Good Morning! On this day in 1966, Hurricane Alma made landfall near Florida’s Apalachee Bay, the earliest U.S. hurricane landfall in more than a century.
Did you feel the ground move yesterday? A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Cuba, with tremors being felt from Tampa Bay to Orlando to Jacksonville. See the story in Around Florida below for details, and let us know if you got shook in the Poll.
Doctors say five signs reveal whether you’re aging well, and catching them early could change how the rest of your life goes. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla breaks down each one, plus what you can start doing at any age to make sure you’re hitting the mark. Tune in here!
If shedding extra pounds and feeling your best this summer is on your agenda, today’s sponsor, Direct Meds, is offering $150 off your first order of doctor-supervised GLP-1 weight-loss treatment delivered right to your door.
Daytona Beach ⛅ 84°/75° | Ft. Myers 🌦️ 93°/75° | Jacksonville ☁️ 86°/74° | Key West ☁️ 86°/81° | Miami ⛅ 87°/80° | Ocala 🌤️ 90°/71° | Orlando ⛅ 90°/74° | Pensacola ⛅ 87°/74° | Port St. Lucie ⛅ 88°/75° | Tallahassee ☁️ 90°/70° | Tampa ⛅ 92°/76°
Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.
USAA Sending Florida Members $1B
USAA announced Monday it will return nearly $1 billion to eligible Florida members, a direct result of the state’s 2023 tort reform legislation.
The military-focused insurer will distribute a $500 million dividend to approximately 830,000 members who held USAA auto policies between 2023 and 2025. The average payment will be about $760, with more than a quarter of eligible members receiving over $1,000.
Eligible current Florida auto policyholders are expected to begin receiving payments starting June 15. The remaining savings come from reduced premiums tied to falling litigation costs.
USAA credited Florida’s 2023 tort reforms—which shortened the statute of limitations, eliminated phantom damages, and ended one-way attorney fee awards—for driving down legal costs and making the returns possible.
Flight Attendant’s Death Ruled Vessel Strike
Broward County investigators confirmed Sunday that injuries to Kellie Melinda Williams, the 31-year-old American Airlines flight attendant found dead at Hollywood Beach, are consistent with being struck by a vessel.
Williams’ body was discovered on June 3 around 8 p.m. by two fishermen in the surf near North Boardwalk and Thomas Street on Hollywood Beach. Investigators believe she had been snorkeling or diving near Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park when she was struck. Her body was found several miles from that location.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation alongside the Hollywood Police Department. No vessel or operator has been identified. The investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed.
Florida Acts as Screwworm Spreads in the Southwest
Florida launched emergency livestock restrictions this week after the New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite eradicated from U.S. soil in 1966—was confirmed in Texas for the first time in roughly 60 years.
The USDA has now confirmed five cases: three calves and a goat in Texas and a dog from neighboring Lea County, New Mexico. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster, and President Trump appointed Texas A&M Regent John Bellinger as senior adviser for screwworm preparedness.
Canada’s Food Inspection Agency responded by banning livestock imports from affected U.S. areas, and Florida’s emergency rules now require veterinary inspections and movement documentation for animals entering from affected regions.
Flying together with our sponsor
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➤ Statewide: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba on Monday, sending tremors felt across Florida from the Tampa Bay area to Jacksonville. The USGS traced the quake’s origin to about 65 miles west-northwest of Mantua, Cuba. No tsunami threat to Florida beaches was reported. (More)
➤ Statewide: Starting in 2027, Florida driver’s licenses and state IDs will display the holder’s citizenship status, making Florida the first state with this requirement under a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. (More)
➤ Orlando: City leaders are weighing a temporary moratorium on historic preservation rules in select downtown areas. Backers say it would unlock investment; critics warn it risks erasing the city’s architectural character. (More)
➤ New Smyrna Beach: Volusia County deputies and bystanders pulled a 68-year-old woman from the ocean Saturday after she was found floating face-down and unresponsive. They performed CPR on the scene. She was later hospitalized in stable condition. (See Video)
➤ Miami: The University of Miami opened a $5 million bioprinting lab where researchers use living cells and biomaterials to 3D-print tissue, bone, and other structures. (More)
➤ Fort Lauderdale: Florida Highway Patrol arrested a woman clocked at 131 mph on the Turnpike while allegedly driving drunk. (More)
➤ Boca Raton: A new Florida Atlantic University study found that older Florida men die from melanoma at nearly twice the rate of women. Researchers cite late diagnoses and low sunscreen use among men as key factors. (More)
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➤ The Miami Marlins secured their weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-1 win on Sunday. The two have now split the season series at three wins apiece. (More)
➤ Four-star linebacker Ellis McGaskin committed to Florida over Florida State this weekend. He’s the Gators’ fifth pledge since the start of June. (More)
➤ Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes denied reports that Lionel Messi tried to recruit him to Inter Miami this offseason: “I haven’t spoken to anyone, and Leo didn’t text me either.” (More)
➤ Miami Heat games will continue airing free on over-the-air TV in South Florida next season after the team and WPLG Local 10 announced an expanded broadcast deal. (More)
➤ FSU softball signee McLaine Hudson was named the Kentucky Gatorade Softball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-4 shortstop is the state’s all-time career hits leader and a top-five overall recruit in the 2026 class. (More)
➤ Struggling to unwind at the end of the day? Baloo’s premium weighted blanket is designed to promote deeper relaxation and more restful sleep with the gentle, calming pressure of natural weight. Made from soft, breathable cotton and free of synthetic fillers, it’s the perfect way to recharge, reduce stress, and wake up feeling refreshed. (SHOP NOW)
➤ Florida gas prices fell for a second straight week, dropping 27 cents in seven days to a statewide average of $3.80 per gallon, according to AAA. (More)
➤ Chick-fil-A is opening its first Florida ghost kitchen in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood—a delivery-only location with no dining room, operating through DoorDash and Uber Eats. (More)
➤ The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is warning Facebook Marketplace users to take extra precautions after a spike in deals gone wrong, including a string of dirt bike thefts. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
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Flying together with our sponsor
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➤ SpaceX booster B1067 completed a record-breaking 35th flight, lifting 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in a breathtaking pre-dawn launch visible up and down the Space Coast. (See Video)
➤ Tyon Newsome became the first man in his family to graduate from high school, and his uncle’s tearful, heartfelt reaction at the ceremony has gone viral. (More)
➤ Josh Fiedler, who grew up in West Kendall, is one of the producers of Giant, the Broadway play starring John Lithgow that just landed four Tony Award nominations. (More)
➤ U.S. News ranked 22 Florida cities in its 2026-2027 Best Places to Live list, with Parkland leading the Sunshine State. (More)
USAA Sending Florida Members $1B
