The morning edition

Groups give 60-day notice they will sue to expand manatee habitat, and state parks are free on Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Good Morning! On Nov. 10 and 11, 1929, Tallahassee celebrated the grand opening of Dale Mabry Field, the city’s first municipal airport, in a two-day gathering that included Armistice Day. The field was named for Tallahassee-born Army Capt. Dale Mabry, a World War I pilot killed in the 1922 crash of the airship Roma.

In This Issue: Environmental groups gave federal officials 60-day notice they will sue to add nearly 1 million acres of Florida manatee habitat, state parks will waive admission fees on Veterans Day, and the state has submitted a major disaster declaration request as the St. Johns River near Cocoa holds at major flood.

Weather: Veterans Day stays mostly mild and partly sunny, with highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s and a chance of showers or thunderstorms mainly across South Florida. A strong cold front later this week will bring the coolest air so far this fall from Friday night through the weekend, with wind chills in the lower 40s possible from Greater Orlando northward and a chance of frost in parts of North Florida and the inland Panhandle. The St. Johns River near Cocoa remains at major flood stage and is forecast to crest around 17.2 feet this weekend; moderate flooding continues above Lake Harney, minor flooding is occurring at Astor with moderate flooding forecast, and the Peace River at Arcadia has fallen to minor flood. Minor flooding is forecast Friday near DeLand and Sanford. Never drive into flooded roads. (NWS)

Tropical: The National Hurricane Center does not expect any tropical cyclones to form in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf over the next seven days. Hurricane season ends Nov. 30. (National Hurricane Center)

Rip Current Report: The rip current risk is moderate Wednesday from Nassau through Palm Beach counties, with surf of 1 to 2 feet, and on Walton and Bay County beaches. The risk is low on Franklin and Gulf County beaches, from Pensacola through Okaloosa, in Broward and Miami-Dade, and along the Gulf coast from Levy County to Collier County. (NWS)

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Environmental Groups Give 60-Day Notice They Will Sue to Expand Florida Manatee Habitat

The Center for Biological Diversity, Save the Manatee Club and Defenders of Wildlife sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, saying the service has missed its Endangered Species Act deadline to finalize a 2024 proposal that would add nearly 1 million new acres of critical habitat in Florida and almost 80,000 acres in Puerto Rico.

Central Florida Public Media reported that the notice was sent Monday and that the proposed maps would more than double the Florida manatee’s current critical-habitat designation; preliminary Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data show 517 manatees have died so far in 2026 as of Oct. 30, slightly fewer than 578 by the same point last year, and Elizabeth Neville of the Longwood-based Save the Manatee Club said the greatest long-term threats are loss of habitat, especially warm-water refuge and seagrass.

Governor Signs a Warrant Setting a Dec. 10 Execution, Florida’s 22nd This Year

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a warrant Tuesday for Willie Seth Crain, 80, who is scheduled to be executed Dec. 10 at Florida State Prison in Raiford in the 1998 Hillsborough County case of 7-year-old Amanda Brown; the News Service of Florida, in a report carried by FOX 13, said it would be the state’s 22nd execution this year after 19 have already been carried out, tying last year’s record.

Executions are also scheduled for Thomas Mitchell Overton on Nov. 19 and Richardo Gonzalez on Dec. 1, and Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is asking Governor-elect Byron Donalds to pause the pace; spiritual advisor Jeff Hood, in a letter quoted by NSF, asked Donalds to sign no warrant from Jan. 5 through July 5 and to commission a public examination of the pace and procedures.

Florida State Parks Will Waive Admission Fees on Veterans Day

WGCU reported that, in honor of the United States turning 250, admission fees will be suspended at Florida state parks on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, and that active-duty and honorably discharged veterans get a 25 percent discount on annual entrance passes year-round, with free lifetime military entrance passes for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for surviving spouses and parents of those who died in combat.

A Florida Department of Environmental Protection release carried by the Alachua Chronicle says the one-day waiver is for day-use only and excludes Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park; overnight, concession and vendor rental fees remain in effect.

