As Tropical Storm Debby continues to soak the southeast, rainfall totals from the storm's deluge on Florida's Gulf Coast are breaking records.

Why it matters: Many residents are still grappling with flooding, which forecasters expect to continue through the week.

Driving the news: As of yesterday afternoon, dozens of roads were closed in hard-hit Manatee and Sarasota counties. Many closures were clustered around rivers and creeks pushed to the brink by the rainfall.

• The Myakka River has been above flood stage since Monday afternoon and is expected to continue rising, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
• The Manatee River crested Monday night and has begun receding.

Stunning stat: A National Weather Service monitor at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport recorded 11 inches of rainfall — the highest one-day total since recording began in 1911, Tony Hurt, a Ruskin-based NWS meteorologist, told Axios.

• Some parts of Sarasota and Bradenton counties saw as much as 18 inches of rain over Saturday afternoon, Sunday and Monday, he said.

Meanwhile, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties got an average of 13-14 inches over the same period, Hurt said.

• Hillsborough Fire Rescue crews evacuated residents from rising waters in Ruskin, the agency said yesterday. Nearby Wimauma and Lithia were also experiencing severe flooding yesterday, per the Tampa Bay Times.
• The Alafia and Hillsborough rivers were at flooding stage yesterday afternoon, with the Anclote River in south Pasco County expected to rise into today, according to the Times.

How it works: Part of what made the storm so wet was its positioning as it brushed by the region, Hurt said. The east side of the storm sucked up water from the record-warm Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico and the west part of the storm dumped rain on the Gulf Coast.

• And rainy weather in the weeks leading up to Debby left the ground already saturated, he added.

What's next: More showers expected this week and rising water levels in rivers and creeks will continue to make flooding a risk, Hurt said.

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Florida ranks fourth in the U.S. for its percentage of people under 65 without health insurance: 13.9%, according to new Census Bureau data.

Why it matters: That's a big improvement over 2006, when 24.9% of Floridians were uninsured — but still well above the national uninsured rate of 9.5%.

By the numbers: About 2.3 million Floridians under 65 lack health insurance.

• Glades County leads Florida in uninsured residents, with nearly a quarter of its population without health insurance.
• Manatee, Polk and Hernando counties have the highest percentage of uninsured residents in Tampa Bay.

Between the lines: Florida is among 10 states that haven't expanded Medicaid.

• That's left people who would've qualified for such coverage to enroll in ACA plans — which for now offer expanded coverage options for those above the federal poverty level.
• Since April 2023, the state has cut over 1.9 million people from Medicaid, according to data from KFF.

The big picture: The uninsured rate fell in 627 U.S. counties and increased in only 23 between 2021 and 2022 — meaning Americans are trending toward being covered.

• The causes include coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act and social safety net policies enacted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, but: More recent preliminary data shows an uptick in the overall uninsured rate as states cut Medicaid rolls and unemployment rises, Axios' Maya Goldman reports.

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🗞️ The Tampa Bay Times announced its plans to offer buyouts to employees as part of a "series of cost-cutting measures." Layoffs will follow if the paper fails to meet its savings target. (Tampa Bay Times)

Axios also announced its first round of cuts since it was founded in 2016, including the departure of our coauthor Selene San Felice. (Axios)

• We'll share her farewell later this week.

🚔 The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested Clearwater Detective Fredrick Lise on corruption charges after he allegedly helped two suspected drug traffickers. (WFLA)

🩸 Moffitt Cancer Center plans to host blood drives this week to address a shortage exacerbated by recent ransomware attacks and hurricanes. (WFTS)

Latin music superstar Pitbull grew up sneaking into the gym at Florida International University. Now its football stadium will bear the Miami rapper's name.

Why it matters: The $6 million sponsorship agreement is a marketing triumph for FIU. Pitbull Stadium will be the world's first athletic venue named after a musician.

Details: Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Pérez, will pay the school $1.2 million per year for five years, with the option for a five-year extension, ESPN first reported.

• As part of the partnership, Pitbull will create an "FIU anthem" to be performed at all athletic events, market the school on social media and assist with athletic fundraising, according to university documents.
• In return, Pitbull will receive permission to use the stadium 10 times a year with base rental fees waived. His vodka brand, Voli 305, will be the preferred brand sold at the stadium.
• Pitbull — known as Mr. 305 and Mr. Worldwide — will also get a new title: "Official Entrepreneur of FIU Athletics."

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