The morning edition

Gale warnings and high surf hit Florida's east coast as a rideshare rocket eyes a Monday morning liftoff

Monday, October 19, 2026

Monday, October 19, 2026

Good Morning! On Oct. 19, 1906, students at the University of Florida put out the first issue of The University News, the independent paper that grew into today's Independent Florida Alligator. It came together in time to cover the university's opening ceremony at its new permanent home in Gainesville, and much of that first issue reprinted Gov. Napoleon B. Broward's farewell speech word for word. The paper took the name Florida Alligator in 1912, after the university's mascot.

In This Issue: gale warnings and rough surf along Florida's Atlantic coast, a frozen smoked salmon recall that reaches Florida, a rideshare rocket set to launch from the Cape and how Isaias tested the Panhandle's post-Michael building codes.

Weather: Cool, dry air holds over North Florida Monday, with lows in the 40s and 50s Monday night. Gusty northeast winds keep coastal hazards going: a Coastal Flood Advisory covers parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam and St. Johns along the St. Johns River until 11 a.m. Monday, and NWS Jacksonville warns of beach erosion and minor tidal flooding through midweek. (NWS)

Tropical: NHC says “A storm-force non-tropical low pressure area is developing along a frontal boundary tonight off the southeast coast of the United States,” and “A subtropical cyclone could form over the second half of this week as the system begins moving generally northeastward, offshore of the eastern United States.” Formation chance is near 0 percent through 48 hours and 40 percent through 7 days. “Regardless of development, this system will cause high winds, coastal flooding, and dangerous surf along portions of the U.S. East Coast.” Florida’s Isaias state of emergency covers 30 counties (Executive Order 26-212). (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: High rip current risk Monday along the entire Atlantic coast from Nassau through Miami-Dade, with surf of 7 to 11 feet from Nassau through Palm Beach and High Surf Advisories into Tuesday. The risk is also high from Escambia through Okaloosa and in Franklin, and low along the peninsula’s Gulf coast. (NWS)

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Storm-Force Low Expected Off the Southeast Coast as Gale Warnings and High Surf Hit Florida's Atlantic Beaches

The National Hurricane Center is watching a powerful non-tropical low expected to form off the Southeast coast and drift slowly and erratically through midweek, with some subtropical development possible. The NHC says that whether or not it develops, the system will bring high winds, coastal flooding and dangerous surf to parts of the East Coast.

In Northeast Florida, gusts of 30 to 45 mph were possible along the coast and the St. Johns River corridor, and a gale warning covers Atlantic coastal waters through Monday. Forecasters warn of rough surf, a high rip current risk, beach erosion around high tide, and minor tidal flooding along the coast, the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Johns River basin.

Frozen Smoked Salmon Distributed in Florida Is Recalled Over Possible Listeria

New York-based wholesale distributor Krasnyi Oktyabr Inc. has voluntarily recalled Starfish Seafood Premium Cold Smoked Norwegian Salmon Sliced in 8-ounce packages over possible Listeria contamination, according to the FDA. The frozen salmon went to Florida, New York, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The problem turned up through product sampling by New York state agriculture officials, and no illnesses have been reported. Consumers are urged not to eat the salmon and to return it for a full refund; Listeria is especially dangerous for young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

SpaceX Rideshare Set to Carry 32 Payloads, Including Its Starfall Reentry Capsule, From Cape Canaveral

SpaceX is set to launch its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during an hour-long window opening at 6:30 a.m. Monday. The Falcon 9 carries 32 payloads, among them SpaceX's uncrewed Starfall reentry capsule, which the FAA describes as able to support up to 2,200 pounds of payload.

The 45th Weather Squadron gives a 55% chance of acceptable launch weather, citing gusty winds near limits behind the cold front. The booster, flying for the 19th time, is set to land on a droneship in the Atlantic about nine minutes after liftoff.

Hurricane Isaias Puts the Panhandle's Post-Michael Building Codes to the Test

Isaias is the first hurricane to strike the Florida Panhandle since Hurricane Michael in 2018, which exposed design wind speeds as low as 120 to 130 mph in some North Florida communities. Since then, Florida has revised its wind maps and raised design requirements in parts of the western Panhandle.

The 2023 code widened the area where buildings must be protected against wind-borne debris with impact-resistant glass or approved shutters, and tightened roof and flood-resistant construction standards. Newer codes don't make homes hurricane-proof, and many older structures still fall under earlier standards.

