The morning edition

Florida Supreme Court limits a 2021 insurance-suit law as king tides and rough seas hit the Atlantic coast

Friday, October 23, 2026

Friday, October 23, 2026

Good Morning! On October 23, 1984, Tallahassee dedicated its restored Union Bank building, a landmark that had been threatened with demolition in 1969 and moved in October 1971. Banks, historic groups, private citizens and schoolchildren chipped in money to save it. The Museum of Florida History still keeps the dedication invitation in its collection.

In This Issue: The Florida Supreme Court says a 2021 law requiring notice before suing an insurer doesn't reach older policies, king tides and rough seas head for the Atlantic coast this weekend, and FEMA sends Florida $94 million for 121 recovery projects. Plus: the Rays open the World Series tonight.

Weather: Sunny across most of Florida Friday, with showers and storms possible in South Florida and rain chances rising there Friday night. Northeast winds keep pushing water ashore: Coastal Flood Advisories cover Duval, Flagler and St. Johns until 2 a.m. Saturday and coastal Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade until 8 p.m. Saturday, a Coastal Flood Watch runs from Nassau through Flagler into Monday, and the St. Johns River near Astor is in moderate flood. (NWS)

Tropical: The National Hurricane Center has stopped advising on Josephine, now a post-tropical system well off Nova Scotia. A disturbance east-southeast of Bermuda has a low, 10 percent chance of development before upper winds shut it down this weekend, and Florida’s Isaias state of emergency remains in place (Executive Order 26-212). (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: High rip current risk Friday along the entire Atlantic coast from Nassau through Miami-Dade, with surf of 5 to 7 feet from Nassau through St. Johns and a High Surf Advisory for Palm Beach. The risk is moderate in Bay and Franklin counties and low elsewhere in the Panhandle and along the peninsula’s Gulf coast. (NWS)

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Florida Supreme Court: 2021 Pre-Lawsuit Notice Law Cannot Be Applied Retroactively

In a unanimous ruling Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court held that a 2021 law can't be applied retroactively. The law requires homeowners to give their insurer 10 business days' written notice before suing. The court said it does not cover policies written before the law took effect on July 1, 2021, which settles a split between the Fourth and Sixth District Courts of Appeal.

The case began with Rebecca Hughes's 2019 water-damage claim against Universal Property & Casualty. The Florida Justice Reform Institute said it was disappointed but expects the ruling to end retroactivity fights over any law that doesn't clearly say it applies to the past.

King Tides, Rain and Rough Seas Forecast for Florida's Atlantic Coast This Weekend

New facts since last night: Local 10 forecasts rain chances of 50% Saturday, 60% Sunday and 70% Monday, gusts of 30 to 40 mph, and large breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet as the king tide cycle peaks. It warns that most South Florida beaches will be underwater at high tide, with saltwater flooding possible in some coastal areas.

AccuWeather forecasters say the rough seas and strong rip currents will reach from Jacksonville and Daytona Beach to Port St. Lucie and Miami from Saturday through Monday. Cruise lines could be forced to change routes or port stops. Forecasters are also watching for possible tropical or subtropical development off the coast between Oct. 26 and Oct. 30 but call the chance low.

Federal Emergency Officials Announce More Than $94 Million for 121 Florida Recovery and Storm-Resilience Projects

Federal emergency officials announced more than $94 million on Thursday for 121 recovery and storm-resilience projects in Florida, part of an $896 million nationwide round. About $79 million comes through FEMA's Public Assistance program. The biggest awards are more than $11 million to Pinellas County for Helene and Milton costs, nearly $8 million to Sarasota County and more than $7 million to the Orlando Utilities Commission.

More than $15 million goes through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Of that, the state will manage $5 million for residential buyouts, elevations and rebuilds statewide.

Florida Insurance Regulator Orders Two Out-of-State Companies to Cease Operations

The Office of Insurance Regulation has issued cease-and-desist orders against New Jersey-based iDeal Group (iDeal Auto) and New York-based First Premier Home Warranty. Examiners found the companies sold a vehicle service agreement and home warranties to Floridians without the required licenses.

The investigations began after the Department of Financial Services flagged possible violations. Both companies face administrative penalties if they don't comply.

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❖ Miami/Miami-Dade: Miami Design District Associates and Raycliff Capital broke ground on an eight-story, Snøhetta-designed building with about 120,500 square feet of office and retail space. Atria Health and Research Institute signed about 55,000 square feet across three floors as the first tenant.

❖ West Palm Beach/Palm Beach: A quantum-safe link between Palm Beach State College in West Palm Beach and FAU in Boca Raton went live Oct. 15 over Palm Beach County's dark fiber. It uses IonQ quantum key distribution, sending encryption keys with light so any interception attempt can be detected.

❖ Orlando/Orange: Breakthru Beverage delivery drivers in Orlando and five other Florida markets voted to remain with the Teamsters, and the decertification case is now officially closed. The nearly 150 Florida drivers first unionized in a 91-to-54 vote after the company paid union-avoidance consultants more than $375,000.

