Friday, October 9, 2026

Weather: Today showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 76. Tonight, showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 72. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Saturday, showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 82. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Saturday night, showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, with a low around 69. NWS

Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along the US Gulf Coast late tonight or early tomorrow as a Category 2 or higher storm. See updated forecast cone.

US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.5%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq -1.3%) after Brent crude oil prices rise 4.1% to $104.3 per barrel (More).

Local & State News

The estimated number of homeless people in Leon County declined for the second consecutive year in 2026. Details.

Florida emergency management officials are bracing for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds across the Panhandle from Hurricane Isaias. Details

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday called a state appellate court’s decision to expunge the Hope Florida grand jury report “death by firing squad” and demanded those responsible for leak of the report be held accountable. Details

National News

Trump administration suspends Microsoft, Adobe, and at least six other tech companies from program that allows skilled foreign workers to apply for green cards, accusing them of abusing the visa system (More).

The 2026 count identified 557 people experiencing homelessness in Leon County, down from 654 in 2025, a decrease of 97 people, or 14.8%.

The decline follows an even larger reduction between 2024 and 2025. Leon County’s count reached 831 in 2024 before falling to 654 the following year. From the 2024 peak through 2026, the county’s homeless estimate has fallen by 274 people, or 33%.

The trend generally mirrors Florida’s statewide numbers. Florida’s count declined from 31,362 in 2024 to 28,498 in 2025 and 24,588 in 2026. That represents a 21.6% decrease over the two-year period.

Leon County’s five-year numbers were 596 in 2022, 732 in 2023, 831 in 2024, 654 in 2025 and 557 in 2026.

What is the PIT count?

The numbers come from the annual Point-in-Time, or PIT, count, a federally mandated effort designed to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness on a particular night.

The Big Bend Continuum of Care describes the PIT count as a “one-night snapshot” of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness conducted in late January. The local organization says the results are used to identify trends, direct outreach resources, support grant applications and help policymakers determine the scale and characteristics of homelessness.

For 2026, the Big Bend region’s count night was January 26.

The count includes people staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing as well as people living in places not intended for habitation, including streets, encampments, vehicles and other outdoor locations.

The two groups are counted differently. Sheltered numbers rely heavily on records maintained through the Homeless Management Information System, or HMIS, supplemented when necessary by information from providers. For unsheltered homelessness, outreach workers and volunteers canvass locations where homeless people are known or believed to stay and conduct surveys or observations.

HUD allows communities to use approaches including a complete census, counts at known locations or statistically based sampling. Communities must also attempt to avoid counting the same person more than once and may use statistical adjustments when portions of an area cannot be fully canvassed.

That methodology also means the PIT number should not be interpreted as the total number of people who experience homelessness during an entire year. It is an estimate of the population on one particular night and can be affected by weather, shelter utilization, volunteer coverage, participation by service providers and data quality.

Still, the latest Leon County numbers indicate a significant change from the 2024 high. The 2026 estimate is 6.5% below the 596 people counted in 2022, despite the substantial increase recorded during 2023 and 2024.

The latest results therefore put Leon County’s PIT estimate not only well below its recent peak, but slightly below where it stood four years ago.

 Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday called a state appellate court’s decision to expunge the Hope Florida grand jury report “death by firing squad” and demanded those responsible for leak of the report be held accountable.

DeSantis praised the 19-page ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal, which asserted a $10 million settlement arrangement from Medicaid provider Centene to the Hope Florida Foundation was legal. The ruling was also critical of the leak of the grand jury report to the press.

“It was more of a political exercise. I think the intent was always to leak something,” he said, blaming members of the Legislature for creating the “phony narrative.”

“The leaking of the grand jury report was a crime that did irreparable harm to innocent people,” DeSantis posted on X. “This was adult supervision by the Court — and yet another example of politically-contrived narratives falling apart under proper scrutiny.”

The governor would not answer whether he would suspend State Attorney Jack Campbell, who oversaw the grand jury proceedings in Tallahassee, but did say he wanted to find out who was responsible for the leak and have charges brought against them.

He said an investigation was ongoing.

The grand jury report found the money was misappropriated because state law bars executive agencies from entering into settlements that pay out third parties. The 2024 settlement agreement, which resolved alleged overpayments by Centene in multiple states, sent $57 million to state coffers and $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation.

