Good Morning, Sunland
It’s Friday! We’ve got a lot of new faces coming to Sunland News, and I want to say thank you for being here and allowing me to keep you updated with everything that’s going on in the county! The community that’s growing with Sunland is so special to me and a bit beyond my dreams but so happy it’s happening! Alright… Let’s jump in!
In case you missed it! If you searching for something to do, check yesterday’s HUGE event list here
🌡️ Weather Update: Stormy with a side of nostalgia.
🌤️ Day: High of 88°F | Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms
🌙 Night: Low of 75°F | Mostly cloudy with some showers after midnight
🌅 Sunrise: 6:48 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:04 PM
🌔 Moonrise: 7:58 PM | 🌘 Moonset: 5:54 AM
🎶 Sounds like: “Don’t Walk Away” by Jade
Ja’Min Devon
🚊 Main Squeeze: Brightline's money troubles
threaten local station plans
TLDR: Brightline ridership is booming, but the company lost $549 million last year and just had its bonds downgraded to junk status, putting Stuart station plans at risk.
Why it matters: As Saint Lucie County residents endure up to two-hour daily commutes to Miami for work, Brightline's financial crisis puts promised relief in jeopardy.
The big picture: Brightline trains are packed with riders and the company keeps adding cars to meet demand. But the company's books tell a different story.
Ridership jumped 22% on the South Florida-Orlando route in the first half of 2025
Revenue increased 12% over the same period
The company still lost $549 million in 2024
The local connection: Plans for Brightline stations in Stuart have gone quiet as funding gets tied up in meetings while local workers make punishing daily commutes.
Nearly 60% of Saint Lucie County workers with full-time jobs drive outside the county for work
Some residents report two-hour daily roundtrip commutes to Miami
The proposed Stuart station could transform these commutes into comfortable train rides
By the numbers:
$5 billion: Brightline's total debt
$188 million: Revenue in 2024 (doubled from prior year)
$549 million: Net loss in 2024
$400 million: New bonds Brightline wants to issue to fund Stuart station and Tampa extension
The financial reality: Credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Brightline's bonds to junk status in July after the company deferred $1.2 billion in interest payments.
The company pays 12% interest on its existing debt
An additional 2% penalty applies to the deferred payments
Brightline is actively seeking outside investors to stay afloat
Safety concerns: A Miami Herald investigation found 49 deaths along Brightline tracks in 2023.
Brightline claimed most deaths were suicides, but records show only 40% were ruled as such
The company has not been found at fault for any deaths
Critics say the company has blamed victims rather than addressing safety issues
What's happening now: Despite the money troubles, Brightline continues expansion planning.
Tampa officials approved moving forward with a 2029 downtown station
The company keeps adding train cars as ridership grows
Stuart station funding remains tied to the new bond issuance
The bottom line: Local commuters are waiting to see if Brightline can solve its money problems before their much-needed station plans derail.
What do you think? I want to know your thoughts on Brightline's financial situation and how it affects local transportation needs here.
🗞 Press Round: Local Closures, Healthcare Questions, and Jobs on Tap
🏥 $7.7M Loss Threatens Indian River Labor and Delivery Unit
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital’s obstetrics practice is running a $7.7 million annual loss, prompting the hospital district to hold Aug. 12–14 town halls on whether to spend $3.5 million in tax funds to keep services alive. Without it, the county risks losing its labor and delivery unit entirely.
🎓 Pace Center for Girls Shuts Treasure Coast Location
After 27 years serving at-risk girls in St. Lucie and Martin counties, Pace Center for Girls closed its Treasure Coast school July 31. The nonprofit cited enrollment, staffing, academic outcomes, and financial sustainability as factors, but says it plans to return with a more focused approach.
💼 Port St. Lucie Hosts Aug. 25 Community Job Fair
More than 50 employers will be at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center from 3:30–6:30 p.m. (3 p.m. for veterans) offering opportunities from healthcare to skilled trades. The event includes a professional clothing drive for job seekers, with donations accepted through Aug. 20.
🤩 People Pass: What your support means!
From school coverage to better tools like play.sunlandnews.com, every upgrade you see is made possible by readers who pitch in. Thank you to everyone who already has. This is what the People Pass makes possible. Want to support it too?
🎉 The Top Events This Week!
Saturday, Aug 9
🇯🇲 Port St Lucie Jamaican Independence Day Celebration – 31 Piazza Dr, PSL. Live reggae, Caribbean food & family fun; 115+ RSVPs. | 7 PM – 11 PM | $ | Link
📚🍷 “Blind Date with a Bottle” – Vero Wine Bar, Vero Beach. Celebrate International Book Lovers Day: pick a favorite book genre and get a surprise wine pairing, plus live music by Stone. | 6 PM – 8 PM | $15 | Link
Sunday, Aug 10
🪘 Harambee Community Day – We’ve Got H.E.A.R.T. Studios, Fort Pierce. Celebrate community through the arts with African dance, a drum circle, kid crafts, and local vendors; vendor & performer spots available. | 1 PM – 6 PM | Adults $10, Kids $5, under 2 free | Link
🕸️ Melbourne Oddities Expo – Melbourne Auditorium. 100+ vendors of curiosities, crystals, taxidermy & more; family-friendly, all indoors with free parking. | 12 PM – 4 PM | Free | Link
Tuesday, Aug 12
☕ Networking Breakfast – Gator Trace Golf & Country Club, Fort Pierce. Chamber of Commerce mixer with hot breakfast, sponsors & community-minded professionals; RSVP required. | 8:15 AM – 9:30 AM | $17 | Link
💧 The Last Drop: New Dishes, New Dreams, New Directions
📵 Cellphones off in class Florida’s new law tightens device rules. K–8 keep phones out of sight all day, high schools only with teacher OK. SLPS can confiscate and call parents. See the rules
💳 Florida wallets under strain WalletHub ranks Florida the second most financially distressed state, with rising credit card balances and high interest biting budgets. Read the report
🚧 FPUA wastewater move advances City and FPUA approved assigning a 28 million state grant to shift island wastewater to the new mainland plant, targeted to come online in December 2025 with a phased transition. Project update
📸 This is Sunland: Photo Finish!
Real Places! Real Love! Real Community!
See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min
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