The morning edition

Florida confirms dengue death. Reaves warrant Oct. 20. Miami-Dade $14.3B budget.

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Good Morning! On September 19, 1935, about nine miles south of Ocala, more than 15,000 people gathered for the groundbreaking of the Atlantic–Gulf Ship Canal — the Depression-era cut that later evolved into the Cross Florida Barge Canal. At 1:00 p.m., President Franklin D. Roosevelt, linked by telegraph from Hyde Park, set off 50 pounds of dynamite; the blast threw Florida sand and shell fifty feet into the air and briefly stopped the ceremony as the crowd rushed the new crater. Work camps and dredging followed; the full sea-level canal was never finished, and the corridor is now the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. (Ocala Style)

In This Issue: Florida confirms a dengue death, DeSantis signs the Reaves death warrant, and Miami-Dade passes a $14.3B budget.

Weather: Hot Saturday under a light northeast breeze. Panhandle stays sunny and very hot (Pensacola sunny ~96; Tallahassee sunny then a slight late storm chance ~95). Northeast and north-central mostly sunny to sunny with little storm risk (Jacksonville mostly sunny ~90; Gainesville sunny ~91). Central Florida picks up afternoon storm chances (Orlando chance storms ~44%; Tampa scattered storms ~40%; Daytona Beach chance storms ~31%). Southwest and Southeast keep higher storm chances — Fort Myers chance storms (~59%), Miami storms likely (~76%), West Palm Beach chance/likely storms (~60%), Keys storms likely (~63%). Heat index still near the upper 90s to around 100 where storms hold off.

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings (National Hurricane Center). Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (800 PM EDT Fri Sep 18): showers and thunderstorms with a low (AL99) several hundred miles southwest of the Azores have become more concentrated; a tropical depression could form later tonight or Saturday. Formation chance high (80%) in 48 hours and high (80%) in 7 days while it moves slowly southwest of the Azores, then turns southwest early next week; environmental conditions less favorable beginning Sunday night or Monday. Not a Florida land threat. No Atlantic tropical cyclones at this time.

Rip Current Report: Moderate rip-current risk Saturday for Northeast Florida Atlantic (Nassau–Duval–Flagler–St. Johns; NWS JAX SRF), East-Central / Treasure Coast Atlantic including Volusia–Brevard–Indian River–St. Lucie–Martin (NWS MLB SRF), and eastern Panhandle Gulf including South Walton / Panama City Beach, Coastal Franklin / Apalachicola, and Gulf County state-park beaches (NWS TAE SRF — south-facing and west-facing Gulf beaches Low Sat; state parks Moderate). Low Saturday for Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Atlantic and Collier Gulf (NWS MFL SRF), west-central / SW Gulf including Nature Coast through Tampa Bay, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee (NWS TBW SRF), and Pensacola–Destin / Escambia–Santa Rosa–Okaloosa coastal (NWS MOB SRF). Swim near a lifeguard; heed beach flags.

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Florida Confirms Dengue Death as Orange County Issues Mosquito Alert

The Florida Department of Health confirmed Friday that an elderly Tampa woman who died Sep 4 is the state’s dengue-related fatality in an outbreak that ranks second-worst on record — 152 locally acquired cases statewide so far (2023 still leads at nearly 200), with more than 130 of those in Hillsborough County, which county spokesperson Chris Wilkerson called “wildly unusual”; the Associated Press said Tampa Bay Times first flagged the death, and workers have been spraying and hunting standing water while recent mosquito samples have not shown the virus (CBS Miami / AP). (CBS Miami / AP)

OutbreakNewsToday, citing WFLA and the Tampa Bay Times, identified the victim as Gay Small, 80, who died at Tampa General Hospital with dengue infection, septic shock, and multi-organ failure on her birthday; the same Friday package noted DOH-Orange confirmed two more locally acquired dengue cases in the Apopka area, lifting the county to three and triggering a Mosquito-borne Illness Alert after a Sep 2 Pine Hills advisory — WESH and WFTV carried the Central Alert (OutbreakNewsToday). (OutbreakNewsToday)

