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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Union troops led by Brigadier General Alexander Asboth struck the small northwest Florida city of Marianna during the American Civil War.

Yesterday, Hurricane Helene swept through Florida and much of the Southeast, delivering severe weather in a historic storm. We’ll have damage estimates and updates for you on Monday. In the meantime, please stay safe.

Today we're asking for your support in keeping Flyover Florida alive and strong to keep delivering you unbiased news every day. Click here if you'd like to contribute.

Hurricane Helene Batters Florida

Helene was expected to make landfall in the Big Bend late last night as a massive Category 4 hurricane after strengthening in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico throughout the day.

In addition to "potentially catastrophic" winds, a storm surge warning was issued for almost all of the state’s west coast, where waters described as “unsurvivable” could reach as high as 20 feet in some places.

Residents throughout Florida, especially those impacted by Hurricane Idalia flooding, prepared for the storm. You can see a video here.

After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Airport Landing Fees Meet Resistance

Kissimmee is facing criticism from pilots, students, and aviation experts over plans to generate airport revenue by implementing a landing fee—a service that has been free since 1940.

Kissimmee Gateway Airport will charge for each landing by a plane not based at the facility. Based on 2023 landing data, the fee is expected to generate $400,000 to $500,000 in revenue annually and will go into effect after Oct. 1.

Ormond Beach became the latest municipality in the state to table plans for landing fees at Ormond Beach Airport. Three other airports are considering the fees: DeLand Airport, Flagler Airport, and Orlando Executive Airport.

New Coalition Promotes Rail Safety Amid Accidents

Concerns over rail safety have resulted in The Florida Department of Transportation establishing a first-in-the-nation Florida Rail Safety Coalition (FRSC) as part of Rail Safety Week.

Since 2017, at least 364 people in Florida have been killed by trains run by 13 different companies. Of those, 97 were killed by Brightline trains, with 129 people either killed or injured in rail-related trespassing or crossing collisions in 2023 alone.

The FRSC brings together rail industry partners to develop solutions to reduce fatalities across the state. Meanwhile, law enforcement has been stepping up patrols at crossings all week and issuing $500 fines.

Dear Flyover Florida Reader,

107 days!

It was 107 days ago today that we launched Flyover Florida with the simple belief that, like us, everyday Floridians are fed up with the daily barrage of biased corporate media from publications like the Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times.

Since our launch, the mainstream media has gotten worse—with celebrity journalists pushing their agendas and favorite candidates under the guise of impartial reporting. We aren't perfect, but when we miss the mark, we own it and correct it because your trust is essential to our success.

What I've learned in the last 107 days is that many Floridians still value straightforward, fact-driven journalism—something that's hard to find among the circus of today’s broadcast, cable, and print outlets. In just 107 days, more than 100,000 readers have joined us, allowing us to grow into one of the strongest, fairest news platforms in the state.

But let me be candid. To keep delivering free, unbiased news, I need your support. Although I appreciate our advertisers, they don’t cover all our costs. Many of you have asked how you can help. Flyover Florida is, and will always be, 100% free. But to maintain that, I’m asking readers who are able to make a special contribution to consider doing so.

September 30th is a crucial deadline for me. I understand that not everyone is in a position to give, and for some, even $15 is a big sacrifice. Any amount, however large or small, will go a long way in helping us continue to provide fair, unbiased news and meet our financial goals by the end of the month. Will you make a special contribution today?

Cole, CEO

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➤ Tallahassee: The state issued illness advisories in several counties for mosquito-borne diseases, and some counties have been practicing mitigation strategies against the bugs. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: Officials approved a $1.88 billion 2024-25 city budget that increases operational funding by 7.1% over the $1.75 billion budget approved for 2023-24. The property tax rate in Duval County will remain unchanged. (More)

➤ Daytona Beach: Keiser University is ranked in the top 25 for social mobility in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges list for the fifth year. (See Details)

➤ Orlando: City leaders approved a $1.82 billion spending plan this week that adds dozens of public safety personnel for the fast-growing southeastern section of the city. (More)

➤ Ocala: A youth basketball coach was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on nine charges ranging from possession of child pornography to sexual abuse. (See Details)

➤ Delray Beach: A new parking system was implemented in mid-September using sensors to help drivers looking to park along State Road A1A and downtown. It offers real-time information on available parking spots. (More)

➤ UCF will host Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes in its Big 12 home opener on Saturday at 3:30. UCF is favored to win by two touchdowns. (More)

➤ No. 7 Miami will also open up conference play tonight against Virginia Tech, while Florida State will look to improve their 1-2 conference record against new ACC member SMU. (More)

➤ Miami Marlins centerfielder Derek Hill added to his lengthy defensive highlight reel with this diving catch in the Marlins Wednesday matchup with the Minnesota Twins. (Watch Video)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | PGA | LPGA

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Southwest Florida International Airport saw 614,531 passengers in August, which has been trending up overall this year. The Fort Myers airport saw an increase of 2% last month compared with August 2023. (More)

➤ Tampa’s iconic Goody Goody Burgers in Hyde Park will close at the end of the month after almost 100 years in operation. (See Details)

➤ Delta, United, and other airlines have issued travel waivers to accommodate passengers impacted by Hurricane Helene. (See Details)

➤ Breakthru Beverage Florida drivers voted to join the Teamsters union. The company is one of the largest beverage wholesalers in North America. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Struggling with bloating, gas, or constipation? Try this amazing scrambled egg hack! It quickly improves digestion without medication or diets. Over 147,600 people have found relief. Discover how it works here: Just eat your scrambled eggs like this and feel the difference!

Election season is in full swing, bringing with it a flood of biased reporting. Flyover Florida was created for people tired of the usual partisan slant, who simply want straightforward truth—and that’s what we’re committed to providing.

I know very few of you are able to respond directly to my message with financial support. I understand times are tough.

However, three days from now marks a critical financial milestone for Flyover Florida. I hope I can rely on support from readers like you to keep going. If you can, please consider making a donation, no matter the size. Every bit helps us continue offering free, impartial news and hit our financial goals by the end of the month.

If you find value in what we do, would you consider supporting us today? I'd be incredibly grateful if you did.

Cole, CEO

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➤ UCF football fans may want to mix up a Golden Knights cocktail on Saturday to celebrate the university hosting Fox’s college football pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff. (See Recipe)

➤ Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen predatory species of flatworm living in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and other parts of the U.S. that likely originated from South America. (More)

➤ Two Miami restaurants made the New York Times' 50 Best Dining Places in America list, La Camaronera and Walrus Rodeo. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Somalia faces a crisis from natural disasters, conflict, poverty, and disease. The worst drought in 40 years devastated crops and livestock, while food imports from Russia and Ukraine halted. Two in five Somali children now suffer from acute malnutrition. Join us in partnering with World Concern to get emergency nutrition packs & clean water to children. $12 feeds a child for a month.