The Hope Florida Foundation is a nonprofit, part of an initiative started by First Lady Casey DeSantis to connect those on welfare with private sector charities. The foundation funneled the money to two other nonprofits, which in turn gave the money to a political committee headed by James Uthmeier, who at the time was DeSantis’ chief of staff.

The committee opposed measures on the 2024 ballot to legalize recreational marijuana and install a right to an abortion in the state constitution. DeSantis vehemently opposed both measures, and each fell short of the 60 percent needed to pass. DeSantis later appointed Uthmeier as attorney general.

But the appellate ruling states that because no “civil action” had been filed in court, the law doesn’t apply to the settlement. And because the $10 million was paid directly to Hope Florida and not the state, the money wasn’t “diverted” as the grand jury report indicated.

The ruling also criticized Campbell for the leak of the grand jury report to the press. Under state law, grand jury reports that don’t lead to indictments are supposed to be sealed until those named in the report are given a copy and the opportunity to suppress and expunge the record.

The ruling was written by Judge Lance Neff, who was appointed to the court by DeSantis in March, two months after the grand jury report was finalized.

Supporters of the governor and Uthmeier declared “victory” over the “hoax” after the ruling was released Wednesday afternoon.

But Democrats said the findings of the appeals court didn’t deny that the settlement money was used for political purposes.

“The court opinion doesn’t change the fact that millions of taxpayer dollars wound up in coffers controlled by Uthmeier and, ultimately, the Republican Party of Florida,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa. “The Governor still believes the only crime committed was that the report was released and the people found out what they were up to. Floridians deserve better.”

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said questions remain about the $10 million to Hope Florida.

“This is what unchecked power looks like after decades of one-party rule in Tallahassee: the people in charge protect their own, bury the evidence and call it vindication,” she said in a statement. “Voters will have the final say this November.”

Florida emergency management officials are bracing for life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds across the Panhandle from Hurricane Isaias.

Utility companies and the state are staging across the region for Isaias, the first hurricane of the season, which is expected to strengthen and become a major hurricane when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Friday.

Having already declared a state of emergency for 25 counties across the Panhandle and Big Bend, Gov. Ron DeSantis said preparations are underway for a Category 3 landfall, which on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale has sustained winds of 111 mph to 129 mph.

“The way this is tracking, we’re looking at impacts in terms of the eye of the storm,” DeSantis said at the state Emergency Operations Center on Thursday.

Storm surge is expected across the state’s Gulf coast, with an increased risk of tornadoes to the east side of the system.

DeSantis and Emergency Management Director Jared Perdue said they are overpreparing.

“I hope it weakens,” DeSantis said. “But our assumption is that it’s going to hit strong, as probably a lower-end Category 3.”

Tolls have been lifted on the Garcon Point Bridge in Santa Rosa County, the Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County and Spence Parkway in Destin.

Counties across the western Panhandle were opening shelters, announcing school closures for Friday, and canceling weekend activities, while Okaloosa County issued a mandatory evacuation on Thursday for residents on Okaloosa Island and coastal portions of Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Mary Esther and Niceville.

The state has activated 175 members of the Florida State Guard and around 5,000 members of the Florida National Guard, including former state Sen. Bryan Avila, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. About 6,000 utility workers are also being stationed in the region.

Florida Power & Light President and CEO Scott Bores said the company is coordinating with local officials, securing restoration personnel from other utilities and electrical contracting companies, and positioning its own crews and resources to quickly restore power for customers.

“We’re prepared and ready to respond,” Bores said in a statement. “We urge our customers to prepare, too. Please take this time to review your emergency plans, closely monitor the storm and follow guidance from local and state officials.”

A storm surge warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Suwannee River, with hurricane force-winds expected over portions of the Florida Panhandle from the Bay and Gulf County line west.

As of Thursday afternoon, Isaias was carrying 80 mph maximum sustained winds while located about 350 miles from the Louisiana coast. The system was moving to the east-northeast at 10 mph.

“The east side of the storm is the dirty side of the storm,” DeSantis said in Miami on Thursday. “So, if it hits Mobile Bay, you know, we’re going to get a lot of storm surge in Pensacola, Santa Rosa, probably like even Okaloosa, maybe bring some storm surge in Panama City.”

The state hasn’t been directly hit by a named storm since Hurricane Milton landed at Siesta Key on Oct. 9, 2024 as a Category 3 system after it had rapidly intensified up to a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 180 mph.