UPDATE: Florida Submits a Major Disaster Declaration Request as the St. Johns Holds at Major Flood Stage

WESH reported Tuesday evening that Gov. Ron DeSantis formally submitted a Major Disaster Declaration request to FEMA on Monday after last week’s flooding; the request still needs a federal review and a presidential decision, and south Brevard families were seeking help Tuesday at new Multi-Agency Resource Centers in Palm Bay and West Melbourne.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service said Tuesday evening the St. Johns River near Cocoa was still at 17.0 feet at 7:15 p.m., already in major flood, and is now forecast to continue rising and crest at 17.2 feet this weekend; the Peace River at Arcadia had dropped to minor flooding at 13.4 feet at 7:30 p.m. and is still expected to fall below flood stage late Friday evening.

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❖ Miami — Newsmax to Buy Radio Mambí, the ‘Voice of the Cuban Exile,’ for $1.8 Million: Miami: Newsmax is poised to buy Radio Mambí (WAQI) and its sister station, El Pulso de Miami (WQBA), from Latino Media Network for $1.8 million, Miami New Times reports. CEO Christopher Ruddy, in a Nov. 9 announcement, called Radio Mambí an institution; the deal still needs Federal Communications Commission approval, and the stations had gone dark for nearly a year.

❖ Tampa Bay — Ybor City Office Rents Jump 52.4%, Overtaking Westshore and Downtown: Tampa: Ybor City’s Class A office asking rents jumped 52.4% over the past year to $64 a square foot, overtaking Westshore and downtown Tampa, as new space at Gasworx pushed the district’s average above every other Tampa Bay submarket, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth reports, citing Cushman & Wakefield’s third-quarter 2026 report. Developers Darryl Shaw and KETTLER have leased all the office space in the six-story East 5th building, including a 50,570-square-foot agreement with Ferguson, which expects to move in during April 2027; Grow Financial Federal Credit Union plans to move its headquarters to 1301 E. Fourth Ave.

❖ Orlando — Oakland Place, a 21.25-Acre Mixed-Use Village, Breaks Ground: Oakland: Oakland Place, also known as Fourth Street Village, broke ground Tuesday, Nov. 10, on 21.25 acres east of South Fourth Street between State Road 50 and Florida’s Turnpike, the West Orange Times & Observer reports. The first mixed-use village in the Town of Oakland will have 210 multifamily units and 73,500 square feet of commercial and office space, plus an event venue, and businesses are expected to start opening in the winter of 2027 or early 2028, Mayor Shane Taylor and Josiah Moore of Millenia Partners said.

❖ Jacksonville — St. Johns County Becomes Florida’s First Certified Autism Destination: St. Augustine / St. Johns County: St. Johns County has become Florida’s first Certified Autism Destination, Action News Jax reports, after more than 20 tourism and hospitality businesses completed training and an on-site review by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce led the effort with the county, which provided a matching grant to subsidize certification costs; an IBCCES survey cited in the story found that 94% of families said they would take more vacations if they had access to autism-certified options.

❖ Broward — Foundation Permit Filed for 45-Story Viceroy Residences in Fort Lauderdale: Fort Lauderdale: Foundation permit plans have been submitted to the City of Fort Lauderdale for Viceroy Residences, a planned 45-story, 500-foot residential tower at 505 NE 2nd Street that would hold 251 condominiums, Florida YIMBY reports. Naftali Group is the developer and Arquitectonica the designer; a representative said the foundation plans were submitted during the first week of November, and the project would also include a 15,000-square-foot private members’ club and restaurant operated by The h.wood Group.

❖ Palm Beach — Playboy Under Contract to Buy Freehand Miami for a Members-Only Club: Miami Beach: Playboy is under contract to buy the Freehand Miami hotel from Generator for $12.5 million and turn it into a members-only club, with the deal set to close Dec. 15, Miami New Times reports. CEO Ben Kohn said on a Nov. 5 earnings call that Think Hospitality and Infinity Collective will develop the club with the brand.

❖ Gulf — Construction Underway on 84-Unit Clara Landings Affordable Housing in Naples: Naples: McDowell Housing Partners has closed financing and started construction on Clara Landings, an 84-unit, $35.9 million affordable housing development at 4470 Santa Barbara Boulevard in Naples, Florida YIMBY reports. The four-story building will have 60 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom apartments, income-restricted at 30%, 60% and 70% of AMI for Collier County families.

