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Monday, November 9, 2026
Good Morning! On Nov. 9, 1947, the Rickenbacker Causeway and Crandon Park opened to the public, linking Miami to Key Biscayne and its new park. Seven years earlier, the heirs of William John Matheson had donated the parkland to Dade County on the condition that it remain a public park, with the county promising a causeway to the island.
In This Issue: The SS United States is cleared to leave Mobile Monday for a Nov. 12 Destin reef, ICA Miami taps Gensler for a $40 million second building, and a Pulitzer Center–supported investigation finds heat and safety gaps for Florida’s immigrant nursery workers. |
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Tallahassee 🌤️ 79°/51° | Jacksonville 🌫️ 80°/58° | Gainesville 🌫️ 81°/57° | Orlando 🌤️ 83°/63° | Tampa 🌤️ 83°/64° | Fort Myers ☀️ 84°/68° | Miami 🌦️ 83°/76° | West Palm Beach 🌤️ 82°/75° | Key West 🌦️ 85°/76° | Pensacola 🌤️ 74°/55° | Daytona Beach 🌤️ 79°/68°
Weather: Monday stays quiet and dry under high pressure, with seasonable highs mostly in the low to mid 80s and the mid 70s in Pensacola after morning fog in Jacksonville, Gainesville and Orlando. The St. Johns River near Cocoa is forecast to reach major flood stage and remain there through at least Friday; flood warnings also continue at Astor, DeLand, Sanford and above Lake Harney, and the Peace River at Arcadia is still in moderate flood. Minor coastal flooding is possible at high tide along Southeast Florida beaches into Monday morning. Never drive into flooded roads. (NWS)
Tropical: The National Hurricane Center does not expect any tropical cyclones to form in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf over the next seven days. Hurricane season ends Nov. 30. (National Hurricane Center)
Rip Current Report: The rip current risk is HIGH Monday from Nassau through St. Johns counties, with surf of 4 to 5 feet, and from Volusia through Martin, with surf around 3 to 4 feet; stay out of the ocean there. The risk is moderate in Palm Beach County and on Bay, Franklin and Gulf County beaches (west-facing Gulf beaches are low), and low on Walton beaches, from Pensacola through Okaloosa, in Broward and Miami-Dade, and along the Gulf coast from Levy County to Collier County. (NWS) |
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UPDATE: SS United States Cleared to Leave Mobile Monday for Nov. 12 Destin Reef
A federal judge’s denial of a temporary restraining order left Okaloosa County’s plan on track for the SS United States to leave Mobile on Monday, Nov. 9, and be sunk about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach on Thursday, Nov. 12, as the world’s largest artificial reef.
FOX10 reported Sunday night that crews emptied and cleaned all 128 fuel and lubricant tanks and cleared all 12 decks; the Preservation Foundation filed another request, but the county says the project remains on schedule for the Monday tow and Thursday deployment.
MCO Vertipad Atlantis Hosts First On-Airport eVTOL Demo
ClickOrlando reported Sunday that Orlando International Airport has staged its first demonstration flights of electric aircraft that take off and land vertically without a traditional runway, after the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority advanced a temporary vertipad for eVTOL testing.
The Orlando Real reports that Joby Aviation flew the Nov. 4 demonstration with the Florida Department of Transportation as part of tests along the state's Aerial Highway Network, landing at Vertipad Atlantis by Terminal C, which it calls the nation's first dedicated eVTOL pad at a commercial airport and a step toward a future vertiport.
UPDATE: NTSB Clears Areas Outside Greenacres Excavation and Ships Parts to D.C. Labs
The National Transportation Safety Board said Sunday it has completed on-scene investigative work outside the impact excavation for the Nov. 1 Learjet 60 near Greenacres, clearing named sites including Green Acres Mobile Home Community, Reading Truck, Silver Oaks Plaza, Value Store It Self Storage and John I. Leonard High School, while excavation at the crater continues.
Investigators recovered and identified components from both wings and both engines, the flight deck and multiple control surfaces; some parts have been sent to NTSB laboratories in Washington, D.C., WPBF and WFLX reported Sunday night.
