AGP Executive Report

Election Countdown: Florida’s primary is Tuesday, Aug. 18, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and voters told not to rely on late mail-in ballots; early voting is already massive statewide, including Lee County where early turnout is nearly double 2024. Gubernatorial Cash Race: In the final weekend, top governor contenders are still leading the state’s matching funds—David Jolly leads among Democrats, while Byron Donalds and Jay Collins are also drawing support. Wildlife & Growth: A long-running study in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed is tracking reptiles and amphibians as some water-dependent species decline and development pressure rises. Alligator Rules Fight: After a fatal Central Florida gator attack, Rep. Greg Steube pushes the GATOR Act to review whether federal wildlife rules are getting in the way. Heat Alert: South Florida is under heat advisories with feels-like temps around 105–110, raising serious health risks. Local Business: The Greater Fort Myers Chamber is merging with the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber, and Publix earned a top workplace/community spot on PEOPLE’s Companies That Care list.

Florida Politics: With the Aug. 18 primary looming, Rep. Byron Donalds is in a final push for the GOP governor nomination, pitching “Defending the Florida Dream” and promising a top-to-bottom look at property taxes and fees. Campaign Spotlight: Nicki Minaj also threw her support behind Donalds, urging “Barbz” to back him ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Public Safety: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal Sumter County tractor-trailer crash and a separate Orange County hit-and-run that left a 25-year-old woman critically injured; troopers are asking for help identifying the driver. Wildlife: Brevard Zoo says two loggerhead sea turtles died after injuries from derelict fishing gear, while a third is recovering after a flipper amputation. Sports (Local): FSU soccer opened strong with wins over Stetson and FIU, and Florida’s Jack Whaley won the U.S. Amateur Championship. Business/Community: Moe’s Southwest Grill is closing more Florida locations as its parent files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Small-Business AI: A new report says 58% of Florida small businesses are using AI, boosting revenue—but owners need training to use it safely. Space & Tech: NASA’s MAX POWER expo and air show is coming to Kennedy Space Center Nov. 7-8, with aircraft, spacecraft tech and astronaut appearances. Space Coast Watch: SpaceX pulled off back-to-back Falcon 9 launches from Florida and California just 38.5 minutes apart, deploying Globalstar satellites. Heat Alert: Central Florida is under heat advisories with heat indexes around 108-112 degrees through the day—hydration and limited outdoor time urged. Coastal Conservation: FAU Harbor Branch got a $250,000 gift to restore mangroves and seagrass, aiming to protect habitat and reduce erosion. Politics & Schools: Equality Florida and the SPLC Action Fund are funding mail and outreach for school board races, targeting candidates they say will keep politics out of classrooms. Crime: A man on probation is charged with first-degree murder after an alleged stalking killing and dismemberment of his stepfather in Orlando. Tropical Update: No Atlantic tropical development is expected in the next week; Hurricane Lala continues moving away from Hawaii.

Banking & Crypto: The Trump-linked World Liberty Trust Co. got conditional approval from the OCC to operate as a national trust bank in a move that could pave the way for its USD stablecoin, with regulators able to modify or revoke approval if requirements aren’t met. Health & Economy: Tallahassee Chamber leaders say the FSU Health merger could be the region’s big unifying economic engine, but they’re pushing for a more coordinated strategy and tackling affordable housing gaps. Local Government: Stuart commissioners voted to send staff back with a plan for a November referendum that would undo a 2011 Haney Creek commercial-parcel decision tied to preserve maintenance funding. Public Safety Grants: The Middle District of Florida received more than $3.5 million in federal criminal-justice grants to support local law enforcement operations. Politics (CD 7): A new poll shows Ryan Elijah leading Cory Mills in Florida’s 7th District GOP primary, with the race framed as a potential “toss-up” if Mills survives. Weather: Central Florida remains under dangerous heat advisories with heat indices around 108–112 and low rain chances. Culture War / Drag: A federal appeals court upheld Florida’s law restricting drag shows attended by minors, clearing the way for enforcement. Crime: A Hillsborough County teacher was arrested after investigators alleged inappropriate messages with a former teenage student dating back to 2023. Transportation: FDOT begins a yearlong lane closure on Miami Gardens Drive near the Turnpike as part of the Golden Glades Interchange project. Business & Travel: Ryman Hospitality Properties is buying Grande Lakes Orlando Resort for $1.38 billion.