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❖ Miami-Dade — Empira Group Lands $81 Million Loan to Build The Aurelian in Coral Gables: Coral Gables: Empira Group secured an $81 million construction loan from Pearlmark, arranged by CBRE, for The Aurelian, a 12-story, 160-unit building at 114 Calabria Avenue. The Behar Font-designed project includes a 248-space garage and a 6,000-square-foot public park.

❖ Tampa Bay — USF Researcher Works on Heart Valves That Grow With Children: Tampa: University of South Florida researcher Dr. Neda Latifi leads a team developing heart valve materials that could grow with children born with valve defects, who often need several open-heart surgeries as they age. The preclinical work gives hope to families like that of 4-year-old Meadow Boes.

❖ Orlando — Tako Cheena Moves Back to Its Original Mills 50 Storefront: Orlando: Tako Cheena, the Asian-Latin taco spot chef Pom Moongauklang opened on Mills Avenue in 2011, is leaving 948 N. Mills Ave. and returning to its original storefront a few doors down at 932 N. Mills Ave. The restaurant moved to the former Forbidden City space at Mills and Weber in 2019.

❖ Jacksonville — Olivia, North America's Oldest Known Stanley Crane, Dies at Jacksonville Zoo at 43: Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens said Olivia, believed to be the oldest known Stanley crane in North America, was euthanized at 43 after age-related problems including arthritis and declining kidney function. She lived at the zoo for 30 years.

❖ Broward — JetBlue Adds Daily Fort Lauderdale–Cali Nonstop, Its Fourth Colombian City: Fort Lauderdale: JetBlue began daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Cali, Colombia, on Thursday, Oct. 15. Cali is the airline's fourth Colombian city after Cartagena, Medellín and Barranquilla, flown on an Airbus A320 with launch fares from $139.

❖ Palm Beach — Developer Eyes Homes for Royal Palm Beach's Village Golf Club; Neighbors Push Back: Royal Palm Beach: 13th Floor Homes is looking to redevelop the 174-acre Village Golf Club into housing under the state's new Infill Redevelopment Act, which could allow up to about 10 units per acre. Neighbors worried about traffic and lost green space have started a petition with more than 200 signatures, and a 2018 plan by the same developer for 450 homes on the course never happened.

❖ Gulf Coast — Peace River Reservoir Refills After Summer Low, but Drought Rules Stay: Arcadia: The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority's 6-billion-gallon reservoir near Arcadia is full again after dropping to about 2.58 billion gallons in July, its lowest since 2017. Sarasota and DeSoto counties remain under drought conditions and water restrictions, and Executive Director Richard Anderson said the river's flow dried up earlier than normal this year.

❖ North Florida — Panhandle Marine Institute Breaks Ground on New Downtown Panama City Home: Panama City: The Florida Panhandle Marine Institute broke ground Saturday on a new downtown facility on land leased from AMIkids Maritime Academy, after Gulf World Marine Park's 2025 closure forced it to move. Plans include rehabilitation pools for stranded animals, a veterinary lab and student learning space, said President Pam George.

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❖ New District 22 Spans Florida From Palm Beach to Collier as Dandiya and Askar Face Off — Voters in the newly redrawn Congressional District 22, which now covers parts of Palm Beach, Broward, Hendry and Collier counties, will choose between Democrat Pia Dandiya, a former educator and White House Fellow, and Republican Casey Askar, a Marine Corps veteran and Naples-area businessman, the Town-Crier reports. Dandiya is focused on cost of living and anti-corruption measures. Askar's campaign site cites lower taxes and regulations and stricter voter verification. Askar didn't respond to interview requests.

❖ Two Working Cattle Ranches Protected From Development in $8.7 Million State Easements — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced that nearly 1,500 acres across two cattle ranches will be permanently protected from development through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, Florida's Voice reports. The easements cover Mossy Island, about 420 acres in Manatee County ($4 million, including $500,000 from the county), and the roughly 1,046-acre Florida Commission Company Ranch in Highlands County ($4.7 million). Both will stay in agriculture.

