The morning edition

Broward takes Fire Rescue back. Insurance cuts for 62K. AG sues over insulin prices.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Good Morning! On September 23, 1696, the British barkentine Reformation, bound from Port Royal, Jamaica, toward Philadelphia, foundered in a storm off Jupiter Island near present-day Hobe Sound (Martin County / Florida Treasure Coast). Aboard were Quaker merchant Jonathan Dickinson, his wife Mary, their infant son, enslaved people traveling with the family, and the rest of a party that totaled about two dozen survivors. Local Indigenous people — accounts name the Jobe (Jaega) and later encounters with the Ais — seized cargo and held the castaways before allowing a northward trek along the undeveloped Atlantic shore. The party reached Spanish St. Augustine on November 15, 1696; Spanish officials then helped them on to Charleston and Philadelphia. Dickinson’s journal, published in 1699 as God’s Protecting Providence, remains one of the earliest detailed English accounts of Native life on Florida’s southeast coast. The State of Florida later named Jonathan Dickinson State Park near the wreck site (opened / dedicated 1950). (Florida Historical Society)

In This Issue: Broward takes Fire Rescue back, insurance rate cuts for 62K+, and AG sues over insulin prices.

Weather: Wednesday is a split Florida day — sunny and dry across the western Panhandle and Big Bend, with afternoon storm chances building from northeast Florida through the peninsula and Keys. Tallahassee is sunny near 91° (mostly clear Wednesday Night, 73°); Pensacola is sunny near 93° (mostly clear Wednesday Night, 75°). Jacksonville has showers and thunderstorms becoming likely (~70% near 87°; chance storms Wednesday Night, 75°). Gainesville is patchy fog then chance storms (~50% near 89°; chance storms then partly cloudy Wednesday Night, 73°). Orlando is partly sunny then chance storms after 2 p.m. (~50% near 89°; chance storms then partly cloudy Wednesday Night, 75°). Tampa is mostly sunny then scattered storms after 2 p.m. (~40% near 91°, heat index near 100; scattered storms then partly cloudy Wednesday Night, 75°). Daytona Beach is mostly sunny then chance storms after 11 a.m. (~50% near 87°; chance storms Wednesday Night, 76°). Fort Myers has scattered storms (~50% near 88°, heat index near 98; scattered storms then partly cloudy Wednesday Night, 76°). Miami has storms becoming likely / categorical (~90% near 86°; storms then chance storms Wednesday Night, 77°). West Palm Beach has storms becoming likely (~80% near 84°; storms likely then chance storms Wednesday Night, 78°). Key West has storms likely (~70% near 89°; storms likely then chance storms Wednesday Night, 80°).

Tropical: No Florida tropical watches or warnings (National Hurricane Center). The NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook issued 8:00 p.m. EDT Tuesday says the National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on Post-Tropical Cyclone Fay, several hundred miles southwest of the Azores — far eastern Atlantic and not a Florida land threat. A separate tropical wave is forecast to move off western Africa later tonight or Wednesday; formation chance is low (20%) through 48 hours and medium (40%) through seven days near the Cabo Verde Islands only. No other Atlantic tropical cyclones under advisory at filing.

Rip Current Report: Moderate rip-current risk Wednesday for Northeast Florida Atlantic (Nassau–Duval–St. Johns–Flagler; NWS JAX 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 Wednesday). Low Wednesday for East-Central / Treasure Coast Atlantic including Volusia–Brevard–Indian River–St. Lucie–Martin (NWS MLB SRF), 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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Broward Commissioners Vote to Take Fire Rescue Back From Sheriff’s Office

Broward County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to return Fire Rescue to civilian county control after more than 20 years under the Broward Sheriff’s Office, letting the BSO contract expire in September 2028 rather than renew; Commissioner Lamar Fisher said the move would improve cost control and transparency as the county clashes with Sheriff Gregory Tony over a $937 million BSO budget request, and roughly 900–907 employees would become county workers (Local10; CBS Miami; WSVN). (Local10)

Tony called the decision a “betrayal of the public’s trust,” arguing the commission refused first-responder pay while prioritizing control over a system in place since 2003; the firefighter/paramedic union said members look forward to working through the transition, and the county would also assume fire-rescue contracts covering municipalities including Cooper City, Weston, and Dania Beach plus Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, and air-rescue operations (Local10; CBS Miami). (Local10)

