Good Morning! On this day in 1974, former Florida Gators’ coach Torrian Gray, a one-time safety for the Minnesota Vikings, was born in Bartow.
Despite numerous reports that TSA wait times at Florida airports are hours-long, the average wait time as of Tuesday morning was 20 minutes or less, with only one set of gates at Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 40-44 minutes. Have you traveled by air in the past week? Reply to let us know how it’s been for you.
Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps protect your privacy by removing your personal data from broker sites that scammers use to target victims with spam calls, phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.
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Trump Reveals Florida Rep’s Diagnosis
During a meeting on Monday, President Trump shared that the Panhandle’s Republican U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, 73, was told he had just months to live and that a recent surgery saved him. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Dunn had a “new lease on life” after the recent treatment.
In what was not a planned talking point, Trump and Johnson said Dunn’s health has improved after emergency medical treatment. The care was provided by the White House medical team at the president’s request, and included a lengthy operation and stents in the congressman’s heart.
Dunn, who plans to retire at the end of the year, had previously told Johnson he intended to keep voting in Congress as long as possible despite his condition. The comments came as the GOP holds a narrow 218-214 House majority.
“He has more energy than a man half his age,” Johnson said. “My hat’s off to Neal Dunn and his beautiful wife and family. He’s an extraordinary individual.”
Former Florida Rep on Trial for Spying
The federal trial of former Florida Republican congressman David Rivera, who represented the 25th Congressional District from 2011 to 2013, began on Monday in Miami.
Rivera was indicted on foreign agent charges and is accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act for allegedly working as an agent for Venezuelan national Raul Gorrin Belisario.
According to the grand jury indictment, Rivera received $5.5 million in a “corruption scheme” to bribe the national treasurer of Venezuela and “sought to lobby senior U.S. government officials” to remove sanctions against Gorrin.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on the witness list for both the prosecution and the defense and could be called to testify. Rivera and Rubio were housemates in Tallahassee when they were coming up in Florida politics.
Venezuela Wins World Baseball Classic in Miami
Venezuela defeated Team USA 3-2 last night at Miami’s loanDepot Park to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The win capped off a run that saw them knock off defending champion Japan, fan-favorite Italy, and the most star-studded American roster ever assembled—all in five days.
Down 2-0 going into the eighth inning, Team USA’s Bryce Harper brought the sellout crowd to its feet with a two-run homer to tie the game. Venezuelan slugger Eugenio Suárez responded the very next inning with an RBI dagger to center field, giving Venezuela a 3-2 lead they never relinquished.
Miami is home to the largest concentration of native Venezuelans in the U.S., and those in the crowd at loanDepot Park erupted after the knockout pitch.
The championship win is payback. In the 2023 WBC quarterfinals, Venezuela led Team USA on this same field before Trea Turner’s grand slam ended their tournament run. Three years later, Venezuela finished the job.
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Unknown Number Calling? It’s Not Random
The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.
Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor, and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.
➤ Starke: Michael King, 54, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday for the 2008 rape and murder of Denise Amber Lee, 21, the mother of two and the daughter of a Charlotte County sheriff sergeant. It was the fourth execution in Florida this year. (More)
➤Brevard County: Officials are seeking $57 million in federal grant funding to bring a Brightline station to Cocoa. Economic projections estimate the stop would generate $120 million to $350 million in annual economic impact. (More)
➤Tallahassee: The historic Beadel House on the property of Tall Timbers Research Station burned to the ground Monday. Officials said the fire appears to have started from a lightning strike. (See Video)
➤Volusia County: Sheriff’s deputies have made 133 arrests since Friday in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, with this week being the height of spring break in Florida. (More)
➤Tampa: Mayor Jane Castor said the city’s police department has updated its policies on immigration enforcement after a letter from Attorney General James Uthmeier said the city had sanctuary policies. (See Details)
➤Clay County: Police warned of scammers making phone calls and sending text messages claiming to be from the sheriff’s office to collect unpaid warrants or citations. (More)
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➤ The Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium could cost more than initially anticipated, with one analysis predicting that the roof alone could cost $300 million more than projected. (More)
➤The Miami Dolphins traded wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a collection of draft picks, including a first-rounder this year. (More)
➤ Inter Miami hosts Nashville SC tonight in Fort Lauderdale for a do-or-die matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The winner will advance to play either the Philadelphia Union or Club América in the next round. (More)
➤Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week following his record-breaking 83-point performance on March 10. (More)
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➤ Pinellas County has named Mark Sprague as the new director of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). The facility continues to expand amid rising passenger traffic. (More)
➤Three class-action lawsuits, including one against banking giant JPMorgan Chase, have been filed in connection with a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme prosecutors say Christopher Delgado ran from his Orlando headquarters. (More)
➤Lakewood Ranch, on the Sarasota County side of the master-planned community, is expanding its entertainment district to include an indoor electric kart racing track and a Backyard Social location offering food trucks, games, and live music. (More)
➤ Three years ago, The Flyover launched with 47 readers and a simple idea: deliver the news straight, without the spin. If that mission matters to you, would you make a contribution today to help us keep building it?
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➤ An Orange County firefighter is turning personal tragedy into purpose, helping raise money for childhood cancer research while honoring the son he lost nearly two decades ago. (See Video)
➤ Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist, shared her passion for volleyball at a Hero Volley pop-up event at Joia Beach on Watson Island for Women’s History Month. (See Video)
➤ The Orlando Martini Fest returns for a second year on March 21 at the Caribe Royale resort. This year’s party will showcase 20 uniquely themed martinis, from classic to colorful to over-the-top creations. (More)
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➤ Most people rely on books or classes to learn—but what if a simple 7-minute “Brain Song” could help you learn faster, remember more, and think more clearly? Thousands, including many seniors, report sharper memory and focus after listening. Discover how it works in this short video: 7-Minute Brain Song Increases Intelligence.