❖ Clearwater/Pinellas: The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will open an animal clinic Nov. 2 at 2907 State Road 590, offering vaccinations, wellness exams, X-rays and basic illness care Monday through Thursday. The clinic follows the group's merger with the Humane Society of Pinellas earlier this year, and it aims to cut pet surrenders driven by cost.

❖ St. Augustine/St. Johns: City Gate Spirits on St. George Street finished No. 1 for Best Craft Specialty Spirits for the second straight year, and St. Augustine Distillery ranked in three categories. Atlantic Beach's Grey Matter Distillery came in No. 3 for Best Craft Vodka.

❖ Fort Myers/Lee: Breeze Airways began Southwest Florida International Airport flights to Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 21, with Atlantic City following Oct. 22 and Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 23. One-way fares start at $54.

❖ Crawfordville/Wakulla: The Wakulla Animal Group has grown its public pet microchip scanners from three last October to nine across Wakulla County, and added one at Gulf Coast Lumber & Supply in Woodville in Leon County. Teresa Brannan says the scanners can keep a found dog out of the shelter.

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❖ Vendor Error Affects About 350 Volusia Mail Ballots; Replacements Going Out Friday — Volusia County's elections office says a vendor error sent wrong contest information on about 350 vote-by-mail ballots. Replacements go out Friday, and affected voters can call 386-736-5930 or vote in person. "I am deeply upset that this vendor's error has affected our voters," Supervisor Lisa Lewis said.

❖ Sen. Ashley Moody Campaigns in Stuart With Dr. Mehmet Oz and CD9 Nominee Dan Green — Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody held a campaign stop in Stuart Thursday with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dan Green, the GOP nominee in the 9th Congressional District, focusing on fraud prevention and tax cuts as Martin County early voting runs through Oct. 31.

❖ Angie Nixon Holds Orlando Town Hall With Disney World Workers — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon met with Disney World workers in Orlando, joined by former Sen. Bill Nelson. Workers raised cost of living, health care and immigration; Nixon is campaigning on a $25 minimum wage and Medicare for All.

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❖ Tampa Ranked Best Large U.S. City to Start a Small Business; Florida Takes Six of Top 10 — WalletHub compared 100 cities and ranked Tampa first overall for starting a business in 2026, third for business environment and seventh for access to resources. Florida cities claimed six of the top 10 spots: Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Hialeah and St. Petersburg took the first five, and Miami ranked 10th. Tampa owners interviewed said the city's licensing is manageable, but finding customers and covering costs like equipment and vendor insurance takes work.

❖ Colombia, Mexico Buyers Fuel Miami's Luxury Real Estate Boom — International buyers spent more than $45 billion on U.S. homes, and Florida recorded the highest share of foreign-buyer transactions, according to National Association of Realtors research. ONE Sotheby's International Realty founder Mayi de la Vega said Colombia now accounts for about 20% to 25% of incoming buyers, with Mexico long a strong market, and that 51% of the international buyers she referenced paid all cash. The Miami Association of Realtors reported close to 200 home sales of $10 million or more this year.

❖ 7 Brew, Simply Southern Coming to Ocala's Paddock Mall — Paddock Mall is getting a 770-square-foot, double-lane 7 Brew drive-thru near Paddock Mall's main entrance on SW College Road. It's targeted to open in early 2027, is expected to create about 75 jobs, and will be the brand's first location in the city of Ocala. Inside the mall, apparel retailer Simply Southern has taken a 6,800-square-foot suite and plans to open before the end of the year.

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Rays Start Nick Martinez, Not Rasmussen, in World Series Game 1

The Rays will start Nick Martinez in Game 1 of the World Series at Milwaukee on Friday, Kevin Cash announced Thursday. Martinez gets the nod instead of ace Drew Rasmussen, who will get an extra day of rest after a heavy postseason workload. Martinez, 36, held Cleveland to one run on two hits over 5⅓ innings in Game 4 of the ALCS. He will face Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski. "It fell on me, and my job is just to rack up as many outs as we can," Martinez said.

Mayfield Expected to Start for Bucs at Carolina

Barring setbacks, Baker Mayfield is expected to return Sunday when the 1-5 Buccaneers visit the Carolina Panthers. He has missed three weeks with a dislocated right thumb. Mayfield practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday wearing a specially made glove. The Bucs' equipment staff asked the Rays for help designing it. He said the thumb has "gotten to a place where it's strong enough to be able to play."

Panthers' Cooper Black, 6-Foot-9, Becomes NHL's Tallest Goalie

Florida goalie Cooper Black made NHL history Thursday in Pittsburgh. His first career start made him the tallest goaltender ever to play in a regular-season game, 2 inches taller than Ben Bishop and three others listed at 6-foot-7. Black, 25, was called up from AHL Charlotte after Jacob Markstrom went down with a shoulder injury. "A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body," coach Paul Maurice said.

