Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1902, Sarasota incorporated as a town and elected John Hamilton Gillespie, the man who brought golf to Florida, as its first mayor. It was also his 50th birthday.

How long will you live? Researchers have tracked tens of thousands of people for decades and found a few simple at-home tests that predict it surprisingly well. They’re quick, ordinary movements, and your time or score on each one tracks with how many healthy years you have ahead. The test with the most dramatic results is one most adults haven’t tried since childhood. So how do you measure up? Ayla counts down all seven tests, shows you how to try each one safely, and explains what your score means on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Tired of ads following you around online? Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Surfshark, about blocking ads and trackers, plus a special offer for Flyover readers.

Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Best Cigar Prices, where the Top Shelf Tour gets you 10 premium cigars from brands like Montecristo, Oliva, and Rocky Patel for just $24.99, along with a free cutter and a $10 voucher.

Inmate Who Sought Death Penalty Executed

Florida executed James Robertson, 63, by lethal injection Tuesday for strangling his cellmate in 2008, a killing he said he committed to get sent to death row.

Robertson choked Frank Hart at Charlotte Correctional Institution, telling investigators the attack was unprovoked. He pleaded guilty, waived a jury sentencing hearing, then refused further appeals and fired his lawyer.

His was Florida's 17th execution this year, compared with 14 in all other states combined. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty said the case shows the threat of execution can drive prison violence, while Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the pace as justice for victims' families.

Two more executions are set for Oct. 20 and Nov. 5, which would tie last year's record of 19. Last week, DeSantis withdrew a death warrant for the first time, for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, whose lawyers said he has dementia.

Panhandle Digs Out after Isaias

Veteran-led Team Rubicon has sent volunteers from across the country to Milton and Pensacola to clear roads, cut trees, and tarp roofs. The group plans to stay for several weeks after Hurricane Isaias.

Isaias made landfall near Destin on Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds. By Monday, crews had restored power to more than 70% of affected customers, though boil-water notices remain in seven counties.

The Salvation Army is handing out meals and water across the Panhandle and says donations are especially important as recovery begins. Anthony Shaw of the Panama City Salvation Army said disaster relief is "what we train to do."

Recovery in South Walton is moving much faster than after Hurricane Michael in 2018, as neighbors clear debris together. "All the restaurants are open and back up, so it's kind of getting back to normal," resident Ben Chiriboga said.

SpaceX Launch Leaves Jellyfish Cloud

A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 6:33 a.m. Tuesday, with more than 6,300 pounds of supplies bound for the International Space Station.

The Dragon capsule, SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply run, is due to dock Thursday morning with science experiments and the station's final pair of solar arrays.

Shortly after liftoff, the rocket's exhaust bloomed into a glowing "jellyfish cloud" visible from Florida and Georgia to Virginia and North Carolina.

One Ocala woman spotted the alien-looking glow while walking her dog. The effect happens when rocket exhaust freezes into ice crystals in the cold upper atmosphere and catches sunlight just before or after sunrise.

Flying together with our sponsor

Top Shelf Tour – 10 Cigars Only $24.99!

As the nights get cooler and fall settles in, it’s the perfect time to treat yourself and your humidor to something special. Grab 10 premium cigars from Undercrown Shade, Oliva Serie V, Romeo Real Nicaragua, Montecristo Platinum, and Rocky Patel Decade. All for just $24.99. No tricks here, just real value.

Plus, get a free cutter and a $10 voucher with your order.

Don't let this spooky-good deal vanish into the night. Stock up while these top-shelf cigars and haunting savings last!

➤ Cedar Key: Crews have spread limestone across 2.6 acres of Corrigan's Reef since July, and young oysters up to 1.5 inches long are already clinging to it. The $2 million federal project has employed more than 100 Levy County residents. (See Photo)

➤ Kendall: A 33-year-old man faces attempted murder and nine drug trafficking charges after deputies say he shot an Uber Eats driver in the buttocks for coming back to ask his girlfriend for her number. (More)

➤ Palm Beach County: President Trump may make his first landing at the airport renamed in his honor this weekend, after a federal aviation alert flagged a possible Oct. 16-18 Mar-a-Lago visit. The White House hasn't confirmed the trip. (More)

➤ Marion County: Deputies arrested a woman they say posted on Facebook that she'd found a lost dog named Teddy, then demanded $1,000 from his family to give him back. She's charged with grand theft. (More)

➤ Key Biscayne: A good Samaritan spotted a Cuban man drifting alone about 16 miles offshore Monday on a raft of Styrofoam, wood planks, and rope. Federal officials said he's "fortunate to be alive." (More)