❖ North Florida — Baptist Hospital in Pensacola to Add 40 Acute-Care Beds and Hire 80 Nurses: Pensacola: Baptist Hospital is preparing to add 40 acute-care beds in the Henderson building on its Brent Lane campus and says it needs to hire at least 80 nurses to staff them, WEAR reports. Christie Jandora, Baptist Health Care’s assistant chief nursing officer, said the expansion is being driven by a steady rise in emergency-room, procedural and direct-admission volume as the community grows.

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❖ UPDATE: Salazar Holds Florida’s 27th District After Recount, Winning by 1,086 Votes — Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has won reelection in Florida’s 27th Congressional District after a machine recount of close to 250,000 ballots, NBC News projected Tuesday, with unofficial results showing 124,519 votes for Salazar and 123,433 for Democrat Eliott Rodriguez — a margin of about 1,086 votes, or 50.2% to 49.8%.

❖ Uthmeier Subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America Over Alleged Foreign Contributions — Attorney General James Uthmeier said Tuesday he is subpoenaing the Democratic Socialists of America, examining whether the group accepted contributions or support from foreign sources of concern, including Cuba and China, under 2025 legislation (SB 700) that prohibits nonprofits from taking donations tied to those countries. Last week, DSA-backed Democrat Ashley Herrmann unseated Republican incumbent Danny Alvarez in House District 69.

❖ Delray Beach Cancels 2027 St. Patrick’s Parade and Pride Event, Citing New State Law — The City of Delray Beach announced Tuesday it will not host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Pride event in 2027, citing Senate Bill 1134, a new Florida law that takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and restricts local governments from funding or promoting certain diversity, equity and inclusion activities. City officials said a review of the law determined they are legally prohibited from organizing, funding or promoting those events in 2027.

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❖ Google Adds Privacy Safeguards to $10 Million Spirit Airlines Data Deal — Alphabet’s Google has agreed to additional privacy protections in its planned $10 million purchase of data from defunct Spirit Airlines, a union representing employees said Tuesday, clearing the way next week for bankruptcy-court approval of a deal Google would use to train AI models. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said it won a more rigorous de-identification process than previously planned and that significant employee data, including health and medical information, will be excluded. De-identified data will be reviewed by an independent verification agent chosen in consultation with unions, and Google is prohibited from trying to re-identify it and must process it securely and treat it as confidential. Google won an August auction for emails, spreadsheets, calendars and marketing, productivity and operations data after Spirit halted operations in May. A privacy ombudsman had already recommended excluding personal information from 97 million Spirit customers. Google, which did not comment Tuesday, said last month it was not looking to buy personal information.

❖ New Jersey Developer Bids $56.1 Million for Former Don King Jai-Alai Site — A New Jersey housing developer, K & K Developers, an affiliate of Garden Communities, submitted a $56.1 million bid at a Friday bankruptcy auction for the long-vacant 53-acre Palm Beach Jai-Alai Fronton at 1415 45th St. in Mangonia Park, the former Don King property. A bankruptcy judge is scheduled to hear the sale Thursday, with a closing expected Nov. 30. Town Manager Ken Metcalf told CBS12 the town learned of the winning bid shortly before news reports and has not received a development plan from the buyer. The fronton opened in 1955, was rebuilt after a 1978 fire and closed for good on Dec. 30, 1994. The site is zoned as a planned commerce center; Metcalf said residential use is allowed and estimated current zoning could accommodate roughly 700 to 800 units. He said Palm Beach County agreed in September to provide up to $5 million toward water and wastewater upgrades, with the town’s water supply already at 75% capacity.

❖ South Tampa’s Pointe on Westshore Relisted After $134 Million 2024 Sale — The Pointe on Westshore, a 444-unit South Tampa apartment community at 4950 W. Prescott St. that sold for $134 million in April 2024, has been relisted, with offers due Nov. 12. JBM Institutional Multifamily Advisors announced the listing Tuesday, Nov. 10, without an asking price. Tampa-based American Landmark Apartments bought the 2022 property from Index Investment Group for about $302,000 per apartment, according to property records cited by the magazine; Index retained a limited-partner interest. Cushman & Wakefield figures cited in the story put South Tampa’s third-quarter stabilized occupancy at 87.1%, compared with 91.6% across the broader Tampa Bay market, and South Tampa’s average effective rent at $2,116 a month, up 0.3% from a year earlier. The community occupies about 19.41 acres and is about a mile from MacDill Air Force Base.