Scoreboard

Penguins 4, Panthers 0 FINAL

Schedule (all times ET)

Fri Oct 23 — NBA: Timberwolves at Magic, 7pm ET, NBA League Pass

Fri Oct 23 — MLB: World Series Game 1, Rays at Brewers, 8pm ET, Fox

Fri Oct 23 — NBA: Pistons at Heat, 8pm ET, WTCN My15

Fri Oct 23 — NHL: Lightning at Avalanche, 9pm ET, ESPN+

Sat Oct 24 — MLS: Inter Miami at Red Bull New York, 5:30pm ET, Apple TV

Sat Oct 24 — NBA: Heat at Hornets, 6pm ET, NBA League Pass

Sat Oct 24 — MLS: NYCFC at Orlando City, 7:30pm ET, Apple TV

Sat Oct 24 — MLB: World Series Game 2, Rays at Brewers, 8pm ET, Fox

Sat Oct 24 — NHL: Lightning at Mammoth, 9pm ET, ESPN+

Sun Oct 25 — NFL: Dolphins at Jets, 1pm ET, CBS

Sun Oct 25 — NFL: Buccaneers at Panthers, 1pm ET, Fox

Sun Oct 25 — NHL: Panthers at Blackhawks, 3pm ET, Scripps Sports

Sun Oct 25 — NWSL: Gotham at Orlando Pride, 3pm ET, CBS Sports Network

Sun Oct 25 — NBA: Magic at Knicks, 7pm ET, NBA League Pass

More Scores: NFL | MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAF | WNBA

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Florida regular averaged $4.06 a gallon Thursday (AAA, as of 10/22/26), up about 4 cents from Wednesday ($4.02) but about 17 cents below a week ago ($4.23). That is about 21 cents under the national average of $4.27. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at $4.21, and Pensacola is the cheapest at about $3.84.

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❖ Quincy teen drummer becomes honorary member of FAMU's Marching 100: Jordan Porter, a 14-year-old from Quincy, is now an honorary member of the FAMU Marching 100 thanks to Make-A-Wish. Jordan is a drummer himself, and he got to join the band's drumline at practice. Make-A-Wish and FAMU pulled the surprise together in just a few weeks, and it helped kick off homecoming.

❖ Sarasota Military Academy cadets talk by ham radio with an astronaut on the space station: Cadets in Sarasota Military Academy's amateur radio club spoke with NASA astronaut Luke Delaney aboard the International Space Station. The school was one of only 13 selected nationwide, and the Tamiami Amateur Radio Club from Venice helped make the contact. Club founder George Becht, who started the club in 2009 and just turned 80, was there to see it, along with instructor John Geimer, who rebooted the program in 2023.

❖ More than 100 kids with disabilities take a practice run through Miami International Airport: MIA and American Airlines hosted over 100 children with disabilities for the MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness tour, held in recognition of Invisible Disabilities Week. The tour, held twice a year, lets families rehearse the steps of air travel before a real trip. One mother, Debbie, said her family would love to travel with her son, but he has a lot of anxiety about getting on a plane, so she was grateful for the chance to practice.

❖ Choctaw JROTC instructor named Embry-Riddle's national teacher of the year: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Lazenby, who leads Choctawhatchee High School's Air Force Junior ROTC program, has been named Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's 2026 National Aviation & Aerospace Teacher of the Year. The award was chosen from an Embry-Riddle academy of 213 instructors across 178 schools nationwide, according to Lazenby. He said what he's most proud of is what his roughly 230 cadets a year go on to accomplish.

❖ Fantasy Fest's new royal court raises $201,502 for the Florida Keys SPCA: Key West crowned Queen Marlene Kolodziej and King Andrew Forestell, along with Duchess Carrie Graves and Duke Carl J. Riecke, at the Royal Coronation Ball on Oct. 16. The four candidates' fundraising campaigns raised $201,502 for the Florida Keys SPCA after six weeks of events, calls and texts. The royal court will appear at this week's Fantasy Fest events and keep fundraising all year.

❖ Orlando's Christian Service Center finishes $7 million makeover with new showers and a clinic: The Christian Service Center on West Central Boulevard, which has helped people experiencing homelessness since 1971, completed a $7 million renovation that adds a nearly 6,000-square-foot pavilion, new restrooms and showers, and a medical clinic. Before the work, parts of the building were in such poor condition that the facility was nearly condemned, a center representative said. Taylon, who was homeless for about six months, said the showers and laundry helped her move forward, and she has since been able to attend college.

Today’s Quote

"Friday doesn't need a plan. It just needs a cooler and somebody who knows where the boat ramp is."

— original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing gibbous, 92% lit Friday; full moon Monday, Oct. 26, at 12:12 a.m. ET.

Sunrise / Sunset: Orlando: sunrise 7:31 a.m., sunset 6:48 p.m. ET, 11h 17m of daylight. Times vary across the state, and Pensacola is on Central time.

Gardening Notes: Cauliflower is a cool-season crop: plant it from late August through January in North Florida and from September through January in Central and South Florida, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says. Transplants are the most foolproof start, and you can pick early-maturing, self-blanching or brightly colored varieties.

Coastal / Red Tide: FWC’s Oct. 16 update found only background red tide levels in Southwest Florida, with low levels pending in St. Joseph Bay.

Florida by the Numbers

7.0 percent: how much Floridians’ consumer spending grew in 2025, the fastest of any state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Nationally, spending rose 5.3 percent; health care and housing and utilities drove most of Florida’s increase.