Monday, September 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1779, British Lt. Col. Alexander Dickson surrendered Baton Rouge and Fort New Richmond to Spanish forces, securing Spanish control over the West Florida region.

The cost of living is the quiet force behind almost every financial decision you make, and lately it's been an uphill battle. Why does your paycheck buy less than it used to? Why is home buying suddenly out of reach for you or your loved ones? And who exactly decides what the cost of living is in the first place? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we take a deeper look at the number everyone quotes and how it will continue to affect your budget. (Tune in here)

Today’s sponsor is LMNT. We’ve talked about LMNT before, usually by telling you how much our team likes it. But that might not be the most useful thing we could tell you. So today, we’re taking a different approach and publishing what may be the saltiest advertisement in Flyover history.

FSU Tops Florida's July Bar Exam Results

Florida's July bar exam results landed this week, and fewer applicants passed overall than in recent years.

Florida State led the state's law schools, with 101 of its 110 first-time takers passing for a 91.8% rate, up from 89% last year. The statewide law school average was 80.4%.

FAMU improved to about 80% from 76%, and University of Florida slipped to 90.9% after passing nearly 93% last year, according to the full rankings.

12 New Florida Laws Land Oct. 1

Twelve Florida laws take effect on Oct. 1, changing the paperwork needed to register a car and making it a felony to lie on a rental application.

Vehicle registration requires proof of address and lawful presence through a REAL ID, U.S. passport, or foreign passport with an I-94, under SB 488. Drivers must report a crash to police only when damage reaches $2,000, up from $500.

Renters who use a false identity or forged documents to get into a home face a third-degree felony, and landlords can issue a seven-day notice to vacate.

Other measures expand gang-membership criteria, create mandatory prison terms for xylazine trafficking, raise animal-control fines, and authorize eight new specialty plates. Most of the session's 200-plus laws took effect July 1.

Fay No Threat as Fall Air Nears Florida

Tropical Storm Fay formed on Sunday southwest of the Azores, and forecasters say it poses no threat to land, including Florida.

Fay is the season's sixth named storm and isn't expected to become a hurricane, extending the Atlantic's longest hurricane-free stretch since satellite tracking began in 1966. Forecasters expect the storm to weaken into a depression by Tuesday.

Closer to home, the workweek starts warm and humid with scattered afternoon storms. A cold front arrives Thursday, bringing drier, fall-like air, sunshine, and highs in the upper 80s into the weekend.

Flying together with our sponsor

Fair Warning: Your First Sip May Surprise You

LMNT is salty. Each packet contains 1,000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium, with zero sugar.

That first sip may catch you off guard, especially if you’re used to brightly colored sports drinks that taste more like liquid candy. But the salt isn’t something LMNT is trying to hide. It’s the entire point.

LMNT was created for people who want a meaningful amount of electrolytes without loading their water with sugar, artificial coloring, or a long list of unnecessary ingredients.

We reach for it before workouts, after sweating, while traveling, and on days when another glass of plain water just doesn’t sound appealing.

See why LMNT tastes different from the electrolyte drinks you grew up with. Order LMNT today and get a free sample pack with your purchase.

➤ Fort Lauderdale: Firefighters battled a Sunday blaze aboard the roughly 60-foot catamaran Promiscuous, drawing nearly 20 units to Hendricks Isles. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation. (See Fire)

➤ Jupiter: The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for Matt Pawlowski, who disappeared on Sept. 14 while paddleboarding 4 miles off Jupiter Beach. (More)

➤ Sunrise: Dozens of young chess players tested their skills on Saturday during Sunrise’s 12th annual Mayor’s Chess Challenge, a city-hosted tournament designed to build confidence, strategic thinking, and community. (Read Story)

➤ Jacksonville: Hundreds of students received free school uniforms on Saturday during a community giveaway that helped families ease school-year expenses. (More)

