Good Morning, Sunland! It’s Tuesday!

Welcome to Sunland News! A huge thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback on the newsletter—your input is truly appreciated. I've been working hard on a few exciting projects over the past week, and I can't wait to reveal them soon.

I'm excited to transform Sunland News from something you simply read into something you can actively use. Hopefully, that gives you a little hint of what’s coming next! As everything around us changes, I feel a responsibility to document that evolution—holding up a mirror to the city to show everyone, both those who are from here and those who live here, just how much we matter, how much we have to offer, and what we deserve. It’s an honor to be in this position, and for that, I’m truly grateful.

Now, let's dive in!

— Ja'Min

In Today’s Sunland News ☀️🗞️:

1. 🚆Stuart Ends Brightline Deal, Must Find New Home...

2. 🚨 Big Lots Files for Bankruptcy

3.  🎉🍻 Tuesday Trivia

📚 Read Time: 4 Minutes
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If I created a coffee table book compiling all the amazing images from Sunland News, would you be interested in buying one?

Weather TL;DR: “Can You Stand the Rain” — Scattered showers and storms will be making their rounds today, so grab your rain coat and prepare.

🌞 Day: High of 85°F
🌙 Night: Low of 77°F
🌅 Sunrise: 7:04 AM
🌇 Sunset: 7:31 PM

☔ Rain: 50% chance during the day, 40% at night. Expect 1 to 2 inches of rain.

Check Full Weather Report Here

🚆Stuart Ends Brightline Deal, Must Find New Home...

In an unfortunate turn of events, Stuart City Commissioners voted to rescind the Brightline deal that had been in the works for over seven months. Initially, Brightline had agreed to cover 50% of the estimated $60 million cost to build a station in Stuart, a key point that made the project financially viable for the city. However, that agreement changed, and Brightline shifted the full financial responsibility onto the city, sparking major concerns over taxpayer costs. The city would have been left to shoulder the entire burden, which was a dealbreaker for many.

Commissioner Christopher Collins, one of the key voices against the deal, stated bluntly that it had turned into a "bad deal for taxpayers." The overwhelming shift in financial responsibility was what ultimately led the commissioners to vote 3-2 to kill the plan, despite the significant public support for the station, with many residents donning yellow at the meeting to show their backing.

The legal landscape surrounding the original 2018 settlement with Martin County also complicated matters. In that settlement, Brightline had agreed to split costs with the county, but the elimination of that requirement raised red flags. This left Stuart in an even more precarious position, and with the potential for increased legal exposure, the commissioners decided it wasn’t worth the risk.

So, what’s next? While the door isn't fully closed for Martin County, the spotlight now shifts northward, where Fort Pierce is eager to revive its own bid for a Brightline station. Fort Pierce officials have already voiced their readiness to step up should the opportunity arise, believing it could help boost their economic base.

I’ve had a lot of conversations with friends and family this past week, and the reactions have been mixed. Some are excited by the prospect of having such easy access to travel up and down the coast, whether it’s to explore Florida, visit loved ones, or just experience a faster, more convenient way to get around.

On the flip side, others are concerned about potential congestion and increased traffic in the area. There’s also the question of whether the ticket prices for Brightline are justifiable—while some see the convenience as worth the cost, others aren’t so sure. And let’s not forget the looming question of whether this could become a tax burden on St. Lucie County residents.

There are still so many questions and not enough answers yet. What do you think? Would Brightline be a net benefit or a net negative for Fort Pierce? Let me know your thoughts.

🎨 Brighten Your World: Young at Art Classes
🗓️ Monday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 3 & Monday, Nov. 4 to Thursday, Nov. 7
📍 MIDFLORIDA Event Center, 9221 SE Event Center Place
Get creative and join us for fun art classes
[Read More]

🎨 Grand Opening: The Lindsay School of the Arts
🗓️ Friday, September 20, 2024 | Ceremony starts at 6:30 PM
📍 526 Ave A, Fort Pierce, FL
After many years of dedication, hard work, and passion, The Lindsay School of the Arts is expanding! Join us for the grand opening celebration and witness history in the making with our students.

🚗Check the current traffic situation via Google.

🚤 TREASURE COAST AT LARGE

Lincoln Park Business Expo – Network, Learn, and Grow!
The City of Fort Pierce is thrilled to host the 5th Annual Lincoln Park Business Expo, offering a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and aspiring professionals to network, learn, and grow
[Read More Here]

🍊 FLORIDA AT LARGE

🏈 Miami-Dade police officer placed on administrative duty after Dolphins star Tyreek Hill detained before game
Body cam footage released yesterday reveals an altercation during a traffic stop where officers forcibly removed an NFL player from his car, sparking questions about the rapid escalation of the situation.
[Read More Here]

🌍 WORLD AT LARGE

🚨 Big Lots Files for Bankruptcy
Big Lots has filed for bankruptcy and sold most of its stores to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management. As part of this, the retailer is already closing around 300 of its 1,400 U.S. stores. Despite these closures, Big Lots secured $707.5 million in financing to keep its remaining stores operational for the time being. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops!
[Read More Here]

📢 Got a Story?

You can now submit a story for Sunland News to cover! Whether it's news, events, or anything you think deserves attention, just click the button below to share it with us. Thank you for being part of Sunland News! 🙏

🖼️ More Friday Fest Love!

This tent immediately caught my eye! You could really tell the level of care and attention to detail that went into setting it up. It's experiences like this—learning from people who put pride into their work—that make me love getting out and attending events around town!

With love,
Ja’Min

🧠🍻 Tuesday Trivia Hosted By Think & Drink Trivia
🗓️ Tuesday, Sept 10 | 6 PM - 8 PM
📍 Islamorada Brewery & Distillery, Fort Pierce, FL
Test your knowledge while enjoying some delicious brews! Join us every Tuesday at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery for an evening of trivia fun with Think & Drink Trivia. Grab your friends and get ready for a challenge! [Read More]

🎉 Grand Opening Celebration
🗓️ Tuesday, Sept 10 | 6 PM - 9 PM
📍 Butter Cup Bakery Cafe, 390 21st Street Ste 103, Vero Beach, FL

Join us for the GRAND OPENING of Butter Cup Bakery Cafe! Enjoy a fun evening with a DJ, delicious gelato, and treats to celebrate the opening. [Read More]

🎉 Monthly Deck Party - Food & Entertainment
🗓️ Thursday, September 12, 6 - 9 PM
📍Causeway Cove Marina, Fort Pierce
Enjoy free food, live music, and cool drinks at the Wet Whistle bar, plus a potluck! [Read More]

🎉 Treasure Coast Hospitality Networking Event
🗓️ Thursday, September 12, 5 - 7 PM
📍Cobb's Landing, Fort Pierce
Join industry leaders at Cobb's Landing for the Treasure Coast Chapter of FRLA for an exciting hospitality networking event. [Read More]