The morning edition

Florida’s buried insurer-profit report goes public. Brightline files Chapter 11. Citizens flood rule Jan. 1.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Good Morning! On Sept. 26, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt set aside the mangrove islands of Matlacha Pass, near Fort Myers, as a "preserve and breeding ground for native birds." Today the Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge covers 23 islands and is managed with the J.N. "Ding" Darling refuge on Sanibel.

In This Issue: Florida’s buried insurer-profit report goes public, Brightline files Chapter 11 but keeps trains running, many Citizens customers need flood insurance starting Jan. 1 — even outside flood zones, and Central Florida counties warn Amendment 3 could force public-safety cuts.

Weather: Saturday is sunny across North and Central Florida, with highs mostly in the 80s and lows around 60 in the north; a few showers are possible around West Palm Beach and the Keys, and a stray storm near Miami. (NWS)

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings. NHC’s 8 p.m. Friday outlook tracks Tropical Storm Gonzalo near the Cabo Verde Islands and Tropical Storm Fay west-southwest of the Azores, with no other development expected over the next seven days. (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: High rip current risk Saturday on the Atlantic coast from Nassau through Martin counties; moderate for South Walton, Bay, Franklin and Gulf's west-facing beaches; low from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade, on the Gulf coast from Levy to Collier, and in Pensacola–Okaloosa. (NWS)

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Florida’s Buried Insurer-Profit Report Goes Public as Homeowners Say Crisis Isn’t Over

The Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday published in full a 2022 consultant’s analysis of what Florida property insurers paid their own affiliated companies — a report state regulators never released and the Florida Senate had demanded the papers destroy (Insurance Business).

The consultant, Risk & Regulatory Consulting, hired by the Office of Insurance Regulation, reviewed 53 companies for 2017 through 2019 and found 20 insurers paid affiliates at rates presumed not to be fair and reasonable; by the newspapers’ count, excluding outliers, those insurers reported combined losses of $432 million over the three years while the affiliates they paid earned $1.3 billion in net income (Insurance Business; Orlando Sentinel via InsuranceNewsNet).

Affiliated managing-general-agent deals took 20% to 34% of premium, and total affiliate fees ran as high as 63%. The papers got an unredacted copy attached to a legislative email released through a public records request; the day after they told regulators they had it, the Senate demanded they destroy it, warning of possible civil or criminal consequences (Insurance Business).

The papers also released a University of North Florida survey of 1,511 policyholders: 55% see no sign the market is improving and 26% think it is getting worse, and 47% said premiums rose 50% or more over five years, even as OIR reports insurers posted their best results in more than a decade in 2025 (Insurance Business).

Brightline Files for Chapter 11, but Miami–Orlando Trains Keep Running

Brightline’s parent entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Friday to rework the railroad’s debt, while the operating company, Brightline Trains Florida LLC, stayed out of bankruptcy so trains between Miami and Orlando keep running (AP).

A deal with creditors lets Brightline borrow $490 million more — $350 million in new junior debt and $140 million in additional senior debt, according to Assured Guaranty; the company carries about $5.5 billion in debt and had been negotiating with lenders for more than a year (WLRN).

The filing and restructuring must be approved by a bankruptcy judge in New Jersey; Brightline West, the sister project planned between Las Vegas and Southern California, is not affected (WLRN).

Brightline Florida CEO Patrick Goddard called the railroad a critical part of Florida’s transportation network and said the agreement brings $490 million in new long-term capital; the company reports 2026 revenue up 17% (WLRN; WPTV).

Citizens Customers Must Carry Flood Insurance Starting Jan. 1 — Even Outside Flood Zones

Many Citizens Property Insurance policyholders will soon need separate flood coverage even if they don’t live in a designated flood zone, as a requirement phased in over several years reaches its next stage (WESH).

Starting Jan. 1, the rule applies to Citizens policyholders with wind coverage on personal residential properties; Citizens doesn’t sell flood insurance, so customers must buy it through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer (WESH).

