Friday, April 10, 2026

Funding for Firefighters, Election Results, and an Orchid Festival

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2022, heiress and actress Nicola Peltz married media personality Brooklyn Beckham, the son of David and Victoria Beckham, in Palm Beach.

Lakeland native McCoy Moore makes his debut at Rock the Ocean's Tortuga Music Festival this weekend, a three-day gathering that combines music with ocean conservation. Moore once watched his country music heroes from the crowd. Have you ever been to the festival? Reply to let us know.

Twenty-one months ago, Tucker Carlson told America that President Trump surviving an assassination attempt was "divine intervention." Today, he's calling Trump's latest post "vile on every level." Trump's response? "I like dealing with smart people, not fools." This isn't a subtle disagreement. This is open warfare between two of the most influential voices in conservative media and politics. In today's Flyover Podcast, CEO Cole Strehlow walks through exactly what happened, what they've said, and how we got here. Listen here.

Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, exploring how new technology is reshaping domestic energy by transforming coal into high-value fuels, an approach that’s gaining traction quickly.

Today's sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is highlighting the Citi Double Cash Card and other incredible offers, featuring insane cards charging 0% interest into 2027 and welcome bonuses of up to $200.

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.

FPL Rate Hike Heads to Florida Supreme Court

After hearing oral arguments on Tuesday, three commissioners on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously refused to reconsider its November decision to approve a $7 billion Florida Power & Light (FPL) rate hike that impacts nearly 12 million Floridians' electric bills.

The approved settlement allows FPL to collect higher rates over the next four years. The dispute now moves to the Florida Supreme Court, where challengers are seeking to overturn the rate hike.

The Office of Public Counsel, along with energy justice groups, argued that the PSC overlooked certain facts and laws in the case and asked the commission to issue an amended order that accurately memorializes the commission's decision-making process.

PSC Chair Gabriella Passidomo-Smith said the motion to reconsider failed. Opponents argue that the increased burden on Floridians is not in the public interest, while FPL maintains the plan supports reliability and growth.

State Funds Firefighter Safety

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who is also the state's fire marshal, announced more than $500,000 in funding for firefighter safety initiatives on Tuesday, emphasizing the growing risks of cancer and mental health challenges in the profession.

Speaking at an event in Ocala, Ingoglia said he's directing $500,000 toward a regional firefighter training facility in Newberry, and more than $11,000 in Ocala and High Springs for equipment to address increased cancer risk.

The funding will help departments purchase decontamination equipment and expand training infrastructure, part of a broader push to protect first responders. Ingoglia has awarded over $28 million to support firefighters across the state since he took office.

"That's why, when I travel the state talking about property tax reform," Ingoglia said, "I have made it clear that the first thing that the local governments must fund … they must fund fire and law enforcement first."

Miami's World Cup Fan Festival

This summer, Bayfront Park in Miami will transform into a second stadium for the FIFA Fan Festival from June 13 through July 5.

Miami officials announced on Tuesday that the 436,000-square-foot waterfront fan zone will provide free access to 30,000 fans to watch the soccer matches.

"It's an opportunity for people who may not be able to pay to go see a game at the stadium, they'll be able to feel as if they were part of the World Cup experience at a price that a family can afford—free!" said City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins.

An amphitheater seating 10,000 will host live performances, cultural showcases, and unique programming between games.

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➤ Tampa Bay Area: Municipal elections were held in Plant City, in Hillsborough County, and in several Polk County cities on Tuesday. The two Plant City commissioner races resulted in runoffs. (See Results)

➤ Statewide: Rip currents have left at least two people dead and have prompted over 70 rescues over the past week, with the danger remaining elevated for the next few days. (More)

➤ Brevard County: County Commissioner Katie Delaney, who championed pay increases for firefighters, has resigned effective May 2, as her family has accepted a "life-changing" opportunity that will take them out of state. (More)

➤ Palm Springs North: A fast-moving storm swept through the area early Tuesday evening, knocking down trees, damaging homes, and leaving some residents with days of cleanup. (More)

➤ Orange County: The school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a pilot program to convert Orange Center Elementary School from a STEM magnet school to a STEAM charter school for the next school year. (More)

➤ Manatee County: Copper thieves are targeting streetlights and stealing thousands of feet of wire, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. The sheriff's office expects arrests soon as the county installs cameras and explores prevention methods. (More)

➤ Pinellas County: According to the the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the county had the second-biggest drop in population nationwide, declining by almost 12,000 residents. (See Details)

