Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1965, The Rolling Stones performed at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. That night, after being chased off stage by fans, Keith Richards wrote the opening guitar riff to the song (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.

It's about to get summertime hot in the Sunshine State. High pressure building across Florida, combined with offshore winds, will cause temperatures to soar well above normal. Are you ready for some heat? Reply to let us know.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Introducing Flyover Updates

A lot happens between this morning's edition of The Flyover and tomorrow morning's edition. Elections shift. Markets move. Stories break. And right now, you're waiting to find out about it until tomorrow.

Not anymore.

We're launching Flyover Updates—a single afternoon text message that delivers the top breaking news stories of the day, straight to your phone. No app. No noise. Just the three biggest stories you need to know are happening right now, sent right to you while the news is still happening.

This is the same trusted Flyover reporting you wake up to every morning—now available the moment it matters.

Because some days, you can't wait until tomorrow.

If you are like us, you don't want to miss breaking news. Sign up now to be first in line when Flyover Updates launches in just a few weeks.

Mother's Day is right around the corner. If you haven't started shopping, start here: our 2026 Gift Guide has thoughtful, practical, and indulgent picks for every kind of mom.

Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps protect your personal data by removing it from data brokers and continuously monitoring the web to reduce spam calls, scams, and identity theft risks.

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.

Castor Delivers State of the City Address

In her 2026 State of the City address on Tuesday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor highlighted the city's strong financial position and growth, focusing on infrastructure, affordable housing, and public safety as she enters her final year in office.

"In Tampa, we're building a city to last," Castor said from the $34.7 million Fair Oaks Recreation Complex in East Tampa. Castor described the new complex as the largest recreation center in Tampa and noted that she chose the venue to show the city's investment in local neighborhoods.

Castor focused heavily on infrastructure during her tenure, including expanding the PIPES water program, expanding road resurfacing, constructing new sidewalks, investing in fire-rescue equipment, relaunching the cross-bay ferry service, and addressing housing affordability. You can see the address here.

Castor noted that the city added 23,000 residential units and that over 8,300 affordable units have been completed or are underway. She highlighted Port Tampa Bay's $34.6 billion economic impact, which supports over 192,000 jobs.

DeSantis Weighs Presidential Run

Gov. Ron DeSantis said, "You never know," when asked about a 2028 presidential run during the Milken Institute's global conference in Beverly Hills. The governor is traveling this month and will deliver the keynote at the New York Republican Party's May 19 annual gala.

Speaking in Los Angeles, the governor highlighted his record in Florida. He pointed to Republican voter gains and economic growth as evidence of his leadership, saying he has "a lot of runway" in his political future.

DeSantis framed his tenure as a model for national Republicans. With his term ending in January, his remarks offer an early preview of how he may position himself in a competitive post-Trump GOP landscape.

The behind-the-scenes jockeying to replace President Trump as leader of the Republican Party is expected to ramp up shortly after the midterm election in November.

Uthmeier Investigates Southern Poverty Law Center

Florida has launched a civil investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) two weeks after federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against the group.

Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office will examine whether the organization used deceptive practices to raise charitable donations. A 14-page filed subpoena seeks financial records dating back to 2014.

The attorney general said the organization misrepresented its activities, while the SPLC denies wrongdoing. "The SPLC raises millions in charitable donations every year, while allegedly paying members and leaders within the very groups it purports to fight," Uthmeier said in a news release.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the SPLC of fraud tied to payments to extremist group members for information.

Flying together with our sponsor

Unknown Number Calling? It’s Not Random

The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking.

One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth?

Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.

Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.

That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.

Try Incogni here and get 55% off your subscription with code FLYOVER

➤ Statewide: The new President Donald J. Trump Highway is coming to South Florida, along with presidential name changes to several roads in several counties. (See List)

➤ Tallahassee: Governor DeSantis signed Florida's newly redistricted congressional map into law on Monday. The map shifts four districts currently held by Democrats into more favorable Republican regions based on recent elections and voter registration trends. (More)

➤ Hendry County: The groundbreaking for the new Labelle High School kicked off construction of the 220,000-square-foot building, which will include a 400-seat auditorium. (More)

➤ Osceola County: The school board is weighing changes to its Code of Student Conduct that would restrict the use of AI and personal wireless devices during the school day. (More)

➤ Dania Beach: Gubernatorial candidate James Fishback called on the state to purchase defunct Spirit Airlines' headquarters and "turn it into a public high school... and name it after Spirit and their employees." (More)

➤ Pasco County: A motorcyclist in a bunny helmet was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol after a 120 mph chase through the county into Hernando County. Deputies added a weapons-related charge for his handgun. (See Video)

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

➤ For the first time since 2019, neither the Florida Panthers nor the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey teams will play in the Stanley Cup Final. (More)

➤ Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. will wear No. 3 in Tampa Bay, making him the first edge rusher in franchise history to choose that number. (More)

➤ Florida State left-hander Wes Mendes was named ACC Pitcher of the Week after throwing the program's first complete game since 2018 against Pitt. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Give Mom a gift that lasts a lifetime with Memorygram’s Legacy Book. Guided prompts make it easy to capture her stories, photos, and voice, transforming them into a beautiful hardcover keepsake your family will treasure for generations. Create a deeply personal Mother’s Day gift she’ll never forget.

➤ Miami-based Brightline, the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger rail service in the U.S., said it has "substantial doubt" that it can "continue as a going concern” in a released financial statement. (More)

➤ A crowdfunding effort called Spirit 2.0, with a stated purpose of buying Dania Beach-based Spirit Airlines, has raised $132 million in pledges from nearly 194,000 people. Those investing at least $45 will have voting rights. (More)

➤ Wakulla County commissioners approved a $10 million loan for Point Blank to build a new body armor manufacturing facility that could bring hundreds of new jobs. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Pack smarter for summer travel with Aerless vacuum compression bags. Instantly shrink bulky clothes and fit more into your carry-on, saving up to 60% space while keeping items clean and organized. The compact, rechargeable pump works anywhere—so you can skip checked bag fees and travel lighter, faster, and stress-free.

Flying together with our sponsor

Delete your personal data

Scams start with your personal data being sold. Data brokers are profiting from your home address, SSN, phone number, and other personal information that doesn’t belong to them. Incogni scrubs your personal info from the web. Simple as. It takes 3 minutes to set up, tackles 420+ data brokers and people-search sites, and there’s a 30-day money back guarantee. Protect your data, your time, and your sanity. Get Incogni today and never look back.

Use code FLYOVER today for a 55% annual plan discount →

➤ An independent astronomer says a section of a SpaceX rocket launched from Cape Canaveral is on a collision course with the moon after orbiting high above Earth for more than a year. (See Details)

➤ Social media influencer Jay Carnicom, the head of a vigilante group called Dads Against Predators, was arrested in Clay County after he posted a video online claiming to catch a sexual predator that he lured to a store by posing as a child. (See Video)

➤ Florida detectives are looking for a group of teenagers who took a joyride across Weston Hills Golf Course in Broward County, leaving deep tire tracks and thousands of dollars in property damage. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Most Liver Cleanses Do More Harm Than Good. Popular detox teas and liver cleanses can actually stress your liver. Scientists say the real issue is declining glutathione—the molecule your liver needs to neutralize toxins. A unique 3-ingredient compound helps your body rebuild its own glutathione naturally. Learn More