Stuart Bell, who last summer stepped down after a decade as president of the University of Alabama, was announced Monday as the lone finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president.

The Gainesville university’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously recommended Bell to the Board of Trustees, pointing to Alabama’s rise in national rankings under his watch.

The selection requires approval from the Trustees, who next meet June 11, and the State University System Board of Governors.

“Dr. Bell possesses the qualities that make him a perfect fit for the University of Florida, including strong academic credentials and a proven track record of athletic success,” Rahul Patel, chairman of the search committee, said in a released statement.

Bell said it was an “opportunity to lead this top-tier university and help firmly establish UF among the nation’s top three public universities.”

Trustees Chairman Mori Hosseini called Bell “the obvious choice” based on his academic achievements and experience at another state flagship university.

Hosseini also expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to Donald Landry, a physician and former chairman of the Columbia University Department of Medicine who last September took an extended leave to serve as interim UF president.

Landry’s contract provided an annual base salary of $2 million and included the potential for another $2 million in severance if he didn’t get the permanent job as president.

Landry’s appointment came four months after the Board of Governors voted 10-6 to reject the UF trustees’ choice of former University of Michigan leader Santa Ono to become president.

After Ono was announced as the lone candidate for the presidency, conservatives — including Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute and an appointee of Gov. Ron DeSantis to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees — questioned Ono’s “evolution” on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Landry was picked to replace Kent Fuchs, a former UF president who became the school’s interim leader after Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, abruptly resigned as president in 2024.

Sasse’s five-year contract, approved by the board in 2022, included a $1 million base salary, with annual performance bonuses of up to 15 percent. His contract included a $1 million payout if he served the full five-year term.

When Bell announced in January 2025 that he would step down that summer as the 29th president of the University of Alabama, the school’s release stated the decision was made “as the University celebrates unparalleled achievements in enrollment, academic quality, research activity and funding, fundraising, athletics, campus development and more during his tenure.”

Bell served in leadership roles at Louisiana State University and the University of Kansas, before returning to the University of Alabama in July 2015. He had previously been the Tuscaloosa school’s chairman of the mechanical engineering department and founder of the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies.

Bell earned a bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering and later a doctorate in mechanical engineering, both from Texas A&M University.

He also served as president of the Southeastern Conference from 2023 to 2025 and on its Executive Committee from 2021 to 2025.

The chorus backing Bell includes former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who called him “an outstanding person” who was also “a great leader at the school.”

“In the locker room after almost every game, he is a good friend and passionate supporter of athletics — and is someone who made a significant impact on the university and the Tuscaloosa community.” Saban said in a released statement. “I know he will do wonderful things in Gainesville!”

Despite gas prices being at a four-year high, the auto club AAA anticipates a record 2.7 million Floridians will take to the roads for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

But while people still want to get out, some travel habits have been curtailed.

“Memorial Day travel is still reaching record levels, but with the smallest year-over-year increase in more than a decade,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “Although travel demand remains strong, higher fuel prices and persistent inflation may cause some travelers to shorten trips, delay plans, or stay closer to home.”

The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida jumped to $4.43 on Tuesday from $4.21 on Monday.

Still, almost 2.3 million Floridians will complete the 50 mile plus journey all by car, with 236,000 including air travel and another 75,000 using buses, trains or cruise ships, according to AAA projections.

“They’re not canceling plans. In most cases, what people are doing is just budgeting differently,” Jenkins said.

The travel period runs from Thursday through May 25, Memorial Day.

The busiest times to travel will be Thursday and Friday afternoon, as well as Memorial Day itself. Orlando and Miami are two of the top five U.S. destinations for the May 25th holiday.  

Tuesday, May 19 2026

Weather: Today, sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Tonight, mostly clear, with a low around 70. Wednesday, mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Wednesday night mostly clear, with a low around 70. Thursday, sunny, with a high near 93. Thursday night, mostly clear, with a low around 71. NWS

US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.1%, Dow +0.3%, Nasdaq -0.5%) (More).

Local & State News

According to filings with Leon County and the City of Tallahassee, the number of single-family residential construction permits was up 27.3% in April 2026 when compared to April 2025. Details.

Florida’s increasingly crowded waterways had 694 “reportable” boating accidents in 2025, up from 685 in 2024 and 659 in 2023, according to a state report released Monday. Details

Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, announced Monday a deal to buy Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion Energy, combining two of the largest utility providers on the U.S. East Coast. Details

National News

At least three men killed after two suspected teenage shooters opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego before apparently shooting themselves nearby; authorities are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime (More).

Kentucky voters head to the polls for the most expensive House primary race in history, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R, KY-4) defending his seat against Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL backed by pro-Israel groups and President Donald Trump (More).

There were 70 permits issued in April 2026, compared to 55 permits issued one year ago. There were 58 permits issued last month, March 2026.

