The morning edition

Amazon cargo plane kills 5 at MIA. Dengue spray expands in Tampa Bay. Marlins pound Cubs 10–3.

Monday, September 7, 2026

Monday, September 7, 2026

Good Morning! On September 7, 1915, voters approved creation of Okaloosa County — Florida’s 52nd — carved from eastern Santa Rosa and western Walton. State Representative William Mapoles, remembered as the “Father of Okaloosa County,” had pushed the bill; the name (from Choctaw for “black water”) stuck after earlier drafts. At founding the new Panhandle county had not one mile of paved road; Crestview won the permanent seat in April 1917. (Okaloosa County)

On September 7, 1925, a “mammoth motorcade” left Key West, crossed Stock Island, and rolled over the new Boca Chica bridge to Rocky Point — billed as the first step in the new Overseas Highway then being built through the Florida Keys. (Keys History)

In This Issue: Amazon cargo plane overruns a Miami runway, killing 5, Tampa Bay expands dengue helicopter spraying, and the Marlins pound the Cubs 10–3.

Weather: Labor Day Monday stays warm and unsettled statewide with scattered to likely showers and thunderstorms. Highest storm chances North and Central Florida (roughly 70%+ in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona); South Florida more hit-or-miss. Highs upper 80s to low 90s; heat indexes near 100–106 in spots. Brief downpours, lightning, and gusty winds possible.

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings (National Hurricane Center). Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (Sun Sep 6, 200 PM EDT): tropical cyclone formation is not expected in the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of America during the next 7 days.

Rip Current Report: Moderate rip-current risk Labor Day for Space Coast / Volusia Atlantic (NWS MLB), Northeast Florida Atlantic (NWS JAX), and eastern Panhandle / Big Bend Gulf beaches (NWS TAE). Low for Palm Beach / Broward / Miami-Dade (NWS MFL), west-central and SW Gulf including Tampa Bay through Fort Myers (NWS TBW), and Pensacola–Destin (NWS MOB). Swim near a lifeguard; heed beach flags.

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Amazon Cargo Plane Overruns Miami Runway; 5 Dead

An Amazon Prime Air Boeing 767 operated by North Carolina cargo carrier 21 Air overran a runway at Miami International Airport around 2 p.m. Sunday after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, struck vehicles on a perimeter road, and caught fire — killing 5 people and injuring 5 others, Miami-Dade officials said (ClickOrlando).

More than 160 flights were canceled and nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday (FlightAware); the NTSB launched a go-team led by Chair Jennifer Homendy. Fire crews fought a complex engine-compartment blaze and a lingering fuel leak; Amazon said it would cooperate with the investigation (NTSB go-team investigation).

Pasco Helicopters Join Hillsborough Dengue Spray as Cases Climb

Hillsborough and Pasco counties are flying joint helicopter mosquito treatments as locally acquired dengue cases climb — Florida health figures have put about 59 infections in Hillsborough alone this year, with additional Bay Area cases in Pinellas and Pasco — and Pasco’s daytime Bti missions are targeting larvae over central Tampa corridors including Seminole Heights (Bay News 9).

Officials say the counties signed a formal mutual-aid agreement for the expanded aerial work and urge residents to stay indoors during spray passes, dump standing water, and use EPA-registered repellent. No dengue deaths have been reported in the cluster (Fox 13).

DeSantis Discusses Changes to His Florida Property-Tax Plan

Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed changes to his Florida property-tax plan in recent Central Florida coverage as Amendment 3 heads toward the November ballot, keeping the homestead-relief fight at the center of statewide politics after ballot-language rewrites and shifting campaign signals (ClickOrlando).

Supporters cast the measure as homeowner relief; local governments and new economic-development critics warn of service cuts if voters approve a large homestead exemption expansion (Florida Politics).

Marlins Pound Cubs 10–3; Crow-Armstrong Hits 40th Homers

Javier Sanoja hit a two-run homer and Heriberto Hernández added a solo shot as the Miami Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs 10–3 on Sunday at loanDepot park, avoiding a sweep. Cubs slugger Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 40th homer of the season (AP).

Miami chased Clay Holmes during a five-run fifth; Otto Lopez and Jakob Marsee had two hits each. Before the game the Marlins inducted Josh Beckett into the club’s Hall of Fame (Marlins–Cubs finale).

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❖ Miami-Dade: Terra secured a $245 million bridge loan for Upland Park Phase 1A in Sweetwater — 578 apartments already more than 60% leased less than 90 days after opening beside Dolphin Station.

❖ Tampa Bay: St. Petersburg selected Magellan Housing for an eight-story, 126-unit affordable project (plus retail and later townhomes) on a 3.03-acre Commerce Park site in the Deuces.

❖ Orlando: Ability Housing broke ground on The Village of Pine Hills — 96 affordable apartments in three buildings on North Pine Hills Road at about $35.7 million, with City of Orlando Unlocked support and Orange County Trust Fund dollars.

❖ Jacksonville: Jacksonville is spending about $12.59 million to buy 16 parcels for the Emerald Trail’s Hogans Creek-to-Riverwalk segment of the planned 30-mile network linking historic neighborhoods to Downtown.

❖ Broward: Tri-Rail faces a roughly $60 million state-funding shortfall after a record 4.5 million rides, with officials warning weekend cuts could come within two years without a longer deal; a 10% fare hike is set for Oct 1.

❖ Palm Beach: West Palm Move begins fixed-route minibuses Tuesday, Sep 8 (Norton Museum through downtown to Northwood Village) at $1 per trip via app; on-demand east of I-95 starts Sep 15 at $2.