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➤ Florida baseball beat Florida State 4-3 on Tuesday night in Tallahassee to complete a three-game sweep of the Seminoles. FSU outhit the Gators 9-7, but struck out 11 times and stranded nine runners. (More)

➤ The University of West Florida hired former Appalachian State assistant Tanner Smith as its next men's basketball head coach. (More)

➤ Dolphins running back De'Von Achane was not present for the start of the team's voluntary offseason program on Tuesday in what's believed to be a contract-related absence. (More)

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➤ Wayfair, an online retailer based in Boston, will open its first physical Florida location in Fort Lauderdale. The 94,000-square-foot, two-story store at the Galleria is planned for the end of next year. (More)

➤ A proposed data center in Fort Meade cleared the city's planning and zoning commission on Tuesday, sending it to the full city commission for a final vote on April 14. Opposition from some residents is growing. (More)

➤ The cost of living in Florida has accelerated at nearly five times its previous pace over the last decade, driven largely by housing, insurance, and rent increases that are outstripping wages and forcing some residents to consider leaving the state, according to a new report from Florida TaxWatch. (More)

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➤ Two middle-school students from Lee and Collier counties will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., the last week of May. (See Photos)

➤ Lakeland's Central Florida Sharks, a youth recreation cheerleading program with four teams across multiple age divisions, had three teams compete at the Youth Cheer Globals competition, with each earning a bronze medal. (See Video)

➤ Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale is holding its 17th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival on April 11-12, one of its largest fundraisers of the year. (See Details)

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Ballot Probe Halted, Dodgers Mourn Lopes, and Route 66

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1966, the California Angels opened Anaheim Stadium with an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants, giving Orange County its first major league ballpark. The stadium still stands 60 years later.

A Sacramento homeowner got quite the surprise when a live mortar turned up in their yard, prompting a bomb squad response and help from the U.S. Air Force. We have the details in Northern California.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is highlighting the Citi Double Cash Card and other incredible offers, featuring insane cards charging 0% interest into 2027 and welcome bonuses of up to $200.

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.

Court Halts Sheriff's Ballot Seizure

The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to pause his investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve more than half a million seized ballots while the justices review the case.

Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, seized roughly 1,000 boxes of election materials after a local citizens group claimed a discrepancy of about 45,800 votes in the Proposition 50 redistricting election. The county registrar told supervisors the complaint was based on incomplete data and that the actual discrepancy was about 100 ballots.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who filed the emergency petition, called Bianco a "rogue sheriff." Bianco has maintained the probe is lawful and unrelated to his campaign, noting a county judge approved his search warrants. A voting rights group has filed a separate challenge.

The court's order requires the ballots to be preserved but bars any further examination while litigation proceeds.

LAUSD Strike Looms Next Week

Three unions representing tens of thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District employees (LAUSD) are set to walk out next Tuesday unless emergency bargaining sessions produce a deal this week.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), SEIU Local 99, and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles have set April 14 as their strike date. District officials have warned that if even one union strikes, all campuses will likely close.

UTLA, representing about 30,000 teachers, is seeking a roughly 17% pay increase, citing inflation and the high cost of living. The district has offered smaller, phased increases along with a one-time bonus.

LAUSD says it faces a projected deficit in the coming years, but the unions point to a roughly $5 billion reserve. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has approved a strike sanction backing the unions.

AI Boom Breaks San Francisco Record

San Francisco's median house price hit a record $2.15 million in March, up 18% from a year ago.

Data from brokerage Compass shows artificial intelligence (AI) startup wealth is driving the surge, with homes selling for an average of 23% above asking price. Median condo prices jumped 27% to $1.36 million.

The new record surpasses the previous peak of $2 million set in April 2022. Compass analyst Patrick Carlisle said geopolitical and economic turbulence have not slowed the city's market because demand is fueled by AI employment and startup equity.

The surge underscores intense demand and limited housing supply in San Francisco, as high-income buyers compete for scarce listings.

