The morning edition

MacDill perimeter breach. Trump sets two Florida rallies with Donalds. Miami-Dade sheriff appeals $42M shortfall.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Good Morning! On Sept. 27, 1864, about 700 Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. Alexander Asboth fought the Battle of Marianna, the climax of a raid across Florida’s panhandle. Home guards and reserves made a stubborn stand along today’s West Lafayette Street and at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church before the town fell. Asboth was wounded in the face, and his column withdrew toward Choctawhatchee Bay with more than 600 people freed from slavery.

In This Issue: MacDill Air Force Base perimeter breach, Trump scheduling two Florida rallies with Byron Donalds, Miami-Dade sheriff’s $42 million Cabinet appeal, and Amendment 3’s projected cost shift onto renters.

Weather: Sunday is mostly sunny statewide, with highs mostly in the 80s and dry air keeping shower chances low. Lows range from the low 60s in the north to the mid-70s in South Florida. (NWS)

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings. NHC’s 8 p.m. Saturday outlook is issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Fay west-southwest of the Azores and has ended advisories on Post-Tropical Cyclone Gonzalo north of the Cabo Verde Islands. A subtropical trough southeast of Bermuda has only a low chance of gradual development (10% in 48 hours, 20% in seven days). (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: High rip current risk Sunday on the Atlantic coast from Nassau County through Miami-Dade. The risk is moderate for South Walton, Bay, Franklin and Gulf’s west-facing beaches, and low along the Gulf coast from Levy to Collier and in Pensacola–Okaloosa. (NWS)

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Civilian Detained After Breaching MacDill Air Force Base Perimeter

A person described as a “civilian assailant” without base access breached the Dale Mabry Gate perimeter at MacDill Air Force Base around 1 p.m. Saturday, then “violently engaged” responding security officers before being detained, the 6th Air Refueling Wing said (FOX 13; WFLA).

Both the suspect and an officer were taken for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries; Dale Mabry Gate closed to inbound and outbound traffic while Bayshore Gate stayed open, and officials had not released the suspect’s identity as the investigation continued (FOX 13).

Trump Says He Will Hold Two Florida Rallies With Byron Donalds

President Donald Trump said Saturday he already has two Florida rallies scheduled for Rep. Byron Donalds and warned that if voters believed Donalds had “dropped” him from campaign materials, Donalds “would lose the Election,” responding to reporting that Donalds’ site had dialed back Trump branding (Florida Politics).

Vice President JD Vance is set as a special guest at a Lakeland event Thursday; Donalds said he looks forward to seeing Vance there and Trump “out on the trail,” and Trump restated his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of the Naples Republican against Democrat David Jolly (Florida Politics).

Miami-Dade Sheriff Takes $42 Million Budget Fight to DeSantis

Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz says the county’s newly adopted 2026–27 budget leaves the Sheriff’s Office about $42.037 million short of what it needs for mandatory labor costs, deputy hiring and stations, and she is appealing to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet’s Administration Commission under Florida Statute § 30.49 (Hoodline).

Commissioners approved a roughly $14.26 billion county package that includes about $1.2 billion for the sheriff’s office; Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has said that if the Cabinet sides with the sheriff, commissioners would have to reconvene and decide which other services to cut (Hoodline).

Analysis: Amendment 3 Could Shift Hundreds Onto Renters’ Tax Bills

A Tax Foundation senior fellow’s analysis for the Florida Housing Coalition, Florida Apartment Association and Miami Homes For All estimates that if local governments raise rates to offset Amendment 3’s higher homestead exemptions, the average apartment unit’s property-tax bill could rise about $406 a year by 2028 and single-family rentals about $1,081 (Florida Politics).

The report projects a 14.1% rise in total property-tax burdens on residential rentals once the $250,000 non-school homestead exemption is fully in effect, with most of that cost expected to pass through to renters over time.

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❖ Miami-Dade County: The Children’s Trust, county parks and Uplift Literacy unveiled Pages in the Park — five to six interactive literacy signs at playgrounds — at Ruben Dario Park, with the same setup live at Oak Grove, Westwind Lakes and J.L. and Enid Demps parks during National Literacy Month (Community Newspapers).

