Good Morning! On this day in 1982, the Florida Keys seceded from the Union and created the Conch Republic. Mayor Dennis Wardlow named himself prime minister and declared war on the United States.
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Daytona Beach 🌤️ 82/67° | Ft. Myers 🌤️ 91/66° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 87/67° | Key West 🌤️ 81/75° | Miami 🌤️ 82/74° | Ocala 🌤️ 91/64° | Orlando 🌤️ 90/67° | Pensacola 🌤️ 79/67° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 84/68° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 89/63° | Tampa 🌤️ 91/67°
Gage’s Law Ready for Signing
The House and Senate have unanimously approved measures that would require hospitals to test for fentanyl in cases of suspected overdose or poisoning, with the bill awaiting the governor’s signature.
Known as Gage’s Law, the bill is named in memory of Gage Austin Taylor, a 29-year-old Orlando man who died in 2022 after he unknowingly consumed fentanyl and was sent home from the hospital without being tested for it. He later died as a result.
The bill would require healthcare professionals to test a patient’s urine for fentanyl, ensuring consistent lifesaving care across the state. College campus emergency departments would also be required to test urine and conduct follow-up testing as appropriate.
Florida has the second-highest number of fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. The drug claimed the lives of over 5,000 Floridians in 2022.
Fleet Week Sails into Fort Lauderdale
The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa and three Navy ships—amphibious landing ship USS New York, submarine USS New Hampshire, and guided-missile destroyer USS Cole—arrived at Port Everglades on Tuesday for the start of Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale.
After celebrating in Miami last year, Fleet Week is back in the Venice of America. The recruiting event includes celebrations honoring the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
About 1,200 service members will participate in activities through April 30, including a Marlins’ game, tagging sharks, the Top Gun Olympics, Dancing with the Stars and Stripes, and a chili cook-off. Crews will also give public tours of their ships.
Beach Town Deemed Charming
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island has been named one of the most charming downtowns in the U.S. by the home improvement network HGTV.
The only Florida city named on the list of The 40 Most Charming Small-Town Downtowns in America, Fernandina Beach is described as having a “delightful 50-block historic district that has something for everyone.”
Athens and Dahlonega in Georgia, Concord in North Carolina, and Middleburg and Charlottesville in Virginia also made the list.
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➤Orange County: A Delta Air Lines plane experienced an engine fire on Monday before takeoff at Orlando International Airport, forcing the evacuation of 282 passengers. No injuries were reported. (Watch Video)
➤ Palm Beach: The Basilica of St. Edward welcomed the community for a day of tribute and reflection to mourn the passing of Pope Francis. (See Photos)
➤ Tallahassee: Two of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent nominees for top agency positions, who were both questioned by lawmakers over the Hope Florida initiative, appear unlikely to win confirmation this session from the Florida Senate. (More)
➤ Fort Lauderdale: Officials held a rip current safety demonstration following a recent string of incidents. (Watch Video)
➤ Miami-Dade: Operation Green Light, a suspended license reinstatement initiative, launched Monday and runs through May 4. Collection fees are waived for drivers with outstanding traffic fees, parking fines, and criminal court costs. (More)
➤ Hillsborough County: Tampa native and retired WWE superstar Dave Bautista was named an honorary deputy sheriff of the county. (See Photo)
➤ The Florida Panthers topped the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 Tuesday night in Game 1 of their first-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They go again tomorrow night. (More)
➤ The Miami Hurricanes flipped five-star high school basketball prospect Shelton Henderson from Duke. Henderson was recruited heavily by coach Jai Lucas last season while he was still an assistant for the Blue Devils. (More)
➤University of Florida’s women’s lacrosse team, ranked No. 4, beat Cincinnati 20-2 last Saturday, extending their win streak to 11. The Gators will host Arizona State this Saturday. (More)
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➤ Former NFL player Morgan Kane launched his own Orlando-based mobile gaming studio, Marauder Tech Games. Price of Glory, the studio’s first game, is set to release later this year. (More)
➤The University of Central Florida Athletics Association filed a lawsuit against Core Group Real Estate, its former real estate partner, alleging “breach of a written contract.” (More)
➤Mangrove Property Insurance has assumed 30,000 policies from Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance as part of the state’s ongoing depopulation efforts. Mangrove is authorized to assume up to 81,040 policies between April and June. (More)
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➤ Universal Orlando reinstalled the statue of Lew Wasserman, former MCA Inc. president, at its new home next to the Universal Studios Florida lagoon. (See Photos)
➤ An 85-year-old bodybuilder from Daytona Beach has beaten cancer and continues to overcome physical challenges. (Watch Video)
➤ A New Smyrna Beach resident has offered to sell her home to make way for a flood mitigation project that would protect her neighbors. (More)
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Gage’s Law Ready for Signing
