Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 9.26.25

Good Friday morning.

Breaking overnight — “Former FBI Director James Comey indicted days after Donald Trump demanded his DOJ move ‘now’ to prosecute enemies” via Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin, and Peter Charalambous of ABC News — Former FBI Director Comey has been indicted on charges of making a false statement and obstruction, a move following President Donald Trump’s public demand for his prosecution. A newly installed U.S. Attorney brought the charges — a former Trump defense lawyer with no prosecutorial experience—who replaced a prosecutor Trump ousted for being reluctant to bring the case. The indictment was secured despite career prosecutors reportedly informing the new U.S. Attorney that they could not establish probable cause. Critics are blasting the move as a blatant act of political retribution, turning Comey’s case into a high-stakes test of the Justice Department’s independence under Trump and a likely centerpiece of his defense.^[1]

___

The first House Committee meetings ahead of the 2026 Session have been scheduled for Oct. 7.

The House block calendar lists authorized times for seven Committees and Subcommittees for the day, with the remaining Committees authorized to meet the following day.^[2]

A block calendar listing does not guarantee that a Committee will meet; it just outlines the times they may do so. Committee meetings are confirmed with the publication of an official notice. The notice deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 29 for the Oct. 7 meetings and 5 p.m. Sept. 30 for the Oct. 8 meetings.

The block calendar also authorizes joint panels on Administrative Procedures, Public Counsel Oversight and Legislative Auditing to meet Oct. 6.

The House outline comes a week after the Senate announced its own tentative schedule for the week. Like its counterpart, the upper chamber has yet to release agendas for potential Committee hearings that week.^[3]

In addition to the weeks of Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, the interim Committee schedule includes the first two weeks in both November and December. The 2026 Legislative Session begins Jan. 13.^[4]

___

RaShon Young swearing-in ceremony set for Monday — Young, who was elected to represent House District 40 earlier this month, will hold a swearing-in ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Bethune-Cookman University’s Gertrude Hotchkiss Heyn Chapel, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. in Daytona Beach. Young, a Democrat, won the Sept. 2 Special Election to succeed now-Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis in a landslide. Young had previously served as Bracy Davis’ Chief of Staff.

___

Marie Kane has been named assistant vice president for National Security Research at UF.

The university said the newly created position is designed to advance strategic research initiatives in defense, intelligence and national security.

Kane brings more than 20 years of experience in national security research and program leadership, including extensive work with the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy, which oversees the U.S.’s nuclear arsenal.

Kane comes to UF from Sandia National Laboratories, where she most recently served as program deputy for stockpile sustainment and production in the Nuclear Deterrence Program Management Office. In that role, she oversaw a $600 million portfolio supporting the sustainment, surveillance and production of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.

“Marie Kane brings a rare combination of technical depth, strategic vision and leadership experience to this role,” said UF VP for Research David Norton. “Her appointment reflects UF’s growing commitment to national security research and our ambition to be a leading partner in defense innovation.”

Kane will be based in Jacksonville, where UF is building a satellite campus that will offer graduate-level courses in several fields and house the Florida Semiconductor Institute, which the university touts as a “statewide hub for research, development, and workforce initiatives in semiconductor technologies.”^[5][6]

A triple Gator, Kane is an inventor on multiple U.S. patents related to battery and polymer technologies and has authored several peer-reviewed publications in that field of research.

“I am honored to be selected for this newly created role at my alma mater and grateful for the opportunity to help advance UF’s impact in national security research,” Kane said.

___

Longtime Lauderhill public servant Desorae Giles-Smith dies of cancer — Giles-Smith, Lauderhill’s former City Manager and a career public servant, died Wednesday after battling pancreatic cancer. Regarded as a trailblazer, Giles-Smith was the city’s first Black and first woman City Manager. “Her service transcended titles. She helped to shape our governance with a strategic vision that strengthened our community locally and regionally. Her leadership was marked by principled and relentless focus on making Lauderhill better for all residents,” reads a statement released by the city. Giles-Smith is survived by husband Chris Smith, a former lawmaker who served as Democratic Leader in both chambers and their two sons, Christopher and Christian.^[7]

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@BarackObama: We have people in power making broad claims around certain drugs and autism that have been continuously disproven. The degree to which those comments can undermine public health, do harm to women who are pregnant, create anxiety for parents who do have children who are autistic – is violence against the truth.