❖ St. Petersburg: Friends of Trails Crossing is pitching an about $55 million, 12.5-acre redevelopment under I-275 near Tropicana Field — farmers markets, amphitheater and children’s playhouses on eight blocks — with a St. Pete City Council vote eyed for mid-October (WFLA).

❖ Wildwood: Wildwood Soup Kitchen said it raised more than $2 million in less than a year — nearly $800,000 from one anonymous donor — after a rent increase ended about 30 years at a church site; open house/ribbon-cutting Sunday 2 p.m. (News 6).

❖ Lake City: Ranch Rescue of Lake City says a six-year TNR cat colony at a Home Depot vanished after new management barred feeders; volunteers found two dead cats by food bowls, three cats may remain, and the group has hired lawyers seeking the animals’ whereabouts (News4JAX).

❖ Fort Lauderdale: Museum of Discovery and Science is hosting the traveling I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit through Jan. 11, 2027 — six habitats, art studio and canopy sound play — included with admission, with Broward Attractions and Museums Month BOGO through Sep 30 (FTL Review).

❖ Palm Beach County: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has shipped more than 40,000 books to local children since 2000; board member Roxanne Mutchler said more than 200 children registered since Parton’s death, straining the signup site, as a five-country study of 86,000+ people backs literacy gains (WPTV).

❖ Fort Myers: Legacy Harbour Marina has reopened its docks on the Caloosahatchee River nearly four years after Hurricane Ian left all but nine boats there sunk or ashore, rebuilt with 131 slips across 13 acres plus extra pilings and sturdier breakwaters; a grand opening is set for October and an on-site restaurant for December (WINK).

❖ Tallahassee: The city opened its second senior center — about 40,000 square feet on Welaunee Boulevard — with space for health screenings, fitness, art, games and a cafe; Midtown senior center stays open (WCTV).

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❖ Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds said Saturday in Miami that Democrat David Jolly “went right before I did” at last week’s Sunshine Economy Summit and that they could have pulled up a third chair to debate there; Donalds called Jolly “running scared,” while Jolly adviser Mark Riddle said Donalds has ducked Tiger Bay and CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede dates Jolly already accepted (Florida Politics).

❖ A Stetson University Center for Public Opinion Research survey of 830 Floridians (Sept. 14–21) finds Republican Byron Donalds leading Democrat David Jolly 51% to 39% for governor and Sen. Ashley Moody leading Democrat Angie Nixon 51% to 40% for U.S. Senate, with cost of living/inflation the top voting issue at 40% (Stetson CPOR).

❖ At Tampa Tiger Bay Friday, Democrat David Jolly urged national Democrats to spend in Florida’s governor race, saying Byron Donalds’ committees have raised more than $115 million to his about $15.8 million and that without national help he worries about the race (WUSF).

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❖ NOAA Fisheries approved Florida’s revised Atlantic red-snapper plan for a continuous 14-day recreational season Oct. 9–22, 2026, in Atlantic state and federal waters — one fish per person per day, no minimum size — after last year’s two-day window and a court-blocked longer spring plan; anglers must declare trips in FWC’s reporting app (News4JAX).

❖ CareerSource Palm Beach County’s Jupiter job fair, first aimed at workers displaced as Amazon converts its St. Lucie warehouse to a fulfillment center, drew broader seekers Wednesday as Palm Beach County unemployment ran about 4.8% and the Treasure Coast about 5.3% (WPTV).

❖ Gibson Garage Miami opened an 8,000-square-foot experience at 2660 NW Third Avenue in Wynwood with nearly 600 guitars and Gibson’s first permanent U.S. art gallery (Latin Times).

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No. 21 Florida Routs No. 4 Ole Miss 52–28; Gators 4–0

Jadan Baugh ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns, Duke Clark added 126 yards and a score, and No. 21 Florida beat fourth-ranked Ole Miss 52–28 on Saturday in Gainesville for the Gators’ first 4–0 start since 2019 and 302 rushing yards with six rushing TDs (ABC News / AP).

Florida (4–0, 2–0 SEC) led from the opening drive; Ole Miss (3–1, 1–1) got 298 passing yards and two rushing scores from Trinidad Chambliss, who played through a left-thigh injury. Florida visits No. 19 Missouri next Saturday (ABC News / AP).