Florida Primary Countdown: Tuesday’s special Senate primary is set to fill Marco Rubio’s seat, with U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody seeking the GOP nod while Democrats also pick nominees for the Nov. 3 general election. Governor Race Spotlight: Florida’s Aug. 18 GOP governor primary is heating up as Byron Donalds leans on a Trump endorsement while rivals Jay Collins and James Fishback press their cases. Culture-War Flashpoint: A Fort Lauderdale venue canceled a Rashida Tlaib rally after a Florida lawmaker labeled it “anti-Jew,” escalating debate over political speech and security. Heat & Storms: Central Florida is under heat advisories with heat index values around 108–112 and only about a 20% chance of rain this weekend. Public Safety: A Brevard County crash killed a 42-year-old woman and injured two others, and a Panacea seafood market was badly damaged after a driver crashed into the store overnight. Business & Environment: FPL is testing agrivoltaics at solar sites, including honeybee projects across dozens of locations. Sports Betting Buzz: Kalshi extended a $500 referral promo code (“SILIVE”) into UFC 330.

Democratic Party Rift: A South Florida venue canceled a Rashida Tlaib rally after a Florida Jewish caucus chair called it “anti-Jew,” citing “increased security concerns,” underscoring deep splits over Israel policy inside Florida Democrats. Cuba Policy Shift: The Trump administration is leaning harder on sanctions and economic pressure against Cuba instead of military options, aiming to cut regime revenue and create pressure for negotiation. Election & Campaign Law: Former state Rep. Mike Beltran sued a political group over a doctored, allegedly AI-made image mailer that lacked required disclosure under Florida law. Gun Rules Update: A federal court order took effect in Texas and other participating states, easing rules on suppressors and certain guns after the government didn’t appeal in time. Public Safety Housing: Fort Lauderdale cleared a sex-offender parking lot, but the broader problem of where supervised offenders can legally live remains unresolved. Health Alerts: Duval County issued a second red tide alert in a week, while rare “flesh-eating” Vibrio vulnificus deaths continue to raise coastal-safety concerns. Property Tax Fight: Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot summary was rewritten after a judge found the original misleading, keeping the measure’s local-government funding impact front and center.

Public Safety: A Florida mother, Hailey Dempsey, was identified as the killer in the May Plant City case where a grandmother, two children and Dempsey herself died; police say she also tried to shoot a 2-year-old but missed. Manhunt Update: Isabelle Johnson was arrested by U.S. marshals after nearly two months on the run in the Panhandle murder of Jason Coulthart, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave. Fraud Crackdown: Florida charged seven people in a $100M workers’ compensation payroll scheme using shell companies and cash payments to workers while defrauding insurers. Heat & Weather: The entire state is under a heat advisory, with some areas facing extreme heat warnings and heat index readings topping 110+. Privacy Debate: Flock automated license plate cameras are expanding in Florida; critics warn about surveillance and misuse, while the company says it’s rolling out updates after complaints. Property Taxes: Florida rewrote Amendment 3 ballot language after a judge said the original wording was misleading, ahead of the Aug. 18 primaries. State Investment: Florida allocated $2.4M to expand the statewide Florida Debate Initiative, including coach stipends for Central Florida schools. Consumer Safety: A deputy helped a 93-year-old recover $600K life savings after a gold scam attempt.

Ballot Watch: Florida’s AG rewrote the ballot language for Amendment 3 after a judge said the original wording read like a slogan, replacing it with a more technical title and summary spelling out the homestead exemption and assessment-cap changes. Local Impact: Polk County commissioners are set to discuss how the proposed property tax shift could cut local revenue and force changes to services or fees. Rural Health: Calhoun Liberty Hospital is among recipients of Rural Health Transformation Program funding aimed at expanding specialty care, including telehealth. Cost of Living: South Florida grocery prices are up nearly 21% since 2021, pushing families to change what they buy and how they shop. Politics & Money: Byron Donalds says winning Florida’s governor race could require $80M to $90M for the general election. Business & Jobs: Florida awarded $9M to Pensacola to help Birdon America build a new ship manufacturing facility at the port. Public Safety: A federal indictment accuses a Tennessee man of politically motivated arson in Florida. Community: Disney World says it has donated more than 1 million school supplies to Central Florida classrooms over the past decade.