Insurance Commissioner Approves Homeowners Rate Cuts Affecting 62,000+ Policies

Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky on Tuesday approved significant homeowners rate decreases for four carriers that will apply at renewals and affect more than 62,000 policies: One Alliance North America -10.4% (17,148 policies), Unique -3.2% (8,266), Safe Harbor -4.1% (10,501), and Vyrd -10.4% (26,751), with OIR saying it is reviewing a flood of additional cut or zero-increase filings (WFLA; OIR via EIN). (WFLA)

Yaworsky said more aggressive cuts are expected into 2027 and that OIR will expedite reviews so policyholders “feel it in their pockets,” noting 48 companies have filed for decreases since January 2024 and 53 have requested no change; Kin Insurance separately announced average cuts of more than 20% for Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach new and existing homeowners policies (OIR EIN; WFLA). (OIR EIN)

Uthmeier Sues Insulin Makers and PBMs Over Diabetes Drug Prices

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a Tampa lawsuit Tuesday accusing the three manufacturers that supply more than 90% of the world’s insulin — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi — plus pharmacy-benefit managers CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx and their rebate aggregators (Zinc, Ascent, Emisar) of price-fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and deceptive trade practices on insulin and other diabetes drugs including GLP-1s (FOX 13). (FOX 13)

Speaking at Blue Palms with lawmakers and independent pharmacists, Uthmeier said his office seeks a permanent injunction, restitution, disgorgement, damages, and civil penalties under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and Antitrust Act, and that more related suits are expected; none of the named companies had responded at filing (FOX 13). (FOX 13)

Jury Convicts Vickie Williams in 2022 Mount Dora Killings of Sharon and Darryl Getman

A Lake County jury on Tuesday convicted Vickie Williams of two counts of first-degree murder and grand theft in the New Year’s Eve 2022 stabbing deaths of Sharon Getman, 80, and Darryl Getman, 83, inside their Waterman Village home in Mount Dora after deliberating about 30 minutes; prosecutors said Williams used multiple knives, cleaned up, and stole jewelry and the couple’s 2019 Kia Soul before her 2023 arrest in Savannah, Georgia (FOX 35; ClickOrlando; Spectrum News 13). (FOX 35)

The defense did not dispute that Williams killed the Getmans but argued a severe psychotic episode; State Attorney Bill Gladson said the verdict brings accountability for the brutal deaths, and the judge will ultimately decide death or life after the jury’s recommendation (FOX 35). (FOX 35)

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❖ Miami-Dade: Community Art Mural is Wednesday Sep 23, 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m., at Arcola Lakes Branch (8240 NW 7th Avenue) — all-ages drop-in to personalize portrait coloring pages for a collaborative community display; branch 305-694-2707 (MDPLS). (MDPLS)

❖ Tampa Bay: Baby Time is Wednesday Sep 23, 11–11:20 a.m., at New Tampa Regional Library Jeri Zelinski Community Room (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) — lapsit books/rhymes/songs for ages 0–18 months; capacity 10; tickets at desk 15 minutes prior (HCPLC). (HCPLC)

❖ Orlando: Preschool Tales is Wednesday Sep 23, 10:15–10:40 a.m., at OCLS Southeast Branch Meeting Room (5575 S. Semoran Blvd.) — picture books, songs, and stories for ages 3–5 (~25 minutes) via OCLS Professional Storytelling Troupe (OCLS Attend). (OCLS Attend)

❖ Jacksonville / First Coast: Wednesday Pier Farmers Market is Wednesday Sep 23, 8 a.m.–noon, at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park (350 A1A Beach Blvd) — farms, hot foods, prepared goods, personal care, arts & crafts; pet-friendly; free to attend (OldCity / market site). (OldCity)

❖ Broward: “Sistrunk: Then & Now” photographic exhibition is on view Wednesday Sep 23, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., at African American Research Library and Cultural Center Gallery C (2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) — archival and contemporary views of historic Black Fort Lauderdale curated by History. Art. Culture. (Broward County Library). (Broward County Library)

❖ Palm Beach: Create Your Own Stickers is Wednesday Sep 23, 4–5:30 p.m., at Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach — hands-on maker/culture sticker session (Mandel / WhoFi calendar). (Mandel)

❖ Gulf Coast: Greenway Station 30A Farmers Market is Wednesday Sep 23, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., at 4771 E. Hwy. 30A, Santa Rosa Beach — Panhandle/Gulf farm-and-food market culture (HappeningNext). (HappeningNext)

❖ North Florida: Raccoon Scavenger Hunt continues Wednesday Sep 23 (all day during open hours) at Leon County Eastside Branch Library — find hidden raccoons for a small prize while supplies last during Raccoon Appreciation Month (Leon County LibCal). (Leon County LibCal)

