Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! and I just want to say the Wall of Love for Sunland is updated. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the people out there that support and just help with keeping this newsletter alive. You have no idea what this means. I appreciate every single one of you all, so just thank you, thank you, thank you. Check out the Wall of Love here.
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In today's newsletter:
🚆 Brightline facing bankruptcy threat, auditors raise "substantial doubt"
🎵 Never Stop Believin' tribute to Journey at Abacoa Amphitheater Saturday
🚨 Publix quietly reverses open carry policy
⚖️ Florida Education Association sues state over school choice funding
🦠 Measles cases rising in Florida as summer nears
Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja'Min Devon
Founder, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: Brightline is facing a bankruptcy threat
When I covered Brightline's record Q1 earlier last week, the story was all time high ridership and revenue. This week the story is… different 🚆.
Why it matters: An outside audit by Ernst and Young has raised what auditors call "substantial doubt" about Brightline's ability to continue operating as a going concern, citing the company's inability to pay its debts as they come due. The company carries $5.5 billion in total debt and was supposed to pay $117 million in interest this year. That payment has been deferred and the grace period expires June 15th.
The financial picture 📋:
🔴 Auditors say Brightline "does not currently have the liquid funds necessary to service its debt"
🔴 $2.2 billion in long term debt plus another $2.5 billion in interest over the life of that debt
🔴 Operating loss of $127 million last year not including interest payments
🟢 $214 million in revenue last year, up 14%, but only half of what the company projected
🟢 Q1 2026 was the highest ridership and revenue quarter in company history
Worth noting: Brightline is actively seeking third party investors to avoid a potential bankruptcy filing. One transportation expert told Axios that even if Brightline files for bankruptcy the service is likely to continue because it does cover its operating costs. The debt is the problem, not the trains 👀.
Locally, a full stop 🛑: On top of the financial news, Florida East Coast Railway officially denied a Brightline passenger station in Martin County this week, sending a letter confirming it will not approve a stop in Stuart. FEC's attorney said the Stuart bridge would have to remain down while a train stopped, which violates U.S. Coast Guard rules. FEC confirmed Brightline cannot build anything on their tracks without express written approval and that approval has not been given. Martin County had been pursuing federal funding for the station even after the Stuart City Commission voted 3 to 2 against it in October 2024, making this denial a full stop on years of back and forth.
What's next: The June 15th debt payment deadline is the most immediate thing to watch. Brightline says it is still moving forward with plans to extend service from Orlando to Tampa 📅.
💬 Do you think Brightline survives this? Tell us right here
🥳 Out-of-Towner: May 16 - May 17
Saturday, May 16
🎵 Never Stop Believin' – A Tribute to Journey – Abacoa Amphitheater, Jupiter. | 7:30 PM | Details
🎵 Candlelight Concert: A Tribute to Adele – A Soulful String Experience – Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center. | 7:30 PM | Details
🎸 Rock the Plaza – Ocean Plaza – 640 E Ocean Ave, Boynton Beach. | 2 PM | Details
🧒 Palm Beach Children's Business Fair – Acreage Community Park. | 11 AM | Details
🍔 Space Coast Burger Battle – Wickham Park, Melbourne. | 12 PM | Details
Sunday, May 17
🥭 Mango Market – 3301 Old Boynton Rd, Boynton Beach. | 9 AM | Details
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Publix Open Carry, School Choice Lawsuit, and Measles Rising
🚨 Publix quietly reverses open carry policy – Florida's largest grocery chain now asking only law enforcement to openly carry firearms in stores. No announcement made. Reversed less than one year after allowing open carry following appeals court ruling. Chatbot confirms new policy. Publix policy
⚖️ Florida Education Association sues state over school choice funding – Teachers union filing 39-page lawsuit claiming $4B voucher system unconstitutional. Argues private schools not held to same uniform standards as public schools. FEA calling it "last resort," wants courts to force consistent rules for any school receiving public money. School lawsuit
🦠 Measles cases rising in Florida as summer nears – 150 suspected and confirmed cases reported through May 1. Collier County leads with 107 cases, 14 counties total affected. Just 89% of Florida kindergarteners vaccinated vs 95% needed for disease control. Measles rising
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