Public Safety & Courts: Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Florida AG James Uthmeier are holding a joint crime-fighting news conference, with details expected at 10:30 a.m. Human Trafficking Crackdown: Hillsborough County’s “Operation Relentless Summer” led to 116 arrests, rescuing three adult women and two juvenile victims, with one suspect accused of trafficking across Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Local Crime & Accountability: Port St. Lucie placed three officers on paid leave as FDLE takes over investigations tied to political campaign sign incidents. Privacy vs. Policing: Flock Safety says it’s rolling out updates aimed at stopping police misuse of its license-plate reader data after national backlash and Florida-related concerns. Politics & Representation: A new map reshapes Florida’s 15th Congressional District, drawing criticism over how rural and suburban communities are bundled together. Business & Growth: Point Park University and Bradenton are exploring a partnership that could bring a PPU presence to the city. Travel Disruption: A Delta flight to Florida returned to Atlanta after a smoky odor was reported onboard. Public Health: Florida authorities announced a Class I recall of nearly 29,628 pounds of imported raw frozen Argentine beef tied to a reinspection issue.

Marine Wildlife Protections: Federal changes to the Endangered Species Act could strip key habitat protections for Florida’s green sea turtles and manatees, raising alarms in South Florida. Drought & Heat: Severe drought persists in Fort Myers and Naples even as rainy season winds down, with experts warning parts of the region may not fully recover until summer 2027. Local Government: Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s $14.3B budget plan includes “do more with less” cuts, including eliminating multiple bus routes. Tropical Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking new Atlantic disturbances, including Invest 94L, while Cristobal remains offshore with no expected land impacts. Immigration & Work: South Florida plant nursery owners say deportation moves and TPS endings are shrinking their labor pool and could force closures. Public Safety: A 2.95-meter alligator attack in Marion County left a woman with an amputated arm, underscoring risks during peak season. Business & Food Safety: Texas and Florida recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef after it entered commerce without standard reinspection. Sports & Culture: FSU will retire kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s No. 38; meanwhile, Florida’s heat keeps dominating the headlines.

Florida Politics: With the Aug. 18 primary looming, Florida’s 24th Congressional District race is getting uglier after a fake text smear falsely tied state Sen. Shevrin Jones to HIV and claimed Equality Florida paid for it—Equality Florida says it didn’t. Florida Elections & Governance: One of the three Cabinet races on the ballot is commissioner of agriculture, overseeing the state’s $13B ag sector; the Republican primary is Wilton Simpson vs. Ryan Taylor. Public Safety & Privacy: Flock AI license-plate cameras are expanding across Florida, and volunteer maps help residents check locations—while critics warn about privacy and misuse. Law Enforcement & Immigration: DHS/ICE says it arrested a Cuban man in Florida with an expired commercial driver’s license and lodged a detainer in a Broward murder case involving an alleged machete attack. Business & Weather: Tampa’s $100M South Howard flood project heads toward a make-or-break City Council vote amid pushback from businesses, while Central and South Florida remain under dangerous heat advisories and watch Atlantic disturbances. Food & Agriculture: USDA recalls nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef tied to a missed reinspection step that may have reached Florida fridges and freezers.

Heat & Weather: A Central Florida heat advisory is pushing heat index values to around 110°F, with drier air and Saharan sand limiting afternoon showers. Elections 2026: Florida’s redrawn 9th Congressional District is shaping up as a crowded GOP primary, while early voting ramps up across key races and local previews hit the ballot. Public Health Leadership: Dr. Erica Schwartz was confirmed as the first Black woman to lead the CDC, with attention turning to immunization records as kids head back to school. Rural Healthcare Funding: Gov. DeSantis announced $188 million to expand rural health access across 31 counties, aiming to bolster hospitals, clinics, and the workforce. Immigration Spending Oversight: Florida missed a deadline to detail millions in immigration and disaster spending, raising questions about reporting and cash-flow transparency. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine raw beef distributed in Florida and Texas due to an import reinspection violation. Local Transit: Lanes are closed on the Edison Bridge for joint maintenance, with traffic shifts expected. Business & Courts: A Florida pregnancy harassment lawsuit alleges pay stripping and constructive discharge, while SNAP benefits are down sharply after new work requirements.