The meteorological company AccuWeather noted that Isaias is now the latest first-forming hurricane in the Atlantic Basin among seasons that produced at least one hurricane. Isaias reached hurricane strength about 3.5 hours earlier than the prior record that had been in place since 1905.

“We’ve gone from a historic stretch without a hurricane to a potentially destructive storm threatening the Gulf Coast in a matter of days,” said AccuWeather expert meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. “El Niño has helped suppress hurricane activity across the Atlantic this season, but it hasn’t eliminated the threat. Even in an unusually quiet season, it only takes one hurricane to have devastating consequences for communities in its path.”

Observations from the last game

The players and coaches said they had a great week of practice, and it showed on the field. The offensive and defensive lines dominated the line scrimmage leading to 10 sacks and 281 rushing yards. Rylan Kennedy had 2 sacks, and Chris Jones had 6 tackles with 1.5 sacks.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels rushed for 136 yards and a Florida State record 5 touchdowns. Daniels won ACC QB of the week for his performance.

Offensive lineman Andre Otto also won player of the week for his position.

Florida State offense versus Louisville defense

The Louisville defense has struggled this season giving up 466 yards per game (129 in the FBS). They still have the talent and potential to slow down offenses. Defensive end Clev Lubin is projected as a 1^st round pick and is having a steady season despite dealing with double teams. He has 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The rest of the team only has 4.5 sacks. If the FSU offensive line can contain Lubin, Daniels should have time to find Duce Robinson and others down the field for some big gains. When that happens running backs Ousmane Kromah and Tre Wisner should have more room to make plays in the run game. Other Louisville players to watch for are linebacker TJ Capers and defensive back Kaleb Beasley (36 tackles and 3 interceptions).

Florida State defense versus Louisville offense

Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has had a great season so far this year throwing for 1,394 yards and has 15 total touchdowns. Tre Richardson has been his Kienholz’ favorite target racking up 445 receiving yards on 28 catches. Other receivers making plays are Lawayne McCoy (FSU transfer) and TreyShun Hurry. Even with all the success of the passing game the Cardinals still run it more often. They call the QB run quite a bit and of course give the ball to their backs Keyjuan Brown (367 yards rushing) and Isaac Brown (322 yards rushing). I think Louisville gains plenty of yards but gets bogged down in the redzone due to FSU’s run defense. Defensive tackles Daniel Lyons and Kevin Wynn need to have big games to slow down the Cardinals rushing attack.

Special Teams

Advantage: Florida State. Kicker Gabe Panikowski has yet to miss this year, and Jasen Lopez is getting more comfortable returning kicks.

Prediction

This game will come down to who gets pressure on the quarterback. After last week I think the ‘Noles figured it out and the pass rush will put just enough pressure on Kienholz. FSU wins on the road for the first time since 2023 in a tight one.

Florida State 31 Louisville 29

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Weather: Today, mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Tonight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Friday, showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2pm, with a high near 77. Friday night, showers and possibly a thunderstorm, low around 69. NWS

US stock markets fall (S&P 500 -0.2%, Dow -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.2%) as 10-year and 30-year Treasury yields peak at highest levels since 2002 (More).

Local Sports: Hundreds of fans came to Chiles High School on September 29 for the rivalry game between the Bucks and Mustangs. Details

Local & State News

Commissioner Bill Proctor generated more formal requests for county staff action than any other Leon County commissioner during fiscal year 2026. Details.

Leon County Administrator Vince Long received perfect performance scores from all seven county commissioners. Details.

A state appellate court on Wednesday ordered a grand jury report alleging $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was “misappropriated” to be expunged. Details

National News

 FBI officials say they have arrested an 18-year-old ISIS supporter who purchased an AK-47 from undercover agents, planned to attack Minnesota’s Mall of America (More).

A state appellate court on Wednesday ordered a grand jury report alleging $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was “misappropriated” to be expunged.

The grand jury report, though, has already been leaked and extensively reported on in the press.

The 19-page ruling from the 1^st District Court of Appeal was critical of the report and of its leak to the press. Under state law, grand jury reports that don’t lead to indictments are supposed to be sealed until those named in the report are given a copy and the opportunity to suppress and expunge the record.

Despite the finding that the funds from the settlement, which were funneled to a political committee that opposed measures on the 2024 ballot, were misappropriated, the report didn’t indict anyone, citing insufficient evidence.

But the ruling Wednesday asserted the settlement arrangement, in which Medicaid provider Centene gave $57 million to the state and $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation, was legal. The settlement resolved alleged overpayments made to Centene. The Hope Florida Foundation gave the $10 million to two nonprofit groups, which in turn donated the money to a political committee headed by James Uthmeier.