➤ Statewide: The Justice Department is suing to strip citizenship from 40 people, including at least five Floridians, accused of hiding crimes like money laundering, tax fraud, and child sexual abuse when they became citizens. It's the department's largest batch under Trump. (See Cases)

➤ Miami: Colombia's president endorsed Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar in a video she posted Monday, days after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado did the same. Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez said the race is about local costs. (More)

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

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays evened the ALCS at 1-1 with a 3-1 win over Cleveland on Tuesday. Freddy Peralta threw six scoreless innings, and Liam Hicks’ two-run single followed a Jose Ramirez error. Game 3 is Thursday in Cleveland. (More)

➤ The Dolphins won't bench quarterback Malik Willis after Sunday's 31-24 loss to Cincinnati, coach Jeff Hafley said. Willis threw 2 interceptions and lost a fumble, but ran for 74 yards, the most ever by a Dolphins quarterback in a game. (More)

➤ A 335-pound lineman delivered the snap on Cam Little's 57-yard field goal that beat Philadelphia 19-17 in London. Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton replaced injured long snapper Ross Matiscik. The 4-1 Jaguars brought in veteran snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer on Monday. (More)

➤ Jacksonville's left tackle job will likely stay with Walker Little while Anton Harrison is out. Little has 39 career starts, and he didn't allow a single quarterback pressure while filling in against the Eagles. (More)

➤ Florida State dismissed freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon, its top-rated 2026 recruit, for "conduct detrimental to the team." The Sarasota native played 1 snap this season. The 3-3 Seminoles visit rival No. 3 Miami on Saturday night. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | NBA | Tennis | NCAA Volleyball

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scary Home Repair Bills? Save This Halloween! ServicePlus Home Warranty helps cover eligible repairs to major appliances and home systems, including heating, plumbing, and electrical. For a limited time, enjoy 50% off plus 2 FREE months with qualifying annual plans. Don't let unexpected breakdowns haunt your budget. Get your free quote today!

➤ WalletHub ranked the University of Florida at No. 25 among nearly 740 schools, weighing costs, campus safety, faculty, and student outcomes. Florida State placed No. 48, and the University of Miami No. 124. (See Rankings)

➤ Miami Dade College is partnering with the Miami School of Fashion & Design on new degree and scholarship paths that help graduates enroll in bachelor's programs. (More)

➤ Breeze Airways will add two Orlando routes in May 2027: nonstop flights to Latrobe, Pennsylvania, starting May 26, and one-stop, same-plane service to Albany, New York, starting May 28. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your cookware with the TIBO Titanium Pan. Featuring a durable, naturally nonstick titanium cooking surface without PFAS or PTFE coatings, TIBO delivers even heating, easy cleanup, and compatibility with gas, electric, and induction stovetops. Backed by a lifetime warranty, TIBO is currently 72% off with free shipping.

Flying together with our sponsor

🎃 Top Shelf Tour – 10 Cigars Only $24.99! 🎃

Fall is here, and there’s no better way to welcome crisp evenings than with a humidor full of premium smokes. The Top Shelf Tour delivers 10 standout cigars from Undercrown Shade, Oliva Serie V, Romeo Real Nicaragua, Montecristo Platinum, and Rocky Patel Decade, all for just $24.99.

Your order includes a free cutter and a $10 voucher. Like a ghost at midnight, this deal won’t stick around. Grab yours before it disappears!

➤ Miami Vice '85 is in production on a New Jersey set, with Austin Butler as Sonny Crockett and Michael B. Jordan as Ricardo Tubbs. Butler's been spotted in the signature white suit and shades. It hits theaters in May 2028. (See First Look)

➤ Old Mill Farms in Macclenny is running its Fall Festival every October weekend except Halloween weekend, with a corn maze and hayrides where guests feed the cows. The Thrift family calls the former cattle land a "rural Disneyland." (Plan Visit)

➤ The Orlando Ballet performs The Sleeping Beauty Oct. 15-18 at the Dr. Phillips Center's Steinmetz Hall, with the Orlando Philharmonic playing Tchaikovsky's score live. An Oct. 17 family matinee adds crafts, story time, and face painting. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ “Impossible” Bone Density Improvements Linked to Overlooked Protein. Recent DEXA scans have shown surprising bone density improvements in some women over 60 after adding a specific protein to their diets. Researchers are examining how this protein compound may provide nutritional support that calcium supplements alone cannot, potentially offering a new approach to maintaining stronger bones as you age. Learn More

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Seven simple at-home tests may reveal your risk of death, and most take under a minute. (See Tests)

➤ Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer, the Vatican confirmed after surgeons removed part of his right lung, the first major health crisis of his 17-month papacy. (Hear Episode)

➤ German police have seized a humanoid robot after it allegedly groped a teenage girl while two suspects reportedly livestreamed the encounter. (Hear Details)