➤ Panama City Beach: The Knights of Columbus raised more than $10,000 at a Topgolf fundraiser to cover lawn care at a Chipley retirement home where nuns care for retired priests. (See Details)

➤ Spring Hill: A Florida Lotto ticket sold at a Publix on Commercial Way hit Saturday’s $10.75 million jackpot, while thousands of other players won smaller prizes in the drawing. (More)

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➤ Miami slipped one spot to No. 6 in Sunday’s AP Top 25 despite beating Wake Forest 33-20, while undefeated Florida entered the rankings at No. 21. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to 0-2 with a 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after a lightning delay of more than two hours. Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown and an interception, but Tampa Bay’s final drive ended on an incomplete fourth-down pass in the end zone. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars fell to 1-1 with a 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday after surrendering 17 unanswered points in the second half. Trevor Lawrence led three scoring drives, but Jacksonville was held scoreless after taking a 13-3 lead early in the third quarter. (More)

➤ The Miami Dolphins fell to 0-2 with a 35-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Malik Willis threw for 197 yards but was sacked four times, while Miami did not score a touchdown until the final minutes. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why landscape contractors, retirees, and first-time homeowners are walking past every rubber and expandable hose at the hardware store and putting one of these on the spigot instead. Garden Maestro's Elite Garden Hose is built from steel! The same 304 grade steel used in industrial piping. Won't kink, won't tear, won't quit. Learn More

Flyover Focus takes a deeper look at the topics that matter. Click the link to watch this week’s full episode.

➤ Your grocery bill, your mortgage, and your retirement check all move with the cost of living. So what's actually behind that number? (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we get into how the cost of living is measured, why the official figure doesn't always match what you see at the register, and whether the yearly raise to Social Security checks actually keeps anyone afloat. We also look at who's feeling the squeeze hardest, and whether there's any relief in sight. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down artificial intelligence, tune in here.

➤ Miami-Dade County recorded 194 home sales of at least $10 million through August, 14.1% more than all of 2025, and is projected to finish 2026 with 291, shattering the 2021 record of 230. (See Report)

➤ FIFA selected Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium for the Women’s Champions Cup’s four-team final stage in late January, featuring Barcelona, Club América, South America’s champion, and a fourth qualifier. No U.S. club qualified. (More)

➤ Girls in Aviation Day introduced young attendees to aviation careers on Saturday as Bay County professionals guided them through industry opportunities at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. (See Event)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Home Safety Alert: It Kills While Families Sleep. Protect yours with Vital Carbon Detector. It tracks carbon monoxide, natural gas, and propane in a single device. Learn More

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We’ve Been Endorsing LMNT the Wrong Way

Instead of simply telling you we like LMNT, here’s the better endorsement: we actually use it. Packets end up in our gym bags, desks, cars, and suitcases. Everyone has a favorite flavor, and the best ones have a habit of disappearing first.

It has become one of those simple products we keep around because we regularly reach for it. Fair warning, though: once ordinary water starts tasting boring, don’t blame us.

Order LMNT today and get a free sample pack with your purchase. It’s an easy way to try more flavors and find your favorite.

➤ A pair of bald eagles drew attention near their nest along Briarwood Executive Golf Course in The Villages, where a photographer captured one taking flight as its mate watched. (See Eagles)

➤ St. Andrews celebrated the fifth annual Little Village Conch Shell Festival, where families lined up to test their lung power in the signature shell-blowing contest. (See Contest)

➤ Buck Lake Elementary students took over the forecast for meteorologist Jillian Preite, dreaming up weather ranging from relaxing storms and snow to an ambitious tornado confined inside a tube. (See Students)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Do Bruises Suddenly Show Up After 50? You don't remember bumping into anything—yet another bruise appears. While many people chalk it up to aging or medication, easy bruising may be a clue worth paying attention to. It's one of 7 commonly overlooked warning signs that can become more noticeable with age. See all 7 warning signs—and what they could be telling you.