The morning edition

Rays blank the Yankees 1–0 in ALDS Game 1 as Rasmussen dominates.

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Good Morning! French privateer Louis-Michel Aury raised the flag of the revolutionary republic of Mexico over Amelia Island in northeast Florida on this day in 1817, beginning a brief occupation of the island. Aury had served briefly in the French navy and became a privateer who supported independence movements from Spain in Central and South America, eventually making a home base near Galveston. The occupation did not last long, and authority was handed over to the United States within a few months.

The Sarasota Herald printed its first edition on this day in 1925 from a Mediterranean Revival plant at Orange Avenue and Oak Street, arriving amid the Florida land boom. Editor George D. Lindsay led the morning paper, which promised Associated Press international and national news plus local coverage by its own staff; by 1930 it was Sarasota's only newspaper. In 1938 the Herald bought the Sarasota Daily Tribune and became the Sarasota Herald-Tribune; the original Herald building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984.

In This Issue: a Walmart Bettergoods pasta recall after Florida tests found Listeria risk, Kathy Castor's $2.5 million third-quarter haul in redrawn CD-14, and the Atlantic reaching October without a single hurricane.

Weather: Showers and thunderstorms are most likely Sunday across the Panhandle and North Florida, with scattered storms inland and a lower chance along the southeast coast. Highs are mostly low 80s in the Panhandle to around 90° farther south; lows are low 70s to low 80s. (NWS)

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings. NHC’s 8 p.m. Saturday outlook says a broad area of low pressure could form over the southwestern Gulf in a few days (near 0% two-day, 20% seven-day formation chance), with no Florida threat indicated. (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: High rip current risk Sunday along the Panhandle (Walton through Franklin) and on the Atlantic from Volusia through Miami-Dade. Moderate risk from Nassau through Flagler. Low risk on the Gulf coast from Levy to Collier. (NWS)

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Walmart Bettergoods Pasta Recalled After Florida Tests Find Listeria Risk

Gias Foods is pulling all lot codes of its Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine, sold at Walmart stores in Florida and nationwide, after routine sampling by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Washington state agriculture officials found the frozen pasta may carry Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled item is a 22-ounce frozen package in yellow plastic, UPC 194346442706, per the FDA notice, which also says the company has ceased distribution.

Shoppers who bought it should return it to the store for a full refund. Listeria poses the greatest risk to young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Kathy Castor Raises $2.5 Million in Q3 — More Than Her First Six Quarters Combined

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s campaign said Friday she raised more than $2.5 million in the third quarter, pushing her cycle total past $4.5 million from 11,901 donors after Gov. Ron DeSantis’s mid-decade map redrew CD-14 into Trump+11 territory. Sabato, Cook and Inside Elections now all list the Tampa Bay seat as a Toss-up; Republican nominee Mike Beltran has largely self-funded.

Castor and Beltran debated this week on WMNF; mail ballots are already out.

Atlantic Reaches October Without a Single Hurricane, a First in the Satellite Era

The 2026 Atlantic season has produced eight named storms but no hurricanes, the first time in the modern satellite era the basin has entered October hurricane-free, stretching its hurricane drought past 11 months. Forecasters with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network credit a rapidly strengthening El Niño and stronger wind shear for suppressing development through what is normally the season’s busiest stretch.

October, though, shifts the favored development zone toward the Caribbean and Gulf, closer to Florida, and the season runs through Nov. 30, so the lull lowers the odds without erasing the state’s risk. A hurricane-free year would be only the third in the official record, after 1907 and 1914.

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❖ Miami-Dade — Earls Kitchen + Bar reopens at Dadeland Mall after major Kendall makeover: The longtime 400-seat Earls at Dadeland Mall is back after its biggest renovation since the Canadian chain opened the Kendall spot in 2014 — new lighting, textures, greenery and artwork from local and international artists, plus a fall menu (lobster cacio e pepe, sticky Korean ribs, seafood towers) and refreshed cocktails. Hours stretch into late night most days at 7535 N. Kendall Drive.

❖ Tampa Bay — Tampa City Ballet's 'La Septima' tells Ybor's immigrant story in dance, film and music: After six years of research, Tampa City Ballet is staging "La Septima," a multi-media work on Ybor City's first century of immigrant life — drawn from Wenceslao Gálvez y Delmonte's "Tampa: Impressions of an Emigrant," archives and AI-assisted period projections — following a theatrical run this weekend, with Cuban Club and USF salon versions still to come this month. Founder Paula Nuñez, a Venezuelan-born former ballerina who built the nonprofit in Tampa, says the story of Ybor is "basically the story of ourselves."

❖ Palm Beach (Jupiter) — Busch Wildlife Sanctuary opens new flight complex to get rescued birds airborne: Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter has opened a 120-by-50-foot flight complex where recovering birds, from screech owls and kestrels up to wood storks, pelicans and bald eagles, rebuild strength before release. CEO Amy Kight says a red-shouldered hawk that came in weak was flying free again 20 days later.

