AGP Executive Report

Fourth of July Weather: South Florida is bracing for afternoon showers and storms on July 4, with lightning and gusty winds possible, plus a heat advisory pushing heat index values into the 105–110 range—officials urge people to head indoors when thunder rolls and to stay hydrated. Holiday Fireworks & Events: Miami-Dade communities are lining up fireworks, drone shows, and live music, including major celebrations in Miami, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale’s Oceanside Park. Invasive Wildlife Warning: New Everglades footage is fueling fresh concern about Burmese pythons, with scientists pointing to jaw anatomy that can let the snakes swallow prey as large as adult deer and even alligators. Community Relief for Venezuela: Tallahassee groups, including FSU students and local restaurants, are organizing donation drives and a “Vene Bingo Night” to support earthquake relief. Public Safety & Health: CDC reports cyclosporiasis cases showing up in Florida, while local law enforcement continues major holiday-week investigations, including a World Cup-linked human trafficking operation in Broward.

Fourth of July in South Florida: Fort Lauderdale kicks off a free Fourth of July Spectacular with a Walker Hayes concert, drone show and fireworks, while Miami’s Bayfront Park hosts a full-day lineup and a Declaration of Independence exhibit at the Museum of Miami. Local Safety & Weather: Lightning struck beachgoers in Fort Myers Beach, killing one and injuring three; officials warn people to avoid water and seek shelter during storms. Crash & Crime: A red-light run sparked a violent three-vehicle chain-reaction crash in Hernando County, sending four to the hospital; in Monroe County, a man is accused of hiding cocaine in a teen’s pocket during a traffic stop. Policy & Politics: Florida’s new AI data center law takes effect July 1 amid bipartisan concerns; advocates say they’ll challenge the state’s new rule barring undocumented students from enrolling in public colleges. Community & Education: Palm Beach County schools earned an “A” rating for a third straight year, and Riviera Beach won the 2026 All-America City Award. Tourism & Infrastructure: Collier County explores moving its tourism bureau to an independent nonprofit, and Lee County received Army Corps approval to rebuild the Fort Myers Beach Pier.

Miss Florida 2026: Alexandra de Roos, representing Manatee County, was crowned Miss Florida 2026 in Lakeland and will spend the next year serving statewide, including a trip tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Holiday weather: CBS Miami is tracking multiple rounds of rain and storms across South Florida over the July 4 weekend, with fireworks timing expected to stay mostly intact. America 250 celebrations: Palm Beach County cities are rolling out free concerts and fireworks plus special touches like laser shows and time-capsule moments for the holiday and the 250th. Space Coast launch: A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral is set for July 5, carrying Starlink satellites and potentially visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach. Local government watch: Jay Town Council may soon decide whether to hire a convicted sex offender as town manager, with a July 7 meeting expected to hash it out. Public safety & animals: A Florida woman was arrested in the Keys after deputies rescued a dog trapped in a hot SUV. Wildlife crisis: Another Florida panther was killed by a vehicle in Lee County, underscoring how development and traffic keep shrinking habitat.

Murder Case Breakthrough: Worcester police arrested 23-year-old Jayden Montes in Tampa, charging him with the 2022 killing of 17-year-old Jazmin Rosario outside a Big Y in Massachusetts, with U.S. Marshals and multiple Florida agencies assisting. Alligator Safety Spotlight: In Seminole County, 31-year-old Brittany Clark died after a June 28 alligator attack in the Little Big Econ State Forest; body-cam and 911 audio released show frantic calls for help as investigators capture two large alligators and keep the area closed. Parking-Spot Shooting Legal Scrutiny: A retired Army staff sergeant, Bart Diguglielmo, was shot dead outside a North Lauderdale Walmart after a dispute over a parking space; investigators are weighing whether the woman’s claim of self-defense holds up. Road Safety Tragedy: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly Flagler County crash involving a log truck on SR-100, while earlier in the day a separate crash killed a Palatka man and seriously injured a Bunnell man. Education Watch: Okaloosa County Schools earned an A from the Florida Department of Education, one of only three districts to do so every year since 2014. Holiday Fireworks Caution: Lake County officials urged safer July 4 fireworks practices amid lingering drought conditions, even as some burn bans shift across counties.

