Good Morning! On this day in 2023, the Jacksonville Historical Society held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Jacksonville History Center, which repurposed the historic Florida Casket Company building.
Students with disabilities are learning to care for abandoned animals in Broward County. See their stories in Et Cetera.
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Daytona Beach 🌩️ 82/76° | Fort Myers ⛈️ 90/74° | Jacksonville ⛈️ 89/73° | Key West ☁️ 86/81° | Miami ⛈️ 86/77° | Ocala ⛈️ 83/73° | Orlando ⛈️ 84/74° | Pensacola 🌩️ 78/73° | Port St. Lucie 🌧️ 84/76° | Tallahassee 🌦️ 83/71° | Tampa ☁️ 88/75°
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FEMA Awards $608M to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The state of Florida has secured $608 million in federal reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for opening and operating the immigration detention center in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz.
Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on the social media site X, “I said all along that we would be reimbursed.“
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in an email that the state of Florida was awarded its full reimbursement request on Tuesday, one day ahead of the government shutdown.
Back in July, DHS estimated the total cost for the remote detention center in the Everglades would be $450 million for one year.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries after he hit his head repeatedly on the metal bar of the ride. He had a pre-existing spinal injury, but the full autopsy is being withheld pending an Orange County Sheriff’s active criminal investigation.
“By rushing to reopen this ride as if nothing happened, Universal is showing great disregard for Kevin’s life, our family’s pain, and the safety of every rider who steps onto that coaster,” said Zavala’s parents, Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz and Ana Zavala.
In a memo to staff on Friday, Universal Orlando wrote that a “comprehensive technical and operational review confirmed the ride systems functioned properly.”
Another woman who rode the coaster settled a lawsuit with Universal Orlando after claiming her “head shook violently and slammed into the seat’s headrest throughout the ride.“
Shutdown Threatens Florida Flood Insurance
The government shutdown that began Wednesday will cause a freeze in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and Florida will be hit the hardest.
Florida accounts for 20% of all national flood insurance policies, and some worry home sales will also cool off because of the shutdown. For one home in the Orlando area, an annual flood insurance policy through NFIP would cost $749, while a private policy costs $4,055.
“You know, people might have already planned to move in. They might have already sold their previous home, and if they can’t close that deal, it really throws everything into chaos,” said Daryl Fairweather, the chief economist for Redfin.
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➤Statewide: Gas prices dropped last week to an average of $2.90 per gallon, down from $3.01 the week before and $3.12 a year ago. (More)
➤ Flagler County:The Flagler County Home Builders Association and others filed a suit on Wednesday seeking an immediate and permanent invalidation of new ordinances that enacted higher impact fees. (Details)
➤Gadsden County:President Trump sent a letter to Florida State University football player Ethan Pritchard, who was hurt in a Havana shooting in August, saying he would “never stop fighting to clean up our streets.” (See Letter)
➤Suwannee County: Flock cameras, a license plate reading system, have been installed by the sheriff’s department to help fight crime. (More)
➤Walton County:The county has spent $70 million to purchase beachfront property to build additional public beach access points thanks to Tourist Development Tax dollars. (Details)
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➤ No. 18 Florida State’s19-point fourth quarter wasn’t enough, as No. 3 Miami won 28-22, highlighted by a 44-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney. (Watch Video)
➤Floridaupset No. 9 Texas 29-21, intercepting Arch Manning twice. Dallas Wilson’s 55-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter put the Gators up two scores. (Watch Video)
➤UCF led Kansas 14-0 in the first half, but the Jayhawks rallied in the second half to beat the Knights 27-20. (Box Score)
➤The Miami Dolphins will face off with the Carolina Panthers today at 1 p.m., while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Seattle Seahawks in the later window in a matchup of 3-1 teams. (See schedule)
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➤ Gainesville’s airports were “all hands on deck” for their busiest weekend of the year, with over 200 private jets landing on Saturday at University Air Center and the Gainesville Regional Airport for the Florida vs. Texas game. (See Video)
➤Pop singerThe Weeknd has a contract to purchase a $54.9 million Coral Gables estate, complete with an enormous dock capable of housing a 200-foot superyacht. (See Pictures)
➤Abandoned Pet Rescue in Broward County is partnering with ARC Broward to care for abandoned animals while providing career opportunities for students with disabilities. One student said, “My right hand…won’t stand up well…I don’t let it stop me from helping.” (See Video)
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A Royal Caribbean cruise ship arrived at PortMiami Thursday morning following a 13-night trip in which dozens of passengers fell ill from a norovirus outbreak.
Have you ever eaten boiled peanuts from a Florida roadside stand?
FEMA Awards $608M to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