At the time, Uthmeier was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff and has since been appointed attorney general. The political committee opposed measures that would have legalized recreational marijuana and installed a right to an abortion in the state constitution. Both measures failed to get the 60 percent needed to pass that year.

The grand jury report found the money was misappropriated because state law bars executive agencies from entering into settlements that pay out third parties. But the appellate ruling states that because no “civil action” had been filed in court, the law doesn’t apply to the settlement. And because the $10 million was paid directly to Hope Florida and not the state, the money wasn’t “diverted” as the grand jury report indicated.

“This matter settled before any civil action was filed. Because no ‘civil action’ had been commenced in court … no ‘court settlement’ had been reached,” the ruling states.

The ruling also criticizes State Attorney Jack Campbell, who oversaw the grand jury proceedings, for distributing the final report to unauthorized people in January.

“The State Attorney’s error was not a failure to notify those individuals,” the ruling states. “It was an over-broad handling of a confidential document that breached the statute’s confidentiality requirement before the impugned individuals could be heard. The violation lies in the disclosure itself.”

The ruling was written by Judge Lance Neff, who was appointed to the court by DeSantis in March, two months after the grand jury report was finalized.

State law also requires executive agencies to notify the Legislature when settlement negotiations begin, but lawmakers weren’t told of the Centene settlement and the Hope Florida provision until it was reported in the press.

The ruling doesn’t mention Uthmeier’s role in the settlement or in how the money was eventually used. But aides for DeSantis and Uthmeier declared “victory” over the “hoax.”

“COMPLETE AND TOTAL VICTORY! The Hope Florida Hoax grand jury presentment was completely expunged by Florida’s 1st DCA,” Jeremy Redfern, Uthmeier’s deputy chief of staff, posted on X.

The state House investigated the settlement in 2025, with a panel chaired by Rep. Alex Andrade uncovering the lax processes at the Hope Florida Foundation, which approved sending the money to the nonprofit groups. It was Andrade’s probe that led to the Leon County grand jury investigation.

Andrade declined to comment on the appellate ruling.

The matchup was the second meeting between the two teams this season. Florida High won the first meeting on Sept. 15 in five sets.

Florida High came out strong in the opening set, building an early 4-0 advantage. Leon responded with a run behind several serves, but the Seminoles regained control and eventually built a 21-12 lead. Florida High closed out the opening set 25-13, using strong serving and consistent defense to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Seminoles carried that momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 9-2 advantage behind strong serving from Addison Mayernick. Florida High continued to apply pressure offensively and led 20-13 late in the set.

Leon responded with a push of its own, including a big block from Aubriyaun Brown that helped cut the deficit to 16-20. Florida High held off the comeback attempt, however, and eventually took the set 25-20. An ace from MacKenzie Taber helped seal the set and put the Seminoles one set away from a sweep.

Florida High again took control early in the third set, holding a 10-8 lead as Leon attempted to stay within striking distance. A series of Leon errors allowed the Seminoles to extend their advantage to 15-10.

Leon called a timeout with Florida High leading 19-12, attempting to extend the match to a fourth set. The Seminoles maintained their advantage down the stretch and finished off the sweep with a cross court kill from Kassidy Young, ending the third set with a score of 25-19.

Florida High will close out its regular season Thursday, Oct. 8, when it hosts The Rock. Leon will finish its regular season Wednesday, Oct. 7, against Maclay at home.

In the first half, the Mustang defense and special teams kept the offense on the field. After a quick stop, Montford drew blood first. The Mustangs’ quarterback Jase Dault fired a 15-yard pass to receiver AJ Henry on the first play. Then, star running back DJ Read ran the ball right up the middle for first downs on back to back plays. Despite a huge tackle for a loss by the Bucks’ Benjamin Yarborough that followed, Dault found receiver CJ Usina for a 24-yard score on the next play. After Read ran in the two point conversion, Dominic Scott recovered an onside kick to give the Mustangs another possession. Montford continued to balance the pass and run, with AJ Henry making multiple first down receptions, and Read continuing to build a big night on the ground. Dominic Scott ran in the touchdown.

