Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1927, Pan American Airways flew its first scheduled flight, carrying 772 pounds of mail from Key West's new airfield to Havana in a three-engine Fokker. Pilots Huey Wells and Eddie Musick were at the controls.

Go-Go. Slow-Go. No-Go. Financial planners say retirement isn’t one long vacation. It’s three distinct chapters, and each one has its own price tag. When does each chapter begin? How big does the nest egg need to be? Which classic rule of thumb just got a haircut? And which bill keeps growing no matter what? Whether you’re retired, about to retire, or still planning, today’s Flyover Podcast is for you. One question surprises almost everyone. Could you need less money than you’ve been told? Listen here to find out.

When was the last time you compared your car insurance? If it’s been a year or longer, the rate you’re renewing may deserve a second look. Today’s sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Florida Joins Dollar General Lawsuit

Florida and 19 other states joined the Federal Trade Commission in suing Dollar General, accusing the 21,000-store discount chain of charging shoppers more at the register than its shelf tags and ads promise.

The FTC voted 2-0 to bring the case, alleging the chain pulled millions of dollars from low- and fixed-income shoppers while ignoring tens of thousands of complaints. It's unclear when the federal court in Tennessee will hold its first hearing.

In one Florida case, a store charged $2.50 for baby shampoo marked $2 and told the shopper to pay or skip it. Another charged $15.55 for an 18-pack of Busch beer that the app listed at $11.87.

Dollar General said "nothing could be further from the truth" in a statement on its website, adding that occasional price errors happen and staff are told to make things right. The company says it aims for 100% price accuracy.

Flight Attendant Accused of Scamming Senior

An American Airlines flight attendant was arrested at Miami International Airport on Friday, accused of using her travel perks to fly to a 75-year-old Palm Coast woman's home during a sweepstakes scam that cost her more than $25,000.

In November 2025, a caller posing as Publishers Clearing House told the woman to mail a $500 gift card to Destiny Blake, 24, of Brooklyn. Investigators say Blake then collected $14,220 in cash and Zelle payments.

Blake allegedly flew standby to Daytona Beach on Nov. 18 and took an Uber to the woman's home the next morning. A relative found a note telling the woman to inform her credit card company that Blake was her granddaughter.

The woman, who has memory issues, doesn't recall meeting Blake, but investigators tallied 88 charges on her cards, including an Uber ride in Jamaica. Blake, charged with three felonies, is free on $30,000 bond and due in court Nov. 24.

SS United States to Become a Reef

Okaloosa County plans to sink the 990-foot ocean liner SS United States 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin on Nov. 12, creating the world's largest artificial reef.

The liner shattered the transatlantic speed record on its 1952 maiden voyage, but preservation groups couldn't overcome the cost of saving it. Supporters hope it becomes a signature dive site that brings millions a year to scuba shops, charter boats, and hotels.

Crews will flood the ship so it settles upright in about 180 feet of water, with its top decks about 55 feet down. It'll surpass the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, sunk off Pensacola in 2006, as the largest ship sunk to make a reef.

County officials will host a public sendoff Nov. 11 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, and the sinking will stream live online at 10 a.m. Weather could push the date back.

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Last Year’s Best Rate Might Not Be This Year’s

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➤ Tampa Bay: Florida filed racketeering charges against a Sinaloa Cartel cocaine ring that smuggled drugs from El Paso using broken-down truck tractors as props. Alleged Tampa Bay distributor Daniel Pinales, caught with 60 kilograms in July, faces a mandatory life sentence. (More)

➤ Kissimmee: Osceola County deputies arrested a 50-year-old mother as she stepped off a flight from Las Vegas, days after finding her four kids, ages 9 to 14, home alone. The youngest was hurt when a dumbbell fell on his head. (More)

➤ Gainesville: A 15-year-old Buchholz High student was arrested after deputies and the FBI say he sought help from ISIS supporters online to build drones and explosives for an attack. Investigators found jars in his bedroom that he said contained chemicals to make the explosive TATP. (More)