Condo unit-owner policies, tenant contents policies and policies that exclude windstorm or hail coverage are exempt; Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute urged customers to get coverage before the deadline and said NFIP community rating discounts can help hold down costs (WESH).

Friedlander noted that a mild hurricane season doesn’t rule out winter flooding and that standard homeowners policies generally don’t cover flood damage; WESH said Citizens had not yet said how many customers are affected (WESH).

Central Florida Counties Warn Amendment 3 Could Force Public-Safety Cuts

Orange County commissioners voted 6-1 Tuesday to pass a roughly $9 billion budget while warning that Amendment 3 — the Nov. 3 ballot measure that would raise the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes — could cut $275 million from county property tax revenue by 2028 (ClickOrlando).

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the measure’s lack of a public-safety exemption could create problems for counties statewide, and that optional programs such as social services would likely be cut first (ClickOrlando).

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood says his agency could lose $37 million next year alone, and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma has warned of a 20% cut — about $41 million and 300 people (ClickOrlando).

Seminole County leaders say the roughly 20% revenue hit could strain emergency management and animal services and threaten the county’s no-kill shelter status (ClickOrlando).

The Seminole County Chamber, about 800 businesses, voted unanimously not to endorse the measure, which needs at least 60% of the vote; in an informal, non-scientific member survey, 82% of respondents opposed it (Florida Politics).

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❖ Miami-Dade (Doral): Downtown Doral canceled its free three-night Oktoberfest, set for Oct. 1–3 in Pocket Park, saying the community is living in fear amid immigration enforcement; premium passes had sold for up to $119.99, and organizers announced the cancellation Thursday in English and Spanish (Miami New Times).

❖ Tampa Bay (Clearwater): The city released about 10,000 eastern mosquitofish into four lakes — Prospect Lake, Glen Oaks, Moccasin Lake and Salls Lake — chosen after heavy mosquito-bite complaints, and urged residents to dump standing water (FOX13; WFLA count).

❖ Orlando (Groveland): Lake County’s Groveland is under a boil-water advisory for the second time this month after a software error shut down pumps at the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant for about 30 minutes; workers are running the pumps by hand, and the advisory lasts until at least Sunday (News 6).

❖ Jacksonville (St. Johns County): An investigation is underway into a fish kill at Guana Preserve that anglers say killed hundreds of trophy-size trout and redfish; County Commissioner Clay Murphy met with state environmental officials, who flagged an unusual bacteria spike, and airboat water sampling is planned next week (News4JAX).

❖ Broward: Arts groups are bracing for a new state ban on local DEI-related grants that takes effect for county funding Jan. 1; the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida expects to lose about $90,000, and Island SPACE Caribbean Museum and the South Florida Greek Film Festival won’t be funded either (WLRN).

❖ Palm Beach (Delray Beach): New school-zone speed cameras issued 4,945 violations between Aug. 10 and Sept. 18, operator RedSpeed told commissioners, but a timing glitch at one elementary school means some of the $100 fines are being dismissed and refunded (WPTV).

❖ Gulf Coast (Bradenton): FDOT’s preferred plan for the DeSoto Bridge between Bradenton and Palmetto is a $916 million total replacement — six lanes plus two elevated express lanes in the middle — after a study found about 47% of daily traffic just passes through (WWSB).

❖ North Florida (Pensacola): About 67% of people answering a Downtown Improvement Board survey — and more than 80% of downtown businesses — want the Mardi Gras parade back on Palafox Street now that the Reimagine Palafox work that pushed it to Jefferson Street is done (WEAR).

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❖ Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Friday in Sarasota that his office has sued Evolve Construction and Evolve Construction & Restoration Inc. and six executives, alleging they took at least $1 million in insurance payments from at least 80 residents after Hurricanes Ian and Milton and failed to finish, or even start, repairs; the suit, filed in Lee County, alleges violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Florida Phoenix).

❖ At a Tampa Tiger Bay Club forum Friday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly said he needs the national Democratic Party to start spending money in Florida; Republican Byron Donalds has raised more than $115 million through his political committee, compared with $15.8 million for Jolly across his accounts (Florida Phoenix).

