Friday, May 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1923, a Florida legislative committee heard testimony about the state's penal labor camps, where poor men were leased to turpentine and lumber companies, working in squalid conditions with brutal punishments.

Sixteen counties in the Panhandle and Big Bend were under tornado watches on Thursday morning, as a line of showers stretching from Alabama into southern Mississippi moved southeast over the area. Meanwhile, record-breaking heat in Central Florida caused red flag warnings for fires.

Say goodbye to backbreaking scrubbing and tangled cords. Today's sponsor, the HydroX5 Cordless Pressure Washer delivers powerful, hassle-free cleaning that makes spring refreshes faster, easier, and oddly satisfying.

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.

Florida Teachers Union Sues over Vouchers

The Florida Education Association intensified its long-standing battle over school choice by filing a lawsuit on Tuesday in the Leon County Circuit Court challenging the Florida Department of Education and the State Board of Education.

Joined by a coalition of parents, school board members, and civil rights organizations, the state's largest teachers union is targeting Florida's massive expansion of school vouchers, which the plaintiffs argue has fundamentally altered the state's educational funding landscape.

The teacher's union alleged that Florida is diverting nearly $5 billion in taxpayer dollars to private and charter schools, creating an unconstitutional parallel education system.

The DeSantis administration has championed voucher expansion as a "universal choice" program, giving parents the freedom to use public funds to educate their children. Gov. DeSantis blamed teachers' unions for blocking the money from reaching teachers across the state during a news conference on Friday.

Gubernatorial Hopefuls Weigh In on Issues

The leading Republican gubernatorial candidates in Florida have taken a firm stance against the legalization of recreational marijuana. A proposed constitutional amendment failed to reach the required 60% threshold, with 56% of voters supporting it in the 2024 election.

GOP Candidates U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, James Fishback, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner all oppose the measure. Democrat candidate David Jolly has argued that the governor should honor the will of the state's majority, even though the measure did not reach the required threshold.

Donalds has been active on the campaign trail, using a statewide tour to share his vision of making Florida the "most transparent government in America." His proposal focuses on financial accountability, requiring local governments to upload all contracts and spending data into a searchable public system.

Renner is focused on the "affordability crisis" facing Florida residents, targeting electric costs. During a roundtable in the Tampa Bay area, Renner shared his views, highlighting personal accounts of citizens struggling with rising utility bills, housing costs, and property taxes.

Navy Reclaims Key West Pier Following Dispute

The U.S. Navy has officially terminated Key West's lease of the outer Mole Pier at Naval Air Station Key West, effective Aug. 3.

The decisive move follows months of escalating tension over the facility's financial upkeep. The Navy contends that the city failed to meet its obligations for infrastructure repairs, largely because cruise ship revenue to fund the upgrades has dwindled.

The termination shifts control of the federally owned pier back to the military, severing a long-standing local management agreement. Local officials are concerned the Navy might bypass city regulations and negotiate directly with private cruise operators, allowing larger vessels to dock at the pier.

In 2022, the city commission passed the one-ship policy, designed to limit the size and frequency of cruise traffic to protect the local ecosystem and maintain the island's character.

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➤ Duval County: The school board approved longer high school days for students next year, which will start 5 minutes earlier and end 20 minutes later, ending block scheduling. The four magnet high schools in the county are not included. (More)

➤ Charlotte County: Dagoberto Miquel Pena, a Punta Gorda middle school teacher and coach, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. (More)

➤ Alachua County: The school board approved the district's right-sizing plan, which includes closing Alachua, Foster, and Williams elementary schools by 2028 and expanding Lincoln and Oak View into pre-K-8 schools. (More)

➤ Sumter County: Construction on McNeill Drive and County 470 in the southern end of The Villages is complete. The construction enabled a continuous travel path, improving connectivity to Central Parkway and surrounding areas. (More)

➤ Miami-Dade County: The school board will vote next month on a proposal to close and/or repurpose nine schools, due to declining enrollment. (See List)

➤ St. Lucie County: Sgt. Matthew Brewster, a Marine Corps veteran and former SWAT team member, serves as the Honor Guard Commander, leading a team responsible for paying final respects to officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. (More)

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➤ The Tampa Bay Rays traded struggling pitcher Yoendrys Gómez to the Minnesota Twins for cash. He allowed runs well above league average in his nine appearances this season. (More)

➤ Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro was voted one of the NBA's most overrated players in The Athletic's annual player poll. (More)

➤ Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Travis Hunter will continue playing both offense and defense in 2026, but will likely see more time at cornerback. (More)

➤ The Miami Marlins promoted left-hander Dax Fulton to make his major league debut this week, six years after selecting him in the second round of the 2020 draft. (More)

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➤ The Florida Chamber of Commerce released its 2026 Legislative Report Card, ranking lawmakers based on their advocacy for the business community. Thirty-five lawmakers from the House and the Senate received a 100% score. (See Report)

➤ Southwest Airlines announced the addition of 23 routes from Orlando International Airport, with a mix of new destinations and more flights on routes it already serves. (See List)

➤ Lakeland-based grocery store chain Publix quietly reversed its decision on open carry in its stores. Newly posted signs state: "Publix kindly asks that only law enforcement openly carry firearms in our stores." (More)

➤ Over 560 acres of farm land in northern Marion County was sold by St. Joe Farm to Speir Property, Terry Myers, and Julee Brooke Lewis for $4.6 million. The group develops large plots into residential communities. (More)

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➤ Philanthropist Jack Jawitz donated segments of the East German side of the Berlin Wall to New College of Florida in Sarasota. The college is planning events tied to President Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech. (More)

➤ The Republican Party of Florida is honoring Sen. Rick Scott with the Statesman of the Year award at its Sunshine State Showdown in Hollywood on June 27. The last recipient was White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. (More)

➤ Hernando County deputies reunited a 13-year-old husky named Sierra, last seen near her home in New Mexico, with her owner after 12 years. (See Photo)

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