Thursday, June 18, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1983, the space shuttle Challenger lifted off from Kennedy Space Center carrying Sally Ride, who became the first American woman in space. An estimated 500,000 people packed Florida’s Space Coast to watch.

A Fort Lauderdale neighborhood has become a favorite destination for a mango-loving monkey that keeps residents entertained with its fruit-snatching visits. See today’s Et Cetera section to learn how Maddie the monkey became the area’s most unexpected local celebrity.

Why are there suddenly dogs everywhere? The grocery cart, the coffee line, the seat next to you on the plane. More and more, the family dog is just part of the crew, tagging along wherever we go. You’ve probably noticed, and maybe you’re one of the folks who can’t bear to leave your furry friend at home. But underneath all those wagging tails is a real question. What do the rules actually say? Tune in to today’s Flyover Podcast as Ayla breaks down why pets are showing up everywhere, and what the law really says. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Particle Face Cream for Men, offers a simple 6-in-1 skincare solution designed to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, eye bags, and dark spots, helping men look more refreshed and confident in just minutes a day.

DeSantis Signs Five Crime Bills

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed five public-safety bills Tuesday in Winter Haven, declaring, We stand for law and order.

The centerpiece is the Officer Jason Raynor Act, honoring a Daytona Beach officer fatally shot in 2021. His killer received 30 years on a manslaughter conviction, the outcome the new mandatory life term is meant to prevent.

The other measures stiffen xylazine trafficking penalties, expand the career-offender registry, broaden gang statutes to cover social media, and raise repeat battery offenses to felonies. State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, cast one of four no votes.

ICE Empties Everglades Detention Facility

ICE has emptied the Everglades facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, transferring all remaining detainees and citing their safety as hurricane season begins.

The state-built, soft-sided camp opened in July 2025 to support President Trump’s immigration crackdown. Vendors were told in May that the site would wind down by June, with its roughly 1,400 detainees gone.

Environmental groups had sued over environmental review in the wetlands, and litigation records put operating costs near $1.2 million a day, with overall spending nearing $1 billion. Officials haven’t said whether the site will reopen.

Therapist finds 50+ Bats in Office

A Seminole County therapist discovered more than 50 bats roosting inside her office, an unsettling find that turned a routine workday into a wildlife problem.

Bats are common across Central Florida, where 13 native species often slip into attics, eaves, and walls. They are also protected, and in Florida, it is illegal to kill or harm them.

Getting them out won’t be quick. Maternity season runs through August 14, and state rules bar owners from evicting roosting bats without a permit until then.

Flying together with our sponsor

Women judge a man’s face in just a few seconds. And that tired, worn-out look you see in the mirror? She saw it before you sat down. Here’s the part that stings: nobody’s going to tell you.

So the years add up, and the signs of aging become harder to ignore, while the excuses stay the same. But now there’s Particle Face Cream, the 6-in-1 anti-aging solution that helps turn back what age does to a man’s face. It reduces eye bags, fades dark spots, and smooths wrinkles in about a minute a day. No needles.

No doctor visits. No fuss. Over 1,000,000 men already use it daily to look and feel their best. The only question left is whether you fix it now or wait another year.

Use code FLYOVER20 for 20% off + free shipping.

➤ Winter Park: Rising rents on Winter Park’s Park Avenue are forcing Tuni to leave its longtime storefront after 40 years, giving the boutique just 30 days to find a new location. (Read Story)

➤ Clay County: A woman walking her dog in Jennings State Forest fought off a man who grabbed her Tuesday morning and escaped. Sheriff Melissa Cook urged trail users to remain vigilant. (See Details)

➤ Bay County: Overdose deaths are declining faster than the national average as the sheriff’s office investigates every fatal overdose as a potential manslaughter case. (See Details)

➤ Volusia County: More than 700 sea turtle nests already dot local beaches, putting nesting season on a record pace with about five months still remaining. (See Details)