Investigation: Heat and Safety Gaps for Immigrant Nursery Workers
A Pulitzer Center–supported Miami Herald investigation, free in English at the Haitian Times, finds Florida’s more than 4,200 nurseries produce roughly 60% of U.S. houseplants while workers describe extreme heat, scarce shade and unsafe or missing drinking water under a Planting Justice campaign pressing retailers for a monitored code of conduct.
Reporters Max Klaver and Ashley Miznazi write that OSHA has about 22 inspectors for 3.3 million workers across Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. |
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❖ Miami — ICA Miami Taps Gensler for $40 Million Second Building: Miami: The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, has hired Gensler to renovate the 30,000-square-foot former De la Cruz Collection building it bought for $25 million in 2024, doubling its exhibition and programming space in the Design District, The Art Newspaper reports. The new wing, funded by a privately backed $40 million capital campaign, will add eight galleries, including the museum’s first dedicated spaces for its collection of more than 2,000 works, and is scheduled to open in late 2027.
❖ Sebastian — Lagoon Oxygen Rebounds Above Danger Line: Sebastian / Indian River County: The Indian River Lagoon station off Sebastian read 7.01 mg/L dissolved oxygen (91.89% saturation) at 4 a.m. Sunday, up from 4.01 a day earlier, Sebastian Daily reports. The board kept a wider-area caution in place.
❖ Orlando — Mavi Plans a December Opening by Lake Eola: Orlando: Mavi Turkish Aegean Kitchen and Bar plans to open in December 2026 at 100 S. Eola Drive downtown, Orlando Shine reports. The concept centers on shared meze, charcoal grills, mantı and İskender, including a $29 Mavi Meze Experience at lunch, with hours planned until 1 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.
❖ Jacksonville — Ascension St. Vincent’s Plans Three New St. Johns County Clinics: St. Johns County: Ascension St. Vincent’s is expanding primary care with three new clinics in Aberdeen, Nocatee and Fruit Cove, Action News Jax reports. Aberdeen is scheduled for December 2026, Nocatee in winter 2027 and Fruit Cove later in 2027, after the county’s population grew nearly 27% from 2020 to 2025.
❖ Jensen Beach — Homes Still Flooded a Week After Historic Rain: Jensen Beach / Martin County: Residents along Hyline Drive in Jensen Beach’s Skyline Heights neighborhood, near the Savannas Preserve, still have several feet of standing water inside their homes a week after historic rainfall, forcing evacuations, WPBF reports. Resident Lisa French said no one in the neighborhood had flood insurance because it is not designated a flood zone.
❖ Palm Beach — Foundation Work Underway on 21-Story Alida Residences: West Palm Beach: Foundation work is underway on Alida Residences, a 21-story, roughly 230-foot residential tower, and a Tribute Portfolio by Marriott hotel at 506 and 524 Datura Street downtown, Florida YIMBY reports. The approximately 350,000-square-foot project from LD&D and IGEQ, with KAST Construction as general contractor, broke ground July 17, 2026, across from the city’s Brightline station.
❖ Gulf — Rose & Ivy Reopens Beside the Sarasota Opera House: Sarasota: Rose & Ivy, in the ivy-covered 1925 building at 1296 First St. next to the Sarasota Opera House, reopens to the public Tuesday, Nov. 10, under new owner Elizabeth Moore after a summer renovation, Longboat Key News reports. Chef Jason Acevedo’s new menu pairs Japanese flavors with French technique, with main plates and steaks priced $27 to $65.
❖ Ocala — Kut Different Learning Center Taking Shape in Former Church: Ocala / Marion County: Youth-mentoring nonprofit Kut Different Inc. is converting a former church at 1601 NW 14th St., next to Howard Middle School, into a Community Learning Center with technology, academic support and workforce-development workshops, the Ocala Gazette reports. Founders Jamie Gilmore Jr. and Eddie Rocker gave supporters a first look at the renovations on Nov. 5. |
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❖ UPDATE: CD 27 Machine Recount Set for 10 a.m. Monday in Doral — Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia said the Florida secretary of state ordered a machine recount in the 27th Congressional District and that it will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Election Headquarters in Doral. Unofficial returns still favor Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar over Democrat Eliott Rodriguez by roughly 1,100 votes. Rodriguez has sued seeking Garcia’s recusal; Garcia said she will not step aside.