—@AGPamBondi: No one is above the law. Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.

—@GovRonDeSantis: Florida leads the way in education by expanding opportunities, raising standards and delivering results. With partners like Success Academy, we will continue to raise the bar for education and student achievement. Success Academy, the top-performing charter network in New York City, has proven that students from every background can achieve at the highest levels. We’re proud that Success Academy is expanding to Florida, and we will continue to champion policies and investments that ensure every child has access to quality education that meets their needs.

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

Special Elections for SD 11 and HD 90 — 4; Taylor Swift’s new album ’The Life of a Showgirl’ drops — 7; Regular Session Committee Weeks begin — 10; Florida TaxWatch Annual Board Meeting — 10; ’Tron: Ares’ premieres — 14; ‘Six Kings Slam,’ featuring six of men’s tennis’ best players in the world, premieres on Netflix — 19; Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) Fall Board Meeting and Gala begins — 24; NBA returns to NBC, with 2025-2026 season Opening Day tipoffs including the Houston Rockets visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder — 25; ’Mayor of Kingstown’ season four premieres — 30; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 31; Miami Beach City Commission Elections — 39; ‘Landman’ season two premieres on Paramount+ — 51; ’Wicked: Part 2’ premieres — 56; ’Stranger Things’ final season premieres — 61; Bears vs. Eagles on Black Friday — 63; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 68; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 68; Special General Elections for SD 11 and HD 90 — 74; ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ premieres — 77; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 82; ’Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 84; Broncos vs. Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day — 90; Legislative Session begins — 109; Florida Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In — 109; Milano Cortina Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 133; last day of the Regular Session — 168; MLB Opening Night matchup between the Giants and Yankees — 180; MLB 14-game Opening Day slate — 181; Tampa Bay Rays will play their first game at the newly repaired Tropicana Field — 192; MLB Jackie Robinson Day — 201; First Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (Federal) — 206; Federal Qualifying Period ends — 210; F1 Miami begins — 217; ’Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 238; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 249; Second Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (State) — 255; State Qualifying Period ends — 259; FIFA World Cup begins — 258; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 281; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 286; 96th annual MLB All-Star Game — 291; Domestic Primary Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 293; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation — 297; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to request that ballot be mailed — 314; Primary Election 2026: Early voting period begins (mandatory period) — 316; Primary Election Day 2026 — 326; Yankees host the Mets to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 — 350; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 354; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 358; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 363; Domestic General Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 370; General Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote — 374; Early Votion General Election Mandatory period begins — 393; 2026 General Election — 403; ’Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 448; Another untitled ’Star Wars’ movie premieres — 448; Tampa Mayoral Election — 522; Jacksonville First Election — 543; Jacksonville General Election — 599; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’ premieres — 617; ‘Bluey The Movie’ premieres — 679; ’The Batman 2’ premieres — 735; ’Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 812; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1022; U.S. Presidential Election — 1138; ’Avatar 4’ premieres — 1538; ’Avatar 5’ premieres — 2269.

— TOP STORY —

“White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown” via Sophia Cai of POLITICO — The White House budget office is directing federal agencies to prepare for permanent mass firings if a government shutdown occurs next week, a significant escalation in the standoff with Congress.^[8]

In a memo, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructed agencies to draft reduction-in-force (RIF) plans targeting employees in programs that are not legally required to continue.

This marks a significant departure from past shutdowns, which typically relied on temporary furloughs. OMB Director Russ Vought is now using the threat of permanent job cuts as leverage in spending negotiations.

The plans would target programs with lapsed discretionary funding that are not consistent with President Donald Trump’s priorities. Essential services, such as Social Security, military operations, and law enforcement, would remain unaffected.

The directive comes as Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over a stopgap spending bill ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline. If a clean bill passes, the RIF plans will be unnecessary.

Democratic leaders condemned the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it an “attempt at intimidation,” while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned voters that the goal was to “ruin your life.”

