AGP Executive Report

Election Day in Florida: Voters head to the polls for the 2026 primary, with live results and key races for governor, U.S. Senate and Congress. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET statewide (8 p.m. in Central Time counties), and Florida’s closed primary means only party-registered voters can vote in party primaries. Palm Beach County leadership shakeup: Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was arrested on felony child sex abuse charges and suspended; Chief Judge Glenn Kelley swore in Clerk Ad Interim Shannon Ramsey-Chessman. Death penalty spotlight: Florida is set to carry out its 13th execution of the year, with William Frances Silvia scheduled for Tuesday. Local government & growth fights: Volusia County is moving toward a permanent ban on large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas, while Orange County deputies are cracking down on slow drivers camping in the left lane. Community & environment: Pensacola will host the first annual Florida Lionfish Removal Tournament and Festival in September, and a coral spawning event highlights efforts to help Florida reefs recover.

Primary Election Day: Florida voters head to the polls Tuesday for governor, U.S. Senate and congressional primaries, with polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and ID rules that can trigger provisional ballots if you forget a signature/photo ID. Ballot Momentum: More than 1.9 million Floridians already voted ahead of Election Day, led by mail returns and early in-person voting. Death Penalty Watch: William Frances Silvia is set for execution Tuesday, Florida’s 13th this year, as the state keeps pushing an aggressive capital schedule. Heat & Safety: Palm Beach County faces a heat advisory with “feels-like” temps near 112, while Southwest Florida also warns of dangerous, record-level heat. Local Growth Costs: Polk County is weighing a 1% infrastructure sales tax to offset potential losses tied to Amendment 3. Public Safety Tech Debate: Oviedo is revisiting Flock license-plate reader cameras amid privacy concerns and data-handling questions. Space Coast: SpaceX targets a Thursday Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral for Starlink satellites. Business & Health: L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik steps down amid misconduct allegations; AdventHealth names Mike Murrill CEO for its Polk Market.

Election Prep: Florida voters head to the polls Tuesday for the Aug. 18 primary, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; bring a photo ID with signature (or vote provisionally), and remember Florida’s closed primary rules. Heat Safety: Extreme heat warnings are in effect across parts of North Florida and South Florida, with officials urging hydration, shade breaks, and watching for heat illness. Local Politics: Trump used Truth Social to endorse candidates in Florida’s GOP primary races, including a contest tied to Palm Beach’s Mar-a-Lago area. Crime & Courts: A man accused in the fatal ambush of a Microsoft design manager in Jacksonville Beach is set for trial in Florida, tied to an alleged murder-for-hire plot. Transportation & Travel: Allegiant is adding nine new nonstop Florida routes starting next February, including seasonal links from New England and year-round Orlando service. Business Watch: Moe’s Southwest Grill franchisee Quality Fresca filed for Chapter 11 and plans to close 14 Florida locations. Public Safety: Miami-Dade is cracking down on disabled parking permit fraud after reviewing more than 75,000 applications.

Local Politics & Elections: Florida’s primary is Tuesday, with early voting now closed after 738,788 in-person ballots and 1,077,951 mail-in ballots accepted statewide, about 13.5% turnout so far. Public Safety: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal tractor-trailer crash in Sumter County and a separate Orange County hit-and-run that left a woman critically injured after being struck while standing on the shoulder. Courts & Accountability: A Tampa bowling alley won an appeals ruling after a lawsuit’s amended complaint was deemed too late to relate back, leaving key evidence lost. Crime & Justice: A man accused in a Microsoft manager’s fatal ambush in Jacksonville is headed to trial, while another case highlights alleged years of child abuse after four children were found caged in a semi-truck cab. Health & Costs: Florida’s Medicaid spending on ABA therapy for children topped $6.57 billion from 2023-2025, as state reviews tighten scrutiny. Environment & Wildlife: Florida reports nearly 500 alligator attacks since 1948, including 33 fatal cases, and a Silver River attack led to renewed debate over human behavior around gators. Community & Events: A Kissimmee drive is collecting supplies for Colombia earthquake victims, and the 18th annual Super Scenic 150 Mile Garage Sale is set for Nov. 21 along Florida’s east coast.