❖ Donalds on Meet the Press: Health Care as Next Battle Line — Gov.-elect Byron Donalds used his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Nov. 8, to urge Republicans to offer market-based proposals for lowering health-care costs. He opposed single-payer systems and predicted that health care would become a central political issue.
❖ DeLand Police Join Statewide Blue Envelope Program for Drivers With Autism — The DeLand Police Department will join Florida’s Blue Envelope and Blue Card Program on Jan. 1, 2027, giving drivers with autism a voluntary blue envelope or card that holds license, registration and insurance and tips officers on communication during stops. Officers began training Friday. |
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❖ Sarasota Tourism Posts Fifth Straight Month of Gains — Visit Sarasota County reported its fifth straight month of visitor and spending gains, with September year-over-year figures showing visitors up 15%, from 79,500 to 91,400. Direct spending rose to $85.98 million from $67.13 million; lodging occupancy was up 40% compared to a 38% increase in 2025. Room nights were 170,900 versus 155,600 in 2025.
❖ Palm Beach County Opens Flood Damage Survey for Businesses — Palm Beach County said Sunday that businesses hit by last week’s historic flooding can self-report losses through the state’s Business Damage Assessment Survey at FloridaDisaster.biz by selecting “2026 Fall Flooding.” Officials say the survey helps measure economic impact and recovery needs but does not guarantee financial help.
❖ Tunnel to Towers Pledges $10M to Convert Coral Springs La Quinta — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has pledged $10 million to buy the La Quinta Inn & Suites at 3701 North University Drive in Coral Springs and turn it into a 100-unit Veteran Village. The full redevelopment is estimated at $20 million; the Planning and Zoning Board hears special exemptions Monday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. |
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Santos’ FG as Time Expires Lifts Bears Past Buccaneers 27-24
Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired after Caleb Williams hit Colston Loveland for 38 yards to the Tampa Bay 16, and Chicago beat Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday night. Chicago (7-2) committed five turnovers, including a career-high four interceptions by Williams; Mayfield was 18 of 32 for 243 yards and two interceptions; Tampa Bay falls to 3-6.
Larson Clinches Back-to-Back Cup Title at Homestead as Blaney Wins the Finale
Kyle Larson clinched his third NASCAR Cup Series title in six years early in Sunday’s 400-mile season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, becoming the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2010. Ryan Blaney won the race for Team Penske; Larson finished 12th after locking the title when he finished fourth in the opening stage and Bell did not win it.
Lions Grind Past Dolphins 19-9 as Bates Makes Four Field Goals
Jahmyr Gibbs scored on an 8-yard fourth-down run and Jake Bates made field goals of 28, 33, 40 and 43 yards as Detroit beat Miami 19-9 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins (1-7) went 0 for 3 in the red zone and visit Indianapolis next Sunday.
Scoreboard
Lions 19, Dolphins 9 Bears 27, Buccaneers 24 Bruins 4, Panthers 1 Jets 4, Lightning 3 Heat 114, Kings 108
Schedule (all times ET)
Tue Nov 10 — Panthers at Blue Jackets, 7:30pm EST — ESPN+ Tue Nov 10 — Heat at Jazz, 9pm EST — KJZZ-TV Wed Nov 11 — Lightning at Sabres, 7pm EST — TNT Thu Nov 12 — Red Wings at Panthers, 7:30pm EST — ESPN+ Sat Nov 14 — Pistons at Heat, 8pm EST — NBA TV Sat Nov 14 — Panthers at Blues, 7pm EST — Scripps Sports Sun Nov 15 — Dolphins at Colts, 1pm EST — CBS Sun Nov 15 — Jaguars at Titans, 1pm EST — Fox
More Scores: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAF |
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Florida’s average for regular is $3.80 a gallon, AAA says, down about a penny from yesterday ($3.81) and about 7 cents below a week ago ($3.87). That’s about 22 cents under the national average of $4.02. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at about $3.97; Panama City is the cheapest at about $3.50. |
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❖ Pilot Hoisted from Estero Bay Preserve: A lone Kitfox Series 7 seaplane pilot made an emergency landing Sunday afternoon in a hard-to-reach part of Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County. Lee County Sheriff’s Office Aviation hoisted the uninjured pilot after boats and vehicles could not reach the site.
