Good Morning! On this day in 1920, the City of Miami reached a deal with the estate of Henry Flagler to purchase seven blocks of bay front land—from NE Fourth Street to SE Second Street in downtown Miami—to build Bayfront Park.
When a For Sale sign unexpectedly appeared in front of a church in West Lake, 83-year-old Jerry Hicks, a member of the congregation, said it “took my heart out.” Find out more in Around Florida.
Imagine if the surgery your child desperately needed didn’t exist where you live. Today’s sponsor, Mercy Ships, brings that hope to life for families who once had nowhere else to turn.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 87/75° | Fort Myers ☁️ 92/75° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 88/72° | Key West ☁️ 86/80° | Miami 🌦️ 86/79° | Ocala ☀️ 91/70° | Orlando 🌤️ 91/73° | Pensacola 🌤️ 87/73° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 90/76° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 93/68° | Tampa 🌤️ 93/74°
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Nearly 250 Arrested in Human Trafficking Sting
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 246 suspects involved in human trafficking, prostitution, and child sexual exploitation in an operation dubbed “Fool Around and Find Out Again,” officials announced Friday.
“Prostitution is not a victimless crime—it results in human exploitation, misery, disease, dysfunction, drug and alcohol addiction, violence, and broken families,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Forty-six of the people arrested were in the country illegally, but the majority of those arrested were from Florida, with 37 from Polk County.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Breaks Records
Green sea turtles set a nesting record in Indian River County. As of Sept. 12, county monitors had counted 4,515 green sea turtle nests, topping the 4,105 logged in 2023.
County officials thanked the community for their help in keeping the turtles safe.
“Simple actions such as keeping a respectful distance from adult turtles and hatchlings, removing furniture and trash from the beach, and complying with the sea turtle lighting ordinance will make a big difference,” said Dakota Whelan, a coastal specialist for Indian River County.
Lake Okeechobee in South-Central Florida was named the dirtiest lake in the country by Lake.com due to high levels of lead and phosphorus, but some locals dispute that descriptor.
However, she does recognize that some cleanup is needed. “I believe dredging and clearing out that legacy muck would be very beneficial to Lake Okeechobee,” Gardner said.
When was the last time you had a doctor’s appointment? Perhaps you had to wait a few weeks or even months… But what if there was no appointment to be found? No doctors to treat you, and no healing possible? Sadly, this is the reality for many in the world:
Globally, 5 billion people lack access to surgical care
In sub-Saharan Africa, there is only one surgeon for every 200,000 people
For 45 years, Mercy Ships has been meeting this need. With state-of-the-art hospital ships, they provide safe surgery to children and adults living with treatable conditions—and it’s completely free of charge.
One of those children is Umu, who was born with a dangerous tumor on her neck. As she grew, eating became more difficult. Her mother, Yei, worried that soon breathing would get harder.
As Umu’s family searched for help, the tumor continued to grow. Surgery felt unreachable—until hope arrived!
➤Statewide: The University of South Florida College Republicans and the Pinellas County Young Republicans filed a federal lawsuit last week arguing that improper statistical methods were used in the 2020 U.S. census. (Details)
➤Lake County: A man shot and killed a bear that became trapped inside his home on Friday, saying it was “pure fear for me.” (See Interview)
➤Orange County: The Apopka City Council on Wednesday approved an increase in its rates for water, wastewater, and reclaimed water. Rates will climb 15.5% in 2026, 9% in 2027 and 6% each in 2028 and 2029. (More)
➤Brevard County: SpaceX is partnering with NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and state agencies to upgrade infrastructure, including improving roads and utilities, with the goal of increasing the number of launches possible. (More)
➤South Florida: House of God is selling five churches located in West Park, Miami, Dania Beach, Miami Gardens, and Pompano Beach, at below-market rates with no prior notice to congregations. (Details)
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➤ No. 4 Miami hosted Florida at Hard Rock Stadium, renewing their in-state rivalry. The unbeaten Hurricanes sought to remain perfect after multiple ranked wins, while the Gators hoped to bounce back from consecutive losses. (Box Score)
➤ UCF’sdefense intercepted two passes, as the Knights blew out Bill Belichick’s North Carolina 34-9. Florida State hammered Kent State 66-10. (See Scores)
➤The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the New York Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Houston Texans amid a packed NFL Sunday slate today. (See Schedule)
➤The Tampa Bay Rays were eliminated from MLB postseason contention on Friday night after falling 11-7 in a heavily offensive game. (More)
One day, Umu’s mother heard about Mercy Ships and the chance for her daughter to receive free surgery.
Hoping to find help, Umu’s family traveled to the hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, and met with doctors. Realizing the severity of the young girl’s situation, they jumped into action.
The tumor was removed, likely saving Umu’s life. She has since been able to eat more easily, and her health is improving. Today, she and her family can let go of fear and embrace a future filled with hope.
➤ Kids with autism get to be sailors with Spectrum Sailing Camp in Sarasota, learning teamwork and problem-solving skills through the four-year-old program. (See Video)
➤A new exhibit at Pensacola’s Naval Aviation Museum honors Vietnam War prisoners of war and their families by sharing personal experiences, with one wife remembering, “The loneliness, the not knowing, trying to raise children without a husband.” (See Photos)
➤A historian in Pasco County is sharing “haunted folklore and ghostly legends” on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Richey Suncoast Theatre in downtown New Port Richey. (Details)
Nearly 250 Arrested in Human Trafficking Sting