The 3-Mnth Avg. data (Feb. – Apr.), which smooths out the month-to-month volatility, shows a 18.8% increase in the number of permits issued over the same 3-month period one year ago.

The 3-Mnth Avg. data show a 0.8% increase in monthly average permit value during this period. The 3-month average permit values increased from $12.1 million in April 2025 to $12.2 million in April 2026.

The chart below shows the number of permits issued each month for the last 37-month period. A 3-month average line is also included. The highlighted numbers relate to permits issued in the month of April back to 2023.

The chart shows that the 3-month average declining trend that began in June 2025 has been reversed. The year-to-date (YTD) numbers through April show 2026 permits (193) is just behind the number of permits issued during the start of 2025 (198).

Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, announced Monday a deal to buy Richmond, Virginia-based Dominion Energy, combining two of the largest utility providers on the U.S. East Coast.

The deal is projected to be around $67 billion and could take up to 18 months to receive shareholder and regulatory approvals. It comes as energy demand is expected to surge in the coming years, partly due to the growth of artificial intelligence and the large data centers needed to power the technology.

NextEra Energy Chairman, President and CEO John Ketchum said the companies as a merged entity will be able to “buy, build, finance and operate more efficiently.”

“Electricity demand is rising faster than it has in decades,” Ketchum said in a released statement. “Projects are getting larger and more complex. Customers need affordable and reliable power now, not years from now.  We are bringing NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy together because scale matters more than ever — not for the sake of size, but because scale translates into capital and operating efficiencies.”

NextEra would own 74.5 percent of the new company, which will continue to trade under the NEE symbol, while Dominion shareholders own 25.5 percent, the release states.

For rate payers, the release states the “combined company’s customers will benefit over time from its enhanced scale in operations, procurement, construction and financing, enabling it to more cost-effectively meet increased electric demand for approximately 10 million customer accounts.”

Dominion provides power to 3.6 million customers in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and regulated natural gas service to 500,000 customers in South Carolina. The company also develops and operates regulated offshore wind and solar power in New England.

Among Dominion’s service territory is “Data Center Alley” in Ashburn, Virginia, which hosts nearly 300 data centers, including facilities for Google, Meta and Amazon.

FPL has more than six million customer accounts, serving approximately 12 million people, across South Florida, the East Coast and the Panhandle.

NextEra Energy anticipates the all-stock transaction will improve its existing credit rating thresholds, while Dominion Energy and Dominion Energy Virginia are expected to benefit from improved ratings and related reductions in financing costs.

The merged company initially plans to maintain “dual headquarters” in Richmond and Juno Beach and an “operational headquarters” in South Carolina.

According to the release, the boards of directors for both companies have already approved the transaction.

The deal is subject to approval by shareholders of both companies, termination of the waiting period under federal law, approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The release states the companies will also file for approvals from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the North Carolina Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of South Carolina.

Florida’s increasingly crowded waterways had 694 “reportable” boating accidents in 2025, up from 685 in 2024 and 659 in 2023, according to a state report released Monday.

Included in the annual Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Boating Accident Statistical Report were 51 fatalities that were the results of 41 incidents, down from 81 deaths involving 76 accidents in 2024.

The report also notes that Florida has nearly 1.03 million registered vessels and up to one million non-registered vessels actively using Florida’s waters.

“Florida waterways show signs of congestion as each year brings more residents and visitors together to use abundant water resources and enjoy Florida’s boating lifestyle,” the report states.

The commission’s Division of Law Enforcement report listed drowning as the cause of just over half the 2025 deaths; 10 deaths resulted from an individual falling overboard. The next highest cause of death was a collision with a fixed object, with 8.

Most boats involved in a fatal accident were 21 feet or fewer. Most boat operators involved in fatal accidents were aged 35 or older.

Alcohol or drugs played a role in 14 percent of the boating fatalities.

Personal watercraft, which account for 17 percent of Florida’s registered vessels, were involved in 12 deaths. There were 161 accidents involving personal watercraft, accounting for 23 percent of all “reportable” crashes. Nearly half, 72, of the personal watercraft accidents involved a collision with another vessel.

Officers responded to the area following reports of a shooting and quickly learned the victim had been transported to the corner of Seventh Avenue and Monroe Street. Life-saving measures were attempted; however, the victim sadly succumbed to his injuries.

Through their investigation, detectives with TPD’s Violent Crimes Unit identified King as a suspect. The investigation revealed the victim was asked to leave the Sound Bar following an argument with staff. A disagreement continued outside the business, during which the victim reportedly made threats and entered a vehicle. King then retrieved a firearm kept on-site for security and discharged the weapon multiple times, striking the victim.

Following consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, King was charged with second-degree homicide.

Monday, May 18 2026

Weather: Today, sunny, with a high near 92. Tonight, mostly clear, with a low around 70. Tuesday, sunny, with a high near 92. Tuesday night, partly cloudy, with a low around 70. NWS

US stock markets slide Friday (S&P 500 -1.2%, Dow -1.1%, Nasdaq -1.5%), dragged down by tech-sector losses (More).