❖ Apopka Officers and Walmart Replace a 13-Year-Old’s Bike: Apopka Police officers pooled their own money at Walmart after a metal scrapper took a 13-year-old’s bicycle from a friend’s driveway; store employees chipped in, and the teen received a new bike, helmet and lights.
❖ Drone Dinner for Kaleb at Save the Chimps: Save the Chimps used a drone to drop food and blankets to Kaleb, a 38-year-old chimpanzee cut off by floodwater at its 150-acre sanctuary near Fort Pierce; he later walked out on his own. Staff used trucks and a tractor for the sanctuary’s about 200 apes; about 20% of roads were clear Saturday as water receded.
❖ Annmarie Sanchez Dives into West Palm Lake to Save a Driver: Annmarie Sanchez, mother of three, dove into a flooded lake off Willow Pond Road after a man drove in about 8 p.m. Monday; she swam to him while others filmed, pulled him toward shore, and with a second woman brought him safely in. On Thursday the man, Bill, came to her door to thank her.
❖ Ocala Donor Picks Sensory Toys for Toys for Tots: McKenna Burke, whose brother has autism, bought a kinetic-sand kit and a slime kit for the Marion and Citrus counties Toys for Tots drive so children with sensory needs are included, WCJB reports.
❖ Habitat Tampa Bay Veterans Build Week Helps Named Vets: Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough renovated units at James Cole Veterans Village; a garden-shed rebuild is set Tuesday, Nov. 10, for Air Force veteran Charles Williams, and a Veterans Day roof for Army veteran Pedro Gratacos.
Today’s Quote “In Florida, Monday goes better when somebody remembers your usual order before you finish saying it.” — original / Front Porch |
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Florida Almanac
Moon: New moon on Monday, 0% lit; new moon arrived at 2:02 a.m. EST Monday, Nov. 9.
Sunrise / Sunset: Orlando sunrise 6:43 a.m., sunset 5:35 p.m. EST, 10h 52m daylight.
Gardening Notes: Dill — sow September–December; ‘Long Island Mammoth’ does best here (UF/IFAS).
Coastal / Red Tide: FWC Nov. 6 report — bloom levels in six Gulf County samples; next update Nov. 13. |
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Florida by the Numbers
3,815,569 Floridians eligible for Medicaid as of Sept. 30, 2026 (AHCA; CMS21 not included), down about 216,000 from a month earlier. |
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Today’s Poll
How closely will you follow Florida’s leftover election counts this week?
Yesterday’s Results
Which part of NASA’s new Moon work most interests you?
Astronaut recruitment 23% · Lunar science deliveries 23% · Launch and in-space cargo transport 23% · I’m not following it closely 31% |
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Florida Lottery
CASH POP Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 9 CASH POP Late Night — Sun Nov 8 — 7 PICK 2 Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 1-5 Fireball 3 PICK 3 Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 6-1-4 Fireball 3 PICK 4 Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 9-3-6-5 Fireball 3 PICK 5 Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 8-9-0-9-7 Fireball 3 Fantasy 5 Evening — Sun Nov 8 — 9-10-18-26-32 Florida Lotto — Sat Nov 7 — 1-2-5-14-28-40 Powerball — Sat Nov 7 — 3-36-37-56-61 Powerball 21 Power Play 2x Jackpot Triple Play — Fri Nov 6 — 9-13-22-33-42-46 Mega Millions — Fri Nov 6 — 27-34-44-53-64 Mega Ball 1 |
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