete a work-related paper. Maj. James Jackson retired on Friday after he became the subject of an internal investigation.
Queen Elizabeth Cruise Ship to Sail from Miami
Cunard, based in Southampton, England, is relocating its Queen Elizabeth cruise ship to PortMiami for the first time in the company’s history amid an increased demand from North American guests.
The Queen Elizabeth will arrive at PortMiami on Oct. 16 and sail out of the Magic City until April 14, 2026, marking the first time Cunard will dedicate a ship to a full season in the Caribbean.
The ship will take trips ranging from 9 to 28 nights and visit places including St. Lucia, Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico, Montego Bay, St. Thomas, Barbados, and Puerto Rico.
As one of the world’s oldest shipping companies, Cunard has operated passenger ships on the North Atlantic since 1840.
Winter Park Named Florida’s Best Small City
A new study ranked Winter Park as the best small city in the Sunshine State, placing it in the 88th percentile of all small cities. Other Florida cities that ranked above the 80th percentile include Sarasota, Oviedo, Boca Raton, and Pensacola.
WalletHub compared more than 1,300 U.S. cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 45 key indicators of livability. These included housing costs, the quality of the school system, and the number of restaurants per capita.
Winter Park scored high for quality of life, ranking No. 19 nationwide in that metric. Many of the Florida entries scored highest for quality of life, which was evaluated based on factors such as restaurants, parks, and other entertainment hubs.
Carmel, Indiana, a suburban city in Hamilton County, just north of Indianapolis, was named the best small city. Bessemer, Alabama, ranked the lowest.
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Unknown number calling? It’s not random…
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Once your data is out there, it’s not just spam calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and even identity theft.
➤ Tallahassee: State regulators began a two-week hearing on Monday to determine if Florida Power & Light can implement rate increases, including $945 million next year and $766 million in 2027, with more hikes in 2028 and 2029. (More)
➤ Palm Beach County: County officials are opposed to Boynton Beach’s plan to annex 4,500 acres of unincorporated land west of the city, which is home to 35,000 residents. Boynton Beach would surpass West Palm Beach as the most populous municipality in the county. (More)
➤ Volusia County: An 11-year-old was arrested on Sunday for making online threats against his school, Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach. The FBI notified the sheriff’s office about a comment the boy wrote on TikTok. (More)
➤ Orange County: Commissioners awarded a nearly $50 million construction contract to a Lake Mary firm to build the state’s largest animal shelter, a 123,000-square-foot facility. (More)
➤St. Augustine: The Neighborhood Grant Program is offering up to $3,000 in financial assistance to help local groups enhance the quality of life in their communities, from small-scale beautification projects to large-scale cultural events. (More)
➤ Jacksonville: The city is home to the youngest female licensed general contractor in Northeast Florida, Amany Youssef, who started her company at age 23. Women make up less than 15% of the workforce in the construction industry. (See Photo)
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➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 last night following a game-winning drive by Trevor Lawrence. The game also featured a 99-yard pick six from linebacker Devin Lloyd–—his third interception of the year and one of the best defensive plays of the NFL season so far. (See Highlight)
➤ The Miami Hurricanes moved up to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25 college football poll following their victory over Florida State, while the Seminoles dropped seven spots down to No. 25. USF held steady at No. 24. (See Poll)
➤ Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is dealing with a shoulder injury he hadn’t previously reported to the team, in addition to other ailments. He could miss multiple weeks. (More)
➤ The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are ranked No. 4 and No. 6, respectively, in USA Today’s NHL preseason power rankings. (See Full List)
➤ Get the EZY Tech phone adapter now at a huge discount—50% off today! Plug it into your car for seamless charging and connectivity so your devices stay powered while you drive. Don’t miss this limited-time deal. (SHOP NOW)
➤ The Seminole Tribe of Florida sued Miami-based Lennar over 552 “defective” new houses built on tribal land over the last five years across the state. (More)
➤ A youth aviation program in Orlando seeks to fill a labor shortage gap of pilots and air traffic controllers. The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 74’s Intro to Aviation program teaches teenagers 12-17 the basics in eight weeks. (See Video)
➤ Forty hurricane-damaged restaurants in the Tampa Bay area hope this year’s Taste of the Beaches foodie event, running through Oct. 12, brings new business. (More)
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➤ The Walt Disney World specialty license plate has raised $5 million for the nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation, granting wishes for over 600 children with critical illnesses, including 10-year-old Maddie from Melbourne. (See Photos)
➤ Firefighters rescued a kitten from a tight spot in St. Lucie County when it got its head stuck in a ladder. (See Video)
➤ The Bell Family Farm in Polk City is a petting zoo where visitors can interact with the animals. Tortellini, a Sulcata tortoise, hangs out with the miniature pigs, while a miniature zebu calf named Esme and a miniature donkey named Wonky enjoy cuddling. (See Video)