DeSantis Signs Death Warrant for William Reaves Jr.; Execution Set Oct. 20

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a death warrant for William Reaves Jr., 77, convicted of the Sep 23, 1986, first-degree murder of Indian River County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Raczkoski after a convenience-store confrontation in which Reaves recovered a dropped gun and fired seven rounds, striking the deputy four times as he fled; the warrant sets lethal injection for Tue Oct 20 at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Raiford — about 40 years after the killing (WPTV). (WPTV)

Reaves was resentenced to death in Vero Beach on March 6, 1992, after an earlier conviction was reversed on appeal; the Florida Supreme Court affirmed in 1994, later federal habeas relief was overturned by the Eleventh Circuit in 2017, and executive clemency was denied — Attorney General James Uthmeier’s warrant letter said the record is legally sufficient and that no court stay is in place (WPTV; CBS Miami). (CBS Miami)

Miami-Dade Passes $14.3B Budget as Sheriff Eyes Cabinet Appeal

Miami-Dade commissioners wrapped an overnight Thursday–Friday session by approving a roughly $14.26–$14.3 billion county budget that keeps the operating millage flat at 4.57 while still leaving a fight with Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz over law-enforcement funding; her office will top $1 billion for the first time, but she told the board she may appeal a remaining ~$45 million gap to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet’s Administration Commission, which can overrule counties on constitutional-officer budgets (Local10; WLRN). (Local10)

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Friday the board added about $66 million in general-fund support toward a sheriff package near $1 billion (about $1.2 billion counting other streams), while Cordero-Stutz argued she still cannot cover a $62.5 million collective-bargaining salary bill for 3,227 deputies or station/training needs; commissioners including Oliver Gilbert III warned a Tallahassee override would force parks, transit, or tax hikes, even as the board cut late-night bus service and Chairman Anthony Rodriguez steered an extra $11.5 million from the tax collector toward deputy raises (WLRN; Local10). (WLRN)

Port Tampa Bay Sulfur Fire Sparks Harbour Island Shelter-in-Place

Tampa Fire Rescue responded before 6:30 p.m. Friday to 1015 McCloskey Boulevard at Port Tampa Bay after reports of a possible sulfur-tank fire at Gulf Sulphur — initially called as a structure fire with heavy smoke — and said hazardous materials including hydrogen sulfide, a respiratory irritant, were released from a tank; Sparkman Channel was closed to traffic and Harbour Island was placed under a precautionary shelter-in-place at 7:42 p.m. (FOX13). (FOX13)

Officials later said no active toxic leak persisted beyond the mitigated release, neighbors might notice a slight sulfur smell, the original fire was brought under control, and the Harbour Island shelter-in-place was lifted at 8:51 p.m. while Sparkman Channel stayed closed to recreation vessels as crews remained on scene; the cause of the fire was not yet confirmed (FOX13). (FOX13)

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❖ Miami-Dade: The Underline Market is Saturday Sep 19, 2–8 p.m., at the Inter Stage (805 SW 1st Ave.) beneath The Underline in Brickell — weekly through Oct 10 with fresh produce, prepared foods, and artisan goods from rotating local vendors; bike racks on site and nearby parking at Brickell City Centre / Mary Brickell Village. (Miami and Beaches)

❖ Tampa Bay: USF Vintage Market is Saturday Sep 19, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., free at Felicitous on 51st (11706 N 51st St.) — vintage vendors, music, and coffeehouse fare in the University Square neighborhood. (New Side Quest)

❖ Orlando: Peace Day in the Park is Saturday Sep 19, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., free at Central Park Main Stage (251 S. Park Ave., Winter Park) — International Day of Peace with live music, yoga, children’s storytelling, a collaborative public-art project, and the annual Human Peace Sign photo at noon followed by free ice cream; presented by Valencia College’s Peace and Justice Institute. (Peace and Justice Institute)

❖ Jacksonville: Atlantic Beach Fall Festival is Saturday Sep 19, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., free at Donner Park (2072 George St.) — kids make-and-take crafts, hay ride, food trucks, face painting, petting zoo (bring quarters to feed), splash pad, games, and artisan vendors. (City of Atlantic Beach)

❖ Broward: Celebrate Davie Fall Festival is Saturday Sep 19, 4–8 p.m., free at Bergeron Rodeo Grounds (4201 Rodeo Way) — inflatable rides, children’s activities, petting farm, artisan and food vendors, and live music by Southern Stampede; parking and activities free. (Miami on the Cheap)