➤ St. Lucie County: A 34-year-old firefighter was found unresponsive at his station at shift change on Oct. 24 and later died. His younger brother, also a St. Lucie County firefighter, died after falling ill on duty in July 2025. (More)

➤ Statewide: Halloween crashes killed 103 people in Florida from 2015 through 2024, a law firm's review of federal data found. The state averaged 9.7 fatal crashes per Halloween, 15% more than a typical October day. (More)

➤ Sarasota: A private pilot landed safely at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport after radioing that the plane's nose gear might not be down. The sheriff's AIR 1 crew, listening in, found the plane and confirmed the gear looked intact. (More)

➤ Hillsborough County: A Lakeland man got a year in prison for shooting a horse named Ms. Mo after threatening to do so unless he was paid for work. The bullet fractured her leg, and she had to be euthanized. (More)

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➤ The Rays are still alive. Ben Williamson’s bases-loaded walk-off single in the 12th inning lifted Tampa Bay past Milwaukee in World Series Game 4 Tuesday at Tropicana Field. The Brewers lead 3-1 heading into Wednesday’s Game 5. (More)

➤ Florida's basketball roster is valued at more than $25 million in player pay this season, putting the Gators among the sport's top spenders with Duke, Kentucky, and Louisville. Coach Todd Golden said the focus is on keeping players like preseason All-American Thomas Haugh. (More)

➤ The U.S. men's national soccer team will face Haiti at Miami's Nu Stadium on Nov. 14 in a Nations League match moved from Jamaica. Citing Haiti's security crisis, the confederation will allow the country to play its home matches in opponents' countries. (More)

➤ DeVonta Smith, one of only a few players to win a Heisman Trophy, a college national championship, and a Super Bowl, is backing a 15-acre hotel and retail project in Wildwood. A company tied to the Eagles star is behind the 98-room extended-stay hotel now rising on U.S. 301, with seven retail buildings planned next door. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | Soccer | NCAA Volleyball

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➤ Your Bladder Might Be Playing Tricks on You. Always looking for the nearest bathroom? Waking up at night to pee? Dehydration may be making things worse. When your body isn't properly hydrated, it can irritate your bladder, contributing to frequent urges and nighttime bathroom trips. Discover why essential minerals and amino acids matter for hydration — and the tasty morning drink worth knowing about. Learn more

➤ Guy Fieri brought Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to Tampa's Wicked Oak BarbeQue. The episode airs Nov. 6 on Food Network. It's the 10th Tampa spot featured since 2007, and the sixth this year. (More)

➤ A one-year moratorium on data centers cleared its second vote in the city of Alachua, 5-0, after passing its first reading 4-1 earlier this month. It pauses applications and nondisclosure agreements involving data centers within city limits. (More)

➤ A job fair Thursday at Sunrise's Amerant Bank Arena is set to bring nearly 50 employers with more than 1,800 openings. It runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free admission and parking. (More)

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➤ Tampa International Airport beat out Nashville and Denver for best large airport in America in USA Today's readers' choice awards. It also won best airport for art for its tapestries, mosaics, and glass works. (See Rankings)

➤ Magic Kingdom drew 17.8 million visitors in 2025, keeping its title as the world's most-visited theme park. Universal's Epic Universe, which opened in May 2025, debuted at No. 13 in North America with about 4 million guests. (See Attendance)

➤ A Tampa couple will run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, including Antarctica, finishing in Miami on Feb. 5. Dougin Walker, running alongside his wife, Jill, says finishing the 183-mile challenge is mostly mental. (Meet Runners)

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➤ This popular fruit marketed as healthy contains a toxic nutrient, triggering immune attacks that harm your body and joints. Dr. Brian Paris reveals this hidden threat (and 4 other dangerous foods) in a viral video helping Americans feel better. See which fruit (and 4 other foods) are feeding your joint pain, free