❖ Inland / Polk–Pasco: Focaccia Social at Keel Farms (Plant City) is Wednesday Sep 23, 6:30 p.m. — food-culture class (Tampa Calendar). (Tampa Calendar)

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❖ Statewide: WUSF reported Tuesday that Florida voters could go without a general-election debate in any statewide race: Democrat David Jolly declined to debate Republican Byron Donalds after initially accepting Tiger Bay / CBS Miami invites; Sen. Ashley Moody declined to debate Rep. Angie Nixon; and no debates are scheduled in the attorney general, CFO, or agriculture commissioner races — which UCF’s Aubrey Jewett called a shame from a good-government perspective, noting Florida has not skipped a gubernatorial general-election debate since 1974 (WUSF). (WUSF)

❖ Statewide: Local10 reported Tuesday that AI data centers have become a governor-race flashpoint: Democrats staged a news conference near Miami-Dade’s Iron Mountain AI-ready facility citing Byron Donalds’ past “embrace” remarks and more than $5 million in AI/data-center-linked support, while David Jolly — after touring northern Virginia’s “data center alley” — backs a one-year statewide moratorium pending health, water, power, and job-impact study, and Donalds’ campaign says it would build on SB 484 with closed-loop water rules and neighborhood buffers (Local10; WFLA twin). (Local10)

❖ Tallahassee: Tallahassee Reports said the Tallahassee City Commission will consider Wednesday a package of compliance changes ahead of Senate Bill 1134 (Chapter 2026-43), the new state law restricting local-government DEI programs that takes effect Jan. 1, 2027 — including a citywide review of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Community Human Service Partnership grants, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, procurement / MWSBE goals, special events, and proclamations, with staff recommending race- and gender-neutral procurement shifts and a revised commission mission while Emancipation Day is expected to remain (Tallahassee Reports; WCTV twin). (Tallahassee Reports)

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❖ Central Florida: Toys“R”Us is expanding in Central Florida as part of a national wave of 120 new standalone U.S. stores this holiday season (to 160 total via Go! Retail Group), and ClickOrlando reported the Florida footprint includes two Orlando International Airport shop-in-shop locations with WHSmith North America — the first opened August 2026, with a second planned for summer 2027 carrying LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Pokémon, and other brands (ClickOrlando; company release). (ClickOrlando)

❖ Port Everglades: Coast Guard crews offloaded about 7,250 pounds of cocaine and 2,082 pounds of marijuana valued at $57 million Monday at Port Everglades after two Caribbean interdictions involving cutters Escanaba and Richard Dixon and allied teams (FOX 13). (FOX 13)

❖ Statewide: Florida Trend / News Service of Florida reported Tuesday on the Oct 1 new-laws package hitting motorists and regulated businesses — including pre-sales for specialty license plates (UFC, Miami Northwestern Alumni, Outsider, St. Petersburg College, First Responders Resiliency), clarified license-plate frame rules that must not cover primary plate features, and felony penalties for manufacturing or selling xylazine outside approved veterinary use — without leading on the Tue USED $15 wage step (Florida Trend). (Florida Trend)

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Yankees Blank Rays 2–0 in Doubleheader Opener; Rays Answer 6–1 in Game 2

Carlos Rodón threw eight scoreless innings and Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer as the Yankees beat the Rays 2–0 in Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader in the Bronx; in Game 2, Drew Rasmussen struck out 11 over 6⅔ innings and Yandy Díaz drove in four as Tampa Bay answered 6–1, splitting the twin bill (CBS New York; ESPN / FOX Sports / CBS Sports boards). (CBS New York)

No. 5 Miami Beats Wake Forest 33–20; Mensah Sets ACC Completion Marks

No. 5 Miami beat Wake Forest 33–20 as quarterback Darian Mensah completed 30 of 34 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns, opening 24-for-24 to set the ACC single-game consecutive-completions record and extending a multi-game streak to 35 straight completions (miamihurricanes.com; theACC.com; ESPN). (miamihurricanes.com)

Dolphins Fall 35–13 to 49ers; Bucs Stay 0–2 Ahead of Vikings

San Francisco beat Miami 35–13 on Sunday Sep 20 at Levi’s Stadium (Purdy/McCaffrey board) while the Buccaneers remain 0–2 after the Browns loss and next host Minnesota on Sunday Sep 27 at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX at Raymond James Stadium (ESPN; buccaneers.com). (ESPN)

Scoreboard

MLB Tue Sep 22 DH Game 1: Yankees 2, Rays 0 (Rodón 8 IP; Bellinger 2-run HR) — CBS New York / CBS Sports.

