11 Survive Crash Off Melbourne Coast

All 11 people aboard a private turboprop plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 80 miles off Melbourne’s coast survived and were rescued from a life raft by U.S. Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard crews.

The Beechcraft 300 King Air was en route between Bahamian islands when it ditched in the Atlantic after losing both engines. Aircrews with the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base spotted the group hours after impact and hoisted all 11 to safety.

All passengers, described as Bahamian adults, were transported to Melbourne Orlando International Airport in stable condition. The cause remains under investigation.

Survivors spent hours adrift with no way of knowing help was on the way. Olympia Outten, 48, told reporters she “didn’t think we were gonna live” as the group waited in open water.

Rescue footage released this week captures the 920th’s hoist operation above open water, giving a firsthand look at the Space Coast rescue crews who pulled them out.

FEMA Approves $213M for Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County is set to receive $213 million from FEMA to cover costs tied to COVID-19 containment efforts during the pandemic.

The federal grant reimburses Miami-Dade for materials, rented equipment, and contracts used to reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus—the largest single county allocation in the package. Florida’s share is part of a $1.2 billion approval for seven southeastern states, including Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Of the $1.2 billion total, $1.1 billion reimburses COVID-19 costs across the region while $126.5 million funds natural disaster recovery, including Hurricane Helene damage to roads and public property in North Carolina and South Carolina. The grants are part of FEMA’s broader announcement of $5.6 billion in federal assistance to states, tribal nations, and territories.

Riverfront Plaza Phase 2 Goes Public

Jacksonville residents got their first detailed look this week at plans for Riverfront Plaza’s second phase during a community open house held Wednesday evening along the downtown St. Johns riverfront.

Phase 2, situated just east of the existing plaza in the shadow of the Main Street Bridge, is already under construction and will add a beer garden, a swing deck elevated above the Riverwalk, winding native-plant paths, and a new bicycle-pedestrian ramp up to the bridge. A Gateway Jax hotel and residential building is also planned at the rear of the site, with a public terrace overlooking the park.

LaVilla resident Stephen Wiley summed up the crowd’s mood, calling it proof that “the donut is starting to fill in”—a nod to Jacksonville’s long-lamented hollow downtown core. The $46 million second phase is targeted for completion by end of 2027, pushing the full plaza’s price tag to an estimated $78.5 million.

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➤ Marion County: Bodycam footage released yesterday shows a Florida deputy being stabbed multiple times in what officials call an intentional ambush. His protective vest absorbed the blows, saving his life. (More)

➤ Palmetto: Volunteers are rallying to repair vandalized graves at the historic Old Memphis Cemetery, donating labor and materials after the site was damaged earlier this month. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill exempting small building projects from permitting requirements. The measure also lets out-of-state licensed inspectors work in Florida for a year after a declared emergency. (More)

➤ Orange County: A lawsuit filed earlier this week claims Mitchell’s Funeral Home presented the wrong body at a 2024 funeral service. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: The state House Rules and Ethics Committee issued a rare formal reprimand to Rep. Angie Nixon earlier this week for disrupting floor proceedings during last month’s redistricting vote. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved new rules banning the international export of giant manta rays to foreign facilities, following a viral video that sparked widespread public criticism. (More)

➤ Florida’s three NFL teams got their 2026 schedules earlier this week. The Buccaneers open at Cincinnati, the Dolphins face national scrutiny over their QB situation, and the Jaguars return to London for back-to-back UK games. (More)

➤ The No. 19 Florida Gators stormed out with a six-run first inning, capped by Ethan Surowiec’s grand slam, and beat LSU 11-8 earlier this week in Baton Rouge to open their final SEC regular-season series. (More)

➤ The Florida Panthers are sending five players to the 2026 IIHF World Championship, giving the defending Stanley Cup champions a significant international presence while the NHL offseason begins. (More)

➤ Inter Miami’s 5-3 win over FC Cincinnati stands, but Lionel Messi’s potential hat trick doesn’t. MLS ruled his third goal an own goal by the keeper, wiping out what would have been a record. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays (28-14) welcomed the Miami Marlins (20-24) to Tropicana Field last night, opening a three-game series in one of the few times Florida’s two MLB clubs meet on the schedule. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf 

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➤ Disney World is rolling out discounted summer tickets for Florida residents, offering lower admission prices valid May 17 through October 3, 2026, with no blackout dates. (Details)

➤ Walton County Tourism is offering free admission to Grayton Beach State Park and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, a summer gift for Panhandle visitors. (More)

➤ Marcello Hernández, a Saturday Night Live cast member, is bringing his stand-up comedy to the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on June 19. (More)

➤ Two Burmese python nests with roughly 120 eggs were discovered side-by-side in the Florida Everglades by a snake hunter. (See Photos)

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Which Florida NFL team are you most excited to watch in 2026?

1. Miami Dolphins
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. I watch all three!

Yesterday’s Results:

Which is better from a drive-thru: chicken or burgers?

1. I like both: 33%
2. Burgers: 29%
3. Neither: 22%
4. Chicken: 16%

Approximately how many miles of sandy beaches does Florida have along its Atlantic and Gulf coasts?

Show me the answer