❖ Jacksonville / Northeast — Former Santa Maria bayfront site to reopen as The Wharf in November: After more than a decade empty, the old Santa Maria restaurant property at 135 Avenida Menendez in St. Augustine is being rebuilt as The Wharf — a boat-accessible coastal eatery with seafood and an oyster bar from River Restaurant Group (River & Fort, Saint), still owned by the White family, timed for Nights of Lights.

❖ Palm Beach — Northstar Day school opens in Palm Beach Gardens for neurodivergent children: Northstar Day held its grand opening in Palm Beach Gardens, combining academics and therapy under one roof for children with ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other learning differences; founders say it is the first of its kind in the Southeast. Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Dana Middleton welcomed the campus; students are expected in early November, with statewide expansion planned after insurance contracts land.

❖ Orlando — Disney World turns 55 with two new lands rising fast: As Walt Disney World marked its 55th anniversary, aerial footage showed walkways going in at the Monstropolis expansion at Hollywood Studios, which is set to open next year, with its Doors Coaster due in 2028. At Animal Kingdom, the Encanto ride building and carousel are taking shape in Tropical Americas, which Disney says will open in 2027.

❖ Gulf Coast — Anna Maria Island turtle season winds down with far fewer hatchlings: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch counts 17,513 hatchlings from 460 nests this season through Oct. 2, down from about 31,000 in 2025 and roughly 20,000 in 2024. The group blames ongoing beach erosion, which floods nests from below, and only five nests are left on the sand.

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❖ Amendment 1 rainy-day fund splits Jolly and the Florida GOP from DeSantis — Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly said Saturday he supports November's Amendment 1 raising the budget stabilization fund cap from 10% to 25%, with "guardrails" so it isn't a "slush fund," while Gov. Ron DeSantis calls the measure foolish and wants surplus used for tax cuts. Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power backs the amendment; it needs 60% of voters.

❖ Jolly clears $1 million in a week — still far behind Donalds' haul — David Jolly raised more than $1.05 million in the week ending Sept. 25 (campaign + Florida 2026 committee), aided by state matching funds and two $100,000 law-firm checks, but Byron Donalds has raised roughly eight times as much (~$135 million with PAC). Jolly says he will stay on the air through Nov. 3.

❖ Nikki Fried works South Florida as registration closes Monday — Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried planned Fort Lauderdale door-knocking Saturday, the Palm Beach County Democratic Party's 22nd annual Truman-Kennedy-Johnson Gala Saturday night, and Fort Pierce canvassing Sunday as voter registration for the General Election closes Monday. Democrats out-registered Republicans in September for the first month since 2021, still trailing by about 1.55 million active voters.

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❖ Florida suspends Atlantic Coast Life from selling or renewing policies — The Office of Insurance Regulation immediately suspended Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Co.’s certificate of authority after finding the insurer impaired and after South Carolina opened rehabilitation/receivership proceedings. Existing Florida policies must still be serviced and the company remains responsible for covered losses; agents must stop new and renewal business.

❖ Aircraft Services Group opens 30,000-square-foot private-aviation hangar at SRQ — Aircraft Services Group cut the ribbon Oct. 1 on a new hangar on Warhawk Place at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, a 30,000-square-foot facility that now serves as its Sarasota headquarters and houses private jets, luxury cars and a lounge. The opening brings ground-crew, maintenance, pilot and charter-sales jobs as private aviation grows at SRQ, according to ABC7, and company president Andrew Reenstra says there is an adjacent lot where the company could build a second hangar.

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Rays Blank Yankees 1–0 in ALDS Game 1 as Rasmussen Flirts With History

Drew Rasmussen carried a no-hitter into the eighth and finished with 8 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 10 K as Tampa Bay took Game 1 of the ALDS, 1–0, before 40,542 at Tropicana Field. Jonathan Aranda's third-inning solo homer off Gerrit Cole was the only run; Bryan Baker closed it. The Rays lead the series 1–0; Game 2 is Monday night at the Trop (TBS/truTV).

No. 25 Missouri Blitzes No. 8 Florida 45–17 in Columbia

Missouri scored 35 unanswered points after a 10–10 tie and flattened the Gators' offense; Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns, Austin Simmons threw for 340 and two scores, and star Florida tailback Jadan Baugh was held to 13 yards on 12 carries. Florida falls to 4–1 (2–1 SEC); Missouri improves to 4–1 (1–1 SEC).

Daniels' Five Rushing TDs Power FSU Past Virginia 38–7

Ashton Daniels set Florida State and Doak Campbell Stadium single-game records with five rushing touchdowns (136 rush yards) as the Seminoles scored 38 unanswered after an early deficit and piled up 10 sacks. FSU is 3–2 (1–1 ACC); next is Friday at Louisville.

Scoreboard

Sat Oct 3 — Rays 1, Yankees 0 FINAL (ALDS Game 1; TB leads 1–0). Lightning 3, Capitals 1 FINAL. Missouri 45, Florida 17 FINAL. Florida State 38, Virginia 7 FINAL. Houston 27, UCF 17 FINAL. FAU 66, Texas Southern 10 FINAL. Miami 41, Clemson 13 FINAL. Temple 17, USF 13 FINAL. No Florida NFL Saturday.