Multi-State Cemetery Theft: Orange County investigators say three suspects tied to a cemetery theft spree across nine states—including Florida—are wanted on arrest warrants after allegedly stealing jewelry and family heirlooms from mausoleums and cremation niches. Repeat Deportation DUI Arrest: Polk County deputies arrested Rolando Perez Hernandez, a previously deported man, after a reckless, impaired DUI stop on I-4 where his breath test was more than twice the legal limit. Trial Verdict in Ocala Murder Case: A jury convicted Blayze Jurrien White of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm in the 2024 case of a victim found on a couch with a gunshot wound to the head in Ocala. Heat Record in Miami: Miami broke a daily heat record dating to 1909 as a dangerous, lingering heatwave pushed heat index values near or above 108°F. Local Crime & Courts: A man was sentenced to life for the murder of two Florida teens in Sumter County, and another Central Florida father’s killer received life without parole. Consumer Safety: Vero Beach and North Port both ranked in BBB Scam Tracker’s July lists, with online purchase scams driving reported losses.

Live Local Act: Sarasota County neighborhood leaders warned that Florida’s 2023 Live Local Act—meant to speed affordable housing—has been reshaped by later changes, creating new hurdles for counties and pushing the need for coordinated local action. Space Coast: SpaceX launched Globalstar’s replacement satellites from Cape Canaveral, with sonic booms reported across Brevard County after the booster landed. Public safety funding: The Middle District of Florida received more than $3.5 million in federal criminal-justice grants, supporting local law enforcement operations and victim services. Local government: Fort Pierce is searching for a new city attorney after commissioners voted not to renew the contract of City Attorney Sara Hedges. Education & accountability: A Hillsborough County middle school teacher was arrested after investigators alleged inappropriate communications with a former teenage student. Elections: Early voting wrapped up in Northwest Florida, and candidates made final weekend pushes ahead of Florida’s Aug. 18 primary. Crime & courts: A Bay County man was arrested after deputies said he exposed himself, threw items including a TV from a balcony, and threatened officers during a standoff. Health & community: A Tallahassee Chamber conference urged a more unified regional strategy, arguing FSU Health could be a major economic and patient-care driver.

High School Sports: Bayside High beat Crescent City 6-0 in its season opener, with a third-quarter 1-yard TD run by QB Joey Costa and a defense that held strong despite penalties. Real Estate & Tourism: Ryman Hospitality Properties is buying Orlando’s Grande Lakes Resort for $1.38 billion, home to JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brands and the Greg Norman-designed course that hosts the PNC Championship. Local Public Safety: Lake County deputies are investigating possible gunfire into a Leesburg home; no injuries or arrests were confirmed yet. Politics & Community Tensions: A Jewish-owned Fort Lauderdale venue canceled a Rashida Tlaib rally after a state lawmaker called it “anti-Jew,” citing “increased security concerns.” Health & Safety: Florida’s USDA recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentine beef products shipped to Texas and Florida after they entered without required U.S. reinspection. Weather: Heat advisories continue across South Florida with feels-like temps near 110, plus a drier Sunday expected after Saharan dust moves in. Rural Health: Gov. DeSantis announced nearly $188M in awards to expand rural health care access across 31 counties. Crime: A pedestrian was killed early Saturday on U.S. 27 south of Cagan Crossings Blvd in Haines City.

Property Taxes: Florida AG James Uthmeier rewrote the ballot summary and title for Amendment 3 after a judge said the original wording was misleading, shifting the description to “Increased Homestead Exemption, Lower Cap…” while keeping the plan to raise the homestead exemption and cut the non-homestead assessment cap. Elections & Voting Tech: The Florida Keys warned voters that results for the Aug. 18 election will be delayed until about 10 p.m. because landlines are being removed from polling places, forcing precinct results to be transported and sealed with chain-of-custody steps. Local Public Safety: A 10-year-old Pasco County boy hit by two vehicles in June has been transferred to a skilled nursing facility in Broward as he continues recovery from a traumatic brain injury. Crime & Courts: A Miami man, Andre Hart, was indicted in Arizona for a scheme targeting Maricopa County seniors, allegedly tricking victims into withdrawing money and delivering it to him after traveling from Florida. Environment: Duval County issued a second red tide alert in a week, with toxin-producing algae reported in Northeast Florida. Health & Community: Manatee County was named the state’s top performer in efforts to reduce opioid-caused deaths through its CORE Network. Politics & Party Rift: A South Florida venue canceled a Rashida Tlaib rally after complaints from a Florida lawmaker, escalating tensions inside the Democratic Party. Sports & Schools: Disney cast members collected 155,000 school supplies for Central Florida classrooms, and early voting in Orange County shows about 10% turnout so far ahead of the primary.