— STATEWIDE —

“Florida open-carry officially takes effect after court ruling” via Michelle Vecerina of Florida’s Voice — Florida officially became an open-carry state after the expiration of a 15-day waiting period on a state appeals court decision that struck down the longstanding ban as unconstitutional. The 1st District Court of Appeal’s ruling on Sept. 10, which deemed a 1987 state law incompatible with the Second Amendment, has been adopted as the law of the state after Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office would not challenge the decision. The law now allows most law-abiding adults to openly carry a firearm, often in a holster, in public spaces.^[9]

—“Man behind Florida open-carry ruling, taking effect today, calls himself ‘patriot’” via Sara-James Ranta of Fresh Take Florida^[10]

“Blaise Ingoglia bashes Alachua County tax increases as part of growing calls for spending control” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Chief Financial Officer Ingoglia made the latest stop in his continuing crusade against local government spending with an appearance in Alachua County. “We are on the verge of a property tax revolt here in the state of Florida,” Ingoglia said, as he unloaded on the county government that is home to Gainesville and the University of Florida. Ingoglia said the Alachua County government has increased their annual budget by $140.02 million just since Fiscal Year 2019, a 77% jump in five years. He said that amounts to $84.83 million in excessive spending.^[11]

“Don Gaetz files a bill for the upcoming Session targeting undocumented truck drivers” via the News Service of Florida — Gaetz filed a bill (SB 86) for consideration during the 2026 Legislative Session, which will start in January, that would require law-enforcement officers to take into custody truck drivers who are determined to be undocumented immigrants and help transfer them to federal immigration officials. Also, it would require impounding trucks driven by undocumented immigrants who are taken into custody and imposing a $50,000 fine on the vehicles’ owners. In addition, the owners would be barred from operating in Florida.^[12]

“‘Defensive’ and ‘vague’: Maxwell Frost pushes back against Citizens Property” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — U.S. Rep. Frost is blasting Citizens Property Insurance over its controversial new policy of steering homeowner claim disputes to administrative hearings instead of state court. After CEO Tim Cerio defended the change as faster and cheaper, Frost labeled the response “defensive and vague,” arguing the system protects Citizens’ “bottom line” by forcing settlements on homeowners who face a more than 90% chance of losing. Cerio maintained that most cases are settled or withdrawn in favor of the policyholder. The public dispute intensifies even as a Tampa judge has temporarily blocked the practice, ruling it likely unconstitutional, with Frost now demanding that the state release documents related to the policy’s creation.^[13]

“DEP blesses major modification to St. Johns River conservation easement” via Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO — Environmentalists are criticizing a proposal to allow a wetlands mitigation bank to be established on private property along the St. Johns River, where the state has already paid a landowner not to develop. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is recommending that the Governor and Cabinet approve a request by Roberts Capital Ventures to amend the conservation easement on 5,236 acres in St. Johns County. The firm would pay the state $4 million after the state paid nearly $6 million to preserve the land in 2016.^[14]

— D.C. MATTERS —

“Longtime Trump adviser Taylor Budowich departing White House” via Alex Isenstadt of Axios — White House deputy Chief of Staff Budowich plans to leave the administration at the end of the month to return to the private sector. Budowich, a longtime adviser to Trump and a top deputy to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, is the administration’s highest-profile staff departure to date. He had an extensive portfolio at the White House, which included oversight of the offices of communications, public liaison, Cabinet affairs, and speechwriting. Budowich joined Trump’s small inner circle in 2021, after Trump’s first term, and was a key player in plotting Trump’s 2024 comeback. He founded and led the MAGA Inc. super PAC and Securing American Greatness, a nonprofit group that collects “dark money,” so named because it doesn’t have to reveal its donors. They are the primary pro-Trump advocacy groups and raised and spent more than $600 million during last year’s campaign.^[15]

“Trump signs order advancing TikTok deal, in boost to corporate allies” via Drew Harwell of The Washington Post — Trump signed an executive order to help advance a TikTok spin-off in the United States to a group of primarily American investors, further pushing the influential app with 170 million U.S. users into the hands of some of Trump’s wealthiest allies. The deal will allow the video app to remain online in the U.S. following a law passed last year by a bipartisan majority of Congress, which required its owner, the Chinese tech giant ByteDance, to either sell the app or have it banned nationwide. Federal officials had warned that the Chinese government could use the app to harvest Americans’ data or secretly shape the videos they watch. However, they never provided any evidence that such concerns had materialized.^[16]