❖ Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro filed a resolution seeking an outside ethics review of Mayor Vincent Lago’s work for Hammer Commercial Construction, a University of Miami contractor, before Tuesday’s final vote on a proposed 30-year UM development agreement; Lago, who says he has no ownership stake in Hammer and that an ethics counsel found no need to recuse, called it a political stunt (Florida Politics).

❖ Cook Political Report moved U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (CD 13) and María Elvira Salazar (CD 27) to “Lean R” and rated the open CD 22 — Republican Casey Askar vs. Democrat Pia Dandiya — a “Toss Up,” among 15 House races it shifted toward Democrats (Florida Politics).

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❖ Florida International University signed an agreement with IonQ to install the company’s Superion 256 trapped-ion quantum computer on campus, making FIU the first Florida university to acquire a full-stack system of that type; it is expected to arrive in late 2027 (Refresh Miami).

❖ Florida’s minimum wage rises to $15 an hour Sept. 30 for non-tipped workers, with an $11.98 cash minimum for tipped staff — the final scheduled $1 annual bump since it reached $10 in 2021; the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Samantha Padgett says higher labor costs could push some businesses to rethink staffing, hours or automation (FOX13).

❖ Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, founded by *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and manager Joe Mulvihill, opened at Universal CityWalk in Orlando, 10 years after the concept launched at the Florida Mall in 2016 (FOX13).

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Peralta, Rays Blank Phillies 2–0

Freddy Peralta pitched into the sixth inning and the AL East champion Rays shut out Philadelphia 2–0 Friday night, denying the Phillies a third straight chance to clinch a wild-card spot. Bryan Baker closed it for his 41st save; Tampa Bay is 97–63 with two games left (ESPN).

Eury Pérez Throws One-Hitter as Marlins Beat Braves

Eury Pérez threw a one-hit complete game, just the 11th complete-game shutout in the majors this season, as the Marlins beat playoff-bound Atlanta 3–0 Friday night at loanDepot park to open the season’s final series. Miami is 79–81 (ESPN).

Bucs Rule Out Rookies Bain, Trotter vs. Vikings

Coach Todd Bowles said after Friday’s practice that rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (groin) and rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter (shoulder) will miss Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Tampa Bay, 0–2, turns to SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom at inside linebacker; Trotter’s low-grade shoulder sprain will be checked week to week (Pewter Report).

Jaguars’ DaVon Hamilton Set to Play; Rookie Albert Regis Doubtful

Jacksonville’s final Week 3 injury report lists rookie defensive tackle Albert Regis (elbow) as doubtful for Sunday against New England, while defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, limited in practice all week, is expected to play (Jaguars On SI).

Dolphins Rule Out Caleb Douglas, Robert Beal Jr. for Chiefs

Miami’s final Week 3 injury report rules out rookie receiver Caleb Douglas and edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. (hamstring) for Sunday’s home opener against Kansas City. Receiver Ryan Miller and cornerback JuJu Brents are questionable after full Friday practices, and running back Jaylen Wright (stinger/foot) is doubtful (SI All Dolphins).

Scoreboard

MLB Fri Sep 25: Rays 2, Phillies 0 — ESPN

MLB Fri Sep 25: Marlins 3, Braves 0 — ESPN

Schedule

Sat Sep 26: Central Arkansas at Florida State, 3 p.m. ET, ACC Network.

Sat Sep 26: No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida, Gainesville, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Sat Sep 26: TCU at UCF, 3:30 p.m. ET, FS1.

Sat Sep 26: Braves at Marlins, loanDepot park, 4:10 p.m. ET.

Sat Sep 26: USF at Bowling Green, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN+.

Sat Sep 26: LIU at FIU, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+.

Sat Sep 26: Central Michigan at No. 6 Miami, Hard Rock Stadium, 6:30 p.m. ET, The CW.

Sat Sep 26: Rays at Phillies, 7:15 p.m. ET.

Sat Sep 26: FAU at UL Monroe, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+.

Sun Sep 27: Chiefs at Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, 1 p.m. ET, CBS.