Schedule (all times ET)

Sun Oct 4: Jaguars at Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS

Sun Oct 4: Packers at Buccaneers, 1 p.m., FOX

Sun Oct 4: Dolphins at Vikings, 4:05 p.m., FOX

Sun Oct 4: Panthers at Ducks, 8 p.m., Scripps Sports

Mon Oct 5: ALDS Game 2, Yankees at Rays, 8 p.m., TBS/truTV

Fri Oct 9: Florida State at Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN

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

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Florida regular averaged $4.105 a gallon Saturday (AAA, as of 10/3/26). That is down about 4.4 cents from Friday ($4.149) and 29.1 cents from a week ago ($4.396), and roughly 27.6 cents under the national average of $4.381. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at $4.295 (Gainesville $4.248). Pensacola is the cheapest at $3.932 (Panama City $3.941).

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❖ Cape Coral Animal Shelter’s clinic gives medical long-shots a second chance: Cape Coral Animal Shelter & Veterinary Clinic treats transferred dogs and cats with fractures, heartworm, FIV/FeLV and malnutrition — including an inoperable tumor destroyed with Stelfonta so “Ivee” could be adopted — and covers the full cost of heartworm treatment even if an animal is adopted before it ends; the shelter relies on donations and receives no government funding for its shelter operations.

❖ Venice High NHS students pack ~190,000 meals — and open an Englewood weekly pantry: Seniors Joey Shaffaval and Vivian Konrardy led Venice High’s National Honor Society in a YMCA of Southwest Florida summer mobile food pantry that served 664 households and 2,093 children in Hendry and Glades counties (~400 volunteer hours; ~13,600 bags). The partnership’s next chapter is a free farmer’s-market-style mobile pantry every Friday at Living Hope Church in Englewood (first open this week).

❖ Dunedin memorial bench washed out by Helene turns up on a Bermuda beach: A Dunedin Causeway memorial bench honoring a local family's father, carried off by Hurricane Helene in 2024, has resurfaced more than 1,000 miles away on Bermuda's coast, where a local beachgoer found it and messaged the family on Sept. 18. A Bay News 9 meteorologist says Milton may have pushed it into the Gulf for a ride on the Loop Current and Gulf Stream; the family is now deciding whether to visit it or ship it home.

❖ Deltona High declares "Luke Delaney Day" as a 1997 grad heads to space: Deltona High students watched alumnus and astronaut Luke Delaney launch with Crew 13 on Thursday at a school watch party, complete with space-themed snacks, star-shaped sunglasses, mission-themed class assignments and a look back at his old yearbook photos. Delaney grew up in DeBary and graduated from Deltona High in 1997.

❖ Central Florida diver joins Purdue's hunt for Amelia Earhart's lost Electra: Purdue alum Marc Hagle is one of the scuba divers on a 17-member expedition scheduled to depart Saturday for Nikumaroro Island in the Pacific to check a 2015 satellite image of "something in the lagoon that shouldn't be there" — possibly Earhart's Lockheed Electra. The team faces a six-day boat trip and a hike through jungle, and Hagle hopes to be among the first to touch it.

❖ Lehigh Acres newcomers find a pet pig waiting on their doorstep: Mandy Cabral, who just moved to Lehigh Acres from Vermont, opened her door to a friendly, very relaxed pig, posted about him on Facebook and called the sheriff's office. His owners got in touch to thank her, and TT the pig is back home. Days earlier, Cape Coral firefighters found Flippee, an African spurred tortoise missing for two months, on a ballfield and returned him to his family.

Today’s Quote

"Sunday on a Florida porch is the paper still folded and nobody checking the clock."

— original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waning crescent Sunday, Oct. 4 (about 38% illuminated). Last quarter was Saturday, Oct. 3, at 9:25 a.m. EDT; new moon is Friday, Oct. 10 (USNO).

Sunrise / Sunset: In Orlando on Sunday, sunrise is at 7:20 a.m. and sunset at 7:08 p.m. EDT, for about 11 hours, 48 minutes of daylight. Times vary across the state, and Pensacola is on Central time.

Gardening Notes: UF/IFAS's North Florida Gardening Calendar says October is time for bulbing onions and cool-season salad crops such as arugula, lettuce and spinach, plus broccoli, cabbage, kale and other cool-season vegetables. Dill, fennel, oregano and sage are good herb picks.

Coastal / Red Tide: FWC's Oct. 2 statewide update found background to very low Karenia brevis in Gulf County, background levels in Sarasota County, and none on the East Coast. No red-tide fish kills or respiratory irritation were reported that week. Next status report is due Friday, Oct. 9.

Florida by the Numbers

Florida's Park Service manages 175 state parks, trails and historic sites spanning more than 815,000 acres and 101 miles of sandy white beach, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation and Parks.

Today’s Poll

Do you support Florida expanding state food-safety sampling to catch Listeria and other contamination before products like the recalled Bettergoods pasta reach store shelves?

Yesterday’s Results

Do you support expanding aerial mosquito spraying to more Florida counties during dengue outbreaks?

Strongly support 28% · Somewhat support 22% · Oppose 22% · Not sure 28%