“Pete Hegseth orders rare, urgent meeting of hundreds of generals, admirals” via Tara Copp, Dan Lamothe, Alex Horton, Ellen Nakashima and Noah Robertson of The Washington Post — Hegseth has ordered hundreds of the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to gather on short notice and without a stated reason, at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week, sowing confusion and alarm after the Trump administration fired numerous senior leaders this year. The highly unusual directive was sent to virtually all of the military’s top commanders worldwide. It was issued earlier this week, against the backdrop of a potential government shutdown, and as Hegseth’s overtly political moves have deepened a sense of distress among his opponents, who fear that he is erasing the Defense Department’s status as a nonpartisan institution.^[17]

— ELECTIONS —

“Group pushing for Medicaid expansion moves ballot referendum efforts to 2028” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — The political committee backing Medicaid expansion in Florida is delaying a ballot initiative push to 2028. Florida Decides Healthcare (FDH) initially intended for the language to appear on the 2026 ballot for voter consideration. But the PC is blaming a new state law for making it harder to get ballot initiatives off the ground. “Politicians in Tallahassee didn’t just make it harder to get on the ballot; they tried to shut Floridians out and deny them their constitutional right to participate in their own democracy. HB 1205 wasn’t about transparency; it was sabotage aimed directly at citizen-led ballot initiatives. This law may have delayed us until 2028, but it will not stop us,” said Mitch Emerson, executive director of FDH.^[18]

“Early filings shape 2026 House races in Polk County” via Gary White of The Ledger of Lakeland — The 2026 U.S. House races are already taking shape in Polk County as new candidates have filed to challenge incumbents. Republican Rep. Scott Franklin faces his first potential opponent in District 18, no-party candidate Deva Simmons. In District 9, two more Republicans, including 2024 opponent Thomas Chalifoux Jr., have entered the race to unseat Democratic Rep. Darren Soto. The Democratic Primary field to challenge Republican Rep. Laurel Lee in District 15 has also expanded with the addition of two new entrants. All incumbents currently hold significant fundraising advantages over the new challengers. This early activity comes amid uncertainty, as DeSantis has urged a potential redrawing of congressional maps before the election.^[19]

Happening tonight — Rep. Rita Harris is holding a fundraiser for her re-election bid for HD 44: 7 p.m., Moss Park Reserve, Orlando. Address upon RSVP.^[20]

“‘He listens, builds coalitions and gets things done’: 32 leaders back Todd Delmay for HD 101” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Delmay’s bid to unseat Rep. Hillary Cassel in House District 101 just got a boost from 32 current and former elected South Florida leaders. Delmay’s newest backers include two Senators, two Representatives, nine county officials, nine city officials and 10 former lawmakers and municipal leaders. The presidents of four Democratic clubs are also endorsing Delmay, a longtime activist who works as Executive Director of SAVE, Florida’s longest-running LGBTQ equality organization. Rep. Mitch Rosenwald, the immediate past Mayor of Oakland Park, said Delmay is “the kind of partner we want in Tallahassee.”^[21]

Happening tonight:

Save the date:

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Pam Bondi fires a third federal prosecutor in Miami office, linked to anti-Trump posts” via Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald — Federal prosecutor Will Rosenzweig took a short break from his health care fraud and money-laundering cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami this week to observe the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, with his family. But he noticed something was amiss when his office-issued mobile phone wasn’t working on Tuesday. He called the office to find out what was wrong. Rosenzweig soon learned his phone was shut off because U.S. Attorney General Bondi had fired him. He did not see her terse email sent on Tuesday dismissing him during the Jewish holiday, making the 39-year-old lawyer the third federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida to be summarily fired by the Bondi-led Justice Department.^[22]

