Good Morning! On this day in 1993, the Florida Marlins introduced Billy, the team mascot. Wayne Huizenga, the team’s original owner, chose “Billy” because he wanted something easy to remember but still different from the other mascots.
If the skies are clear on Saturday, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be visible to the naked eye in Florida. Glimpsing Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope.
This planetary parade happens when multiple planets appear to line up in the sky at once. Reply to let us know if you plan to planet-gaze this weekend.
Be sure to check out these nine hidden perks of your Amazon Prime Membership from today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 71/50° | Fort Myers ☀️ 74/53° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 72/51° | Key West 🌤️ 75/70° | Miami 🌤️ 74/67° | Ocala 🌤️ 72/46° | Orlando 🌤️ 73/50° | Pensacola 🌤️ 72/63° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 76/51° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 72/58° | Tampa ☀️ 71/51°
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.
Osceola County Moves to Secure Water Supply
Toho Water Authority in Osceola County broke ground on Monday on its new Toho Reservoir and Water Treatment Facility project, aimed at creating enough water supply for future county-wide growth.
Water management districts across the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have predicted that groundwater shortages will total millions of gallons over the next 20 years.
The project near NeoCity features a 400-million-gallon reservoir to capture stormwater for irrigation, with potential future potable use, to support rapid growth. It is permitted to provide 8.2 million gallons of water daily.
The facility, set for completion by 2028, will reduce reliance on groundwater and improve water quality in local lakes, removing 25,500 pounds of nitrogen and 2,700 pounds of phosphorus from stormwater.
Pembroke Pines’ Opens $90M Recycling Plant
WM (Waste Management) opened a $90 million, 127,000-square-foot high-tech recycling facility in Pembroke Pines, designed to process approximately 275,000 tons of material annually.
One of the largest recycling facilities in the U.S., the plant uses artificial intelligence, robotics, and 18 optical sorters to improve sorting efficiency and reduce contamination—expanding capacity and enabling the processing of plastics that were previously unrecyclable.
The new facility includes a public education station to reinforce recycling messaging and teach community members best practices. The project is part of a broader $1.4 billion investment by WM to upgrade its recycling infrastructure through 2026.
Community Mourns Former Sen. Charlie Dean
Charlie Dean Sr., a towering figure in Citrus County politics who served four terms as sheriff and 14 years in the Legislature, died Monday at the age of 86.
Born in Jacksonville and raised in Inverness, Dean was elected sheriff in 1980, following in his father’s footsteps. After an unsuccessful Senate bid in 1996, he won a House seat in 2002 and later captured a special election for Senate District 3, serving until 2016.
Known for wearing his cowboy hat, Dean remained widely respected after leaving office. Senate President Ben Albritton, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and local leaders praised his loyalty and public service. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and two children.
Flying together with our sponsor
Once upon a time, we had to make lists and physically go to stores when we needed things. Sometimes we’d have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed.
Then one day, out of the heavens, came Amazon. For many of us, free shipping and access to exclusive shows and movies are enough reasons to fork over $14.99 per month for Prime. But if those reasons haven’t been enough to entice you to join Prime, maybe some of these lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up.
➤ Daytona Beach: Fire crews from multiple agencies battled a brush fire Monday and Tuesday that had grown to more than 100 acres, with over 80 homes evacuated. (More)
➤ North Central Florida: U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack cosponsored a bill allowing female athletes to sue over transgender participation in their sports. The bill is named after former NCAA Division I swimmer Riley Gaines, who received national attention after competing against a man who identified as a woman. (More)
➤ Brevard County: Anna Kepner’s 16-year-old stepbrother, identified in court papers as T.H., has been charged with homicide as a minor in the death of the Titusville teen, who was found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship during a family vacation in November. (More)
➤ Palm Coast: While searching the Intracoastal Waterway, Flagler County investigators recovered parts of a vehicle, clothing, toys, and human remains believed to belong to Mary Lou Combs, who has been missing for 22 years. (More)
➤ Marion County: Commissioners approved a zoning application for a Margaritaville RV resort and waterpark that will open this summer. (See Video)
➤ Orange County: Officials are considering a new type of infrastructure sales tax that would generate funding for things related to transportation, affordable housing, land conservation, water quality, and parks. (See Details)
Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️
➤ Florida’s gambling hotline has seen a 138% increase in calls since the state legalized sports gambling in 2023. Of those callers, 96% were male, and 62% were 30 years old or younger. (More)
➤ The Miami Dolphins hired former Titans general manager Jon Robinson as senior personnel executive. Robinson previously worked as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Director of Player Personnel during the mid-2010s. (More)
➤Orlando City SC is currently deep in discussions to acquire Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann for the summer transfer window. The Frenchman was previously rumored as an Inter Miami recruit. (More)
➤ A new plan is taking shape for the mostly-empty Seminole Towne Center mall in Sanford that includes the construction of a Costco. The membership-based warehouse club will open in 2027 at the site where Macy’s was located. (More)
➤ Waymo self-driving cars officially launched service in Orlando on Tuesday, using a measured approach, gradually expanding service areas, rider access, and operational capabilities over time. The service launched in Miami last month. (More)
➤ A group of 14 business leaders from Puerto Rico will conclude a three-day trade mission in Central Florida today after exploring investment opportunities in the region. (More)
Maximize your Amazon Prime benefits beyond free shipping. Explore lesser-known perks such as early access to lightning deals, exclusive deals across various categories, free access to podcasts and music, and RXPass for generic medications.
➤ The U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning men’s hockey team arrived in Miami on Monday to a water salute and welcome from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The team celebrated at E11EVEN, which has been ranked the No. 1 nightclub in the U.S. and No. 6 globally. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, President Trump invited the hockey team to his State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, sending a U.S. Air Force plane to Miami to pick some of them up. (More)
➤ Nile monitor lizards, razor-clawed carnivorous invasive reptiles, are spreading in South Florida. Experts say they pose a bigger threat than iguanas. (See Photo)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Top Weight‑Loss Docs Are Using This… Now You Can Too.Explore how Eden connects you with licensed providers to access personalized GLP‑1 treatment plans. Get tailored care, home delivery, and expert support that aligns with your weight‑loss journey. (LEARN MORE)
.png)
Osceola County Moves to Secure Water Supply