Florida State Beats Central Arkansas 34–7 at Doak

Florida State improved to 2–2 with a 34–7 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday, totaling 417 yards; Ashton Daniels threw for 224 yards and two scores, Ousmane Kromah ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns, and Jayvan Boggs caught six passes for 122 yards and a TD (Florida State Athletics).

The Seminole defense held the Bears to a season-low seven points and blanked them after halftime; FSU hosts Virginia next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (Florida State Athletics).

Buccaneers Elevate Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu for Vikings

Tampa Bay activated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the practice squad Saturday for Sunday’s home game against Minnesota — his third and final regular-season elevation — adding depth behind Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith and Miles Killebrew with only three safeties on the 53 (Buccaneers.com).

Melifonwu, signed in camp after a Dolphins season, has played special teams in prior elevations; Bain Jr. and Trotter remain out (Buccaneers.com).

Scoreboard

Rays 12, Phillies 1 (Sat) — ESPN

Braves 8, Marlins 3 (Sat) — ESPN

Schedule

Buccaneers vs. Vikings — Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX, Raymond James Stadium

Dolphins vs. Chiefs — Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS, Hard Rock Stadium

Jaguars vs. Patriots — Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS, EverBank Stadium

Marlins vs. Braves — Sunday, 3:10 p.m. ET, loanDepot park (MLB season finale)

Rays at Phillies — Sunday, 3:05 p.m. ET, Citizens Bank Park (MLB season finale)

Florida at No. 19 Missouri — next Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN (network TBA)

Florida State vs. Virginia — next Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 or ACC Network (network TBA), Doak Campbell

More Scores: NFL | MLB | NCAAF | WNBA

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Florida regular averaged $4.396 a gallon Saturday (AAA, as of 9/26/26), down about 2.7 cents from Friday ($4.423) and up about 7.9 cents from a week ago ($4.317). That is roughly 9.1 cents under the national average of $4.487. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at $4.541 (Naples $4.494). Pensacola is the cheapest at $4.095 (Panama City $4.123).

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❖ Seminole County: Firefighters dismantled the underside of a car after a homeowner heard meowing and pulled two healthy kittens from the engine bay; Lt. Tripp Hansen said the crew’s priority was getting animal control so the kittens could reach a foster home (WESH, Sep 26).

❖ Spring Hill: An Amazon Alexa camera spotted smoke and alerted an away homeowner Wednesday; Hernando County Fire Rescue contained a bedroom fire and brought the family dog out safely — no people home when the blaze started (FOX 13).

❖ Winter Haven: A Winter Haven police detective rescued a baby raccoon that fell from a burning tree near Avenue A SE while helping with fire suppression; the raccoon went to a wildlife rehabilitator after the mother and siblings were not found on scene (WFLA).

❖ Indian Shores: Seaside Seabird Sanctuary marked 10 years by releasing about 40 brown pelicans, laughing gulls and double-crested cormorants — many recovered from fishing-hook injuries — and said it treats at least 3,000 birds a year with no state funding (FOX 13, Sep 12).

❖ Marathon: Hope, a 150-pound loggerhead, returned to the water off Marathon after months at The Turtle Hospital, including amputation of one front flipper after a June entanglement injury (WSVN, Sep 11).

❖ Titusville / Brevard: A more than 1,400-pound manatee entangled in a crab trap in the Indian River Lagoon was freed and taken to SeaWorld Orlando, where veterinarians amputated its injured right flipper; staff said it is healing and eating (FOX 35, Sep 8).

Today’s Quote

A Florida Sunday doesn't ask what you finished. It asks whether you sat long enough to notice the light.

— original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Sunday is the day after the Harvest Moon. The moon is waning gibbous following Saturday’s full moon at 12:49 p.m. EDT (16:49 UT), according to USNO. Last Quarter arrives Oct. 3 at 9:25 a.m. EDT (13:25 UT).

Sunrise / Sunset: In Orlando on Sunday, sunrise is at 7:15 a.m. and sunset at 7:17 p.m. EDT, for about 12 hours, 2 minutes of daylight. Times vary across the state, and Pensacola is on Central time.

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

Coastal / Red Tide: 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 County. It was not observed on the East Coast. No related fish kills or respiratory irritation were reported; the next report is due Oct. 2.

Florida by the Numbers

Florida had 1.56 million cattle and calves on farms and ranches as of Jan. 1, 2025 — unchanged from a year earlier — and ranked ninth among states in beef cows, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, citing USDA.