Good Morning! On this day in 1927, The St. Petersburg Times declared the city was enjoying its “greatest and most prosperous tourist season” with a tourist population of 125,000 compared to 80,000 permanent residents.
The annual celebration of all things strawberry—Plant City’s Florida Strawberry Festival—starts today and runs until March 8. Here’s a guide to all the food, fun, music, and shopping. Reply to this email to tell us about your favorite Florida festival.
What do the Clintons have to do with the Epstein investigation? In today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown covers why Hillary and Bill Clinton are set to testify behind closed doors, and what lawmakers say they’re looking for in the records. Watch to learn more.
Later today, keep an eye on your email inbox for a partner message from EnergyX on how the lithium revolution is creating new investment opportunities.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, explains why surging demand for physical silver is putting retirement savings at risk—and how a free Wealth Protection Guide can show you ways to legally diversify with gold and silver.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 79/59° | Fort Myers 🌤️ 83/64° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 79/60° | Key West 🌤️ 78/71° | Miami 🌤️ 78/71° | Ocala 🌤️ 81/57° | Orlando 🌤️ 82/61° | Pensacola 🌦️ 74/63° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 82/63° | Tallahassee 🌦️ 74/61° | Tampa 🌤️ 80/62°
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Wildfires Burning Near Everglades
Fire crews are battling two separate wildfires that started on Sunday near the Everglades in Collier County, as many in South Florida see the smoke and feel its effects.
Officials are calling the two blazes the Grand Fire and the National Fire as they continue burning within the Big Cypress National Preserve. As of Wednesday, the Grand Fire had burned less than 5 acres, while the National Fire had burned between 15,000 and 25,000 acres and was 0% contained.
The National Fire chewed through dried brush near State Road 29 and had blocked a lane on I-75 eastbound.
Smoke from the two fires reduced visibility along Alligator Alley and Tamiami Trail. Some of that smoke has moved into parts of Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys.
Breeze Airways Expands Florida Routes
Discount carrier Breeze Airways announced on Tuesday that it has added direct flights to and from Tallahassee, expanded its intra-Florida network, and added nonstop routes to more than a dozen cities. See the list here.
The expanded intra-Florida network introduced flights to Tallahassee, Tampa, and Jacksonville out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), all starting in July.
Five other cities were added from FLL, including Birmingham, Alabama; Salisbury, Maryland; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania; and several in South Carolina.
Also starting in July, travelers will be able to fly nonstop from Tampa International Airport to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Columbus, Ohio.
Florida’s Most Neighborly Towns
WorldAtlas named the 10 most neighborly towns in Florida, with unhurried, walkable downtowns and calm waterfronts. With a focus on underrated vacation towns, the list includes waterfront escapes and artistic enclaves.
The Panhandle’s Apalachicola is described as “a lively, historic fishing town that has preserved its old-world charm.” Fernandina Beach and St. Augustine, in Northeastern Florida, are both praised for their scenic views and water culture.
In Central Florida, DeLand, Mount Dora, and Winter Park are known for their inland cultural scenes, vibrant communities, and shopping. While Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, both located on the Treasure Coast, provide an escape on the Indian River Lagoon.
In South Florida, Venice and Key West are celebrated for their beaches and laid-back vibe. The natural beauty of the Gulf provides both towns with beautiful sunsets.
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Silver’s Rise Can Make or Break Your Retirement
It has surged over 300% over the past 12 months. It’s crucial to the AI revolution, but demand is far outstripping supply. It has become a go-to safe haven asset for global institutions, Wall Street investors, and everyday Americans as the economy becomes more unhinged. And before this current run-up, almost no one gave it a second thought.
Retirement savings like 401(k)s and pension plans are growing increasingly vulnerable. A bursting stock bubble, a collapsing dollar, or one conflict halfway around the world can send your funds’ value plummeting.
You can protect that value with physical silver. Thanks to an IRS loophole, you can legally transfer the value of your 401(k), TSP, Pension, or IRA into physical silver and gold.
Silver is unique among commodities, with soaring demand from investors and industry. And its 6-year supply deficit gives price a solid floor and no ceiling. Bank of America said silver could break $300 this year. Don’t miss this opportunity to fortify your finances with vital physical assets.
➤ Starke: Melvin Trotter, 65, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday in the state’s second execution of 2026. Trotter was sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of Virgie Langford, a 70-year-old who ran a mom-and-pop grocery store in Palmetto along Florida’s Gulf Coast. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, an Atlantic Coast Republican, filed the Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act, which would withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that ban dog ownership. (More)
➤ Manatee County: Commissioners approved a grant of up to $2 million to help rebuild the Anna Maria City Pier, a $7-$8 million project. (More)
➤ Tampa: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted on Tuesday to give Hillsborough College 22 acres of nonconservation land for a Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium to be built at the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus, which would also include a mixed-use entertainment district and renovated college buildings. (More)
➤ Orange City: Officials documented 101 dead and 17 sick vultures at Blue Spring State Park. Preliminary lab tests came back tentatively positive for bird flu, but further testing is required to confirm the diagnosis. (More)
➤ Mount Dora: Businesses are preparing for their annual slow season, as snowbirds are expected to start heading north in March. (More)
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➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars will play two games in London this season, one at Wembley Stadium and the other at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (More)
➤Former Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden will serve as Grand Marshal of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, calling on racers to start their engines, along with other ceremonial duties. (More)
➤ Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said that “all options are on the table” regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s role with the team, which presumably includes trading or cutting him. (More)
➤ The Minnesota Vikings hired UCF defensive backs coach Will Johnson. (More)
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➤ Dania Beach-based Spirit Airlines reached a deal with creditors to allow the struggling budget carrier to exit bankruptcy and stay in business as a much smaller airline, operating mostly older Airbus aircraft flights during high-demand travel periods on popular routes. (More)
➤Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando was sold as part of a $1.1 billion deal that included a Four Seasons property in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. (More)
➤ The Florida Strawberry Festival, which starts today and runs until March 8, is set to bring a needed boost to Plant City businesses, drawing thousands of visitors to the area. (More)
➤ Freebee, the largest provider of microtransit in Florida, is accelerating growth across the state, with plans for a national expansion. (More)
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Inflation is rising, recession is looming, and the stock market bubble looks ready to burst. While dollar-denominated assets like stocks and bonds could plummet, physical gold owners could soon be celebrating.
President Trump’s proposed “Gold Reset” could mark America’s greatest wealth creation event in nearly a century. This historic move would revalue the nation’s gold reserves overnight, catapulting owners of physical gold to new heights as the value of government gold skyrockets 9,000%.
➤ Lakeland is America’s fastest-growing boomtown, according to a report by moveBuddha. Also on the list: Cape Coral (No. 4), Orlando (No. 5), Jacksonville (No. 7), and Deltona (No. 8). (See List)
➤ Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando is adding a high-concept character meet and greet attraction, called Off the Page!, as part of a larger experience about Disney animation. It’s scheduled to open this summer. (See Photos)
➤ The 27th annual Delray Beach Garlic Fest is back in Delray Beach after 10 years in other cities. The “Best Stinkin’ Party in South Florida” will be held Feb. 28 and March 1, with bands, chef demos, and garlic ice cream. (See Video)
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Wildfires Burning Near Everglades