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➤ Patterson: Federal authorities are investigating after ICE agents shot a man during a targeted vehicle stop near Interstate 5. The suspect, identified by ICE as an alleged 18th Street gang member wanted in El Salvador, was reported in critical condition. Officials say agents opened fire after he allegedly tried to strike an officer with his vehicle. The FBI is leading the investigation. (More)

➤ Sacramento: A neighborhood was evacuated after a live 81mm mortar was discovered in a homeowner’s yard. The sheriff’s bomb squad, with help from the U.S. Air Force, safely removed the ordnance. No injuries reported. (See Details)

➤ Happy Camp: Siskiyou County deputies say a man stole the Frontier Saloon’s well-known taxidermied salmon, a longtime display piece at the bar. The suspect was later found trying to sell the fish, which has since been recovered. (More)

➤ Fresno: A suspect turned himself in after a hit-and-run crash sent an SUV carrying a mother and her young son into the Dry Creek Canal, killing both. Police say the driver ran a red light and fled before surrendering nearly a day later. (More)

➤ Oakhurst: The man accused of secretly filming guests at a rental property has been released on $75,000 bail. Investigators say Christian Parmalee Edwards, 44, recorded 10 to 15 women and at least one child. Deputies seized 30 devices containing thousands of files. (See Details)

➤ Santa Barbara: The City Council voted 4-3 to direct staff to draft a rent stabilization ordinance that could cap annual increases at 60% of the Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower, a day after landlords filed suit over the city’s temporary rent freeze. (More)

➤ Orange County: A 66-year-old man pleaded guilty to submitting nearly $270 million in bogus Medi-Cal claims between 2022 and 2023, billing for unnecessary or undelivered drugs, federal officials said. (KTLA)

➤ Los Angeles: A woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” was sentenced to 15 years for supplying ketamine, including the dose that killed Matthew Perry in 2023, federal prosecutors said. (More)

➤ Hollywood: A fire broke out in the attic of the Magic Castle, the famed private magicians' clubhouse on Franklin Avenue, prompting evacuations. Officials say the blaze likely started near roof work. More than 30 people were evacuated safely, and no one was injured. (See Details)

➤ Los Angeles County: Flea-borne typhus is surging across LA County, with 220 cases reported in 2025 and about 90% requiring hospitalization. Health officials say infections are rising countywide and may be undercounted. (More)

➤ Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler charged the mound and exchanged punches with Braves pitcher Reynaldo López on Tuesday night after a high, inside pitch near his head in the fifth inning. Both players were ejected following the benches-clearing brawl. (See Fight)

➤ Davey Lopes, Dodgers All-Star and 1981 World Series champion, died Wednesday at 80. The standout second baseman stole 557 bases and spent decades coaching across Major League Baseball. (More)

➤ A study ranked Los Angeles the second-best college basketball town in America, driven largely by UCLA’s sustained success and recent women's national championship. (More)

➤ Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry will auction off his "Sneaker Free Agency" collection through Sotheby's, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting children in Oakland. (More)

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➤ Fresno City Council is studying the impact of corporate landlords on the Central Valley housing market, including one investor that owns nearly 3,000 single-family homes, as affordability concerns grow in one of California’s last relatively affordable regions. (More)

➤ New plans for OCVIBE, the $5 billion mixed-use entertainment district being built near the Honda Center, reveal parks, plazas, and a new mid-size concert hall coming to Anaheim. Phase one opens in early 2027. (See Renderings)

➤ Amtrak will add a new daily Pacific Surfliner round trip between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo starting May 4, expanding Central Coast service to three daily trips and improving options for regional commuters. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ A U.S. “birthright” worth trillions—activated quietly. A small government task force just completed a 20-year mission. With almost no coverage, they confirmed a massive U.S. resource "claim"—estimated at $500 trillion. Under sovereign law, this isn’t just national wealth. It’s an American birthright. Meaning citizens can legally stake a "claim" But almost no one knows. I’ve laid out how to position yourself in a new, time-sensitive briefing. See how to "claim" your share—before the window closes.

Flying together with our sponsor

While it may sound crazy, there's a much easier way to pay down debt (and faster) by using a credit card. Some of the top credit card experts identified their favorites that put interest on balance transfers on ice until 2027, while offering up to 5% cash back on qualifying purchases and a welcome bonus of up to $200. Talk about the best of both worlds! Click here to learn how to apply and start paying down debt faster.

➤ The California Lottery accidentally shared a winner’s home address with about 800 media outlets, raising privacy concerns and prompting a review of how the agency handles winner data. (See Details)

➤ Route 66’s 100th anniversary is spotlighted in an AP photo essay highlighting the highway’s enduring pull, including its iconic California desert communities and western endpoint at the Santa Monica Pier. (See Photos)

➤ Barkchella is offering free or low-cost pet adoptions through April 19 in Riverside County as shelters near capacity, with nearly 1,100 dogs and cats available. (More)

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