Election Day Arrives

Polls open at 7 a.m. local time today as Florida voters choose a governor and U.S. senator and weigh congressional races, county seats, and several amendments.

Anyone in line by the 7 p.m. closing time can vote. Voters need a photo ID with a signature at their assigned precinct. Statewide, Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $250,000 by 2028 and would need 60% to pass.

Gubernatorial candidates Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly crisscrossed the state Monday for final rallies. Donalds pledged to lower insurance and construction costs, while Jolly said that the “economy should work for everyone.”

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Sen. Ashley Moody faces Democrat Angie Nixon, and several polls show both top races tight. Republicans cast 133,102 more ballots than Democrats in early and mail voting, a 2.5-point edge, while Donalds outraised Jolly $174 million to around $27 million.

Texas Family among Learjet Crash Dead

A Texas tech entrepreneur, his wife, their two young children, the kids’ nanny, and two family friends were the seven passengers killed in Sunday’s Learjet crash in Greenacres, relatives said in a statement.

Adam Robinson died with his wife, Helen Sharp, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Sharp’s father called the loss “quite a blow.”

Pilot Jeff Gregory and 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras also died. Moments earlier, the crew reported “managing the ice” in moderate turbulence, then radioed a mayday as the jet plunged more than 22,000 feet per minute.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said Monday the jet may have started breaking apart before impact. It exploded into a fireball beside a road near a mobile home park, forcing about 600 people from their homes.

FSU Interim Coach: ‘We’re Close’

Following the firing of Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, interim coach Rick Stockstill said Monday the 3-5 Seminoles are “close” to winning again, vowing to give his alma mater “everything I have” over the season’s final four games, starting Saturday at Boston College.

“It’s not broke. We got some dents in it we got to get fixed,” said Stockstill, who played quarterback at FSU from 1977 to 1981 and spent 18 years as Middle Tennessee State’s head coach.

Possible replacements for Norvell include Duke’s Manny Diaz, a former FSU graduate assistant under Bobby Bowden, and Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert, whose team is 7-1. Former coach Jimbo Fisher, who won a national title in Tallahassee, is a wild card.

Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, who signed a six-year, $64.5 million deal last year, is another top name and would owe Missouri $5 million to leave before Dec. 1. The cost of any hire will come on top of Norvell’s buyout of roughly $50 million.

Flying together with our sponsor

18 Costco Shopping Secrets That Could Save You Serious Money

Think you know all the tricks to saving money at Costco? Think again! Even longtime members may be missing out on hidden discounts, special pricing codes, and little-known perks that could make their membership even more valuable.

From spotting clearance deals to understanding what those mysterious numbers on price tags really mean, these clever shopping hacks can help you stretch your dollars further. FinanceBuzz has uncovered 18 Costco secrets every shopper should know before their next warehouse visit.

Discover These 18 Costco Money-Saving Secrets Here >>

➤ Jacksonville: The Florida Supreme Court suspended attorney Chuck Farah Jr. for 90 days over thousands of 2008 tobacco lawsuits, some filed for people who had died or never authorized them. A federal court earlier ordered him to give up $2.16 million in legal fees. (More)

➤ Titusville: The city began releasing treated wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon Monday after overnight rain pushed its sewer system to capacity. Officials said it isn’t raw sewage and asked residents to hold off on laundry, dishwashers, and long showers. (More)

➤ Hollywood: Casino security found three children sweating inside a parked Jeep that wasn’t running at the Seminole Classic Casino around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, while their mother and a man gambled inside. Police arrested both. (More)

➤ Quincy: Police Chief Brian Alexander returned to work Monday after a three-month unpaid suspension tied to his DUI arrest in July, a month after he was sworn in. The city manager called it a “momentary lapse in judgment.” (More)

➤ Atlantic Coast: King tides could push water into low-lying streets again Nov. 22-29, during Thanksgiving week. Virginia Key, near Miami, recently logged 10 straight days of moderate tidal flooding, its highest water levels outside major hurricanes like Irma. (See Forecast)

➤ Venice: Police drone and marine units found a swimmer 1.5 miles off the Venice Fishing Pier after nearly two hours in the Gulf. The swimmer was evaluated and released at the scene. (More)

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

➤ Thomas Haugh posted 19 points and 10 rebounds as No. 1 Florida opened its season with a 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami on Monday night in Tampa. The preseason SEC Player of the Year didn’t commit a turnover. (More)

