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Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1916, construction began on the McAllister Hotel in Miami. When the hotel opened on January 1, 1920, it was the tallest building in the city. It was eclipsed by the Dade County Courthouse in 1928.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Some scholars believe that an Irish cleric, St. Brendan the Navigator, and a small group of Irish monks, traveled to North America sometime between 512 and 530 and discovered Florida. Truth or tale, schools and churches honoring St. Brendan can be found in several places in the state, including Ormond Beach and Clearwater Beach.

Who says technology is just for kids? In today's Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlights tech tools that can make everyday life much easier for older adults. These products are especially helpful for your parents or grandparents, including one that Ayla says seniors really shouldn't be without. Tune in here!

Today marks three years since the launch of The Flyover, which began on St. Patrick's Day 2023 with just 47 readers.

Since then, The Flyover has grown into one of the largest independent news platforms in the country, including Flyover Florida, and we're inviting readers to support our work through a special anniversary donation campaign.

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.

Data Center Bill Awaits DeSantis Approval

Florida lawmakers passed a new regulatory framework for data centers to be built in the state as one of their final acts of the closing legislative session on Friday, sending the bill to Gov. DeSantis.

The Senate took up the bill (SB 484) after the House approved it with significant changes amid opposition from utilities and business groups. The measure passed 31-6 with concerns from both sides of the aisle that the somewhat weakened legislation allows secrecy over planning for the massive projects.

Although the bill would still ensure that AI data center companies pay for their own utilities and not burden nearby ratepayers, the version approved would allow state agencies to sign non-disclosure agreements with data centers.

DeSantis, a staunch critic of unregulated AI and its infrastructure, called for stricter regulation of data centers. As first written, those opposed to the bill said it sent the message that Florida was closed to data centers and the business they could bring.

Orlando Irish Pub Among Top 10 in U.S.

The Sunshine State is home to one of the best Irish pubs in America, according to a recent report. Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub in Orlando ranked No. 7 on the list of 20.

The BETUS.com report reviewed and ranked over 250 of America's Irish pubs and alehouses based on average Google review scores, the price of fries or chips, and the price of a pint of Guinness.

According to the report, 28% of Americans prefer to watch games at a sports bar or pub, with over 10% planning to watch NCAA March Madness games at a bar, and 83% spending more on gamedays than they would normally.

Located in the Hourglass District, Claddagh Cottage is known as a cozy, authentic local pub that serves traditional Irish fare and features live folk music and darts. Brazen Head Irish Pub in Omaha, Nebraska, was ranked No. 1.

The Flyover Turns Three

Three years ago today, we sent our first-ever edition of The Flyover to 47 people. Read our first edition here.

Just one year ago, we delivered The Flyover to 1.1 million readers. Today, 2.7 million of you received our national edition, plus another 1.7 million in our nine state editions. Flyover Florida now reaches nearly 470,000 readers.

It has been a busy 12 months for our team. Along with that growth, we started a podcast that's amassed more than 1.1 million views per month, launched additional state editions in Ohio and Arizona, and welcomed 3,700 readers to the Flyover family as fellow owners.

Our audience has changed dramatically, but the core principles have stayed the same: fact-first daily news. We've made improvements over the years, but we still deliver the news without media bias or a political agenda. (And we have a little fun, too.)

The Flyover has emerged as a leading publication with a larger audience than many recognizable news media brands, and we owe that entirely to you, our Flyover readers.

We've got big plans for 2026, starting with The California Flyover on April 1. Click here to sign up.

Thank you for sticking with us. We wouldn't exist without your support, and we're excited to serve you for another year.

Dear Flyover Reader,

Three years ago today—on St. Patrick's Day, 2023—we launched The Flyover. It was either a result of good luck or pure stubbornness. I'd like to think it was a little of both.

Back then, we had no idea if this thing would work. All we knew was that millions of Americans were tired of being talked down to by legacy media, and we believed a daily news publication focused on facts first (without the usual slanted nonsense) might be worth a shot.

Turns out, you agreed.

In three years, The Flyover has grown from 47 readers on day one to over 4.4 million across all editions, making us one of the largest independent news platforms in the country.

That growth happened because of you. Not because of some corporate media conglomerate. Not because of a cable news deal. But because everyday readers like you showed up, spread the word, and backed us when it counted.

