Thursday, August 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1933, John Donald “Don” Fuqua was born in Jacksonville. Fuqua served 12 terms in Congress representing Florida from 1963 to 1987 and as the President of the Aerospace Industries Association from 1987 to 1998.

From a medieval torture museum to the world’s largest collection of natural sea sponges, Florida is no stranger to unusual attractions. See today’s Et Cetera section for the latest: the nation’s first museum dedicated solely to jellyfish, now open in Pompano Beach.

Have you ever done a home remodel and regretted it? Well, you aren't alone. 74% of homeowners who renovated in the last five years wish they'd done something differently, and the most regretted upgrades aren't what you'd expect. Some of the most popular design trends in America made the list. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the 10 renovations homeowners regret most and shares the simple tricks that could save you from making the same mistakes. Tune in here!

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Nixon Upsets Vindman in Senate Primary

State Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, upset Alex Vindman in Tuesday's Democrat primary for U.S. Senate, taking about 56% of the vote.

Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who testified in President Trump's first impeachment, entered as the front-runner and raised $16.2 million to Nixon's roughly $1 million, but largely ignored her during the campaign.

Nixon, a Democratic Socialists of America member, has served in the Florida House since 2020 and faces Sen. Ashley Moody in November for the final two years of Marco Rubio's term. "We are strong, we are united, and it's going to take all of us to win in November," she told supporters.

In the governor's race, Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly won their nominations to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds, endorsed by Trump, took about 48% in an 11-candidate field.

No Democrat has won a Florida governor's race since 1994.

UHealth Passes 20,000 Robotic Surgeries

UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, announced it has surpassed 20,000 robotic-assisted surgeries, a milestone spanning specialties from urology and gynecology to thoracic and orthopedic procedures.

Dr. Dipen Parekh, the health system's chief executive officer and director of robotic surgery, said the procedures typically mean smaller incisions, less pain, and shorter recovery times than traditional open surgery.

The University of Miami was the first academic medical center in the world to acquire the da Vinci Xi system in 2014, and UHealth plans to expand robotic surgery to its satellite centers.

Four Florida Beaches Crack US Top 10

Four Florida beaches ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. in Tripadvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice awards, led by Clearwater Beach at No. 2 behind only California's La Jolla Cove.

Siesta Beach, St. Andrews State Park, and Honeymoon Island State Park also made the list at Nos. 6, 8, and 10, respectively.

Clearwater also ranked 17th worldwide, the only Florida beach to make the global list.

The rankings draw on millions of traveler reviews covering a 12-month period, and fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings earn the Best of the Best designation.

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➤ Statewide: Republicans cast about 430,000 more ballots than Democrats in Tuesday’s primary, extending their statewide turnout advantage despite Democrats leading in Miami-Dade and narrowly edging them in Duval County. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Publix welcomed fall early by bringing back 16 limited-edition ice cream flavors, including Deep Dish Apple Pie, Eggnog, and Peppermint Stick, despite Florida’s 90-degree heat. (See List)

➤ New Smyrna Beach: Florida wildlife officials said local firefighters shouldn’t have returned two beached manatees to the water without expert guidance, prompting the department to revise its response. (See Details)

➤ Orange County: Deputies found no criminal neglect in mass sloth deaths at Orlando attraction Sloth World, citing disease and stress before referring the case to prosecutors. (See Details)

➤ Kissimmee: City commissioners split 2-2 on Tuesday, defeating articles of impeachment against Mayor Jackie Espinosa over alleged ethics violations involving more than $50,000 in pandemic relief funds. (More)

➤ Miami: Voters approved a ballot measure to revive Miami Marine Stadium, the Virginia Key waterfront landmark that has sat vacant since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. (See Details)

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➤ Miami Hurricanes running back Jordan Lyle was arrested last week after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop at 130 mph on the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County. He faces charges of fleeing at high speed and reckless driving. (More)

➤ Florida State will honor 2026 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Peter Warrick during the Oct. 31, game against Clemson. Warrick holds FSU's career record with 32 receiving touchdowns and was the MVP of the 1999 national title game. (More)

➤ USF athletics is shifting its public identity from "USF" to "South Florida" across uniforms, signage, and broadcasts in a push for a more consistent national brand. The move is partly designed to avoid on-air confusion with UCF. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired 6-foot-8, 370-pound offensive lineman Daniel Faalele from the Giants in exchange for a late-round 2027 draft pick. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | WNBA | Little League World Series | Soccer

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➤ Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits in Hillsborough County against Stake and Chumba Casino, alleging their dual-currency online casino games violate Florida consumer protection and gambling laws. (See Details)

➤ Two proposed St. Johns County mega-developments could bring up to 41,000 homes under Florida’s new Agricultural Enclave law, limiting county oversight despite residents’ infrastructure concerns. (See Details)

➤ Florida ranks No. 5 nationally for housing vacancies, with 1.5 million units, or 14.7%, vacant, with seasonal and second homes likely boosting the rate. (See Report)

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➤ Two Florida correctional officers face multiple grand theft charges after deputies found over $3,000 in Magic: The Gathering cards and LEGO sets allegedly stolen during a three-week Walmart spree. (See Details)

➤ A new analysis of Federal Reserve data found Floridians carried some of the nation’s highest credit card balances, averaging $5,050, or $700 above the national average. (See Report)

➤ The first U.S. museum dedicated solely to jellyfish has opened in Pompano Beach, where the glowing predators pulse through saltwater tanks in a darkened space illuminated by wall projections. (See Photos)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Remodeling triggers regret in 74% of homeowners, with these 10 “upgrades” causing the most trouble. (Hear Details)

➤ American forces are reportedly running a secret nightly operation to move millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. (Hear Episode)

➤ Russia has placed RFK Jr.'s son on its most wanted list over accusations that he fought for Ukraine. (Listen Now)