➤ Tallahassee: A new Build HER Florida summer camp is giving girls hands-on construction experience as the state’s booming building industry works to attract more women to skilled trades careers. (Read Story)

➤ Cape Coral: Police shut down a house party attended teenagers and arrested the 25-year-old host as authorities intensify efforts to curb summer youth crime. (See Details)

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

➤ Inter Miami star Lionel Messi scored the first World Cup hat trick of his career and matched Miroslav Klose’s tournament record with 16 goals as defending champion Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in its opener. (More)

➤ The Rays wrapped up their series in Los Angeles on Wednesday with Shane McClanahan facing Shohei Ohtani after dropping a 1-0 pitchers’ duel Tuesday despite seven strong innings and seven strikeouts from Drew Rasmussen. (Box Score)

➤ Kyle Stowers homered twice and drove in five runs as the Miami Marlins avoided a series sweep with a 12-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Freshman All-American left-handed pitcher Trey Morris committed to Florida baseball after transferring from Oregon State, joining pitching coach Rich Dorman, who also left Corvallis for Gainesville. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tossing and turning at night? The VelaSleep ergonomic pillow is designed to support proper neck and spine alignment, helping reduce pressure and improve sleep comfort. Its contoured design adapts to your sleeping position, promoting more restful nights and refreshed mornings. If you’re looking for better sleep without complicated solutions, VelaSleep may be worth a closer look.

➤ Miami-Dade commissioners voted to pursue eminent domain and force the sale of a Fisher Island fuel depot serving PortMiami after rejecting a developer’s $400 million asking price for property purchased last year for $180 million. (See Details)

➤ Orange County leaders opened 90 new affordable apartments at Emerald Villas in Pine Hills, advancing the redevelopment of a once-troubled site as rising rents continue to strain Central Florida families. (See Details)

➤ JetBlue will close crew and maintenance bases at Newark and LaGuardia this fall while expanding premium service in Fort Lauderdale as the airline shifts resources toward more profitable markets. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Need a simple place for your phone while driving? Try Cell Phone Seat, it doesn’t block your view, vents, or even your cup holder. It’s the easiest cell phone mount to install and use, plus it’s Made in America by Veterans! Get the two-pack discount, makes a great gift. (See video here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Men, every year you wait, the eye bags get heavier, the dark spots spread, and the wrinkles dig in deeper.

The good news? There’s an easy fix. Particle Face Cream reduces all three in about a minute a day. Built specifically for men’s skin and already trusted by over 1,000,000 men.

Don’t wait until the mirror stops being kind: Get it now for 20% off + free shipping with the code FLYOVER20.

➤ Ocala ranked as the nation’s fastest-growing metro area in a new U.S. Census report, posting 3.4% population growth in a year as retirees and other newcomers continue moving to Central Florida’s interior. (See Details)

➤ Miami Springs will unveil a bronze statue of founder and aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss, along with a walk-through monument modeled after his June Bug aircraft, as part of the city’s centennial celebration. (See Details)

➤ A runaway vervet monkey named Maddie has turned Fort Lauderdale’s backyard mango trees into her personal buffet, making off with fruit from residents, including former NBC correspondent Kerry Sanders. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Still using a cutting board that can trap odors, stains, and bacteria? The Tibo Titanium Cutting Board offers a durable, non-porous surface designed for everyday food prep. Resistant to scratches, easy to clean, and built to last, it’s a modern kitchen upgrade that helps keep meal preparation simple, hygienic, and hassle-free. (LEARN MORE)

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Who decided dogs belong in the grocery aisles, and why won’t anyone say no? (Listen Now)

➤ Peter Thiel’s secretive Dialog society has been exposed in a data leak naming its powerful members and revealing details they were promised would stay private. (Hear Details)

➤ A Chicago petition to rename the street beneath Trump Tower after Barack Obama has gathered more than 22,000 signatures. (Hear Story)