Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Good Morning! On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded San Agustín on the northeast Florida coast — the settlement that became St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European town in what is now the United States. He had sighted land eleven days earlier, on the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo; the founding is remembered at Mission Nombre de Dios. (Florida Historical Society)

On September 8, 1891, Thomas Romer died in Key West at 108. Born in Nassau in 1788, he had served as a privateersman for the United States in the War of 1812 and had been a citizen of the island for 65 years. (Keys History)

In This Issue: NTSB says all 5 MIA crash victims were in vehicles, Tampa takes 12 diversions as MIA stays snarled, and a Titusville pilot is killed after an engine failure.

Tallahassee ⛈️ 91°/74° | Jacksonville ⛈️ 89°/77° | Gainesville ⛈️ 90°/74° | Orlando ⛈️ 90°/76° | Tampa ⛈️ 92°/76° | Fort Myers ⛈️ 92°/77° | Miami ⛈️ 89°/82° | West Palm Beach ⛈️ 87°/82° | Key West ⛈️ 92°/82° | Pensacola ⛈️ 88°/77° | Daytona Beach ⛈️ 87°/77°

Weather: Hot, humid Tuesday with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across much of the state. Highest coverage inland peninsula (Gainesville–Orlando–Tampa roughly 60–70%); Jacksonville storms likely (~57%); lower for Miami–Keys and Pensacola (~20–35%). Highs upper 80s to low 90s. Brief downpours, lightning, and gusty winds possible.

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings (National Hurricane Center). Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook (Mon Sep 7): tropical cyclone formation is not expected in the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of America during the next 7 days.

Rip Current Report: Moderate rip-current risk Tuesday for Northeast Florida Atlantic (NWS JAX), the Space Coast / Volusia Atlantic (NWS MLB), eastern Panhandle / Big Bend Gulf (NWS TAE), and Pensacola–Destin / western Panhandle Gulf (NWS MOB). Low for Palm Beach / Broward / Miami-Dade (NWS MFL) and west-central / SW Gulf including Tampa Bay through Fort Myers (NWS TBW). Swim near a lifeguard; heed beach flags.

NTSB: All 5 Dead in Vehicles After Amazon Cargo Jet Overran MIA Runway

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said Monday the 5 people killed when Amazon Air Flight 7598 (Boeing 767, 21 Air) overran Runway 30 at Miami International Sunday were inside a Professional Ocean Service cleaning Ford Econoline van (7 aboard, “torn apart”) and a Toyota SUV hit on NW 67th Ave outside the perimeter; the jet traveled about 1,300 feet past pavement through “utter devastation.” (AP)

Flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered; Homendy said more Tuesday may include FDR-confirmed speed, with investigators focused on a late touchdown and why crews did not go around (32 NTSB personnel on scene). (Local 10)

Florida Travel Fallout: Tampa Took 12 Diversions as MIA Stayed Snarled

Tampa International Airport told WFLA it accepted 12 diverted flights (8 domestic / 3 international / 1 cargo) after Sunday’s overrun.

MIA said 2 of 4 runways remained closed Monday with 69 more cancellations into mid-afternoon after about 160 cancellations and 300-plus delays Sunday (AP).

Pilot Killed After Small Plane Hits Power Line Near Space Coast Regional

A Mooney M20P pilot died Monday morning after the single-engine plane reportedly lost power departing Space Coast Regional Airport, struck trees and a power line, and crashed on a Titusville roadway; FAA and NTSB are investigating (WESH).

The Titusville crash is a separate case from the Miami cargo overrun (WFLA).

Health Officials Warn Swimmers on Brain-Eating Amoeba in Warm Florida Lakes

After a hot summer, Florida health voices and Central Florida clinicians are reminding freshwater swimmers that Naegleria fowleri thrives above about 80°F and can cause nearly always-fatal PAM if water goes up the nose; Florida has logged 37 U.S. cases since 1937 (second-highest state) (Central Florida Public Media).

FDOH advice: nose clips, keep heads above water, don’t kick up lake sediment (CF Public Media Sep 7).

❖ Miami-Dade: Sitework has started on Swire Properties / Mandarin Oriental’s two-tower hotel-and-residences rebuild at 750 Claughton Island Dr — a 66-story (850 ft) tower with 66 residences and 121 hotel keys plus a 33-story (426 ft) all-residential tower (228 homes), more than 1.2 million sq ft and about $226 million, eyed for 2030 completion.