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Dolphins Place Malik Willis on IR; McCord in Line to Start at Indianapolis

The Miami Dolphins placed quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve Tuesday, sidelining him for at least four games, after a nagging groin injury limited his mobility in Sunday’s 19-9 loss to Detroit. Willis said his groin “felt a little tight,” and coach Jeff Hafley said “you could see he couldn’t really open up” and “wasn’t quite able to go full speed.” Willis has completed 121 of 208 passes with six touchdowns and six interceptions this season for the 1-7 Dolphins. The Ringer first reported the move and said it is not expected to be a season-ending injury. Backup Kyle McCord, acquired in August from Green Bay, will be in line to start this week at Indianapolis. McCord, a 2025 sixth-round pick of the Eagles who later signed with Green Bay, went 46 of 70 for 446 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in three preseason games with the Packers. The Dolphins also placed defensive lineman Zach Sieler on IR on Tuesday after he suffered a ruptured biceps against Detroit.

Florida Cancels 2031-32 Home-and-Home Series With Notre Dame

Florida has canceled a home-and-home series with Notre Dame scheduled for the 2031-32 seasons, using a clause in the 2021 contract to get out without financial penalty after the SEC moved to nine-game league slates this season. The Gators had been slated to play at South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 15, 2031, with Notre Dame visiting Gainesville the following year. Florida had a difficult time justifying nine league games, the Florida State rivalry and a perennial powerhouse like Notre Dame in back-to-back years, even with the College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams. Notre Dame then announced a home-and-home series with Washington to be played in 2031 and 2034. Florida and Notre Dame have met only once, with the Irish rallying to beat the Gators 39-28 in the 1992 Sugar Bowl. The Gators have also canceled home-and-home series with Arizona State, California and N.C. State.

No. 1 Florida Pulls Away to Beat Florida State 81-72

Thomas Haugh scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, going 10 of 12 from the free-throw line for his second double-double of the season, as No. 1 Florida (3-0) pulled away for an 81-72 victory over Florida State (2-1) on Tuesday night at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The Gators’ senior class remained unbeaten against the Seminoles. Florida led 31-29 at halftime after Haugh’s second 3-pointer of the half with 13 seconds left; the Gators were 6 of 19 from 3-point range in the first half, and Florida State had not made a 3. Urban Klavzar sank a 3-pointer, then made three free throws and two more, scoring eight consecutive points that stretched the lead late. Florida made 25 of its final 29 free throws to finish 30 of 41 after a 5-of-12 start. The Gators host Merrimack (1-2) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Scoreboard

No Florida pro finals Tuesday.

Schedule (all times ET)

Wed Nov 11 — Lightning at Sabres, 7pm EST — TNT

Wed Nov 11 — Saint Joseph’s at USF (men’s basketball), 3pm EST — CBSSN

Wed Nov 11 — Magic at Jazz, 9pm EST — KJZZ-TV

Thu Nov 12 — Memphis at USF, 8pm EST — ESPN

Thu Nov 12 — Lightning at Blue Jackets, 7pm EST — ESPN+

Thu Nov 12 — Red Wings at Panthers, 7:30pm EST — ESPN+

Fri Nov 13 — Florida State at Pittsburgh, 7pm EST — ESPN

Fri Nov 13 — North Alabama at Miami (men’s basketball), 5pm EST — ACC Network

Fri Nov 13 — Merrimack at Florida (men’s basketball), 7pm EST — SEC Network

Sat Nov 14 — Duke at Miami, 12pm EST — ABC

Sat Nov 14 — Arizona State at UCF, 3:30pm EST — ESPN2

Sat Nov 14 — Florida at Kentucky, 6:15pm EST — ESPN

Sat Nov 14 — Pistons at Heat, 8pm EST — NBA TV

Sat Nov 14 — Panthers at Blues, 7pm EST — Scripps Sports

Sun Nov 15 — Dolphins at Colts, 1pm EST — CBS

Sun Nov 15 — Jaguars at Titans, 1pm EST — Fox

Sun Nov 15 — Panthers at Stars, 8pm EST — NHL Net

More Scores: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAF

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Florida’s average for regular is $3.77 a gallon, AAA says, down about 2 cents from yesterday ($3.79) and about 9 cents below a week ago ($3.86). That’s about 21 cents under the national average of $3.98. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive metro at about $3.95; Panama City is the cheapest at about $3.47.