➤ The Orlando Magic hosted more than 2,500 active and retired service members and their families last night in a game against Washington for the 23rd annual Seats for Soldiers night. Five dollars from every ticket went toward building homes for severely injured veterans. The Magic lost to the Wizards 103-94. (More)

➤ The Florida Panthers debuted their Hometown Remix jerseys last night against Detroit, a sunrise-inspired look in coral, yellow, and orange designed for South Florida. They’ll wear them for 10 home games this season, including two against Tampa Bay. The Panthers lost to the Red Wings 5-3. (See Jerseys)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Tennis | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The 9-Cent Grocery Item Your Cardiologist Never Mentions. A study in the European Heart Journal linked a common grocery-store item to 41% fewer fatal heart events. It costs about nine cents, and most people walk past it every week. So why hasn’t your doctor brought it up? It isn’t a drug, so no drug rep ever puts it on their desk. And the few people who do find it often take far too little. See what it is (and how much to take)

➤ Infinity Auto Insurance will refund more than $46 million in excess profits to Florida policyholders within 60 days, regulators announced. The money covers 2023 through 2025, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky said more auto insurers are nearing the refund threshold. (More)

➤ Northwest Florida veterans and spouses who qualify can get free training to start or grow a business through a new Northwest Florida State College and Veterans Florida program. Workshops begin Nov. 4, followed by a six-month class starting Jan. 27. (More)

➤ Florida’s residency rules, which bar many registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, child care centers, parks, and playgrounds, are helping push offenders into clusters in some Orlando neighborhoods, an investigation found. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Looking for your next favorite gadget? Explore this roundup of gadgets sold on Amazon and find inspiration for your shopping list. Whether you’re browsing for yourself or hunting for a gift, take a look through the featured picks. Your next discovery could be a click away.

Flying together with our sponsor

Costco Shoppers: Don’t Miss These 18 Money-Saving Secrets!

You might love shopping at Costco, but are you getting the most out of your membership? From hidden clearance deals to secret price tag codes, there are clever ways to save that even longtime shoppers overlook.

FinanceBuzz reveals 18 Costco shopping hacks that could help you keep more money in your pocket.

See All 18 Costco Money-Saving Secrets Here >>

➤ Palm Bay kayakers took to flooded streets at Forgal Avenue and Boeing Street, paddling through water where cars usually drive. Resident Robin Ryon caught the scene on video. (See Video)

➤ Stone crab season is open in the Keys, and Marathon’s 15th annual crab-eating contest took place on Saturday. Cooper City’s Timothy Sadowsky cracked and ate 25 claws in 16 minutes, 39 seconds. He’d practiced on 10 pounds of stone crab. (More)

➤ Sea turtles dug 4,928 nests on Sarasota County beaches this season, Mote Marine Laboratory’s 35-mile count from Longboat Key to Venice found. Loggerheads made 4,732 nests; green turtles made the rest. (See Count)

➤ A Gainesville teacher who wears a costume to her third-grade class every Friday was awarded $500. Gina Rivera has spent 13 of her 17 teaching years at Talbot Elementary, where her daughter is a student. (Meet Teacher)

➤ HBCU marching bands will take the field Jan. 16 at FAU’s Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton as the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands returns to South Florida over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. (See Showcase)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Simplify your brushing routine with the Sonic Glow Brush. Its soft, U-shaped mouthpiece uses sonic vibrations to clean teeth simultaneously, with cycles as short as 30 seconds. Featuring multiple cleaning modes and a rechargeable battery, it’s convenient for home or travel. See how it works today.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Blood pressure readings can be inflated by seven everyday mistakes, and one can add nearly 20 points. (See Mistakes)

➤ As food prices continue to outpace the Fed’s target, planners say one weekly habit could shrink your grocery bill. (Hear Tip)

➤ Prosecutors are pushing to retry Lindsay Clancy for her three children’s deaths after a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial. (Listen Now)

How many stone crab claws could you eat in 16 minutes?

1. 10 or fewer
2. 11 to 25
3. I’d beat 25
4. None, not a fan

Yesterday’s Results:

Could you build something that flies 39 feet?

1. With the right team: 46%
2. Definitely: 26%
3. Probably not: 17%
4. Wouldn’t leave the ramp: 11%

How many electoral votes does Florida have?

Show me the answer