“Charter giant Success Academy expands to Miami with $50M boost from Ken Griffin” via Clara-Sophia Daly of the Miami Herald — New York’s largest charter school conglomerate is coming in hot — with its eye on underutilized public school buildings in Miami-Dade. At a news conference at Florida International University, Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz appeared alongside some of Florida’s most powerful players, including DeSantis, Citadel founder and CEO Griffin and FIU President Jeanette Nuñez, to announce Success Academy’s expansion into South Florida. The announcement signals a significant push to expand charter schools in South Florida further, a move that critics warn could drain resources from traditional public schools, which are already grappling with declining enrollment.^[23]

“‘Honest, ethical and effective’: Shevrin Jones, Ashley Gantt back Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Two Democratic state lawmakers who represent part of Miami are getting behind Miami-Dade County Commissioner Higgins’ campaign to become the city’s first woman Mayor. Sen. Shevrin Jones and Rep. Ashley Gantt are joining a handful of union and advocacy organizations in endorsing Higgins, one of 13 candidates who qualified for the Mayor’s race. Jones said he knows Higgins will make Miami “a city that works for everyone.” “Eileen Higgins represents the kind of leadership Miami deserves: honest, ethical, and effective,” he said. “She’s not afraid to take on corruption, stand up for working families, and build coalitions to get big things done — from affordable housing to transit, and standing with our workers.” Gantt said Higgins “has always put people before politics.”^[24]

“Resident files state complaints against David Suarez over messages criticizing fellow Miami Beach Commissioner” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Miami Beach Commissioner Suarez may soon come under state scrutiny after a longtime resident-activist accused him of using his public office to sway voters in an ongoing election. If proven, it could amount to a criminal violation under Florida law. The complaints cite Suarez’s public attacks on fellow Commissioner Laura Dominguez, who is seeking re-election this year. Miami Beach resident Jo Manning, in her complaints, alleged that Suarez crossed a legal line when he used the city’s official seal and government letterhead in communications criticizing Dominguez and her conduct at City Hall.^[25]

“State Attorney declines to pursue charges against Monroe GOP officials after election probe” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Monroe County’s top Republican leaders are breathing easier after prosecutors announced they will not pursue charges tied to a disputed $20,000 political contribution that set off months of infighting, allegations of fraud and an almost one-year investigation. In a memo, State Attorney Amira Fox of the 20th Judicial Circuit said her office found insufficient evidence that Republican Party of Monroe Chair Rhonda Rebman Lopez and then-Treasurer Sherri Hodies violated state law when the organization endorsed and donated to Hodies’ successful Supervisor of Elections campaign. Rebman Lopez commended DeSantis for ensuring a “fair, transparent process” and blasted Republican Monroe State Attorney Dennis Ward, whom she accused of pushing the complaint to help Hodies’ Democratic opponent the previous year.^[26]

“Funding gap derails Stuart’s Brightline station, delayed until 2028” via Katie Bente of WPEC CBS12 — The long-planned Brightline station in downtown Stuart has been delayed again, with county officials now projecting the earliest opening in 2028. The setback comes after the Federal Railroad Administration did not award Martin County’s request for $45 million in grant money this year. That funding was expected to cover most of the project’s $60 million cost, with the remaining $15 million to be covered locally. Instead, the federal grant program was restructured and reissued, expanding the pool of money to more than $5 billion nationwide and resetting the rules, priorities, and deadlines. Martin County’s application was wiped out, forcing officials to start over and reapply. The new deadline is Jan. 7, 2026, with funding decisions expected by that Summer.^[27]

“Indiantown plans to keep tax rate unchanged for 2025-2026 Fiscal Year” via Keith Burbank of Treasure Coast Newspapers — Property taxes here likely will rise despite the tentative decision by the Village Council to keep the tax rate at 1.8 mills for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. Property taxes can go up even when officials keep the tax rate flat if real estate property values rise, which occurred in Indiantown over the past year, according to the Martin County Property Appraiser’s Office. The taxable value of all property in the village — comprising both real estate and tangible personal property — decreased 4.2% last year to $2.3 billion, which could result in lower taxes for some.^[28]