MLB Tue Sep 22 DH Game 2 FINAL: Rays 6, Yankees 1 (Rasmussen 6⅔ IP, 11 K; Díaz 4 RBI) — ESPN / FOX Sports.

NFL Sun Sep 20 (held): Browns 23, Buccaneers 19 — still last Bucs final until Week 3.

NFL Sun Sep 20: 49ers 35, Dolphins 13 (Sun Sep 20) — ESPN.

Schedule

Sat Sep 26: Florida vs No. 4 Ole Miss, Gainesville — floridagators.com / SEC board.

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

Rays: Remaining Yankees series / late-September AL East chase after splitting Tuesday’s DH.

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Florida regular averaged $4.242 a gallon Tuesday (AAA current as of filing) — down about 3.8 cents from Monday ($4.281) and up about 12.0 cents from a week ago ($4.122), and still about 23.3 cents under the national $4.475. West Palm Beach–Boca Raton is the most expensive named metro at $4.417; Crestview–Fort Walton Beach is cheapest at $4.034 (Panama City $4.039; Pensacola $4.044). (AAA)

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❖ Orlando: Orlando police posted video of a Florida black bear sitting in a flower bed at a Metrowest-area apartment complex near Lake Debra; officers guided the bear to the lake, where it swam off into woods, and FWC reminded residents to remove attractants and report encounters at 352-732-1225 (ClickOrlando; Hoodline). (ClickOrlando)

❖ Sanford: Hollerbach’s in Sanford is running BellaBot, a tray-carrying robot food runner on a 150-foot kitchen-to-bar route for $600 a month during rushes so bartenders stay with guests — owner Theo Hollerbach called it a “horizontal food elevator” and plans a three-month Oktoberfest test (ClickOrlando). (ClickOrlando)

❖ Clearwater: Volunteers and a Pinellas County deputy helped pull disoriented sea turtles from a storm drain near Clearwater / Indian Rocks Beach after the animals crossed a road from a nest; Clearwater Marine Aquarium said turtles found were safely returned to the ocean, and Mayor-Commissioner Lan Vaughan said nesting teams issued 82 lighting code violations this season (WSVN Sep 8). (WSVN)

❖ Titusville: Terry Morse and her husband flagged a distressed manatee tangled in a crab trap in the Indian River Lagoon near Titusville; rescuers freed the animal and SeaWorld Orlando later amputated its injured right pectoral flipper — the 1,400-plus-pound manatee was healing and eating under 24-hour care (FOX 35 Sep 8). (FOX 35)

❖ Key West: Coast Guard Station Key West boat crews rescued a distressed sea turtle near Sunset Key after Marathon Turtle Hospital tipped them, then turned the animal over for evaluation and rehab — latest CG–Turtle Hospital partnership after loggerhead Timmy’s summer rescue and August Fort Zach release (CBS12 Sep 4). (CBS12)

❖ Orlando: *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and partner Joe Mulvihill opened Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice at Universal CityWalk Orlando (replacing Hot Dog Hall of Fame), with specialty dogs roughly $10.49–$15.99 and Italian ice from about $6.79 — ClickOrlando framed a full-circle moment for Fatone and a Universal manager (ClickOrlando Sep 15–19 packages). (ClickOrlando)

Today’s Quote

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

— Frederick Douglass

Florida Almanac

Moon: Waxing Gibbous (five days after First Quarter Fri Sep 18); about 90% illuminated (TheSkyLive 89.8%; MoonGiant 90% for Sep 23). Next Full Moon (Harvest Moon): Sat Sep 26.

Sunrise / sunset (Wednesday Sep 23; Orlando, EDT — times vary across the state; most of Florida is Eastern; Pensacola is Central): 7:13 a.m. / 7:22 p.m.

Gardening: Late September remains a strong cool-season window — set broccoli, kale, carrots, lettuce, collards, and cabbage by region. Central and South Florida can still prep strawberry beds for late-September set dates; North Florida strawberries usually wait until October. Keep warm herbs (basil, mint, rosemary) going. 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 6,924 miles of bicycle facilities on non-limited-access State Highway System roads (2024), according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Transportation Fast Facts (updated February 2026). (FDOT)

Today’s Poll

After Broward County commissioners voted unanimously to take Fire Rescue back from the Sheriff’s Office by letting the BSO contract expire in September 2028, should Florida counties keep fire-rescue under civilian county control rather than sheriff’s offices?

Yesterday’s Results

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?

Yes — require additional armed cover and hard restraints for hospital / MRI inmate watches 0% · Leave hospital-watch staffing and tactics to local police and jail policy 50% · Focus first on faster felony charging and higher bail for attacks on officers, not staffing rules 50%