❖ Early Voting Begins With Vote.org Reporting Interest Well Above the Last Midterm — Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Nov. 1 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and until Oct. 31 in Monroe, WSVN reports. Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey told the station that Florida traffic to the site to check or complete registration is "way past the last midterm election." WSVN also previewed the top statewide races. "We have rejected socialism," said Republican Byron Donalds, while Democrat David Jolly said voters are "begging for new leadership." In the Senate race, Republican Sen. Ashley Moody and Democrat Angie Nixon also made their cases.

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❖ Biketoberfest Was Expected to Draw 100,000-Plus to Daytona Beach, but Not Every Business Saw a Boost — The Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated 100,000 to 125,000 people would attend Biketoberfest, which ran Oct. 15–18, and communications director Andrew Booth said advance hotel bookings were trending slightly ahead of last year, Spectrum News 13 reports. But Vittorio Tiano, owner of Tiano's Cucina Italiana in Daytona Beach, said Saturday was unusually slow as regular local customers avoided the crowds. He also cited rising food prices, saying some customers who used to come three or four times a month now come twice.

❖ Jeff's Bagel Run Reaches 41 Shops With Brandon Opening, Plans Plantation Next — Jeff's Bagel Run, which Jeff and Danielle Perera started at home after he lost his job in 2019 and opened as an Ocoee storefront in 2021, has reached 41 shops with openings in Brandon's Bloomingdale Square and Cumming, Ga., with Plantation next, the Osprey Observer reports. Franchise owners Rob and Teresa Shuffield, who also run Nothing Bundt Cakes bakeries, have opened three Jeff's locations this year: The Villages in April, Gainesville in July and now Bloomingdale.

❖ Rained-Out Opening Weekend Cost Hunsader Farms Tens of Thousands of Dollars, Farm Says — Bradenton's Hunsader Farms opened its 2026 fall season this weekend after heavy rain canceled opening weekend of its Pumpkin Fest, which draws roughly 100,000 people a year, ABC7 Sarasota reports. The farm said the lost weekend meant tens of thousands of dollars in revenue it counts on to get through tough growing seasons. Vendor Marcy MacPherson said it cost her dementia nonprofit, Dementiability, $800 in potential donations.

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Rasmussen Shines as Rays Beat Guardians 3-1, Head Home One Win From Pennant

Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings, and the Rays scored in each of the first three innings to beat Cleveland 3-1 in Game 5 and take a 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series. Tampa Bay can clinch its third AL pennant, and first since 2020, on Monday at Tropicana Field; a Game 7, if needed, would be Tuesday. Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three postseason starts, and Bryan Baker converted his 35th straight save chance. Since the ALCS went to seven games in 1985, road teams that won Game 5 for a 3-2 lead have won the series four of five times.

Steelers Erase 13-Point Lead, Beat Bucs 26-19 in Overtime

Aaron Rodgers threw for 253 yards and two late touchdowns as Pittsburgh rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Tampa Bay 26-19 in overtime at Raymond James Stadium. Chase McLaughlin, 14 of 14 this season, hit a 53-yarder to force overtime, but rookie Jalon Daniels, making his third start for the injured Baker Mayfield, was sacked by Jalen Ramsey on fourth down to end the game. Daniels went 22 of 43 for 164 yards. The Bucs fell to 1-5 and play at Carolina next Sunday.

Fairbairn's Last-Second Field Goal Sinks Jaguars 34-31 at Wembley

Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired, and Houston beat Jacksonville 34-31 in London. Cam Little's 60-yard field goal had tied the game after Travis Hunter intercepted C.J. Stroud in the end zone. Hunter also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, becoming just the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown and intercept a pass in the same game. Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes. The Jaguars (4-2) still lead the AFC South; the Texans improved to 2-4.

Scoreboard

Rays 3, Guardians 1 (ALCS Game 5; Rays lead 3-2)

Steelers 26, Buccaneers 19 (OT)

Texans 34, Jaguars 31 (London)

Pride 2, Dash 1

Schedule (all times ET)

Mon Oct 19: Guardians at Rays, ALCS Game 6, 8 p.m., TBS/truTV

Tue Oct 20: Guardians at Rays, ALCS Game 7 (if necessary), 8 p.m., TBS/truTV

Tue Oct 20: Lightning at Golden Knights, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Wed Oct 21: Panthers at Senators, 7:30 p.m., Scripps Sports

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

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Florida regular averaged $4.11 a gallon Sunday (AAA, as of 10/18/26), down about 3.2 cents from Saturday (about $4.14) and up about 2 cents from a week ago ($4.09). That is about 19 cents under the national average of about $4.30. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at $4.27, and Pensacola is the cheapest at $3.90.