Here's the honest truth: The Flyover is free, and it always will be. But free doesn't mean it costs nothing to produce. We have gone from a volunteer staff to a dedicated team of writers, editors, and builders who work hard for you every day, and now rely on us to pay the bills and feed their families. Our advertisers cover a lot, but we also count on our readers. Reader support is what closes the gap and keeps us independent.

On our third birthday, I'm asking: if The Flyover has earned a spot in your morning routine and you have come to trust us with your news, would you consider making a financial donation to The Flyover?

Whether it's $15 or $500, every dollar helps us keep doing what we do—delivering the news straight, without the spin.

Thank you for three incredible years. Here's to many more.

Give $15Give $50Give $150Give $500

-Cole, CEO

➤ Islamorada: A 71-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man died on Friday while diving to the shipwreck Eagle. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said he was found on the ocean floor. (More)

➤ Zoo Miami reopened on Monday with enhanced security measures after receiving three bomb threats on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that authorities believed to be swatting calls. (More)

➤ Ponte Vedra Beach: Cameron Young, 28, won the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday. The Jupiter resident ended with a par-birdie-par in the wind to finish with a 4-under-par 68 and 13 under par for the week. (More)

➤ Orange County: A new survey of over 70,000 respondents showed that most public school parents, students, and staff oppose a proposal to change high school start times to later in the morning. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: The Upshot League, a new professional women's basketball league that includes the Jacksonville Waves and three other teams, held open tryouts and is scheduled to tip off its first season on May 15 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. (More)

➤ Sarasota County: Southern Living featured the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, a five-star luxury hotel overlooking the Gulf, as the second-best new hotel in the South in its 10th annual South's Best awards. (More)

Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ Jacksonville University was the only women's basketball team from the Sunshine State to make the NCAA tournament. The Dolphins are a 15-seed and will play LSU in the first round on Friday. (See Bracket)

➤ The seniors on Florida State's men's basketball team voted not to accept an invitation to the less prestigious NIT basketball tournament after missing out on NCAA March Madness. (More)

➤ No. 3-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic withdrew from the Miami Open with a right shoulder injury. The move comes less than a week after he lost to Jack Draper at Indian Wells. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ University of Florida scientists demonstrated that their cold‑hardy avocado lines survived the January 2026 freeze, enduring temperatures as low as 17 degrees, far colder than commercial varieties such as Hass can tolerate. Cold‑tolerant varieties could open avocado production much farther north. (More)

➤ Miami-based Sailormen Inc., one of Popeyes' largest franchisees with 136 locations, filed for Chapter 11 protection on Jan. 15 and closed about 20 restaurants in Florida and Georgia. (More)

➤ Robin Birley, owner of a London private members' club that has hosted Prince William, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Hugh Grant, is nearing a deal for a Palm Beach venue, where he may attempt to create a rival to President Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. (More)

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Today marks three years of The Flyover, from a first send to 47 readers to more than 4.4 million across all editions. That kind of growth only happens when readers decide something is worth coming back to. We plan to keep The Flyover free, but it takes real resources to build and deliver it each day.

If you believe in what we're doing, please consider making a donation.

Give $15 | Give $50 | Give $150 | Give $500

-Cole, CEO

➤ AAA listed Orlando as the most popular spring break destination based on bookings, with 75% of visitors driving to the city. Other Florida cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Tampa, are among the top 10. (More)

➤ St. Augustine artist Hailey McCarty is in the running for the title of America's Most Artistic Kid. The 14-year-old loves to draw and paint, and her work has earned her a spot in the top 5 of the Bob Ross Presents national contest. (See Profile)

➤ A Pinellas County second-grader helped the fight against food insecurity by turning a school project into a community-wide donation drive for the homeless. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ What if there were a natural way to get rid of nail fungus—stronger and more effective than typical over-the-counter treatments? Watch the short video below to see how soaking your socks in a special purple liquid for just one minute may help eliminate stubborn infections and restore healthy-looking nails and skin. WATCH: Soak your socks in this and say goodbye to fungus.

Did you fill out an NCAA March Madness bracket?

Monday's Results:

Did you watch the Oscars on Sunday?

No: 51%
Some: 25%
Yes: 24%

Which Florida city held the oldest recorded celebration of St. Patrick's Day?

Show me the answer

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