❖ Tampa Bay: Pinellas County Housing Authority + Newstar Development filed permits for Grand Oaks — phase 3 of Rainbow Village: 120 family affordable apartments (30–80% AMI) replacing 62 aging public-housing units at 13224 Washington Dr, Largo; about $48.1–48.7 million; construction eyed Jan 2027 / finish late 2028.

❖ Orlando: Publix lists a new about 48,387-sq-ft store at 2411 Ocoee Apopka Road (The Shoppes at East Shore) for a Sep 24 opening — drive-thru pharmacy and adjacent liquor store under the chain’s latest layout.

❖ Jacksonville: Duval County parents pushed back as the School Board advanced planning for a 1,200-seat Venetia Elementary expansion tied to consolidating Ortega Elementary after 2027–28; Tuesday’s vote only lets staff develop plans for later community review.

❖ Broward: Cain International and Kushner Companies put 40,504 sq ft at 633 S Federal Hwy under contract for Rio Vista Residences — twin 28- and 22-story towers totaling 440 residences (about 570,362 sq ft) south of the New River.

❖ Palm Beach: West Palm Beach posted its hottest meteorological summer on record since 1888 — June–August average 85.1° (2.5° above normal; 81 days at or above 90° vs normal 55), with Donald J. Trump International Airport rainfall 14.65 inches (about 8 inches below normal).

❖ Gulf Coast / Cape Coral: Cape Coral cut the ribbon Aug 14 on Festival Park (about 80 acres / NW Cape near Chiquita Blvd) — Parks GO Bond piece; city cites about $18.27 million construction + about $28.9 million land assemblage so far; multi-use sports fields, festival grounds, concessions/restrooms; Latino Fest eyed Nov 7.

❖ North Florida / Havana: Gadsden County / Havana broke ground Aug 13 on a 2,000-sq-ft Havana Public Library expansion ($2 million Florida Commerce / ARPA) — computer lab, job-training meeting space, STEM/AI training, and a telehealth office; finish eyed Spring 2027.

❖ Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he will help sell Amendment 3 to voters (homestead to $150k/$250k; 60% threshold) without leading PAC fundraising, while Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s opposition campaign warns the county could lose about 10% then 20% of general-fund revenue.

❖ Florida: Sachs Media’s Aug 18 survey of 800 Florida voters found 65% support for Amendment 3 among those who saw court-revised ballot wording vs 60% on the original language — difference not statistically significant — as organized local opposition grows and no comparable statewide Yes committee has publicly formed.

❖ Florida: GOP nominees mostly outraise Democratic opponents in key November legislative races — e.g. Sen. Jason Brodeur ($95k-plus campaign / $1.9M in PACs) vs Maitland Mayor John Lowndes; Josie Tomkow (about $131k + nearly $2.9M PAC) vs Sen. Brian Nathan in SD 14; Erin Huntley ($239k raised) vs Rep. Leonard Spencer in HD 45 (WUSF / NSF Sep 3).

❖ Orlando: Ryman Hospitality Properties closed its about $1.38 billion purchase of Grande Lakes Orlando (JW Marriott 1,010 rooms + Ritz-Carlton 582; about 320,000 sq ft meeting space on 400-plus acres) and updated 2026 outlook.

❖ Miami: Swire Properties and Mandarin Oriental started sitework on a about $226 million, 1.2M-plus sq ft two-tower Brickell hotel-and-residences rebuild (66- and 33-story) eyed for 2030.

❖ Fort Lauderdale: A Cain International–Kushner Companies joint venture put Fort Lauderdale’s 633 S Federal Hwy under contract for 440-unit Rio Vista Residences twin towers.

Bowles: Sean Tucker a Game-Time Decision for Week 1 at Cincinnati

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Monday RB Sean Tucker (undisclosed) missed practice and will be a game-time decision for the Sep 13 opener at Cincinnati; the club’s first official injury report is due Wednesday.

Yolanda Thomas Wins Pride Debut 3–1; Banda Sets Club Record With 14th Goal

Interim coach Yolanda Thomas earned her first win in her first match as Orlando Pride beat Houston 3–1 Saturday; Barbra Banda forced an own goal, scored her first Pride penalty (14th goal of 2026, club single-season record), and assisted Haley McCutcheon.

Mets Pound Marlins 9–4; Pauley’s Three-Run Homer Not Enough

New York beat Miami 9–4 Monday on 16 hits; Graham Pauley’s three-run homer capped a four-run Marlins second for a brief 4–3 lead before A.J. Ewing’s three-hit, three-RBI night and Bo Bichette’s go-ahead single put the Mets ahead for good.