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❖ A Black Hawk Carrying a School Bus Over Babcock Ranch Turned Out to Be Dive-Team Training: Babcock Ranch resident Kelly Vokaty watched from her lanai Friday morning as a Black Hawk helicopter hovered over the water, not realizing it was carrying a school bus. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office says its dive team visits Babcock Ranch multiple times a year to practice underwater extractions, using setups like a submerged bus and dummies. "We're just lucky to live in a community where we have the backdrop for them to learn what they need to do to save lives," Vokaty said.

❖ From Bevis Bronco to Teacher of the Year: Sidney O'Sullivan Honored by Her Childhood Principal: Sidney O'Sullivan, who attended Bevis Elementary under principal Tricia Simonsen, has taught for nine years at Valrico Elementary under that same principal and was just named the school's Teacher of the Year. Administrators, colleagues and her family surprised her mid-math lesson with pom-poms and music, and her 5-year-old son, Connor, presented her certificate. "Watching her journey come full circle, from a Bevis Bronco student to a Valrico Hawk teacher, has been incredibly rewarding," Simonsen said.

❖ Coral Springs Charter Senior Madisyn Bagot Spends Weekends With Rescue Kittens and Leads Her Service Club: Madisyn Bagot, a senior with a 4.1 grade point average, is president of the Coral Springs Charter School Interact Club, which she has belonged to since sixth grade. On weekends she usually volunteers with kittens at Saving Sage Animal Rescue, and she has helped prepare shoes for In Jacob's Shoes and joined beach cleanups. "Bagot cares about the club members and is a positive leader," said Interact advisor Daniella Oliveira.

❖ Sarasota Polo Club Gives 11-Year-Old Dillon Hollis, Who Has Cystic Fibrosis, a Day With the Ponies: Dillon Hollis, 11, who has cystic fibrosis, spent the day at the Sarasota Polo Club, where staff partnered with the Casey Cares Foundation to give him an up-close experience with the club's horses. He met Felicity, a gentle pony who quickly became the center of his attention, and learned basic horse care. "He's full of life. That's the best way I can say it," said his father, Anthony Hollis.

❖ "I Couldn't Do It Without You": Indialantic Cancer Patient Finally Meets His Nurse Navigator: Ken Mistele, 64, of Indialantic, and oncology nurse navigator Jennifer Kennedy had spoken weekly for months during his treatment for Stage 2 tongue cancer before meeting in person for the first time at Holmes Regional Medical Center. When Mistele, who lives alone, feared choking at night, Kennedy got him a discounted medical alert system within days. "I can feel your heart," Mistele told her. "God put you in my path for a reason."

❖ Polk Adaptive Rodeo Brings Barrel Racing and Lassoing to More Than 70 With Developmental Disabilities: The Hollie Brewer Adaptive Rodeo in Bartow brought together more than 70 children and adults with developmental disabilities for barrel racing, lassoing, a petting zoo and even a special-needs goat, with every participant paired with a volunteer buddy. Co-founders Jena Brewer and Sarah Hollie started it about four years ago after their daughters, Maddie and Macy, struggled to join local livestock shows. "That's where it started. It was inclusion," Brewer said.

Today’s Quote

"Monday in Florida isn't a fresh start. It's the same traffic with better intentions."

— original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing gibbous Monday, Oct. 19 (about 60% illuminated). Full moon arrives at 12:12 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 26 (USNO).

Sunrise / Sunset: In Orlando on Monday, sunrise is at 7:29 a.m. and sunset at 6:52 p.m. EDT, for about 11 hours, 23 minutes of daylight. Times vary across the state, and Pensacola is on Central time.

Gardening Notes: Radishes sprout quickly and reach harvest size within weeks, making them an easy first crop for new gardeners and kids, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says. The whole plant is edible, including the young greens.

Coastal / Red Tide: FWC’s Oct. 16 update found only background red tide levels in Southwest Florida. Samples still being processed show low levels in St. Joseph Bay (Gulf County) on Oct. 14.

Florida by the Numbers

Citizens Property Insurance, the state-created insurer of last resort, had 266,231 policies in force on Aug. 31, 2026. That is down from 395,337 at the end of 2025, a drop of about a third (129,106 policies) in eight months, according to Citizens’ monthly counts.