Tropical Watch: Forecasters are tracking three Atlantic disturbances, including Invest 94L, which could become a tropical depression over the weekend—read what it could mean for Florida this weekend. Local Power vs. Data Centers: At a Venice forum, reporters highlighted how community pushback can slow or reshape hyperscale data center plans. Transportation Safety: Two men face vehicular homicide and street-racing charges after a fatal multi-vehicle crash that killed a 77-year-old woman. Aviation/Politics: Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at Embry-Riddle about air taxis and said he does not support Rep. Cory Mills. Public Safety & Crime: Florida AG says more than 2,000 child predators have been arrested since February 2025. Health Alert: Cyclosporiasis cases in Florida have climbed to 417 confirmed or suspected, with a county-by-county breakdown. Courts & Voting: Pinellas County early voting runs through Aug. 16 for the Aug. 18 primary. Housing: Martin County approved moving two properties into an affordable housing sale process with local nonprofits involved.

Public Safety: A Polk County police dog, K-9 Ace, was shot while protecting deputies and returned Sunday for a hero’s welcome after doctors amputated his injured leg; he’ll retire. Local Crime: An Apopka-area dad, Daryl Hill, was fatally shot while trying to break up a fight after dropping his 10-year-old daughter at school; the suspect faces second-degree murder charges. Health & Safety: Florida confirmed five equine eastern equine encephalitis cases after a horse in Jackson County tested positive, a warning sign for mosquito activity; Seminole County also issued a 60-day rabies alert after a raccoon case. Tallahassee Watch: Florida AG James Uthmeier rewrote Amendment 3 ballot language after a judge said the original title/summary was misleading. Education: Florida reports 3,157 instructional and 2,379 support staff vacancies statewide as schools open. Economy & Daily Life: GasBuddy data shows Nassau regular gas hit $3.72 (week ending Aug. 8) and Hillsborough diesel hit $4.69. Space Coast: SpaceX filed permits for a new Starship testing site, “Project Ignition,” near its Roberts operations area.

Education Spotlight: Volusia County Schools celebrated a second straight “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education, hitting 65%+ for 2025-26 and touting its highest-ever points. Public Safety & Privacy: Flock Safety says it’s adding safeguards to its Florida license-plate camera system after reports of misuse, including requiring a case code for searches and making its audit tool mandatory—while residents in St. Petersburg and elsewhere keep pushing back. Crime & Courts: A Daytona Beach man was arrested after a Palm Coast break-in and shooting, and a Haines City officer faces charges for alleged misuse of a law-enforcement database. Health Watch: Florida’s Cyclospora cases fell again for the second week, with totals now topping 400 statewide. Local Government & Jobs: Orange County Clerk’s Office is raising starting pay for entry-level workers to $21 an hour. Environment & Community: Lee County ranked second statewide for recycling performance, hitting an adjusted 87% rate. Tropical Update: Forecasters are watching Invest 92L and 94L as they move west, with Florida currently seen as low risk.

Local Budgets Under Pressure: Clearwater warns a Florida property tax amendment could force cuts of about 140 jobs, with police tech, parks, and recreation among the likely targets. County Conservation Funding: Pinellas leaders weigh trimming funding for Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves as they close a $42 million gap. Surveillance Tensions: A Volusia teen faces felony charges after allegedly cutting down Flock cameras with a saw, while Sarasota investigates damage to a camera that had been reading plates. Housing & Growth Fights: Leesburg residents oppose a 23-home plan near County Road 44, citing runoff, flooding worries, and traffic backups. Public Safety & Crime: Authorities search for cemetery thieves accused of stealing jewelry from mausoleums across multiple states, including Florida. Environment & Wildlife: FWC investigates a deadly bear shooting in Marion County; drought remains severe in Fort Myers and Naples; and federal changes could weaken protections for Florida marine species. Community & Services: Miami-Dade mayor unveils a “do more with less” budget that includes transit route cuts. Education & Rules: Leon County schools require students to dismount e-bikes and scooters at the property line. Big Local Openings: Florida Tech opens a $96 million, 556-bed student housing complex.

