Tyler Perry Studios Executive Dies in Florida Plane Crash

The president of Tyler Perry Studios died Friday night when the small plane he was piloting crashed in Homosassa on the Gulf Coast.

Steve Mensch, 62, was identified as the sole occupant of the plane and was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies reported that the small-engine aircraft went down around 8:15 p.m. along Highway 19.

Mensch’s death coincided with the release of Tyler Perry’s new film, The Six Triple Eight. The movie is a war drama about a primarily black and all-female World War II battalion.

Mensch is survived by his wife, Danila, and three children.

Flagler County Sergeant Saves Boy at Dollywood

An off-duty Flagler County Sheriff’s Office sergeant saved a young boy’s life while on vacation with his family.

Sergeant Paul DeSousa was at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, when he heard cries for help and found a park employee attempting the Heimlich maneuver on a young boy who had stopped breathing.

DeSousa performed CPR until a paramedic, also on vacation with his family, arrived to assist.

St. Augustine Distillery Wins Global Award

The St. Augustine Distillery has received the American Distilling Institute’s Bubble Cap Award for Distillery of the Year. The award acknowledges excellence in quality, innovation, transparency, authenticity, growth, and community involvement.

Recognized globally, the institute’s highest accolade is reserved for independent owners who produce less than 100,000 proof gallons per year.

The distillery also ranks in USA Today’s “Top 10 Reader Choice Awards for Best Craft Spirits.”

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the St. Augustine Distillery serves more than 175,000 annual guests from its location in Florida’s oldest FP&L Ice Plant, built in 1917.

➤ Statewide: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet on Wednesday to discuss allowing bear hunting for the first time in nearly a decade. The state now has more than 4,000 bears. (See Details)

➤ St. Petersburg: Late Thursday, the city council approved bonds to fund its portion of a $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 4-3 decision leaves the final say on the deal to the Pinellas County Commission. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $20 million in awards to 17 small county governments and municipalities for projects to complete critical infrastructure and strengthen rural economies. (More)

➤ Indian River County: One person is dead after a plane crashed Friday west of Vero Beach. Officials said it was a glider plane, which does not rely on an engine. (See Photos)

➤ Orange County: The family of a Missouri teen who fell to his death on a FreeFall ride in Orlando in 2022 was awarded $310 million in a landmark decision. (More)

➤ Central Florida: The FEMA disaster recovery center in Seminole County closed on Saturday. The Volusia County FEMA center relocated, while a farm recovery center will open in Bartow in Polk County today from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (See Details)

➤ All three of Florida’s NFL teams won their games this weekend. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 28-13; the Dolphins beat the Jets 32-26; and the Jaguars took down the Titans 10-6. (More)

➤ Orlando Magic NBA basketball star Franz Wagner has been declared out indefinitely with a torn oblique, the same injury as his teammate Paolo Banchero, who is nearing his return. (More)

➤ Miami was one of the first two teams out of the College Football Playoff this year after they stumbled to the season’s finish line with a loss to Syracuse. (More)

Yesterday’s results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA 

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➤ St. Petersburg-based design-build multi-trade contractor Power Design has chosen Blink Charging to provide 429 EV chargers at select locations nationwide. (More)

➤ NASA is working with multiple companies to deliver science and technology to the moon’s surface through its Artemis mission, including Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which could launch from the Space Coast in January. (More)

➤ Harbor Springs Mattress, which makes handcrafted, all-natural mattresses, is opening its first non-Michigan showroom in Naples. (More)

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➤ Charlie Allsup, a 9-year-old boy, is raising money with a lemonade and cookie stand for the family of fallen Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz. (See Video)

➤ Florida’s current average gas price, at $3.12 per gallon, is close to the national average of $3.07, according to a new map showing prices in each U.S. state. (See Map)

➤ A Gold Star family featured on the TODAY show received a new-construction home in Dade City from Wells Fargo Bank. Jessica Ardron’s husband, a U.S. Army sergeant, was killed in the line of duty in 2007. (See Pictures)

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Do you mail Christmas cards?

1. Yes
2. No

Friday’s Results:

Have you visited Everglades National Park?

1. Yes: 50%
2. No: 50%

What species of bear is found in Florida?

Show me the answer