Good Morning! On this day in 1938, Deacon Jones, one of the most decorated players in NFL history, was born in Eatonville. Jones played for the Los Angeles Rams, the San Diego Chargers, and the then-Washington Redskins.
The lack of hurricanes this year has been great, but it has also contributed to severe drought conditions across much of Florida, with the Panhandle experiencing its worst drought in over a decade. You can see a map of current drought conditions here.
Later today, we’ll send you a quick Brad’s Deals roundup of Amazon Prime perks you might be missing this holiday season.
If you’re still hunting for the right gift, The Flyover Christmas Guide is the easiest place to finish your list.
If you’ve ever wished there were a safer, simpler way to spare kids from painful wisdom-tooth surgery, today’s sponsor, TriAgenics, is turning that hope into a breakthrough opportunity—with major implications for families, dentists, and investors alike.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 65/55° | Fort Myers 🌤️ 74/58° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 57/41° | Key West ☁️ 76/71° | Miami 🌧️ 75/69° | Ocala 🌤️ 65/44° | Orlando 🌤️ 68/52° | Pensacola ☀️ 55/45° | Port St. Lucie 🌥️ 73/59° | Tallahassee ☀️ 57/33° | Tampa 🌤️ 69/53°
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Miami Mayoral Election Draws National Attention
Voters in Miami go to the polls today to decide a runoff election for mayor that has drawn unusual national attention for a municipal race. It has been nearly 30 years since a Democrat held the mayor’s office in Miami, and commentators are calling the race a test of the nation’s political mood.
Although technically a non-partisan election, President Trump and other Florida Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have endorsed the conservative candidate, former city manager Emilio Gonzalez.
Nationally known Democrats, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have offered support on behalf of Eileen Higgins, a Democrat who served on the county commission before winning a runoff spot last month.
In the first-round vote held Nov. 4, none of the 13 candidates secured over 50% of the votes, prompting a runoff between the top two finishers. Higgins led with about 36% of the vote, while Gonzalez placed second with roughly 20%.
Early voting data shows that more than 8,700 registered Democrats had voted as of Sunday, compared with nearly 7,200 Republicans. A majority of the votes were cast via mail. The city of Miami reports that there are about 175,000 active, eligible voters.
Kristi Noem Rewards Tampa TSA
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was in Tampa on Monday to present 25 TSA workers with $10,000 bonus checks for working without pay during the government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12.
The checks are going to TSA workers around the country who were nominated for exemplary service by their supervisors and leadership.
Noem was asked at the event about a report that President Trump may be considering replacing her. The White House has rejected the report, and Noem said she hasn’t heard anything about it and is pleased to continue serving at the president’s pleasure.
Fishback faces allegations from former employee and ex-fiancée Keinah Fort that he began a relationship with her when she was 17 and later harassed her. The filings detail a turbulent relationship, while Fishback denies any misconduct.
Also, when Fishback, an investment firm executive, announced his bid for governor, he referred to Donalds as a “slave.” If elected, Donalds would be the first black governor of Florida.
“I called him that because he’s a slave to corporate donors and to foreign interest. If Byron Donalds wants me to stop calling him that, he should return the $30 million he took from corporate PACs all across this country,” Fishback said about the remark.
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➤ Senate District 11: Voters in Hernando, Sumter, Citrus, and northwest Pasco counties head to the polls today to decide a special election between Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. and Democrat Ash Marwah to fill the vacancy created by Blaise Ingoglia’s appointment as chief financial officer. (More)
➤ House District 90: Voters in parts of Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and nearby municipalities will vote today to select a new state representative, filling the seat left by the death of Rep. Joe Casello. The three-way race is between Democrat Rob Long, Republican Maria Zack, and Independent Karen Yeh. (More)
➤ Statewide: A group of Freedom High School students from Tampa, who lost a classmate last year to an e-bike accident, helped State Rep. Susan Valdes, R-District 64, file House Bill 667, which would require helmets for all e-bike riders under 18. (More)
➤ Lee and Nassau Counties: Two more cases of Vibrio vulnificus, the infection nicknamed the “flesh-eating bacteria,” have been reported by the Florida Department of Health. Statewide, 33 cases have been reported this year. (More)
➤ Palatka: Routine water sampling showed elevated levels of lead in the drinking water of 10% of homes in town. City officials have issued a notice urging all residents, especially those living in homes built before 1986, to take steps to reduce lead exposure. (More)
➤ St. Augustine: Police Chief Jennifer Michaux will retire on Jan. 13. The city’s first female police chief, Michaux is retiring after five years as sheriff and more than 30 years in law enforcement. (See Photo)
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➤ Florida State defeated Stanford 1-0 last night to take home the 2025 NCAA women’s soccer tournament championship. (More)
➤ USF will play Old Dominion in Orlando on December 17 in the Cure Bowl, while FIU plays UTSA in the First Responder Bowl on December 26. (See Bowl Game Schedule)
➤The Florida Gators men’s basketball team fell three spots to No. 18 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. (See Poll)
➤ The Tampa Bay Rays signed outfielder Cedric Mullins to a one-year, $7.5 million contract. Mullins hit .216 last year, splitting time between the Orioles and Mets. (More)
➤ The Weight‑Loss Breakthrough Doctors actually recommend… delivered to your door. Discover how Eden connects you with licensed providers for personalized GLP-1 treatment, offering tailored care, seamless home delivery, and expert support designed to help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals. (LEARN MORE)
➤ Grocery chain Aldi is launching over a dozen new Florida stores in December, with eight scheduled to open on Thursday. The chain aims to open 225 new stores nationwide in 2025. (More)
➤ Visit Jacksonville says medical tourism is consistently one of the top five reasons people visit the River City, accounting for about 200,000 hotel room nights this year. (More)
➤ Orlando International Airport (MCO) has partnered with U.S. Border Patrol and Customs for a 90-day pilot program to evaluate three different facial recognition systems. The biometric technology is intended to enhance safety for the more than 56 million people who pass through annually. (More)
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➤ Long-term care isn’t always fully covered by Medicare. Nearly half of Americans over 65 will need long-term care, but Medicare usually doesn’t cover it. See how you can bridge the gap before Medicare enrollment ends on Dec. 7 with Money’s list of the best Long-Term Care Insurance providers.
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➤ Gov. Ron DeSantis paid an unannounced visit to Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville in Staten Island, New York, on Friday. DeSantis told the crowd that Floridians often liken Staten Island to a borough of Florida because the politics are so similar. (More)
➤ Teens with vision loss, members of Lighthouse Central Florida’s teen transition program, hosted a holiday food drive for the Orlando food bank. (See Video)
➤ LEGOLAND Florida in Orlando will open Galacticoaster on Feb. 27, its first new roller coaster to open inside the main theme park since the resort’s debut in 2011. (More)
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Miami Mayoral Election Draws National Attention