High School Sports: Leon High alumnus Jayvin Strouble competed in the high jump for University of North Florida, ultimately setting a personal record and claiming a conference title. Details.

Local & State News

How are Florida counties doing during economic downturn? Check out the analysis.

Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, was arrested Friday evening by Capitol Police after about five hours of staging a sit-in outside Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. Details

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday to expand the armed “school guardian” program to Florida’s colleges and universities. Details

National News

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) loses primary race as Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow (R, LA-5) and state Treasurer John Fleming advance to runoff (More).

Senate’s parliamentarian finds $1B proposal to fund additional security, White House ballroom fails to meet procedural rules (More).

Strouble contributed 10 points for UNF as he set a PR of 2.09m (6′ 10¼”) in the high jump as a freshman during his first conference championship appearance. The Ospreys men’s track and field team fell short of first place with 164 points behind Central Arkansas who placed first as a team with 229 points.

During his freshman outdoor season at the University of North Florida, Strouble continued to compete against strong collegiate competition in the high jump. Strouble placed 11th at the UCF Knights Invite after clearing 1.96 meters before earning a fourth-place finish at the Dick Roberts Seminole Invitational with a mark of 1.95 meters. He later matched his season-best clearance of 1.96 meters to place 16th at the Georgia Tech Invitational and finished 10th at the East Coast Relays with a jump of 1.93 meters.

During his senior season with Leon in 2025, Jayvin Strouble established himself as one of the top high school high jumpers in the state. Strouble dominated the postseason, winning both the FHSAA 3A District 2 and Region 1 championships with matching jumps of 1.97 meters to qualify for the state finals. He also won seven outdoor meets overall, including the Tommy Taylor Invitational with a season-best clearance of 2.05 meters. Strouble added victories at the FSU Relays and the Chiles Capital City Track & Field Classic with jumps of 2.03 and 1.97 meters, respectively. At the FHSAA 3A State Finals, Strouble placed fifth with a mark of 1.92 meters before going on to finish ninth nationally at New Balance Nationals Outdoor and third at the AAU National Club Championship after clearing 2 meters.

See previous high school coverage of Jayvin Strouble here: Leon County Track & Field State Championship Results and Top Leon County Performances in Boys Track and Field

The analysis compares 12-month average taxable sales growth from December 2022 through October 2025 — labeled as the “peak” period — with growth since October 2025, when the national economy began slowing. The “total” column combines both periods to show which local economies have remained resilient despite the downturn.

Statewide, taxable sales growth during the “peak” period was 7.8%. Since the peak, growth has declined 2.8%, for a net growth rate over the period of 5.0%.

Among Florida counties, Sumter County posted the strongest peak-period growth at 19.0%, followed closely by Clay County at 20.3%. Saint Johns County ranked third at 14.7%, while Manatee County recorded 12.9% growth and Pasco County posted 11.3%.

Several counties in Central and Northeast Florida dominated the peak growth rankings, reflecting strong population gains and consumer spending during the post-pandemic expansion.

At the opposite end, Monroe County experienced the weakest peak growth at negative 5.4%, followed by Okaloosa County at negative 3.2%, Seminole County at negative 2.6%, Lee County at negative 0.9%, and Escambia County at negative 0.6%.

Since the October 2025 slowdown, however, nearly every county has experienced declining taxable sales growth. The counties hit hardest by the downturn were Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties, each showing a 6.9% decline since the peak. Pinellas County followed with a 6.5% drop, while Broward County posted a 6.1% decline and Duval County fell 5.8%.

Leon County also saw a notable decline of 5.7% since October 2025.

Tourism-heavy counties were particularly vulnerable during the slowdown. Monroe, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Seminole counties all posted declines exceeding 5% after the peak period.

Despite the economic slowdown, several counties still maintained positive overall taxable sales growth, indicating stronger consumer activity and comparatively resilient local economies.

Sumter County led the state with a total gain of 19.8%, followed by Clay County at 18.5% and Saint Johns County at 12.6%. Manatee County remained strong at 10.0%, while Nassau County posted 7.3% total growth.

Other counties that stayed in positive territory included Orange, Lake, Sarasota, Marion, Palm Beach, Brevard, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Leon counties, though some showed only modest gains after recent declines.

The statewide total remained positive at 5.0%, suggesting Florida’s economy overall continues to outperform many states despite weaker consumer spending trends.

Still, a growing number of counties have now slipped into negative territory on the combined measure. Broward County posted a total decline of 5.5%, Lee County fell 4.9%, and Seminole and Monroe counties each recorded a negative 7.9% total change — the weakest overall performance among the counties analyzed.

The data highlights a widening divide between counties that continue benefiting from population growth and in-migration and those more dependent on tourism, discretionary spending, or slower-growing local economies.