The morning edition

Ormond Beach officer shot. Orange dengue alert. Pensacola crew finds LUCAS drone.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Good Morning! On September 22, 1915, the Miami Metropolis reported that Ocean Beach Realty Company — owned by brothers James E. Lummus and John N. Lummus — had sold the young Town of Miami Beach a mile-long stretch of Atlantic oceanfront for a public park for $40,000. The tract ran roughly from between Fifth and Sixth streets north about 4,120 feet to Fifteenth Street, averaging about 250 feet wide (~20–24 acres). The formal warranty deed followed on December 4, 1917 (Southern Bank & Trust Company as trustee for Ocean Beach Realty; park-purposes covenant). On July 28, 1921, the city named the park Lummus Park for Miami Beach’s first mayor, John N. Lummus. The beachfront green still runs Ocean Drive between 5th Street and 14th Place — South Beach’s front porch on the sand. (Miami History)

In This Issue: Ormond Beach officer shot, Orange dengue alert, and Pensacola crew finds LUCAS drone.

Weather: Hot and humid Tuesday with the classic late-summer afternoon storm pattern. Panhandle and Big Bend stay mostly sunny — Tallahassee mostly sunny near 91 after morning patchy fog; Pensacola mostly sunny with only a slight late-day storm chance (~20% after 4 p.m. near 91). Northeast through central Florida sees mostly sunny mornings then afternoon chance/scattered storms (Jacksonville chance storms ~40% mainly 1–5 p.m. near 88; Gainesville chance storms ~30% mainly after 5 p.m. near 90; Orlando chance storms ~30% after 2 p.m. near 90; Tampa scattered storms ~30% after 3 p.m. near 90, heat index as high as 100; Daytona Beach chance storms ~30% near 87). Southwest and Southeast keep the highest coverage — Fort Myers scattered storms (~50% after 11 a.m. near 90), Miami storms likely (~70% after 2 p.m. near 87), West Palm Beach storms likely (~70% near 85), Keys showers likely / possible thunderstorm (~70% near 90). Highs generally mid-80s to low 90s where storms hold off.

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings (National Hurricane Center). NHC Advisory 10 on Tropical Storm Fay (900 PM GMT / 5:00 p.m. EDT Mon Sep 21): center near 33.1°N 32.2°W — about 445 miles southwest of the Azores — moving SSW ~3 mph with maximum sustained winds 45 mph / 1004 mb. No coastal watches or warnings; hazards affecting land: none. Fay is gradually weakening and is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low by late Tuesday. Far eastern Atlantic only — not a Florida land threat. No other Atlantic tropical cyclones under advisory at filing.

Rip Current Report: Moderate rip-current risk Tuesday for Northeast Florida Atlantic (Nassau–Duval–St. Johns–Flagler; 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 / Santa Rosa Beach, Panama City Beach, Coastal Franklin / Apalachicola, and south-facing Gulf / state-park beaches (NWS TAE SRF — Moderate Tuesday). Low Tuesday for Palm Beach, Broward, 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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Ormond Beach Officer Shot in Leg While Guarding Suspect After Daytona College Attack

Ormond Beach Police Chief Robert “Jesse” Godfrey and Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Monday that Officer Austin Long, an eight-year K-9 handler, was shot in the leg about 3:20 a.m. Monday at AdventHealth Daytona Beach while guarding Michael Hightower, 40, during an MRI; Hightower grabbed Long’s holstered firearm far enough to fire one shot before other officers subdued him, and Long was treated at Halifax Health with a full recovery expected (ClickOrlando; FOX 35). (ClickOrlando)

Police said the hospital shooting followed a Sunday confrontation at Daytona College on South Nova Road in which a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman — who had responded after a burglary alarm and called 911 — were found critically injured; Hightower was arrested about an hour later near Clyde Morris Boulevard and Hand Avenue and faces two counts of attempted felony murder plus battery/assault on law-enforcement charges tied to the hospital struggle (ClickOrlando; FOX 35). (FOX 35)

Orange County Issues First Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert Since 2011 as Dengue Cases Climb

Central Florida Public Media reported Monday that the Florida Department of Health elevated Orange County’s mosquito-borne illness advisory to an “alert” Friday after confirming two more dengue patients — the first such Orange alert since 2011 — with Orange County Mosquito Control identifying two patients in Apopka and an earlier Pine Hills case while statewide locally acquired dengue reached 152, second only to 2023’s 176 (CF Public). (CF Public)