❖ Palm Beach: Hispanic Heritage Festival is Saturday Sep 19, 6–8 p.m., at Palm Springs Village Complex (226 Cypress Lane) — Latino Conservation Week partnership with Busch Wildlife Sanctuary featuring live music, food and drinks, and family activities celebrating Hispanic culture. (Busch Wildlife Sanctuary)

❖ Gulf Coast: Fairy Festival is Saturday Sep 19, 9 a.m.–noon, free (no reservations) at The NEST at Robinson Preserve (840 99th St. NW, Bradenton) — Manatee County Natural Resources family program for ages 2–10 with fairy-home building, crafts, storytime, and a short hike; families encouraged to dress in fairy attire. (Manatee County / Humanitix)

❖ North Florida: Palafox Market is Saturday Sep 19, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., rain or shine at Dr. MLK Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand (50 N. Palafox St., Pensacola) — Southern Living Florida’s Best Farmers Market with 200+ small local businesses, farm-fresh produce, plants, baked goods, and live music from String Farm Band; free surrounding-street parking. (Visit Pensacola)

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❖ Statewide: A St. Pete Polls survey of 913 likely voters Sept. 15–17 for Florida Politics found about 45% support, roughly 30% opposition, and nearly a quarter undecided on Amendment 3 — well short of the 60% threshold — as Gov. Ron DeSantis urged a “yes” vote while the Florida Sheriffs Association, police chiefs, and firefighters warn of public-safety hits; a legislative analysis estimates local non-school property-tax revenue cuts of about $4.95 billion in FY 2027–28 and $8.78 billion in 2028–29, and Polk Sheriff Grady Judd called the measure “a train wreck” (WFLX). (WFLX)

❖ Statewide: The same Sept. 15–17 St. Pete Polls survey of 913 likely voters put Republican Byron Donalds at 43.5% and Democrat David Jolly at 43.4% in the governor’s race (just over 13% other/undecided), with Ashley Moody 45.2%–Angie Nixon 44.8% for U.S. Senate and James Uthmeier 43%–José Javier Rodríguez 41.6% for attorney general; Jolly leads independents roughly 48%–36%, the Donalds campaign said Friday it would do three televised debates, and FOX 13 noted Jolly’s Virginia data-center tour pushing a statewide moratorium while Donalds backs strict local placement and utility/water rules (WESH / FOX13). (WESH)

❖ Lee County: Lee County commissioners Kevin Ruane and David Mulicka this week delayed controversial Comprehensive Plan amendments after getting a 344-page report plus 140 more pages Sept. 11, saying they need time to meet constituents (Ruane cited 28 resident meetings) and objecting especially to eliminating 17 community plans dating to 1989; the package is off the Oct. 7 Board agenda pending a staff community-outreach plan, while Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass blamed “misinformation” and Brian Hamman said Pine Island density would not change (WGCU). (WGCU)

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❖ Melbourne: HVAC, piping, and plumbing contractor Coastal Mechanical Services — acquired earlier this year by Rogers Building Solutions and rebranded under Corvant with Sluss+Padgett — is consolidating Orlando and Melbourne operations into a new 154,000-square-foot headquarters at Harbour Logistics Center, with about 25,000 square feet of office build-out; HLI Partners brokered for the tenant and Cushman & Wakefield for landlord TRES III, groundbreaking is expected in coming weeks with delivery next summer, and the firm now runs about 50,000 square feet across both cities (GrowthSpotter). (GrowthSpotter)

❖ Bay Lake: Walt Disney World in Bay Lake says it employs 80,000 cast members across operations and professional roles and plans to create more than 5,000 jobs over the next five years, with four of five cast members choosing to stay, about three of five leaders starting in hourly roles, and average tenure of 12 years among full-time professional/leadership/skilled cast — roughly three times a national average the company cites — while costuming alone fields about 1,500 cast across 46 locations and a third cast health center is planned for 2027 (ClickOrlando). (ClickOrlando)

❖ Orange–Osceola: Minneapolis-based Dominium closed Sept. 11 on a 26-acre Lot 3 at Tupperware Heights on the Orange–Osceola line for just over $13.1 million from O’Connor Capital Partners and aims to break ground mid-October on 528 family units (all at once) across 25 buildings for households at 60% AMI — 90 two-bed, 312 three-bed, 126 four-bed — with first deliveries targeted July 2028 and development costs topping about $230 million near the Tupperware SunRail station, plus a two-mile sewer extension for Orange County Utilities (GrowthSpotter). (GrowthSpotter)