Major Drug Bust: East Volusia law enforcement wrapped up “Operation Holy Rollers,” a multi-agency sweep with five search warrants that netted more than two dozen targets and seized fentanyl. Public Safety & Community: A newly released 911 audio details a fatal alligator attack in Seminole County’s Little Big Econ State Forest, where a woman suffered catastrophic injuries before dying. Immigration Under Pressure: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling threatens deportation for Haitians in Florida protected under Temporary Protected Status, raising fears for families and local industries. Local Government & Fire Risk: Charlotte County extended its burn ban ahead of the Fourth of July, keeping fireworks off the table. Health & Air Quality: New research says many people fail N95 mask fit tests without realizing it as wildfire smoke drifts into parts of Florida. Space & Tech: ULA launched Amazon’s Leo satellites from Florida’s Space Coast, adding 29 more to the growing constellation. Local Business: FCC Environmental Services won a 10-year solid waste collection contract for New Smyrna Beach starting Oct. 1.

Missing Persons: Florida issued a Spectrum Alert for 17-year-old Dominick Harris, last seen in DeLand and possibly headed toward Alabama. Wildlife & Weather: Two baby deer rescued after a Pasco County wildfire are recovering at Owl’s Nest Sanctuary. Public Safety Training: The Florida SWAT Association held its first active shooter conference at Florida Southern College with realistic drills for law enforcement and triage practice for medics. Education Grades: Volusia and Flagler schools earned A grades, while Orange County Public Schools also received an A district grade; Alachua County held a B overall. Immigration Policy: Florida’s Board of Education approved rules barring undocumented students from state colleges and GED-related adult education. Local Impact: St. Petersburg kicked off America 250 with an early flag-raising ceremony. Consumer Law: A new Florida rule requires restaurants to disclose mandatory fees upfront before customers order. Environment & Infrastructure: Palm Beach County’s AI data center fight over Project Tango heads to zoning, with a July 15 decision looming.

South Florida Weather: Scattered showers and storms are expected to ramp up Wednesday afternoon in metro areas, with a marginal flood risk and “feels like” heat around 103–105. Live Local Act Housing: A developer is seeking to replace an Aventura office building with a 376-unit project in unincorporated Miami-Dade, using the state’s Live Local Act rules. Wildlife & Safety: Two female Florida panthers were killed by vehicles in Collier County in one week, raising concerns because females are key to recovery. Education Changes: About 140 new Florida laws take effect July 1, including new education rules such as cursive instruction in grades 3–5 and updates to teacher certification. Data Center Law: A new state law aimed at protecting ratepayers and the environment from large-scale data centers goes into effect, including limits on cost-shifting. Public Safety Training: FDOT partnered with local fire rescue agencies for hands-on emergency response drills inside acquired hotel buildings for an I-95 interchange project. Alligator Fatality: Orlando-area woman Brittany Clark, 31, died after a rare alligator attack in the Econlockhatchee River, with authorities capturing two gators afterward.

Immigration & Education: Florida’s Board of Education approved new rules barring undocumented students from enrolling in state colleges and taking the GED, requiring applicants to prove they’re U.S. citizens or “lawfully present,” with adult education providers also required to verify status. Public Safety: A 23-month-old was found dead in an SUV outside a Plantation preschool after police say the child was accidentally left in the vehicle; investigators are collecting details. Wildlife Tragedy: FWC identified Brittany Clark, 31, as the woman killed in a Seminole County alligator attack after 911 calls described catastrophic injuries. Local Growth & Firefighting: Polk County opened a $16 million fire rescue training center in Winter Haven, including a large burn tower and EMS simulation labs. Community & Disaster Relief: Central Florida’s Venezuelan community launched a donation drive for earthquake survivors as officials report thousands dead and many missing. Infrastructure: Lee County received U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval to begin replacing the Fort Myers Beach Pier, with construction expected to start in August.