Director Steve Harrison said Aedes aegypti trap counts jumped to about 23,000 last week from 13,000 the week before and urged Apopka and Pine Hills residents to dump standing water and use EPA-registered repellent while crews spray and check properties; Hillsborough separately reported a record 120 locally acquired cases Friday, and WESH/AP reiterated the state’s confirmation of a dengue-related death amid the surge (CF Public; WESH). (WESH)

Pensacola Charter Crew Pulls Eglin LUCAS Military Drone From Gulf

Hot Spots Charters captain Daniel Arsenault said his Saturday six-hour trip found a large drone floating about 20 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass — initially mistaken for an upside-down skiff — and delivered it to the Pensacola Beach Sheriff’s substation before the military recovered it (WEAR). (WEAR)

Eglin Air Force Base told WEAR on Monday that a LUCAS (Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System) UAS impacted the water during scheduled range testing last Thursday and is back in military possession; Rep. Jimmy Patronis called the Gulf testing range critical to readiness, and Arsenault cautioned others to call the Coast Guard rather than haul unknown gear (WEAR). (WEAR)

Castor Warns Amendment 3 Would Cut Tampa Fire, Police, and Parks Funding

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, speaking at a North Tampa fire-station groundbreaking, said Amendment 3’s homestead-exemption expansion would cut property-tax revenue that funds Tampa Fire Rescue, Tampa Police, parks, paving, and other services and urged voters to decide only after reading the impacts; the measure needs 60% and would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 if approved (WFLA). (WFLA)

Castor also noted Florida’s lack of a state income tax means Tampa relies on property taxes for first-responder and parks services — so a homestead cut would mean service cuts — while supporters including Gov. Ron DeSantis argue the larger exemption would deliver tax relief and that the state could backfill rural shortfalls with surplus grants (WFLA). (WFLA)

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❖ Miami-Dade: Hispanic Heritage Scavenger Hunt is Tuesday Sep 22, 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m., at Kendale Lakes Branch (15205 SW 88 Street) — all-ages hunt for hidden medallions with a small prize while supplies last; branch 305-388-0326 (MDPLS). (MDPLS)

❖ Tampa Bay: “Gallery on the Avenue: Made in Florida — Highlights from the Tampa Museum of Art Collection” is on view Tuesday Sep 22 (library hours 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) at Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library (1505 N. Nebraska Ave.) — free poster series of Florida-tied paintings, prints, photos, and mixed media (HCPLC). (HCPLC)

❖ Orlando: Makerspace Open Lab is Tuesday Sep 22, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., at Orlando Public Library Melrose Center / Makerspace (Second Floor, 101 E. Central Blvd.) — drop-in makers culture after machine orientations; reservations recommended but not required (OCLS Attend). (OCLS)

❖ Jacksonville: Little Readers (ages birth–5) is Tuesday Sep 22, 11–11:30 a.m., at Jacksonville Public Library Main Library Terry Children’s Theater (303 N. Laura St.) — free story, music, and movement early-literacy program; arrive early, limited first-come seating (JPL). (JPL)

❖ Broward: Twilight Tales: Family Storytime is Tuesday Sep 22, 6–7 p.m., at Lauderdale Lakes Branch Library/Educational and Cultural Center — evening stories, songs, movement, and Hispanic Heritage Month featured title Pepe and the Parade (Broward County Library). (Broward County Library)

❖ Palm Beach: Personal Archiving Day is Tuesday Sep 22, 11 a.m.–noon, at Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach (411 Clematis St.) — practical tips for organizing and preserving digital memories (photos/documents) and library digitization options for VHS, photos, and negatives (HamletHub / Mandel). (HamletHub)

❖ Gulf Coast: “The Birds of Southwest Florida” exhibit is listed Tuesday Sep 22, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., at Edison & Ford Winter Estates — regional bird/nature culture stop on the Fort Myers historic campus (Eat Play SWFL / Edison Ford listings). (Eat Play SWFL)

❖ North Florida: “Cultura Tallahassee: Together, We Are More” Hispanic Heritage Month community culture exhibit continues Tuesday Sep 22 via Leon County Public Library programming (exhibit window Sep 15–Oct 15 listings) — free library culture stop (Leon County LibCal). (Leon County Library)

❖ Space Coast: White Castle Daytona Beach grand opening is Tuesday Sep 22, 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting at 1944 LPGA Blvd — community food opening / 60+ jobs (FOX 35). (FOX 35)

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❖ Statewide: A St. Pete Polls survey conducted Sep 15–17 for FloridaPolitics.com among 913 likely voters (MoE ±3.2%) found Byron Donalds at 43.5% and David Jolly at 43.4% for governor, Ashley Moody 45.2%–Angie Nixon 44.8% for U.S. Senate, and James Uthmeier 43.0%–Jose Javier Rodríguez 41.6% for attorney general — a three-race “dogfight” framing that Action News Jax and Fox49 said moved the gubernatorial race toward tossup (Action News Jax; Fox49). (Action News Jax)