❖ Space Coast / Brevard: Brevard Recovery Fest returns Sep 12 at Melbourne Auditorium (National Recovery Month community day).

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❖ Florida: The Florida Economic Development Council and the Orlando Economic Partnership issued statements opposing Amendment 3, warning the homestead expansion would erode local revenue that funds transportation, public safety, and place-making; FEDC’s Beth Cicchetti said the measure “does not strike that balance,” and OEP’s Bob O’Malley argued such policymaking belongs in the Legislature, not the constitution.

❖ Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed changes to his Florida property-tax plan as Amendment 3 heads to voters, keeping the homestead fight on the statewide board after ballot-language litigation and shifting campaign signals from Tallahassee.

❖ Jacksonville: Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will campaign for Amendment 3 after all, telling reporters in Jacksonville he expects to be “involved somehow” without necessarily barnstorming or running a traditional PC fundraising tour.

❖ Orange County: Orange County officials have privately mapped service-cut scenarios if Amendment 3 passes, including slower fire response and LYNX cuts (cited in FEDC/OEP coverage).

❖ Florida: Tampa Bay 28 / state economists: Amendment 3 could cost local governments roughly $11.8 billion annually (impact strip).

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❖ Miami-Dade / Sweetwater: Terra secured a $245 million SCALE Lending bridge loan for Upland Park Phase 1A in Sweetwater — 578 apartments already more than 60% leased beside Dolphin Station.

❖ Jacksonville: Gateway Jax is asking Jacksonville’s Downtown Development Review Board (Sep 10) to advance a 20-story Riverfront Plaza hotel and residences concept tied to an estimated $20 million completion-grant ask.

❖ Orlando / Pine Hills: Ability Housing broke ground on The Village of Pine Hills — 96 affordable apartments in three buildings on North Pine Hills Road at about $35.7 million, with City of Orlando Unlocked support and Orange County Trust Fund dollars.

❖ St. Cloud: St. Cloud City Council awarded Mulligan Constructors a roughly $10.3 million Hopkins Park rebuild (community center, courts, fields, garden, playground).

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Marlins Beat Cubs 10–3; Crow-Armstrong Reaches 40 Homers

Javier Sanoja and Heriberto Hernández homered as Miami beat Chicago 10–3 Sunday, with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40th homer the Cubs’ highlight in a series Miami refused to sweep.

Rays Fall 8–6 at Texas to Close Series

Texas beat Tampa Bay 8–6 on Sunday afternoon in Arlington; Jake Burger homered twice for the Rangers and Corey Seager added a late solo shot as the Rays dropped the finale.

Florida’s Three NFL Teams Open Week 1 on Sep 13

All three Florida NFL clubs open the regular season Sunday, Sep 13: Jaguars host the Browns at EverBank Stadium, Buccaneers visit the Bengals in Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET), and Dolphins play at Las Vegas (Buccaneers Week 1).

Josh Beckett Inducted Into Marlins Hall of Fame

Before Sunday’s game the Miami Marlins inducted Josh Beckett into the club’s Hall of Fame (AP coverage of the Marlins–Cubs finale).

Jaguars Home Opener vs Browns: Four Questions

Jacksonville faces roster and readiness questions ahead of the Week 1 home opener against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium (Sep 13).

Scoreboard

Rangers 8, Rays 6 (FINAL)

Marlins 10, Cubs 3 (FINAL)

Schedule

Marlins vs Mets — Mon Sep 7

Rays off / next TBD

Buccaneers at Cincinnati — Sunday Sep 13, 1:00 p.m. ET

Jaguars host Browns — Sunday Sep 13

Dolphins at Raiders — Sunday Sep 13, 4:25 p.m. ET

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Florida regular averaged $3.9131 a gallon Sunday (AAA as of 9/6/26) — down about a cent from Saturday ($3.9265) and up about 2 cents from a week ago ($3.8947), still about 23 cents under the national $4.1473. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive named metro at $4.0684; The Villages is cheapest at $3.8549.

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❖ Amelia Island: The Amelia Island Dance Festival returns Sep 10–13 with performances, workshops, and community programs across Northeast Florida venues.

❖ Stuart: All Hound Rescue of Florida hosts its first Howlin’ Honky Tonk fundraiser Sep 19 in Stuart ($25 tickets) for medical care and rehoming.

❖ Melbourne / Brevard: Reach for the Stars Gala (Take Stock in Children of Brevard) — Sep 19, Hilton Melbourne.

Joke of the Day

A Florida Sunday church parking lot is not parking. It is competitive sport in Sunday clothes.

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waning Crescent, about 16% illuminated Monday Sep 7 (Orlando). Next New Moon: Thu Sep 10.

Sunrise / sunset (Monday Sep 7; Orlando, EDT): 7:06 a.m. / 7:41 p.m.

Gardening: Early September remains a strong window for cool-season starts (broccoli, kale, carrots, lettuce, collards, cabbage) by region. Central and South Florida can prep strawberry beds for late-September set dates; North Florida strawberries usually wait until October.

Coastal note: Pair Labor Day beach plans with the rip-current map in Weather. Recheck FWC red-tide status before morning pour if a newer statewide update posts. (FWC red tide)

Florida by the Numbers

Florida had 13,070 highway bridges in the FHWA 2025 National Bridge Inventory condition table — 7,705 rated good, 5,005 fair, and 360 poor (about 2.8% poor). (FHWA bridge condition table)