Alligator Safety: A woman died after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming in Florida’s Econlockhatchee River, and wildlife officials deployed a nuisance trapper as they investigate. Heat Relief for People Experiencing Homelessness: Orlando nonprofit Pathlight HOME is asking for donations of water and cooling items to help unhoused residents survive dangerous Central Florida temperatures. Wildfire Readiness: With wildfires burning in western Broward and activity in Miami-Dade, a fire-watch company is urging businesses to plan for outages that could disable sprinklers and alarms. Property Taxes: Florida’s November ballot fight over expanding the homestead exemption is heating up, with local governments warning of major service cuts if the measure passes. Local Elections: With the August primary about seven weeks away, coverage highlights key races and newly redrawn U.S. House districts affecting Palm Beach and surrounding counties. Transportation & Safety: A deadly bicycle crash in Palatka is under investigation after a driver left the scene. Local Education: Escambia and Santa Rosa school results show FAST test score gains for many students, according to state reporting. Transit Idea: Palm Beach County commissioners are set to discuss a proposal for elevated, self-driving car service linking downtown and PBIA.

Venezuela Earthquake Relief: South Florida’s Venezuelan community is scrambling to find missing relatives after deadly twin quakes, with donation hubs in Doral and volunteers racing to ship aid back home. Big Tech + Public Safety: Florida sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, arguing ChatGPT helped guide violence tied to the FSU mass shooting, as the state pushes for parental controls and liability. State Budget Fallout: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $117.6B budget but vetoed $1.6B, including cuts to some Central Florida projects, while approving $4M for the Groveland Four descendants. Local Crime & Courts: A Walton County manhunt follows a shallow grave discovery in Freeport; in Hillsborough, former Lions corner Terrion Arnold got a $1M bond in a robbery/kidnapping case. Road Tragedy: A double-fatal crash shut down Florida’s Turnpike in Martin County, snarling traffic for hours. Environment & Wildlife: FWC’s lionfish challenge is underway, and Eastern indigo snakes were released as part of recovery efforts. Community Health: A new medically supervised outpatient detox center opened in Jacksonville.

Alligator Safety: A woman died after an alligator bite while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River near Orlando, the latest in a cluster of attacks across Central Florida that has officials urging people to stick to designated daylight swimming areas. Missing Child: FDLE issued a Missing Child Alert for an 11-year-old boy last seen in Cocoa, asking the public not to approach and to call 911 or local police. Hurricane Season Prep: Hernando County is pushing residents with disabilities or special needs to register for the state shelter registry before peak season, noting registration helps emergency planners match needs. Venezuela Relief: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue team is in Venezuela searching collapsed buildings after deadly earthquakes, joined by South Florida volunteers and pilots delivering supplies. Heat Warning: A dangerous heat “dome” has heat advisories across 41 Florida counties, with heat index readings around 110–112 expected into the Fourth of July. Wildfire Watch: Crews are monitoring the Atlantic Fire in western Broward County as it continues to burn and smoke concerns linger.

Alligator Safety in Focus: A 31-year-old woman died after an alligator bite while swimming in Geneva, marking the third Central Florida alligator attack in a week, after a juvenile was bitten while fishing in Umatilla and another teen was hurt in a separate Central Florida incident. Wildfire & Heat Watch: Broward County firefighters battled a 70-acre Atlantic fire and a separate 100-acre Everglades wildfire near Sawgrass Expressway, while Southwest Florida braced for near-record heat with triple-digit heat indexes. Venezuela Earthquake Relief: South Florida volunteers and firefighters deployed to help with search-and-rescue after deadly Venezuela earthquakes, as local donations and aid shipments surged. Local Governance & Utilities: DeSantis signed a bill tightening state control over Gainesville Regional Utilities, potentially ending another push for local control. HOA Fight: Homestead homeowners sued over alleged “zombie HOA” control, claiming developers kept HOA governance for 20 years. Road Safety: A study says fatal road-rage crashes in Florida jumped 200% from 2023 to 2024. New Consumer Rule: Florida’s “operations charge” law requires restaurants to list extra fees clearly before customers order, starting July 1.