The Mustangs quickly got the ball back on a John Savoy interception. Running back Scott had a breakaway 25-yard touchdown run soon after. Montford’s defense got their second turnover of the night on a forced fumble, and DJ Read took it upon himself to add to the lead. He lowered his shoulder, and the Bucks could not tackle him. Read took his second trip into the green Chiles end zone after multiple runs, extending the Mustangs lead to 28-0. Montford’s Hudson Katzenbach grounded a beautiful onside kick to Gavin Snipes for their second recovery of the game. To close out the first half, AJ Henry caught a deep ball down the sideline for a 78-yard touchdown.

With a sizable lead, the Montford coaching staff gave many of their younger players a chance to build on-field experience in the second half. Deerlake also put in their younger talent. Even with a new look defense, the Mustangs preserved the shutout. Ball carriers Grant “Frenchie” Gautier and Noah Moultry shined for Montford as well. Gautier raced for a 40-yard touchdown in the second half, and his relentless runs proved his skill. Moultry demonstrated nimble footwork on a touchdown run and the ensuing two point conversion, completing the scoring in the Mustangs’ 50-0 rout.

Montford will look to complete an undefeated season as they play for the District 2a championship against the Swift Creek Wolves.

The report tracks issues raised during the “Commissioners’ Discussion” portion of meetings, when commissioners can make inquiries or request staff action. Requests requiring staff work must receive Board approval and are then assigned by the County Administrator or County Attorney.

County staff reported 67 discussion items during FY 2026, with 59 completed and eight listed as ongoing. Another 14 items carried over from previous fiscal years were also tracked.

A Tallahassee Reports review of the individual entries identified 66 commissioner-attributed FY 2026 requests, one fewer than the 67 reported by county staff. Proctor was listed most frequently with 23, followed by David O’Keefe with 13, Christian Caban with 10, Carolyn Cummings with eight, Rick Minor with six and Nick Maddox with six.

Commissioner Brian Welch had no new FY 2026 discussion items listed. The report does include a Welch request from April 2024 that remained on the county’s tracking list. Welch had asked the county to consider allowing golf carts on certain county roads near Westminster Oaks. The request was ultimately completed after staff determined the proposed crossing locations did not meet minimum safety standards.

Proctor’s requests included several significant policy matters. He initiated an analysis of the pros and cons of city-county consolidation, including fire services, and later requested ballot language for a possible nonbinding consolidation referendum.

Proctor also initiated proposed charter changes dealing with conflicts between county and city ordinances and uniform countywide street naming and addressing. Later in the year, he successfully requested that the county begin removing automated license plate recognition systems from county property and rights-of-way. The policy revision remains ongoing.

Another Proctor request directed the County Attorney to pursue a breach-of-contract dispute with the City of Tallahassee over provisions of the Fire Services Agreement. The county initiated dispute resolution in September.

O’Keefe’s requests covered affordable housing, tenant protections, PFAS regulations, complete streets, fire-hydrant access and manufactured-home residents facing displacement. His request for an affordable-housing property tax exemption under the Live Local Act resulted in an agenda item in January.

Caban’s requests included reviews of public surveillance cameras, Lake Munson water quality, courthouse security and the Airport Gateway project. He also requested the agenda item that led to consideration of a one-year data-center moratorium and initiated a study of incentives to attract a grocery store to Woodville.

Other significant requests included Minor’s work on Lake Jackson restoration, whistleblower protections and food insecurity; Cummings’ requests involving homelessness and tourism-grant rules; and Maddox’s requests concerning public-camera privacy and the Fire Service Fee Interlocal Agreement.

The report shows that Commissioners’ Discussion can move issues well beyond simple inquiries. During FY 2026, commissioner requests resulted in agenda items, proposed ordinances and charter amendments, legislative priorities, studies, contract disputes and changes to county policy. Woodville. The Woodville item remains ongoing.

Other notable initiatives included Minor’s requests concerning Lake Jackson restoration, whistleblower protections and food insecurity; Cummings’ requests addressing homelessness and tourism-grant rules; and Maddox’s requests concerning surveillance-camera privacy and termination of the Fire Service Fee Interlocal Agreement with the city.

Several unfinished matters will return to commissioners in FY 2027. They include Proctor’s ALPR policy change and commissioner-office budget adjustment, O’Keefe’s fire-hydrant and mobile-home initiatives, Minor’s food-insecurity workshop and proposed naming of the EMS building for former Chief Tom Quillin, Caban’s Woodville grocery-store initiative, and Proctor’s proposal allowing the B.L. Perry Branch Library greenspace to commemorate community leaders.