❖ Statewide: Realtor.com data via Florida Realtors (Sep 17) put Lakeland–Winter Haven first nationally in Q2 2026 with 83.1% of new-construction listing views from outside the metro, followed by Cape Coral–Fort Myers 82.4%, Port St. Lucie 80.9%, North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota 80.5%, and Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach 78.5%; median new-construction list prices ranged from about $315,821 (Lakeland) to $496,102 (Cape Coral), with Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach the top external viewer for all five (Florida Realtors). (Florida Realtors)

❖ Statewide: Amazon said it is lifting the minimum starting hourly wage for U.S. full-time core operations employees (pack/ship roles) to $20 effective Sept. 27, with average pay near $24/hour and average total compensation more than $32/hour including benefits, plus a 10% grocery discount online and 20% off at Whole Foods Market stores starting Oct. 1 (News4Jax / AP). (News4Jax / AP)

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Red Sox Snap Rays’ Six-Game Streak, 4–2, Behind Anthony’s Homers and Three RBI

Roman Anthony’s first-inning solo shot (438 feet) and two-run single in the second, plus Jahmai Jones’s third-inning homer, powered Boston past the AL East–leading Tampa Bay Rays 4–2 Friday night at Tropicana Field before 23,342; Ian Seymour took the loss after five innings and four earned runs, Ranger Suárez worked 5⅓ for the win, and Jonathan Aranda’s ninth-inning RBI cut it to 4–2 as Tampa Bay fell to 93–60 and Boston improved to 84–70 (ESPN / box Sep 18). (ESPN)

Bucs List McMillan, Parrish, Killebrew Questionable for Browns Home Opener

Tampa Bay’s final Week 2 injury report lists WR Jalen McMillan (knee), CB Jacob Parrish (back), and S Miles Killebrew (concussion) as questionable for Sunday’s home opener vs. Cleveland at Raymond James Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS); HC Todd Bowles said no Bucs are out or doubtful, McMillan was a full participant midweek after missing Week 1, Parrish and Killebrew were limited, and Killebrew still must clear concussion protocol (Heavy / Buccaneers.com Sep 17–18). (Heavy)

Florida Lists Durkin Probable; Singleton, Oyebadejo Questionable at Auburn

Updated SEC availability for Saturday’s Florida–Auburn opener at Jordan-Hare (7 p.m. ET) lists K Patrick Durkin as probable and WR Eric Singleton Jr. (ankle) plus DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo (lower body) as questionable; no Gators are ruled out, while Auburn OL Tai Buster is out — both clubs enter 2–0 for the first SEC meeting in seven years at a sold-out Jordan-Hare (Gators Wire / floridagators.com Sep 18). (Gators Wire)

Dolphins Rule Out Chop Robinson (Concussion) for Week 2 at 49ers

Edge rusher Chop Robinson is out Sunday at San Francisco (4:25 p.m. ET) after a practice concussion; HC Jeff Hafley will lean on Josh Uche and Zeek Biggers (NBC6 / AP Sep 18). (NBC6 / AP)

Jaguars Clear Active Roster vs Broncos

Jacksonville’s final Week 2 report listed no game designations among active players (Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and others cleared); Broncos have WR Marvin Mims out (foot) (blackandteal / Broncos.com). (blackandteal)

Scoreboard

MLB: Red Sox 4, Rays 2 — FINAL Fri Sep 18 — Tropicana Field (ESPN)

Schedule

Florida at Auburn, Saturday Sep 19, 7 p.m. ET, Jordan-Hare Stadium (SEC opener; both 2–0) — Schedule line only; RESULT only after FINAL.

Rays host Red Sox Saturday (series continues after Friday’s 4–2 loss).

Marlins at Padres (series continues; Fri West Coast game).

Buccaneers host Browns, Sunday Sep 20, 1 p.m. ET, Raymond James Stadium (Week 2, CBS).

Jaguars at Broncos, Sunday Sep 20, 4:05 p.m. ET (Week 2).

