My Safe Florida Home Program Returns

The My Safe Florida Home Program will offer grants again beginning Aug. 4 to low- and moderate-income homeowners with a dwelling valued at $700,000 or less.

The program provides eligible homeowners with free home inspections for hurricane readiness and recommendations for wind mitigation features, including roofing materials, exterior and garage doors, storm shutters, and attachments for walls and roofs.

The Florida Legislature allocated $280 million to fund the program for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The program guide is available here.

After the free home inspection is processed, a grant of up to $10,000 could be awarded to a contractor approved by the Department of Financial Services to replace windows, doors, and other items. To apply, click on this link.

Florida GDP Growing

The Florida Chamber of Commerce issued its annual Business & Economic Mid-Year Report, showing that the state is outperforming the nation so far this year in gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

Florida’s GDP in the first quarter was estimated at $1.76 trillion, an increase of 1.4% compared to the same period in 2024. The U.S. GDP showed a 0.5% decline for the same time frame. See the full report here.

The report includes an economic forecast for Florida, offering business leaders “a lens for navigating the rest of 2025.” It also provides an update on the Florida Chamber Foundation’s economic predictions released in January of this year.

One key economic indicator, the housing market, showed a 53% hike in home prices from 2019.

Star of the Seas Inbound

The largest cruise ship in the world, which will become the crown jewel of Miami-based Royal Caribbean’s fleet, will dock in Florida before it departs on its maiden passenger voyage on Aug. 31.

The Star of the Seas, complete with 20 decks and room for 5,000 passengers, set sail from its construction port in Finland and is set to arrive at Port Canaveral on Aug. 15.

Musical icon Diana Ross will serve as the official godmother of Star of the Seas when it debuts in August.

The ship will offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures, including the popular Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Tickets for its inaugural journey start at $951 per person.

Dear Flyover Reader,

There’s never been a more important time to support The Flyover.

We’ve got a big announcement coming in a week, and I think you’re going to love it.

In fact, this is the last time we’ll ask for your direct support for a while.

Why?

I can’t say yet, but I can tell you that we could use a boost heading into the announcement. The Flyover family of email publications has grown from a scrappy startup to a new force in the news media landscape, and that’s all because of your support. Now, we’re ready to take things to the next level.

If you’d like to give directly to the news source that’s truly unbiased—that’s for you instead of against you as the mainstream media typically is, this is your last chance for quite a while.

I can’t wait for you to find out about our plans for the future (look for a special message from our Founder next Monday), and I would very much appreciate your donation today.

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Thanks for your support!
-Cole, CEO

➤ Statewide: Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended Bryan Griffin, a Tampa native, as the next VISIT FLORIDA president and CEO. (More)

➤ Manatee County: The governor and Florida’s new chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, announced plans to audit the county for wasteful spending, launching the probe during a news conference at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. (See Details)

➤ Flagler County: The Boots on the Ground Line Dance Competition at the fairgrounds scheduled for last Friday was canceled by the county government. The organizers objected to the abrupt reversal. Sheriff Rick Staly increased patrols and told the community to stay alert. (More)

➤ Broward County: Issa Asad, owner of Q Link Wireless, was sentenced to five years for stealing nearly $110 million from the FCC’s phone and internet service program. It may be the largest criminal case ever involving the agency. (More)

➤ Panama City Beach: Locals are calling out state authorities after a dolphin tours company saw a crew capturing an endangered giant manta ray for SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. (See Photo)

➤ Miami: A dermatologist who began working via telehealth during the pandemic spent $180,000 on nationwide licensing and earned $870,000 last year. (More)

Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Miami Dolphins have reworked Minkah Fitzpatrick’s contract to help move toward an extension with the star safety. (More)

➤ Miami Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernández hit a go-ahead three-run home run on Saturday to help the team beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays lost their sixth consecutive game on Saturday, falling 6-2 to the Cincinnati Reds. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | Tour de France | NASCAR | F1 | Indy | Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ JetBlue will launch year-round, nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Norfolk (ORF) and Tampa (TPA) and resume services to Atlanta (ATL) and Austin (AUS). Additional daily flights on existing routes from Fort Lauderdale will be added to meet growing demand. (See Details)

➤ Miami Spice 2025, a restaurant discount event that allows diners to eat Michelin-starred meals at budget-friendly prices, will run Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 at over 300 area restaurants. (More)

➤ Sixty-seven percent of Floridians have already started back-to-school shopping, and families with K-12 students will spend an average of $858 on clothes and supplies, according to the world’s largest retail trade association. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Dear Flyover Reader,

Did you know we depend on direct support from our readers?

Our advertisers help us keep the lights on, but we wouldn’t exist without donations from our readers.

If you think The Flyover has kept you informed without subjecting you to propaganda (like the mainstream media does), would you help us by donating today?

I would appreciate it very much.

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-Cole, CEO

➤ Madame Tussauds in Orlando revealed one of 13 new Taylor Swift wax figures paying tribute to the singer’s Eras Tour. Forty artists spent 14 months creating the figures that are in 13 cities across four continents. (See Figures)

➤ At 102 years old, a Delray Beach D-Day veteran looks forward to his long-delayed bar mitzvah. (See Photo)

➤ Everglades City, with fewer than 500 people on the southwest coast, is the gateway to the Everglades region. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Have you ever been to a Madame Tussauds wax museum?

1. Yes
2. No

Sunday’s Results:

Do you attend local festivals?

1. Sometimes: 45%
2. No: 29%
3. Yes: 26%

Which Florida city is famous for its historic Pink Palace, now a luxury hotel?

Show me the answer