❖ Orange County: Florida Department of Health elevated Orange County’s mosquito-borne illness advisory to an “alert” Friday after additional locally acquired dengue patients — the first Orange mosquito-borne alert since 2011 — while Hillsborough reported a record 120 locally acquired cases and the state tallied 152, prompting intensified Apopka/Pine Hills spraying and property checks, Central Florida Public Media reported Monday (CF Public; WESH AP twin). (CF Public)

❖ Tampa Bay: FOX 13 reported Tampa Bay Chamber and Mayor Castor opposition messaging on Amendment 3, aligning chamber voice with Castor’s warning that the homestead expansion would squeeze first-responder and parks funding (FOX 13). (FOX 13)

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❖ Statewide: WFLA reported Monday that Florida’s minimum wage increases from $14 to $15 per hour on Sep 30 under the 2020 Amendment 2 phase-in — the final scheduled $1 step — with tipped employees’ required cash wage set at $11.98 before tips, after which future adjustments track inflation each January (WFLA; FOX 13 twin). (WFLA)

❖ Ybor City: J.C. Newman Cigar Co. scheduled a walk-in job fair Tuesday Sep 22 and Wednesday Sep 23, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., in the second-floor hospitality room at El Reloj (2701 N. 16th St., Ybor City) to fill about 100 full- and part-time roles across the historic factory plus Elaine’s restaurant, Stanford’s Cigar Club, and The Inn at El Reloj boutique hotel (11 rooms) planned to open later this year under a new hospitality division; fourth-generation owner Drew Newman said the company wants to grow in Ybor while taking care of its people, with benefits including medical/dental/vision, 401(k) match, life/disability, and paid leave, and CDC of Tampa assisting recruitment (Business Observer). (Business Observer)

❖ Manatee: SRQ Magazine’s Monday business edition said BayCare HealthHub (Manatee) opened Sep 14 at 6620 Moccasin Wallow Road in Palmetto as a 46,000-plus-square-foot outpatient destination combining primary/specialty care, lab, and advanced imaging (MRI, CT, PET, mammography, X-ray, DEXA, ultrasound) adjacent to the future BayCare Hospital Manatee expected in 2028 (SRQ). (SRQ Magazine)

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Rays Unveil Fan-Voted “Tampa Bay” Road Jerseys Ahead of Yankees Doubleheader

The Tampa Bay Rays revealed a new primary road uniform Monday featuring “Tampa Bay” across the chest — the fan-voted design that replaces Columbia-blue burst-logo road jerseys — with a modern electric gradient, repositioned ray logo, and navy cap update; CEO Ken Babby said the look celebrates the club’s long-term Tampa Bay commitment, and the set debuts Tuesday in Game 2 of a Yankees doubleheader at 7:05 p.m. after Game 1 at 1:05 p.m. Preorders opened Monday at the Bay Republic Team Store at Tropicana Field, and the club also pointed fans to $19.98 seat deposits for the planned 2029 ballpark via NewBallpark.RaysBaseball.com (FOX 13). (FOX 13)

Gators Center Harrison Moore Named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week

Florida junior center Harrison Moore earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors Monday after playing all 81 offensive snaps in the Gators’ 44–39 win at Auburn, posting a game-high PFF pass-blocking grade of 83.9 with no sack, QB hit, hurry, or pressure allowed and helping Florida to 495 total yards (243 rush / 252 pass) while Jadan Baugh became the first Gator with 100 rush yards at Auburn since Bo Carroll in 1996 (floridagators.com). (floridagators.com)

Bucs Drop to 0–2 After Browns 23–19; Vikings Visit Next

After a weather-delayed home loss to Cleveland 23–19, the Buccaneers sit 0–2 and next host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 on Sunday Sep 27 at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX at Raymond James Stadium, per the club’s Week 3 how-to-watch and schedule posts (buccaneers.com). (buccaneers.com)

Scoreboard

NFL Sun Sep 20: Browns 23, Buccaneers 19 (home; weather delay) — WFLA/AP / Bucs.com takeaways.

MLB: Rays entered the Yankees series after beating Boston 5–1 Sunday (DRaysBay / club board).

Schedule

Tue Sep 22: Rays at Yankees — doubleheader Game 1 1:05 p.m. ET; Game 2 7:05 p.m. ET (new road jerseys debut Game 2) — FOX 13 / SI board.

Sun Sep 27: Buccaneers vs Vikings, Raymond James Stadium, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX — buccaneers.com.

