Thursday, April 30, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1562, Jean Ribault and the first French colonists in the U.S. arrived in Florida, landing near St. Augustine. Sailing north, he found the St. Johns River and renamed it the River of May, claiming the area for France.

On Friday, President Trump will visit The Villages to tout the Senior Bonus Deduction he signed into law as part of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act in July. It will be his third visit to the retirement development. If you’re in The Villages tomorrow, send us your photos and thoughts on the event.

Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump are feuding again. But how far back does this actually go and how did it start? What happened when Trump was first booked on Kimmel's show? And what roles are ABC, the FCC and major news affiliates playing? It's a story nearly a decade in the making, and host Ayla Brown breaks down the entire feud, what started it, what they have said and where it stands in today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. Listen here.

Our 2026 Mother's Day Gift Guide has great picks for every mom on your list, and a few you'll want to keep for yourself. No judgment.

Car repairs are one of the most unpredictable expenses drivers face, and they rarely come at a convenient time. That's why today's sponsor, CarShield, is here to help. As vehicles age, even minor issues can turn into major, costly fixes. That’s why more drivers are turning to options like CarShield to plan ahead and avoid surprise repair bills.

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.

Lawmakers Approve Congressional Map

Florida lawmakers approved a new congressional map during the Special Session on Wednesday. The vote came a few hours after a long-awaited U.S. Supreme Court ruling narrowed a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, potentially leading to widespread redistricting.

The approved map, submitted by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could provide Republicans up to four additional U.S. House seats, growing the GOP’s 20-8 edge in the state’s congressional delegation to 24-4.

The House voted on the map without debate, while the Senate discussed the changes. Four GOP Senators, Jennifer Bradley (District 6), Alexis Calatayud (District 38), Erin Grall (District 29), and Ileana Garcia (District 36), joined Democrats in voting no.

DeSantis posted on social media that the Supreme Court decision invalidated provisions of the Florida Constitution requiring the use of race in redistricting.

Danzinger Named Surfside Mayor

It was decided late Tuesday that Shlomo Danzinger is returning to office as the mayor of Surfside. With a full tally of ballots, Danzinger took 50.54% of the vote to defeat Vice Mayor Tina Paul, following an extended runoff in which many voters cast ballots weeks earlier on April 7.

A judge ruled to extend the mail-in ballot deadline to April 28 due to a conflict with the Passover holiday. Danzinger’s margin of victory was 22 votes. Almost 59% of Surfside’s 3,446 registered voters participated in the runoff.

Danzinger replaces outgoing mayor Charles Burkett, who was Danzinger's predecessor in 2022 before defeating him in 2024.

The two candidates advanced to a runoff on March 17 after neither secured a large enough share of the vote, 50% plus 1, in a three-way contest for mayor that included the former town manager and commissioner Mark Blumstein, who placed last.

NYC’s Largest Charter Network to Open in Florida

Success Academy, New York City’s largest charter school network, will open five elementary schools in Miami-Dade County for the 2027-28 school year, marking its first expansion beyond New York.

The schools will co-locate within existing campuses, including Hialeah-Miami Lakes, Homestead, Miami Jackson, North Miami, and Westland-Hialeah high schools. District officials say they will track enrollment shifts and budget impacts as the first small cohort of students prepares to start across the five campuses.

Founder Eva Moskowitz said the network aims to deliver a proven, high-quality model to Florida families.

The move follows Florida’s approval of Success Academy as a School of Hope operator and a $50 million boost from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. Public education advocates argue that private and charter schools undermine traditional public schools.

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➤ District 11: U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, 77, announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection in November to retire and spend more time with his wife, children, and 24 grandchildren. The Republican is now the 36th GOP member in the House not to seek reelection this cycle. (More)

➤ Palm Beach: While addressing the National Mining Association on Tuesday, Gov. DeSantis awarded Florida’s Medal of Freedom to four Floridians for their work to protect and restore the Everglades. (More)

➤ Indian River County: Antonio Mojica, 25, was arrested and charged with false threats targeting Palm Bay, Sebastian River High School, and Vero Beach High School made through the FortifyFL app. (More)

➤ Leon County: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case stemming from a dispute that helped inspire Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, concerning the teaching of gender and sexuality in the classroom. (See Details)

➤ Brevard County: Commissioners have asked for a revision to the county’s economic development rules, making artificial intelligence data centers no longer able to qualify for ad valorem tax exemptions. (More)

➤ Orange County: Law enforcement dismantled a drug trafficking ring with a Puerto Rico-to-Florida mail pipeline in an operation dubbed "It's a Trap." Nine were arrested, and over $1.13 million in cash, weapons, and 40 kilograms of cocaine were seized. (More)

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➤ The Orlando Magic fell to the Detroit Pistons 109-116 last night despite a 45-point performance from forward Paolo Banchero. Game 6 is tomorrow night. (More)

➤ Thunderstorms threaten this weekend's Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, with rain expected around Sunday's 4 p.m. start time. (More)

➤ The PGA Tour returns to Miami for the first time since 2016 this week with the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral. The 72-player field is headlined by Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, and Collin Morikawa. (More)

➤ University of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich announced his retirement after five years with the Hurricanes. A national search for his replacement is now underway. (More)

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➤ Florida ranked 50th among U.S. states for teacher pay for the third consecutive year, according to a report from the Florida Education Association. (More)

➤ The University of West Florida broke ground on a $53.5 million, 55,000-square-foot advanced intelligence, cybersecurity, and engineering research building called The Synapse on its Pensacola campus. (More)

➤ Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard could soon be home to a five-story Rolex-branded jewelry store. If approved by the city, the 32,000-square-foot building would feature retail space, a bridal studio, and a champagne bar. (More)

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➤ A 15-foot gold statue of President Trump was installed at Trump National Doral Golf Club ahead of the inaugural playing of the Cadillac Championship, which starts today. The sculptor was commissioned for the project by $PATRIOT, a cryptocurrency group. (See Photos)

➤ Pine Meadows Conservation Area in Lake County is closed while officials hunt for an alligator that attacked a cow that had to be euthanized, and its calf, which was rescued and taken to the Lake County Animal Shelter. (More)

➤ The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11, an award-winning documentary about the terrorist attacks of 2001, is being shown this week in Orlando at the International Christian Film & Music Festival. Actor Gary Sinise narrates the film. (More)

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