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Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1861, Florida troops took over Fort Marion, located in St. Augustine, during the American Civil War. Castillo de San Marcos was renamed Fort Marion by the U.S. Army after Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion.

Today is National Distaff Day, honoring the tool used to hold wool or flax before spinning it onto a spindle. Distaff Day originates from an old tradition in which women returned to regular household chores 12 days after Christmas.

Did you know that the team that makes Flyover Florida also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

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Port Negotiations Continue Ahead of Strike Deadline

Negotiations resumed today between the International Longshoremen's Union and the United States Maritime Alliance. The current contract extension, which ended the October 2024 East and Gulf Coast port strike, is set to expire on Jan. 15.

The October strike was suspended after the union and the 47,000 unionized dockworkers reached a tentative wage-hike deal of 62% over six years. However, the union wants a contract that guarantees employers won't introduce automation at ports.

If a deal is not reached, a new strike could begin four days before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, impacting four Florida ports: Jacksonville, Miami, Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), and Tampa.

Last month, Trump voiced support for the union and said shipping companies should invest in wages over machinery.

Flu Cases 'Very High' in the Sunshine State

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) weekly data, flu cases are now "very high" in Florida.

Overall reported cases are up 19% from the previous week, with the H1N1 virus remaining the most common strain of the flu.

Cases are rising in 59 of Florida's 67 counties, including the entire east coast of the state. In Southwest Florida, Lee County officials reported 1,300 positive flu cases.

Tampa Bay area doctors also warn of norovirus, sometimes called the stomach flu.

Orlando Hotel Named One of the Best for 2025

The Evermore Orlando Resort has been named one of the best new hotels to visit in 2025, according to USA Today's list of the "10 best new hotels across the U.S." You can see the full list here.

A panel of travel experts nominated their top picks for new hotels opening, as well as hotels that underwent major renovations over the past year and a half. Readers then voted for their favorites.

Evermore ranked third behind Madison Resort Wildwood Crest in New Jersey and The Radical Hotel in Asheville, N.C.

Evermore was selected for offering houses, flats, and villas designed to accommodate large families and groups, a 20-acre water park, multiple dining options, and a golf course.

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➤ Statewide: Gas prices dropped through the weekend but are four cents higher than a week ago. The average price for regular unleaded in Florida is currently $3.10 per gallon. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, projections from the University of Virginia suggest Florida will remain one of the most populous U.S. states in 2030, with more than a quarter of its residents expected to be 65 and over. (More)

➤ Boca Raton: A proposed $40 million redevelopment of the Tri-Rail station could include a mixed-use eight-story addition. The Boca Village project would establish 340 residences with over 30,000 feet of commercial space. (More)

➤ Charlotte County: The Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested Charlotte County Deputy Fire Chief Michael Davis for a DUI on Christmas Day. (See Video)

➤ Fort Lauderdale: A mural on the Broward County Governmental Center will be repainted with a nature theme after drawing scrutiny for highlighting Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, the county's namesake, who was a segregationist. (See Photo)

➤ Palm Beach: President-elect Donald Trump held his annual New Year's Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago with his family and many prominent politicians and business people, including Elon Musk and his son and Vice President-elect JD Vance. (See Photos)

➤ The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football in the opening round of the NFL playoffs this week. The Bucs' Mike Evans will once again face off against Marshon Lattimore in their longstanding rivalry. (More)

➤ Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill told reporters that he did not wish to remain with the team, stating that he was "too much of a competitor" to play for the Dolphins. (More)

➤ Orlando Magic star Franz Wanger told reporters he has started to feel "pretty good" as he continues to rehab from a torn oblique injury that has kept him out for a month. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Lightning saw their losing streak extend to four games after an uncompetitive 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars have cut ties with head coach Doug Pederson after a disappointing season. (More)

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➤ Walt Disney Co. announced Monday it will merge its Hulu + Live TV business with smaller rival FuboTV. The deal could pave the way for the launch of Disney's sports streaming venture with Fox Corp and Warner Bros Discovery. (More)

➤ The Florida Beer Wholesalers Association (FBWA) and the Beer Industry of Florida have merged under the FBWA name to better represent the state's expansive beer industry and consolidate resources. (More)

➤ Miami-based Royal Caribbean is being sued after a former crew member admitted to spying on cruise passengers, including children, in bathrooms and showers and planting small cameras in cabins. (See Details)

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➤ A West Palm Beach man who claimed aliens had abducted him was arrested nude after carving initials into a car and turning the knife on the car's owner in a New Year's Eve attempted carjacking. (More)

➤ A Volusia County man was bitten in the stomach by a bear while saving his dog. Blake Sprout kicked the bear and threw stones at it until it released his Pomeranian mix, Karen. (See Video)

➤ A Florida jury will decide if CNN defamed U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. (See Video)

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