Education & Accountability: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida hit a new milestone, with more than 60% of students scoring on or above grade level in both reading and math—up from 49% in 2023 for ELA and from 53% to 62% in math. Courts & Voting Rights: Florida Supreme Court kept the new congressional district map in place for the midterms after rejecting a bid to block it, sending the underlying case back to the First DCA. Local Schools: Monroe County schools earned an overall “A” grade from the state, with several campuses moving up in ratings. Weather & Safety: Brevard County faces isolated thunderstorms and dangerous heat Sunday, with heat index values topping 100–107 and a major heat risk posted. Community & Health: NOAA is recruiting for 18 seats on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, with applications due Feb. 15. Business & Growth: SALT LIFE opened its first new Sanibel retail location as part of a broader Iconix expansion.

Capital Punishment: A man who confessed to killing his girlfriend’s infant daughter in 1996 is set for Florida’s eighth execution of 2026 Tuesday night at Florida State Prison in Starke. Tallahassee Politics: Gov. DeSantis vetoed a bipartisan e-bike safety bill that would have required riders to slow near pedestrians and give an audible warning, citing enforcement problems. Weather & Storms: Flood advisories and severe storms hit Central Florida, while a new tropical disturbance off the Carolinas could bring more wet weather as the Fourth of July approaches. Public Safety & Health: Orange County student-athletes are getting free sports physicals and heart screenings ahead of a new Florida law requiring cardiac checks. Local Government: Monroe County School District is moving toward a new superintendent, with Edward C. Tierney selected as the board’s top choice. Community & Service: Palm Beach County firefighters are deploying to help with urban search-and-rescue in earthquake-hit Venezuela. Roads & Crashes: Fatal wrecks and major traffic disruptions continue across the state, including a deadly I-75 crash in Charlotte County and a multi-vehicle SR-39 crash in Hillsborough County.

Hurricane Watch: The National Hurricane Center flagged a low-pressure area off Florida’s southeast coast with a low chance of tropical development, but widespread rain is expected next week, especially Monday through Wednesday. Healthcare Fraud: Federal prosecutors charged nine people tied to major Medicare/Medicaid/VA kickback and fraud schemes, including a $118 million wound-care operation. Local Government & Taxes: DeSantis’ proposal to cut property taxes could cost Suncoast counties more than $380 million in two years, with officials warning about hits to schools, hospitals, and libraries. Data Centers: Florida’s new data-center law and related consumer protections are drawing scrutiny as critics warn ratepayers could still get stuck with infrastructure costs. Immigration: The Supreme Court’s TPS decision has Haitian families in South Florida scrambling over what comes next, with local leaders urging action. Keys & Community: KEYS100 returns this weekend across the Overseas Highway, and Monroe County’s school board adopted a tentative 7.3% property tax increase. Public Safety: DeSantis vetoed an e-bike safety bill, and fireworks guidance remains tied to local burn bans and drought conditions.

Immigration & Community Impact: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida is permanently closing “Alligator Alcatraz,” ending the state’s short-term migrant detention use in the Everglades as detainees are moved elsewhere. Immigration & Local Politics: The U.S. Supreme Court’s TPS decision has Haitian families in South Florida bracing for legal uncertainty and possible deportation, with local leaders urging the U.S. Senate to extend protections. Public Safety: A shark attack victim in Panama City remains in intensive care after a June 8 bull-shark incident while snorkeling in St. Andrew Bay; a GoFundMe has raised more than $38,000 toward a long recovery. Courts & Accountability: Unredacted Jacksonville City Council texts show outgoing president Kevin Carrico discussing a potential JEA land deal tied to the Boys & Girls Clubs, raising fresh questions about appointments and nonprofit benefits. Environment & Wildlife: FWC reports a second Florida panther death in Collier County in a week, suspected to be another vehicle strike. Local Economy: Two Alachua County Popeyes locations shut down amid franchisee Sailormen Inc.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while one Gainesville store stays open.