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❖ More Than 70 Veterans Fly Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s 25th Mission: Last month, more than 70 veterans flew from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport to Washington, D.C., on Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s 25th mission, visiting Arlington National Cemetery and the World War II, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. Veteran Denny Kula was among those who paid respects at the Vietnam memorial; on the flight home the veterans received Mail Call letters, and hundreds of people packed the Sarasota terminal to welcome them back.

❖ Harmony Farms Volunteers Reach 12 Horses by Boat in Cocoa: At Harmony Farms in Cocoa, staff and volunteers have been using a boat and donated boots to reach the nonprofit’s 12 horses after floodwater rose across the property beginning Sunday. Executive Director Janine Allen said the stalls stayed dry and the horses still had a small area to walk and graze; the farm is working with equine veterinarian Dr. Patrick Biegel to monitor their stress. The oldest horse is 31.

❖ Stuart Bobcat Freed From a Barbed-Wire Fence: Rescuers freed a bobcat from a barbed-wire fence around 7 a.m. Tuesday near the Tres Belle community and Southeast Cove Road in Stuart. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers worked with Martin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wes McNeal, Animal Services Officer Shannon McGee and Animal Services Supervisor Cpl. Christine Polizzi to get the healthy female to a wildlife hospital, where officials said she will be released back into the wild once she is cleared.

❖ Flagler Deputy Relocates a 3-Foot Gator From Under a Driveway: Flagler County Agriculture Unit Deputy Chandler Anderson captured a roughly 3-foot alligator Tuesday after it took shelter in a culvert under a driveway on Wood Clift Lane. Wildlife officials say young alligators often leave nesting areas in the fall to find their own ponds, sometimes turning up in neighborhoods; the gator was relocated so it can continue that search.

❖ Five Jacksonville Military Families Surprised at the USO: Action News Jax and community partners surprised five military families at the USO in Jacksonville with gift packages ahead of Veterans Day, including a 65-inch television, a $100 Publix gift card, a one-year First Coast YMCA membership, a $500 gift card from First Florida Credit Union and zoo tickets from the Ackerman Cancer Center. Among those recognized were U.S. Navy logistics specialist Shelia Nealy and her husband, Jackye Nealy, who also serves in the Navy. First Florida Credit Union CEO Brent Lister said the giveaway was meant to recognize the area’s large military community.

❖ Inez Chancery of McDavid Celebrates Her 104th Birthday: Inez Chancery of McDavid celebrated her 104th birthday on Sunday with friends and family at Grace Baptist Church. She has five children, eight grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Today’s Quote

“In Florida, Veterans Day is kept by the people who show up early and don’t need a program to know why they’re there.”

— original / Front Porch

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing crescent, 6% lit.

Sunrise / Sunset: Orlando sunrise 6:45 a.m., sunset 5:34 p.m. EST, 10h 49m of daylight. Times are Eastern Standard (Pensacola and the western Panhandle are on Central time); times vary across the state.

Gardening Notes: Fennel is a cool-weather crop chefs use for its faint licorice flavor, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says: common fennel is grown for the shoots, leaves and seeds, while Florence, or sweet, fennel makes a thickened bulb that can be roasted or eaten raw. Give it plenty of sun and water; plants are ready in about three months, and the feathery foliage also hosts black swallowtail caterpillars.

Coastal / Red Tide: FWC’s Nov. 6 report finds red tide at bloom levels in six samples from Gulf County, with lower levels elsewhere in Northwest Florida and a single background sample in Pinellas County; none on the East Coast. Next update: Nov. 13.