Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! And this is our Florida at Large newsletter, which means I want to give some shine and some light to an event that's coming up next month. Not only am I excited to attend, but the team for this event reached out to me to ask me to get the word out in Port St. Lucie.
This is the No Shade Arts and Cultural Block Party, and oddly enough, FLAVAR was a big influence on Sunland early on. The fact that they're reaching out to me to help get the word out about this event is a little bit of a full-circle moment. It's going to be an amazing time for community and culture, and it's not too far from us over in West Palm! Check it out!
In today's newsletter:
🎨 No Shade Arts & Cultural Block Party coming November 14 in Northwood Village
📋 Five new Florida laws take effect October 1st
🎤 Worth the Drive events this weekend: Ziggy Marley, MJ The Musical, TEDxVero and more
🚂 Brightline files for bankruptcy while keeping trains running
⚡ Florida lightning activity surges 28% above average
Ja'Min Devon
Founder, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: Five new Florida laws take effect October 1st
October is two days away and there’s some new laws starting in Florida. Here is what changes Thursday 📋.
🚘 Eight new specialty license plates: New plates include options for UFC, Miami-Dade College and St. Petersburg College among others.
💵 Minimum wage hits $15: Florida's minimum wage rises from $14 to $15 on October 1st, the final step in a phase-in that voters approved back in 2020. For tipped workers, employers must pay at least $11.98 with up to $3.02 in tips counting toward the $15 total. From here the wage will adjust upward with inflation going forward.
🪪 Expanded career offender registration: Career offenders must now register in person at a sheriff's office within 48 hours of release or establishing a residence. Their driver's license will also have "775.261, F.S." printed on the front.
🐾 Stiffer animal cruelty penalties: It is now a felony for adults to cause or entice minors to commit aggravated animal cruelty or to commit it in their presence. The state's public animal abuse database is also being expanded.
🚗 Crash reporting threshold goes up: The property damage amount that requires you to report a crash to law enforcement jumps from $500 to $2,000. The law also now permits license plate frames as long as they do not cover the plate number or validation sticker.
🥳 WTF (Worth The Drive) Events: October 2–4
Friday, October 2
Saturday, October 3
🎤 TEDxVero Beach 2026: The Architecture of Change, The Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave, Vero Beach. 2PM–6PM, tickets from $59. Details
🎨 Melbourne Fall Art & Craft Expo, Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Dr, Melbourne. 10AM–5PM, free admission and parking, live music, expo bars, kids zone. Details
🔮 Spirit Fest, South Florida Fair, 9067 Southern Blvd, West Palm Beach. 10AM–6PM, children under 12 free, free parking. Details
Sunday, October 4
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Five Florida Headlines
🚂 Brightline files for bankruptcy, keeps trains running, South Florida – High-speed rail restructuring debt while securing $490M long-term investment to sustain operations through 2027. System reported 17% revenue increase in 2026. Details
💡 FPL bill credits for eligible seniors – Florida Power & Light launching Saving Steps program offering $200 bill credits and energy-saving education to qualifying seniors who received emergency assistance in past 24 months. Details
🚆 Tri-Rail fares rising 10% Oct. 1, South Florida – Commuter rail raising fares to sustain operations while facing $60M funding shortfall. System hit record 4.5M rides in 2025. Details
🎓 Florida university rankings mixed, most drop – University of Florida slides to No. 8 nationally, Florida State falls to No. 24. Florida A&M jumps 13 spots to No. 79, ending seven-year streak as top public HBCU. Details
⚡️Florida lightning activity surges 28% above average - Turns out, Florida has seen more lightning than usual so far this year, the Washington Post reported this week. Details
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