Elections 2026: Early voting is already underway statewide for Florida’s Aug. 18 primary, with more than 930,000 ballots cast as of Aug. 11 and Broward’s early period opening last weekend—here’s where to vote early in Miami-Dade and Broward. State Politics: In a Tampa Bay-area Senate District 16 open primary, Democrats Fentrice Driskell and Michele Rayner are battling for the seat, with the district leaning heavily Democratic and no Republican in the race. Public Safety: A man in Hobe Sound jumped into action when a woman’s car got trapped on railroad tracks as the crossing arm came down—dash video shows the tense rescue moments before a train arrived. Weather: Another heat advisory hits South Florida today (noon to 7 p.m.), with heat index readings around 105–110 and only a small chance of rain. Business & Growth: Mangrove Property Insurance announced it’s launching Grove Re Ltd., a Bermuda-domiciled reinsurer aimed at strengthening its Florida-focused risk management. Space Coast: SpaceX is set to launch another Starlink batch from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, sending 29 satellites into orbit. Local Crime/Justice: Courtney Clenney, the former OnlyFans model, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison for the 2022 stabbing of her boyfriend in Miami.

Disability & Housing Access: A Lauderhill woman in a wheelchair says she’s been trapped in her 7th-floor condo for months because the elevator has been broken since last fall, forcing her to rely on fire department help to get down stairs. First Amendment Fight: Florida AG James Uthmeier is demanding years of New York Times internal records tied to Israel-Hamas coverage, arguing editorial decisions could hurt shareholder value; the Times calls it an attempt to chill journalism. Public Safety & Courts: ICE announced a weekend crackdown on criminal illegal aliens, including a Polk County case involving a DUI manslaughter conviction. Local Government: Flagler County narrowed its county administrator search from six candidates to four. Space & Weather: NOAA cut its 2026 Atlantic storm outlook to 7–13 named storms but says the riskiest period is still ahead; meanwhile, Florida’s Space Coast keeps launching with more August missions planned. Transportation Tech: DeSantis unveiled plans to make Central Florida a national hub for testing electric air taxis, with eVTOL trials targeted for late 2026. Property Tax Debate: CFO Blaise Ingoglia warned that a proposed property tax amendment could squeeze funding for fire and police. Lottery: Florida Lottery launched three new August scratch-offs, including a $50 ticket with $500,000 top prizes. Animal Cruelty: A Brevard County woman was charged after allegedly stabbing a horse in front of a child at a therapy ranch.

Property Taxes & Housing: Florida’s Amendment 3 would slash property tax bills for many homeowners, but critics warn the cuts could shift costs to renters and local governments, raising fees and possibly rents. School Updates: New 2026-27 rules kick in statewide, including mandatory cursive instruction, changes to graduation requirements, and new policies affecting teachers, unions, and even phone use decisions. Public Safety—Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Officials say vibrio vulnificus has killed at least seven along the Gulf Coast this year; health experts urge caution with warm-water exposure and raw shellfish. Crime & Courts: A Florida man accused of intentionally shutting off a diver’s air supply during the mini lobster season says it was an accident. Politics: Byron Donalds and David Jolly are trading culture-focused attacks as the governor primary nears, with ads and messaging aimed at LGBTQ and transgender issues. Local Life: Comcast says Xfinity internet is now available to 2,400 Putnam County homes and businesses, with more fiber expansion planned. Environment & Wildlife: The Florida Python Challenge wrapped with 280 Burmese pythons removed from south Florida, including a $10,000 top prize. Weather: Broward and Miami-Dade face a heat advisory for the first day of school, with heat index values around 105–110.

WNBA & State Law: Florida AG James Uthmeier says he’d charge Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington with assault if the Sophie Cunningham flagrant foul happened in Florida, after Carrington posted “white privilege” following the ejection. Public Safety: A 5-year-old autistic, non-verbal boy reported missing in Hillsborough County was found dead in a pond. Crash Response: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly single-car crash on Lem Turner Road near I-95, with one person ejected and one dead. Wildlife Watch: A nearly 10-foot alligator was removed from the Silver River after a woman was bitten while swimming. Environment & Housing: A Palm Beach Gardens HOA plan could remove and replace up to 600 mature live oaks, with residents saying notice was limited. Health: Florida reported a second 2026 death from Vibrio vulnificus, tied to warm coastal waters and raw shellfish exposure. Hurricane Monitoring: The National Hurricane Center is tracking three new Atlantic disturbances, with development chances rising for one wave. Business/Tech: Northrop Grumman expands aerospace work in Melbourne, highlighting growth tied to next-generation aircraft.