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Saturday, May 3, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1901, the Great Jacksonville Fire consumed 2,361 buildings in 146 square blocks and killed seven people.

Florida's weekend lineup is serving serious fun, from wiener dog races to a Derby Day celebration with big hats, bow ties, and a splash of Kentucky charm.

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Have you tried The Flyover Podcast yet? Our weekend host, Amy Hess, has today's national news ready for you. Click on your favorite platform below to listen or watch—and let us know what you think!

Legislature Passes State Park Bill

The Florida Legislature unanimously passed a bill this week to restrict the development of golf courses, pickleball courts, and large hotels in state parks. The measure now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"We've put real plans in place to make sure that, for generations to come, our state parks will be preserved," said state Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart.

When plans for park development first became public last August, hundreds of people protested the move. The current bill allows for "conservation-based recreational uses," which include activities such as hiking and swimming.

Florida Executes Veteran for Murders

Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was executed on Thursday for the murder of his girlfriend and her three young children with a shotgun in 1998.

Hutchinson served as a paratrooper and an Army Ranger in the Gulf War, and relatives say he suffered from "mood swings" related to Gulf War Syndrome and bipolar disorder.

Hutchinson's attorneys had argued that his execution should be delayed while the impact of his mental health issues were further explored, a rationale the Florida Supreme Court rejected Wednesday.

"We think he's murdered other people beyond this, but obviously he got sentenced for this," Gov. Ron DeSantis said when signing the order for execution. "So the death sentence is appropriate for someone whose committed crimes this heinous."

Weekend Full of Festivals Kicks Off

It's Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend in Miami, with a full day of racing planned plus a concert headlined by Pitbull. In addition, a free Beachfront Grand Prix Festival featuring live music, food vendors, and a pit stop challenge is happening in Fort Lauderdale.

Tap into the fun this afternoon at the St. Augustine Craft Brewers Festival, where over 25 local and regional breweries will be serving samples, plus enjoy live music and food trucks.

Tampa Riverfest is holding Taco Fest today, along with live music, a wiener dog derby, and a hot air balloon glow to close out the festival.

In celebration of the Kentucky derby, the Orlando Derby Fest features equestrian events, bourbon tasting and live music. Derby attire is required.

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➤ Statewide: Unemployment claims in Florida fell to 5,660 last week, down from 6,060 the week before. (More)

➤ Escambia County: Sea turtle nesting season kicked off Thursday, with volunteers hitting the beaches each morning to search for signs of new nests. (More)

➤ Miami: A newly launched water taxi service hopes to help solve traffic congestion problems. (More)

➤ Pinellas County: A $167 million Powerball jackpot winner was arrested two days later at a St. Pete Beach resort for kicking a deputy in the face. (See Photo)

➤ Atlantic Beach: A coyote alleged to have attacked four people and a dog was shot and killed on Wednesday. A rabies test will be carried out. (More)

➤ No. 9 Florida State softball's series this weekend against No. 15 Virginia Tech will determine who wins the ACC regular season championship. (More)

➤ Inter Miami CF fell to the Vancouver White Caps in a 1-3 loss that spoiled their chances of winning the Concacaf Champions Cup. (More)

➤ Heartland Dental founder Rick Workman was identified as the primary investor trying to bring an MLB team to Orlando. (More)

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➤ A deputy jumped onto an unmanned speed boat going 40 mph in Sarasota on Monday. The driver had been thrown from the boat. (See Video)

➤ A group of capybaras recently arrived at Busch Gardens' new Wild Oasis experience in Tampa. The cuddly crew is settling in ahead of the attraction's upcoming debut. (See Photo)

➤ A 12-year-old boy and a 17-year old boy were both cited on Tuesday in Volusia County after allegedly being caught street racing. (See Video)

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