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Ocoee fights state over growth law restrictions” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida — Ocoee is challenging a decision by the Florida Department of Commerce to reject the city’s revised comprehensive plan because of a controversial new state law. The Orange County city filed the challenge at the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings as communities in many parts of the state grapple with the law, which passed during the Legislative Session. The law affects counties included in federal disaster declarations after last year’s Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. In part, it bars cities and counties in those areas from approving “more restrictive or burdensome” changes to comprehensive plans or land-development regulations through Oct. 1, 2027. The prohibition took effect retroactively on August 1, 2024.^[29]

“NSB charter review Special Election set for Nov. 4 to include Mayor terms, salary hikes” via Brenno Carillo of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — The City Commission approved the final language of seven proposed charter amendments to be included in a Special Election ballot on Nov. 4. Mayor Fred Cleveland, Commissioners Vallie Perrine, Jason McGuirk and Brian Ashley voted to approve the measures; Vice Mayor Lisa Martin, citing her monthslong concerns over a Special Election in 2025 for charter amendments, opposed. The Board appointed 11 citizens to the Charter Review Committee earlier this year, and the Committee met seven times between April and July to develop suggestions for the city charter.^[30]

“Holly Hill man threatens to shoot City Commissioners over proposed property tax increase” via Patricio G. Balona of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — A resident who threatened to kill Holly Hill City Commissioners over a proposed increase in property taxes is free on bail, according to court records. Rodd Westpfahl, 56, of Holly Hill, charged with written threats to kill or do bodily injury, is free on $50,000 bail after spending two days behind bars. According to Holly Hill police, Westpfahl made the threat in a public Facebook group, “Holly Hill Neighborhood Crime Watch News and What’s Going On.” Westpfahl posted an image that referenced a Holly Hill City Commission meeting, where elected officials were scheduled to discuss a proposed increase in property taxes, according to investigators.^[31]

— LOCAL: TB —

“St. Petersburg sidelines Science Center revival for wastewater tanks” via Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times — An effort to revive the Science Center, where generations of Pinellas County schoolchildren attended Summer camps, field trips and after-school programs, has been in the works for five years. Now the city won’t sell the land to make the project happen and instead is considering the property for future stormwater tanks. City staff were scheduled to make a presentation at Thursday’s City Council meeting to address the issue publicly at the request of Council member Gina Driscoll, as proponents claim the city is quietly backing out of the plan to renovate and reopen the center.^[32]

“Clearwater study says leaving Duke could drop residents’ electric bills” via Emily L. Mahoney and Colbi Edmonds of the Tampa Bay Times — After more than a year of suspense, the city of Clearwater’s study on the pros and cons of dropping Duke Energy for citywide electricity services is done. Its conclusion: Leaving Duke Energy and forming a municipal-run utility instead could save residents millions on their electric bills. The estimated savings would average about 7% each year for the first five years, but then residents’ bills would be about 18% lower annually in the following 25 years as benefits accumulated. Although ditching Duke is not risk-free, the consultants wrote, they arrived at these savings estimates even with factoring in legal fees and hundreds of millions for the acquisition of substations, electric poles and other equipment from the company.^[33]

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Following Tina Certain’s comments on Charlie Kirk, Florida education chief says ACSB ‘failing’ its mission” via Chelsea Long of The Gainesville Sun — The state Board of Education during its Sept. 24 meeting decried Alachua County School Board Vice Chair Certain for comments made on social media about Kirk. State leaders said the post, and another post made by ACSB Chair Sarah Rockwell in July, are evidence of a pattern of misconduct and unprofessionalism from the ACSB’s leadership. The state Board plans to monitor Alachua County School Board meetings for the rest of the year. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas invited Certain to the next state Board meeting in November to provide “clarity and context” on how race impacts her views on Kirk and how those views may affect her decisions as a School Board member.^[34]

“Federal prosecutors subpoena first responders in controversial Duval jail death” via Nate Monroe and Nichole Manna of Florida Tributary — Federal prosecutors have elicited witness testimony since the Summer about the controversial death of a 31-year-old father at the Duval County jail. Last week, State Attorney Melissa Nelson said the U.S. Attorney’s Office took the lead on the investigation into the April death of Charles Faggart, but it has been unclear what actions, if any, the FBI or federal prosecutors had taken on the case. The subpoenas suggest that the U.S. Attorney’s Office was already in the process of taking a deep look at the circumstances surrounding Faggart’s death.^[35]