Sat Sep 26: Florida vs No. 4 Ole Miss, Gainesville — floridagators.com schedule board (SEC home).

Bucs Takeaways From Browns Loss

The Buccaneers’ Week 2 takeaways post after the weather-delayed Browns 23–19 loss walks through the 0–2 start and next steps before Minnesota visits Raymond James in Week 3 (buccaneers.com). (buccaneers.com)

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Florida regular averaged $4.2807 a gallon Monday (AAA current as of filing) — down about 1.5 cents from Sunday ($4.2954) and up about 14.1 cents from a week ago ($4.1393), and still about 19.8 cents under the national $4.4786. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive named metro at $4.4371; Panama City is cheapest at $4.0303 (Crestview–Fort Walton Beach $4.0517; Pensacola $4.0459). (AAA)

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❖ Palm Beach: Palm Beach County deputies charged Leslie Torres, 34, with 11 felony animal-cruelty counts after reporting 11 dogs kept in filthy, cramped cages without food or water at a Lake Worth–area trailer-park home near Atlantis and Lantana; the dogs are recovering and available for adoption at Furry Friends Humane in Jupiter, where adoption counselor Nick Ferola said they are playful and healthy and “the happy ending will be when they get adopted” (WPBF Sep 21). (WPBF)

❖ Winter Garden: Clare and Aaron Walenga of Winter Garden said they are healing toward a full recovery after lightning struck their umbrella while they walked hand-in-hand on the West Orange Trail after dropping their children at church; Good Samaritans including Charlotte Sachetti Weyand and Amber McManus helped, with CPR when Clare stopped breathing, and the couple thanked four Good Samaritans plus first responders (WESH; ClickOrlando). (WESH)

❖ Bradenton: Bradenton police responded just before 9 p.m. Sep 12 near 801 Riverside Drive East to a man yelling for help in the Manatee River; bodycam shows officers asking civilians “You guys have a boat?” before Sgt. Perez and Officers M. Wall and Bautista boarded, Manatee County Sheriff’s aviation helped locate him, and EMS took the man — who said he had been in the water at least an hour — to a hospital for evaluation (WFLA). (WFLA)

❖ Lake County: Lake County Animal Services said the last 33 underage kittens from the spring Tavares rabies-alert intake finished a 120-day quarantine and are rolling out for adoption in groups (some already available; more Sep 15, 17, 21, and 30); director Whitney Boylston said the shelter “committed to 120 days of special care,” with vaccinated staff only and state-guided post-exposure shots, after more than 160 cats came in during the alert (South Lake Tablet). (South Lake Tablet)

❖ Treasure Coast: Humane Society of the Treasure Coast said six of 36 border collies removed Aug. 10 from a Palm City hoarding case on Southwest Alligator Street have been adopted since applications opened Sep 1, with more placements scheduled and ongoing training for adopters; spokesperson Sarah Fisher said the remaining dogs are progressing faster than expected and some may place as special-needs after organ testing (WQCS). (WQCS)

❖ Crystal River: Manatee Lalo swam back into Kings Bay / Crystal River this month after 19 months of SeaWorld Orlando care following a Feb. 27, 2025, boat-strike rescue at Hunter Spring Run that left her emaciated with spinal fractures; SeaWorld’s veterinary team cleared her for wild release after surgeries and rehab through the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership with FWC (Hoodline Sep 21; SeaWorld / WFTV reporting). (Hoodline)

Today’s Quote

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

— Martin Luther King Jr.

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing Gibbous (four days after First Quarter Fri Sep 18); about 83–84% illuminated (TheSkyLive 83.0%; MoonGiant 84% for Sep 22). Next Full Moon (Harvest Moon): Sat Sep 26.

Sunrise / sunset (Tuesday Sep 22; Orlando, EDT — times vary across the state; most of Florida is Eastern; Pensacola is Central): 7:13 a.m. / 7:23 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 1,708 existing SUN Trail miles (2026), according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Transportation Fast Facts (updated February 2026). (FDOT)

Today’s Poll

After an Ormond Beach officer was shot in the leg while guarding a Daytona College attack suspect during a hospital MRI, should Florida change how law-enforcement officers are protected when they guard high-risk inmates off-site?

Yesterday’s Results

After a Sanford family gathering honoring a crash victim ended with eight adults shot and no suspects in custody, should Florida expand how Crimeline rewards and tip lines are funded after mass shootings?

Yes — create a standing state match for local Crimeline rewards after multi-victim shootings 34% · Leave reward levels to local police and existing Crimeline chapters 33% · Focus first on faster crime-scene leads and witness protection, not reward size 33%