Thursday, April 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1982, the Keys seceded from the Union and declared independence as the Conch Republic after Mayor Dennis Wardlow declared war on the United States.

After Virginia voters approved a new congressional map on Tuesday, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Democrats would carry out "maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time," including efforts to take the current House seats held by Florida Republicans.

Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to Jeffries' comments with an invitation, "Please, be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida and campaign. I’ll put you up in the Florida Governor's mansion."

A special session about redistricting in Florida is set to begin on April 28.

The cost of living varies wildly across the United States, and for retirees, choosing the wrong state can cost up to six figures a year. On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown shares new data that ranks the cost of living in every U.S. state, and what groceries, housing, and healthcare actually cost depending on where you live. Plus, which states give retirees the most financial breathing room? Where does your state land, and what does it mean for your retirement? Tune in here!

Later today, watch for a note from our partner, Incogni, on how to get your personal data off the internet, plus a special discount code for our readers.

Today’s sponsor is Best Cigar Prices, a go-to destination for cigar enthusiasts looking to enjoy premium selections without overpaying. With a wide range of top brands and curated samplers, they make it easy to discover high-quality cigars and upgrade your rotation with confidence.

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.

Broad Education Bill Includes Cursive Mandate

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 182 into law on Monday, a broad education bill that requires Florida schools to teach cursive writing proficiency by fifth grade and to display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

The law, effective July 1, establishes a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program. It also makes it legal for private schools to use or acquire buildings such as churches, museums, theaters, colleges, and former schools or day care centers without requiring rezoning or special land-use approval.

The legislation began as a measure aimed at improving teacher training by allowing retired teachers to mentor new or struggling educators, sponsored by Miami Gardens Democrat Sen. Shevrin Jones and Gainesville Democrat Rep. Yvonne Hinson.

Supporters say the expanded requirements reset traditional literacy skills and provide students with a way to connect with history. Critics counter that they add more testing and act as an unfunded mandate for districts that already run on tight budgets.

Phillies Spring Training Renovation Advances

Pinellas County Commissioners voted to support renovations to the Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training complex, which includes BayCare Ballpark and the Carpenter Complex. The Clearwater City Commission will vote on the project tonight.

Under the agreement, Clearwater would contribute up to $30 million to the overall $205 million cost of revamping the Phillies' campus. Pinellas County would provide up to $85 million in tourist development dollars.

The term sheet voted on Tuesday does not authorize spending. Once Clearwater votes, then both city and county commissioners will vote on the final term sheet, a document outlining the renovations and how they will be paid for.

The Phillies have called Clearwater their spring training home since 1947. Proposed upgrades include a new video board and field lights, a larger concourse, expanded concessions, new seats, and new suites. As part of the deal, the team would provide $850,000 in annual marketing value.

Florida NFL Teams Set for Draft Night

The NFL draft kicks off tonight, and two of Florida's three NFL teams have first-round picks: the Miami Dolphins at No. 11 and No. 30, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15. Coverage begins at 8 p.m.

The Dolphins are firmly in rebuild mode after cutting Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle this offseason, which leaves them with a massive hole at wide receiver. Mock drafts predict they will target pass catchers like Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson or USC's Makai Lemon at No. 11.

The Bucs remain a bit of a wildcard after losing All-Pro wideout Mike Evans in free agency. Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor is a popular projection at No. 15, but they may look for a replacement on offense, like Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, are sitting out of Round 1 after trading their pick in last year's blockbuster deal for Travis Hunter. They'll be back in the thick of things with four picks tomorrow.

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➤ Starke: Chadwick Scott Willacy, 58, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday for the 1990 murder of Marlys Sather during a burglary at her Palm Bay home. It was the fifth execution in Florida this year. (More)

➤ Ochopee: Alligator Alcatraz, the state-run immigration detention facility, will remain open following a decision from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a district court ruling to close the facility. (More)

➤ Coral Gables: Voters in a special election on Tuesday approved a charter amendment moving municipal elections to November of even-numbered years, with 66% support. Seven other measures were decided. (See Results)

➤ Naples: Mayor Teresa Heitmann was arrested on Monday after testing positive for cannabinoids on March 26, a violation of her probation in a 2024 DUI case. (More)

➤ Manatee County: The Atlanta Braves turned in an 18-year-old Braves minor league catcher to FHP. Jonathan Matos Morales was sought for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash that killed a semi-tractor-trailer driver on I-75 on Monday. (More)

➤ Tavares: The city council called for a referendum this November to extend its terms from two to four years. The proposed charter amendment would provide staggered four-year terms and align municipal elections with statewide general elections. (More)

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➤ Florida forward Thomas Haugh will return for his senior season instead of entering the NBA draft, where he was projected as a lottery pick. (More)

➤ J.J. Moser scored in overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 of their playoff series. The series is tied at 1-1, with the next two games in Montreal. (More)

➤ Florida State named Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels their starting quarterback for the 2026 season after he beat out redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry for the job. (More)

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➤ OpenAI was subpoenaed on Tuesday by Attorney General James Uthmeier as part of a new criminal investigation into how the company approaches user threats of harm. This is in addition to the previously announced probe, described as a civil investigation. (More)

➤ The Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches, and St. Lucie Realtors have merged into one association and MLS to create the largest local Realtor association in the country with a total of about 93,000 members. (More)

➤ Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas set sail for sea trials from Finland ahead of the vessel's Mediterranean debut in July and its Florida arrival in November. The 248,663-gross-ton megaship is the third to join the Miami-based cruise line's Icon class. (More)

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➤ Florida dominated WalletHub's list of best large cities to start a business in the U.S., boasting six of the top 10 locations. Tampa took the top spot, followed by Orlando (No. 2), Jacksonville (No. 3), Hialeah (No. 4), St. Petersburg (No. 5), and Miami (No. 10). (See List)

➤ Hillsborough County schools are getting high-tech help in the classroom from a program called the Magic School, which uses artificial intelligence to cut down on teacher workload. (More)

➤ A gopher tortoise is back in the wild after rehabilitation at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the tortoise had been sprayed by someone with what appeared to be insulating foam. (See Photo)

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