“Multiple organizations collaborate to preserve large tract of Putnam County property” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — About 1,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands in Putnam County are now under the protection of the state of Florida following a purchase orchestrated by the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT). The land conservation organization teamed up with the Putnam Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund and the state of Florida to preserve 1,086 acres of property on the First Coast. The land used to be owned by Rayonier Inc., a large forestry and lumber company. “This acquisition is an example of how entities working together can really make a difference, and now more than 1,000 acres of land in Florida will remain natural forever,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT.^[36]

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Is Manatee County ready for climate change flooding? New report has answers” via Ryan Ballogg of the Bradenton Herald — A new local study found that increased flooding caused by climate change poses a significant threat to over 90% of Manatee County’s infrastructure. Last year’s hurricane season demonstrated that the county’s infrastructure is already struggling to handle extreme rainfall, storm surge and flooding events, problems that the Manatee County Government study notes are only expected to intensify going forward. The state-funded study reveals that roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, airports, emergency responder stations, the port, and the county jail are among hundreds of key facilities that could be damaged or compromised by flooding if no action is taken to adapt.^[37]

— TOP OPINION —

“Reliable, resilient, affordable energy is vital to Florida’s future” via Mark Wilson for Florida Politics — By 2030, 26 million residents will call Florida home. This incredible growth of another 2.7 million people presents both a tremendous opportunity and a significant challenge, and we have so much work to do to prepare.^[38]

We need 1.3 million new jobs and a robust infrastructure to support them. Every resident and our projected 170 million annual visitors will require reliable and cost-competitive power every single day for the economy to thrive.

Florida Power & Light has reached a proposed settlement agreement that offers a clear path forward. It will enable the company to keep investing in reliable service for our fast-growing state while keeping bills comparatively low through the end of the decade.

This is a great deal for the Sunshine State, built on a proven track record. FPL’s reliability is 59% better than the national average, while residential customers pay 24% less. They have built one of America’s most dependable grids, even in a hurricane-prone state.

The settlement enables FPL to keep pace with Florida’s growth while minimizing the impact on customers. Limiting the residential bill increase to an average annual rate of only 2% is remarkable, considering how dramatically prices for almost everything else have risen.

This is exactly the forward thinking our state needs. To become a top 10 global economy, we need reliable, affordable power. This plan keeps bills low and reliability high, ensuring we can power Florida’s economic growth for generations to come.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“Florida abused him, and now wants to execute him” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — The reason for sparing Victor Jones’ life comes down to 15 words: “Now, after stealing his future as a child, the State seeks to execute Mr. Jones.” Jones would also be at least the 11th former inmate of Florida’s two infamous reform schools for boys to end his life in the execution chamber. The Attorney General’s office, which is conducting the legal fight to kill him, confirmed in writing that Jones, on death row since 1993, was one of the former reform school boys who qualified for reparations. It is not clear whether he has received the money. The courts have said in effect that it was immaterial to his sentence what Florida did to him as a child and even if it mattered, he raised it too late.^[39]

“Without free speech, we have nothing” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — It isn’t only late-night TV hosts who have the freedom to criticize the powerful. It’s not just the press that depends on the First Amendment. Yelp restaurant reviews, snarky T-shirts, police reports of spouse abuse, Broadway plays, art galleries, Little Free Libraries on neighborhood corners, online memes and raising a fist are all rooted in First Amendment rights. It is why one person can stand on a corner holding a sign criticizing Trump and another can stand across the street with a sign praising him. Freedom of speech is so pervasive in our lives that we take it for granted. A temporarily silenced Jimmy Kimmel reminded us why we can’t. The First Amendment guarantees freedom from government interference in the expression of one’s thoughts. It bars the government from forcing citizens to speak or remain silent. It prohibits government retaliation for either. It is not a weapon to be used on political opponents.^[40]