Public Safety: Lake City police say Flock cameras helped locate Branch Stamper, accused of strangling his girlfriend and driving off with her two children inside. Animal Welfare: The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast called a Border Collie hoarding case the “worst it has ever seen,” treating 36 dogs rescued by Martin County deputies. Elections: Black civic groups in Miami-Dade are urging voters to plan and vote early in the Aug. 18 primary as turnout remains low. Local Government & Growth: Volusia County approved a 1,299-acre River Bend Ranch Reserve acquisition and is moving ahead with a federal coastal storm risk review. Health Care: Chapters Health System won state approval to expand hospice services in Sarasota County. Weather & Outdoors: The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight, with the best odds in Central Florida before clouds build in parts of the state. Crime & Courts: A new report says Dan Bilzerian’s campaign posts include a large share of antisemitic hate speech.

Election Access & Voting Rules: Collier County shows a sharp drop in vote-by-mail requests, down to about 1.9 million versus 4+ million in 2022, as a 2021 state law forces voters to re-request each cycle and adds ID/SSN requirements. Local Elections: Orange County election officials are under fire for stopping mailed sample ballots for the 2026 primary, replacing them with a QR-code info mailer that critics say hurts older and lower-income voters. Rural Health Funding: Gov. DeSantis announced $188 million to expand rural healthcare across 31 counties, aiming to boost hospitals, workforce training, and access via mobile units and telehealth. Disaster Relief (Colombia Earthquake): South Florida families and community groups are mobilizing aid after a deadly 7.4 quake in Colombia, with supplies and donations headed through Miami for relief efforts. Public Safety & Health: Sarasota County restaurant inspections found live roaches and other violations, leading to a temporary closure. Community & Courts: FIU students sued the university over discipline tied to a brief silent anti-ICE protest, saying their First Amendment rights were violated. Animal Welfare: Martin County hoarding cases are reigniting calls for tougher state laws after multiple multi-animal neglect rescues.

Retirement Policy Watch: Florida TaxWatch is urging lawmakers to rethink the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), warning recent changes could raise costs for taxpayers and asking whether DROP should be closed or limited. Back-to-School Rules: Florida districts are rolling out new phone policies under HB 1105—no phone use for elementary and middle school students during the school day, and tighter wireless rules for high schoolers. School Safety Tech: Osceola County is moving toward stop-arm enforcement cameras for school buses, aiming to curb drivers illegally passing stopped buses. Local Education Strain: Orange County Public Schools kicked off the year amid enrollment decline and staffing pressures, with Superintendent Maria Vazquez marking her final first day. Public Health: Pinellas County confirmed two locally acquired dengue cases, triggering mosquito-control and surveillance efforts. Wildlife Incidents: A paddleboarder in Marion County helped rescue a woman after an alligator attack; officials also removed a 9-foot alligator. Community & Culture: Islamorada’s “Made on Morada Way” art exhibit spotlights Upper Keys artists, with more than 20 creators featured.

Flying Cars in Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will become a national hub for testing ultralight electric aircraft, with a Polk County track set to support active eVTOL testing by the end of the year. Local Government & Schools: Fort Myers Beach is creating six charter school ad-hoc committees as it prepares a charter application to replace Fort Myers Beach Elementary, closed since Hurricane Milton. Housing & Growth: Collier residents are buzzing over a proposed “Hyper Club” on a former automotive test site that would mix private club amenities with some residential use. Public Safety: A Florida sheriff’s deputy in Pasco County allegedly kidnapped and fatally shot his ex-girlfriend after a dispute over a TV, then killed himself. Crime: A Bonita Springs woman was arrested for allegedly faking cancer to scam more than 200 people out of nearly $40,000. Health Watch: Lee County is on alert for dengue as mosquito season ramps up, with local testing and spraying underway. SpaceX Update: A Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral was scrubbed Monday and is now set for Tuesday. Education Spotlight: Two Florida Credit Union “Amazing Teacher of the Month” winners were highlighted, including a third-grade teacher in Fort McCoy and a middle school English teacher in Ocala.