Good Morning! On this day in 1965, astronaut Ed White launched from Cape Kennedy aboard Gemini 4 and became the first American to walk in space, floating weightless above Earth for about 20 minutes.
Today’s sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 79°/73° | Ft. Myers ⛈️ 84°/72° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 80°/68° | Key West ☁️ 86°/80° | Miami 🌩️ 83°/77° | Ocala 🌤️ 83°/64° | Orlando ☁️ 82°/69° | Pensacola ☁️ 83°/69° | Port St. Lucie 🌧️ 81°/72° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 85°/60° | Tampa ☁️ 84°/69°
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.
Blue Origin Explosion Fallout
Following the dramatic explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last week, NASA officials initially said the pad may not be restored until 2028 for lunar mission timelines, a potential setback for the agency’s Artemis program, which depends on Blue Origin for critical lunar lander contracts.
Blue Origin, however, confirmed thatthe explosion spared the fuel tanks and key launch pad structures, offering hope of a faster recovery than initial damage assessments suggested. CEO Dave Limp said investigators accessed the site within days to evaluate the full extent of the damage.
Limp said that New Glenn could return to flight before the end of the year. “The propellant farm, oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and LNG tanks are all in good shape,” Limp said. “The water tower is also good. The big support tower is damaged, but it can be repaired in place rather than torn down and replaced.”
Hackers from the ShinyHunters group claimed responsibility for a social engineering attack that deceived an employee and gained access to the company’s IT systems, stealing names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and government-issued ID numbers, including driver’s licenses and passport numbers. Carnival disclosed the breach in a May 27 news release.
The company is offering U.S. customers 24 months of complimentary TransUnion credit monitoring, with enrollment open through August 31, 2026. Affected passengers can also request free credit reports and place fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus.
This is the third major cybersecurity incident at Carnival in the past 6 years. The company also suffered ransomware attacks in 2020 and 2021. Carnival said it has taken steps to contain the breach and is cooperating with law enforcement.
Three Florida Beaches Claim National Honors
Coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman—known as Dr. Beach—named three Florida state parks to his 2026 annual Top 10 list, placing the Sunshine State second only to Hawaii for national beach excellence.
St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach earned the No. 2 ranking nationally—the highest of any beach in the continental United States—recognized for powdery white quartz sand, turquoise waters, and pine-shaded dune trails. Caladesi Island State Park near Dunedin followed at No. 3, a secluded barrier island accessible mainly by ferry, prized for crystalline sand and shallow Gulf waters.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples rounded out Florida’s trio at No. 6, its pristine white sand and clear water drawing swimmers, snorkelers, paddleboarders, and shellers to the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast. Together, the three parks span 400 miles of the Gulf Coast—from the Panhandle to Naples.
Big companies charge THOUSANDS for hearing aids—but guess what? You don’t have to pay that much! Oricle Hearing gives you crystal-clear sound, wireless charging, and all-day battery life for under $100! No doctor visits, no crazy prices—just amazing hearing at an unbeatable deal. Over 150,000 happy customers are already loving their new way of hearing. Don’t let overpriced hearing aids hold you back—order yours today!
➤ Tallahassee: Florida lawmakers approved a modified property tax amendment during a special session, sending to the November ballot a plan to substantially cut homeowners’ property taxes while protecting school funding. (More)
➤ Jacksonville: Andrew Lukehart, 53, was executed Tuesday by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke for the 1996 beating death of his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter, Gabrielle Hanshaw. It was Florida’s eighth execution of 2026. (More)
➤ Miami: A cruise ship worker already serving 30 years in federal prison for secretly filming guests in their cabins now faces additional local charges in South Florida related to the same scheme. (More)
➤ Washington, D.C.: The Supreme Court sent a Florida death row case back to lower courts in a 7-2 decision, finding a witness lied on the stand. (More)
➤ Miami: President Trump nominated Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican, as U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. (More)
➤ St. Johns County: Trout Creek Academy principal Katie O’Connell was placed on paid leave after a Fetty Wap lyric was attributed to her, perhaps mistakenly, on the yearbook’s first page. (More)
➤ Statewide: Florida has confirmed five cases of flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus bacteria so far in 2026, with health officials warning the disease typically surges in summer months as warm-water swimming increases. (More)
Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️
➤ Inter Miami’s facilities will serve as an official training site for national teams playing FIFA World Cup matches in Miami this month. Scotland’s national team has been training at Inter Miami’s complex this week ahead of the tournament. (More)
➤ The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the rights to forward prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Pridham, 20, has reportedly committed to the University of Denver. (More)
➤ South WaltonHigh School’s Coleman Borthwick was named Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-6 senior is currently committed to Auburn and remains a top prospect in the 2026 MLB draft. (More)
➤ Orlando will host the final stop of the 2028 Olympic Q-Series at Camping World Stadium, where athletes in sports like flag football, skateboarding, and BMX freestyle will compete for spots in the Los Angeles Games. The event is scheduled for June 8-11, 2028. (More)
➤ Give your feet the freedom they deserve. Grounded Footwear’s barefoot-inspired shoes feature a wide toe box, lightweight breathable design, and flexible sole that supports natural movement. Enjoy all-day comfort, improved balance, and reduced pressure on feet and joints—whether you’re walking, working, or exploring. (SHOP NOW)
➤ Florida led all states in adjusted gross income migration, with new IRS data showing a net gain of $20.6 billion as residents relocated from California, New York, and other high-tax states. (More)
➤ Seagate Space is building floating offshore launchpads for Firefly Aerospace and Vaya rockets, with the Tampa Bay startup backed by $1.5 million in pre-seed funding and targeting construction to begin by mid-2026. (More)
➤ PepsiCo has been identified by industry sources as the likely tenant for Pattillo Industrial Real Estate’s 1.11-million-square-foot warehouse under construction at NorthPoint Industrial Park in North Jacksonville. (More)
➤ Gourmet Chariot, launched in Naples by founder Nisha Singh, bills itself as the world’s first mobile caviar bar—a cherry-red food truck serving premium caviar and champagne at weddings and events across Southwest Florida. (See Photos)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Discover AI-powered stock research designed to uncover emerging opportunities before they hit the mainstream. Backed by experienced market analysts, these recommendations focus on companies positioned to benefit from major technology trends. Get actionable insights, expert guidance, and timely updates to help build a smarter, more informed investment strategy. (LEARN MORE)
Flying together with our sponsor
Why pay thousands for hearing aids?
Oricle Hearing Aids deliver crystal-clear sound, all-day comfort, and rechargeable convenience for under $100. No prescriptions, no appointments—just powerful, affordable hearing support you can trust. Join over 150,000 satisfied customers who’ve made the switch.
➤ A Florida black bear went for an unexpected swim through a Port St. Lucie neighborhood, with residents grabbing their phones to capture the soggy, lumbering scene on video. (Watch Video)
➤ Northeast Florida restaurants earned Michelin recognition for the first time, with the guide’s inspectors putting the Jacksonville-area dining scene on the national culinary map. (More)
➤ California’s billionaires and businesses are fleeing the state’s high taxes and a looming wealth-tax proposal, with many landing in Florida, fueling what analysts are calling a modern-day gold rush. (More)
➤ A College Park homeowner is sounding the alarm about a coyote colony roaming the Orlando neighborhood after one of the animals attacked her cat, urging residents to keep small pets indoors. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Home Safety Alert: It kills while families sleep. Protect yours with Vital Carbon Detector. It tracks carbon monoxide, natural gas, and propane in a single device. Learn More
Which of Dr. Beach’s Top 10-ranked Florida beaches have you visited?
Blue Origin Explosion Fallout