Sun Sep 27: Patriots at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS.

Sun Sep 27: Rays at Phillies, 3:05 p.m. ET — regular-season finale.

Sun Sep 27: Braves at Marlins, 3:10 p.m. ET — regular-season finale.

Sun Sep 27: Vikings at Buccaneers, Raymond James Stadium, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX.

More Scores: NFL | MLB | NCAAF | WNBA

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Florida regular averaged $4.423 a gallon Friday (AAA, as of 9/25/26), up about 4.1 cents from Thursday ($4.382) and about 9 cents from a week ago ($4.333), and roughly 6.9 cents under the national average of $4.492. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at $4.554 (Naples $4.502); Pensacola is the cheapest at $4.120 (Panama City $4.140).

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❖ Wakulla Deputy Wades In to Save a Stranded Fawn — A Wakulla County deputy waded into Ochlockonee Bay on Thursday evening after a report around 7:30 p.m. that a fawn was stuck under a dock; the sheriff’s office said Deputy Jones reached the fawn and brought it back to safe ground with its mother, calling it “not a call you practice in the academy” (WCTV).

❖ Jasper Police Chief Pulls Kitten From Drainage Ditch — Residents in Jasper alerted police Thursday morning to a tiny kitten trapped in a drainage ditch near Grace’s Farm Kitchen; with help from city public works crews, Police Chief Pepin retrieved it, and the kitten went to Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control for care (Fox49).

❖ Naples Teen Trades Navy Mechanic Plans for EMT Training — Mattie Moen, 17, was driving her stepdad, Michael Miner, to the hospital on Aug. 9 when he stopped breathing; she pulled into Naples Fire Rescue, where first responders revived him. Miner is back at work, and Moen now hopes to start EMT training in January (Gulf Coast News).

❖ A Banana Coaxes a Lost Piglet to Safety Near Gainesville — Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary rescuers followed a trail through the woods to find an injured piglet a Gainesville resident had spotted at an abandoned camp, then won her trust with bits of banana; treated for ticks, road rash and foot injuries, she has healed and now goes by Dahlia Banana (The Dodo).

❖ From Winter the Dolphin Fan to Aquarium Leader — Cuban-born conservation biologist Anmari Álvarez-Alemán first visited Clearwater Marine Aquarium as a fan of Winter the dolphin in 2011 and is now its senior vice president of research and conservation, specializing in manatees; she told Bay News 9 during Hispanic Heritage Month she hopes her path inspires others (Bay News 9).

❖ Twice-Hooked Sea Turtle Bowtie Swims Free in Cocoa Beach — Bowtie, a juvenile green sea turtle, was released Sept. 16 at Lori Wilson Park after Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center removed a large hook from under its neck and used a video endoscope to pull a second from its esophagus; a fisherman had reported accidentally hooking the turtle at Jetty Pier Park in mid-August (WFTV).

Today’s Quote

"Just to keep alive isn't enough," he said. "To live you must have sunshine and freedom and a little flower to love!"

— Hans Christian Andersen

Florida Almanac

Moon: The Harvest Moon is full Saturday at 12:49 p.m. EDT (USNO).

Sunrise / sunset (Saturday; Orlando, EDT — times vary across the state; Pensacola is Central): 7:15 a.m. / 7:19 p.m., about 12 hours, 4 minutes of daylight.

Gardening: UF/IFAS’s Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide lists September planting for broccoli, cabbage, carrots and Swiss chard in North and Central Florida; South Florida broccoli waits until October, and Central Florida’s strawberry window opened Sept. 25. September plantings still face heat-loving insects and diseases.

Coastal note: FWC’s Sept. 25 update found the red tide organism at very low levels in Gulf County and at background levels in Charlotte and Lee counties and offshore of Monroe; none on the East Coast, and no related fish kills or respiratory irritation. Next report Oct. 2.

Florida by the Numbers

Florida had 44,400 commercial farms and ranches in 2024 covering 9.7 million acres, an average of 218 acres per farm, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, citing USDA’s 2024 Annual Statistical Bulletin.