Dolphins at 49ers, Sunday Sep 20, 4:25 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium (Week 2).

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Florida regular averaged $4.3326 a gallon Friday (AAA current as of filing) — up about 3.4 cents from Thursday ($4.2986) and up about 17.8 cents from a week ago ($4.1551), and still about 13.6 cents under the national $4.4687. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive named metro at $4.4685; Panama City is cheapest at $4.0590 (Pensacola $4.0665; Crestview–Fort Walton Beach $4.0710). (AAA)

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❖ Parkland: Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies Moses Arce and Hayden Stachura helped free seven dogs — five puppies and both parents — trapped in a playpen when a June 19 Parkland house fire blocked the main door; with the homeowner and firefighters they carried the pups out in a bin, all animals survived, and the city later honored the responders at an Aug 19 commission meeting where rescued puppy Bailey attended (WSVN / CBS Miami Sep 17–18). (WSVN)

❖ Tampa Bay: Cascade, a more-than-1,000-pound manatee found with boat-related injuries near Treasure Island on May 13, was released Thursday at Eckerd College’s waterfront after roughly four months of rehab at ZooTampa; FWC, ZooTampa, and Eckerd College Search and Rescue moved the animal down the boat ramp on a pre-moistened tarp for the return to Tampa Bay (WFLA Sep 17). (WFLA)

❖ Ruskin: Tess Britton, Max Britton, and Tyler Grooms — Lennard High School JROTC cadets in Ruskin — jumped from their car near a 7-Eleven on Aug 24, called 911, and applied a tourniquet to a stabbed classmate’s arm while others filmed; doctors credited the tourniquet with saving his life, and the Florida House, U.S. Army, Hillsborough County, and the district formally honored the three on Sep 9 (FOX13 / WFLA). (FOX13)

❖ Mount Dora: After two days stuck in a tree on Laura Lane in unincorporated Mount Dora, orange cat Leo climbed down on his own Tuesday morning just as Lake County Fire Rescue Engine 27 put up a ladder for 92-year-old owner George; neighbor Jill Wage had called for help, and PIO Ava Brown said crews are always happy to assist furry friends (Inside Lake Sep 8). (Inside Lake)

❖ Mosquito Lagoon: New Smyrna Beach firefighters, Air One, the Coast Guard, and partner agencies pulled three fishermen from Mosquito Lagoon near Oak Hill after their boat capsized Tuesday night Sep 15; responders found them clinging to the overturned hull after about a 30-minute search — all wearing life jackets, evaluated with no injuries (FOX35 / WFTV Sep 16). (FOX35 Orlando)

❖ Lake Mary: Lake Mary Police Sgt. Robert Fugate used his cruiser to block a pickup whose driver had lost consciousness, stopping the vehicle before it entered oncoming traffic at Rinehart Road and Lake Mary Boulevard on Sep 13; body-camera video released later showed the intervention, and no serious injuries were reported (FOX35 Orlando). (FOX35 Orlando)

Today’s Quote

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

— Victor Hugo

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing Gibbous (day after First Quarter 4:43 p.m. ET Fri Sep 18); about 51–52% illuminated (wttr Orlando ~51%; Almanac/timeanddate near ~52% Fri night). Next Full Moon (Harvest Moon): Sat Sep 26 (12:49 p.m. ET).

Sunrise / sunset (Saturday Sep 19; Orlando, EDT — times vary across the state; most of Florida is Eastern; Pensacola is Central): 7:12 a.m. / 7:25 p.m..

Gardening: Mid-to-late 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. Warm herbs (basil, mint, rosemary) still go in. Check local fertilizer blackouts through September. (UF/IFAS Vegetable Gardening Guide / regional calendars)

Coastal note: FWC written statewide red-tide status dated September 18, 2026 (next written report due Fri Sep 25). Karenia brevis was observed at background concentrations in one Southwest Florida sample (Sarasota County) over the past week; not observed in Northwest Florida or along the East Coast. No red-tide–related fish kills or respiratory irritation reported. Prior Northeast Florida bloom samples were Karenia papilionacea (not K. brevis). Pair beach plans with the rip-current map in the weather strip. (FWC red tide)

Florida by the Numbers

Florida has 16 public seaports (2025), according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Transportation Fast Facts (updated February 2026). (FDOT)