“Trump’s presidential library in Miami should tell the full story — not the highlight reel” via Mary Anna Mancuso of the Miami Herald — Florida, Miami specifically, is one step closer to having its first presidential library. DeSantis unveiled a plan to dedicate land in South Florida for the site of Trump’s future presidential library. Richard Nixon has long been one of America’s most controversial Presidents. But his presidential library in Yorba Linda, California, tells a broader story. It goes beyond the scandal, documenting some of his notable accomplishments such as opening the United States to China, his environmental initiatives and the ending of the Vietnam War. Importantly, however, it also provides a comprehensive account of the Watergate scandal. It wasn’t always that way: When the library originally opened in 1990, it claimed Nixon was ousted by his enemies in a coup, and the “smoking gun” Watergate tape was heavily edited. In 2007, the National Archives took over from a group of Nixon loyalists, and a much more complete — and honest — picture emerged.^[41]

— WEEKEND TV —

ABC Action News Full Circle with Paul LaGrone on Channel 10 WFTS: This week, Political Analyst Dr. Susan MacManus discusses what’s right with America, sports host Rock Riley covers the future of the newly sold Tampa Bay Rays, and Kathryn Varn of Axios reports on an AI-powered school where the teacher is an algorithm.^[42]

Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede on CBS 4 in Miami: The Sunday show offers viewers an in-depth look at politics in South Florida and other regional issues.^[43]

In Focus with Allison Walker on Bay News 9/CF 13: A discussion of Hispanic Heritage Month and the efforts state, county and local communities are working on to integrate and celebrate this growing population. Joining Walker are Viviana Janer, District 2 Commissioner of Osceola County, and Angel de la Portilla, president of Central Florida Strategies.^[44]

Political Connections on Bay News 9 in Tampa/St. Pete and Political Connections on CF 13 in Orlando: The weekly Sunday show is now a joint weeknight show airing Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.^[45][46]

The Usual Suspects on WCTV-Tallahassee/Thomasville (CBS) and WJHG-Panama City (NBC): Pollster Steve Vancore speaks with Florida Politics Publisher Peter Schorsch.^[47]

This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice on Channel 4 WJXT: Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and government law attorney Chris Hand.^[48]

This Week in South Florida with Glenna Milberg on Local 10 WPLG: Milberg travels to Panama to speak one-on-one with U.S. Ambassador Kevin Cabrera – the former Miami-Dade County Commissioner – who’s now six months into his new position. The big news of the week and the newsmakers Sunday at 11 a.m.^[49]

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Spotify removes 75 million ‘spammy’ songs, cracks down on AI use by ‘bad actors’” via Abid Rahman of The Hollywood Reporter — Spotify is set to strengthen AI protections for artists and music producers with a series of measures, including improved enforcement of impersonation violations, a new spam-filtering system and AI disclosures for music with industry-standard credits. The music streaming giant announced in a “For the Record” post on its website Thursday, noting that it had removed 75 million “spammy” tracks. “The pace of recent advances in generative AI technology has felt quick and at times unsettling, especially for creatives,” the post begins. “At its best, AI is unlocking incredible new ways for artists to create music and for listeners to discover it. At its worst, AI can be used by bad actors and content farms to confuse or deceive listeners, push ‘slop’ into the ecosystem, and interfere with authentic artists working to build their careers. That kind of harmful AI content degrades the user experience for listeners and often attempts to divert royalties to bad actors.”^[50]

“Amazon to pay $2.5 billion to settle claims it tricked Prime customers” via Karen Weise and Cecilia Kang of The New York Times — Amazon agreed to pay up to $2.5 billion to settle claims that it tricked tens of millions of people into signing up for its Prime membership program, and then made it hard for customers to cancel when they wanted out. The settlement announced came days into a jury trial that began in Seattle this week over the issue, which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023. The lawsuit cut to the heart of how Amazon defines itself as a champion for the hundreds of millions of consumers who regularly use its online shopping service. Although less sweeping than the antitrust case the FTC has filed against Amazon, the suit targets the company for the way it operates a popular subscription program central to its business and ubiquitous in the lives of many of its customers.^[51]

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Best wishes to Brittany Davis Wise, Cynthia Henderson, Leslie Ingram, and our dear friend Tanya Jackson.

___

Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

Post Views: 0