Gators Beat FAU 66–21 in Jon Sumrall’s Debut

Florida opened under coach Jon Sumrall with a 66–21 win over Florida Atlantic; Vernell Brown III scored on a 49-yard touchdown.

Egbuka and McMillan Headed the Right Direction

Bucs receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan are headed in the right direction as the club sorts pre-Week 1 injury news ahead of the Cincinnati opener.

Scoreboard

Mets 9, Marlins 4 (FINAL)

Rangers 8, Rays 6 (FINAL)

Schedule

Rays at Atlanta — Tue Sep 8

Marlins vs Mets — Tue Sep 8

Buccaneers at Cincinnati — Sun Sep 13, 1:00 p.m. ET FOX

Jaguars host Browns — Sun Sep 13, 1:00 p.m. ET CBS

Dolphins at Raiders — Sun Sep 13, 4:25 p.m. ET FOX

Miami hosts Florida A&M — Thursday, Hard Rock

Florida regular averaged $3.9054 a gallon Monday (AAA as of 9/7/26) — down about a cent from Sunday ($3.9131) and up about 3 cents from a week ago ($3.8781), still about 25 cents under the national $4.1505. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive named metro at $4.0692; Orlando is cheapest at $3.8462 (The Villages $3.8511; Lakeland $3.8542).

❖ Crystal River: Female manatee Citron, rescued from Kings Bay in January with a pneumothorax that left her swimming on her side, was released Aug 27 at The Port Hotel and Marina in Crystal River after months of rehab at SeaWorld Orlando.

❖ Tampa Bay: Humane Society of Tampa Bay said 238 pets found homes Aug 28–30 with fees waived at Hillsborough (N. Armenia) and Pinellas (SR 590 Clearwater) campuses during the NBCUniversal Clear the Shelters push.

❖ Pensacola: Downtown Pensacola’s Coastal Cat Cafe marked its 500th adoption Aug 28 when Nathalie and Connor took home Moo Moo; founder Adrienne Brynteson is scouting a larger site after opening Dec 2023 at 1508 W. Garden St.

❖ Tallahassee: Thousands gathered at Tom Brown Park for the seventh annual Oasis Fun Fest Saturday; ride wristband money supports Oasis Christian Center’s “Stock the Classroom” supplies for underfunded elementary teachers.

❖ Panama City Beach: Free Labor Day Shell Island concert featured local and Nashville acts with donations supporting Anchorage Children’s Home and a Yeti cooler drawing.

❖ Gainesville: Gainesville’s second annual Buffett Fest at Heartwood Soundstage Sep 6 (3–7 p.m.) took sliding-scale donations for Save the Manatee Club, co-founded by Buffett and former Gov. Bob Graham.

Today’s Quote

Hope is showing up for tomorrow like it already believes in you.

original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waning Crescent, about 12% illuminated Tuesday Sep 8 (Orlando). Next New Moon: Thu Sep 10.

Sunrise / sunset (Tuesday Sep 8; Orlando, EDT): 7:07 a.m. / 7:38 p.m.

Gardening: Mid-early 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.

Coastal note: FWC written statewide red-tide status dated September 4, 2026: Northeast Florida bloom samples from prior weeks were Karenia papilionacea (not K. brevis). Over the past week, K. brevis was at background in one Northwest Florida (Franklin County) sample and not observed in Southwest Florida. Pair beach plans with the rip-current map in Weather. (FWC red tide)

Florida by the Numbers

Florida had 351 licensed hospitals with 73,046 total beds as of April 6, 2026 (Agency for Health Care Administration, Hospital and Outpatient Services Unit). (AHCA hospital bed counts)

Today’s Poll

Would you wear a nose clip or keep your head above water in Florida lakes this week?

• Yes

• No

• Undecided

Yesterday’s Results

Should Florida keep expanding aerial mosquito spraying during dengue outbreaks?

Yes 50% · No 25% · Undecided 25%

Florida Lottery

CASH POP Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 13

CASH POP Late Night — Mon Sep 7 — 7

PICK 2 Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 3-7 Fireball 2

PICK 3 Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 8-2-5 Fireball 2

PICK 4 Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 3-1-9-2 Fireball 2

PICK 5 Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 0-5-6-5-0 Fireball 2

Fantasy 5 Evening — Mon Sep 7 — 6-7-23-30-36

Powerball — Mon Sep 7 — 15-19-28-39-56 Powerball 3 Power Play 3x

Florida Lotto — Sat Sep 5 — 6-12-17-31-39-47

Jackpot Triple Play — Fri Sep 4 — 2-8-19-21-23-46

Mega Millions — Fri Sep 4 — 6-26-34-59-61 Mega Ball 24