Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 9.30.25

Good Tuesday morning.

Another round of Special Elections will take place today, with critical Primary votes scheduled in Senate District 11^[1] and House District 90^[2]. Winners will move on to Dec. 9 deciding elections, which will fill open seats weeks ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session.

Republicans in SD 11 will decide whether to advance rancher Anthony Brice or former Rep. Ralph Massullo as the party nominee. In a district where more than 69% of voters supported Republican President Donald Trump in November, the race will likely determine who succeeds former Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, who Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed as the state’s Chief Financial Officer.

Massullo appears to be the frontrunner for the seat. In addition to raising nearly $190,000 through Friday to Brice’s $2,100, he also boasts endorsements from Ingoglia, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and every sitting Sheriff in the District.

In HD 90, another Republican Primary is scheduled between former Palm Beach County Zoning Commissioner Bill Reicherter and longtime Georgia lobbyist Maria Zack.

The winner will advance to face independent Karen Yeh and Democrat Rob Long, a Delray Beach Commissioner who likely will hold the edge in the contest to succeed late Rep. Joe Casello, a Democrat who died of a heart attack in July. In November, nearly 55% of voters in the District supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

___

The latest James Madison Institute survey is catching flak from Tony Fabrizo, a top pollster for the President who is now working with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ campaign for Florida Governor.^[3]

JMI’s poll indicates the GOP Governor Primary is still wide-open, and that Donalds may even trail First Lady Casey DeSantis if she were to throw her hat in the ring. However, Fabrizio asserts that the poll is flawed because JMI asked all Republicans — not just likely Republican Primary voters — which way they are leaning.

“Any casual political observer knows that Primary voters are a subset of a party’s overall pool of voters and are oftentimes more strident than the party overall,” he wrote.

He also noted JMI left out a critical detail: Donalds has Trump’s endorsement.

“In every other recent public poll — July St. Pete Polls, July UNF Poll and even JMI’s May Poll — it shows that when GOP voters find out about the President’s endorsement, it expands Byron’s lead and catapults him into double-digit leads,” he wrote.^[4]

Fabrizio also criticized JMI’s 2024 polling record, which, although on the winning side, undervalued Republicans at the top of the ticket — they had Trump with a 5% lead over Harris and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott with a 6% lead over Democratic former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Both won the election by a 13-point margin. On Amendment 3, JMI’s polling was off by double digits.

“The fact remains that Byron Donalds leads every permutation of the GOP gubernatorial Primary out of the gate. And his lead dramatically expands when voters know about President Trump’s endorsement,” Fabrizo closed. “Every properly conducted survey bears this out, and voters will too in next year’s Republican Primary.”

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@ReeseJGormanL: (Mike) Johnson told members on the call not to leak the meeting to the press, per sources

—@RonDeSantis: Our citizens should not be subsidizing (via higher prices) the exorbitant power (and water) usage of AI data centers.

—@Fineout: Inbox: Republican Governors Association @GOPGovs^[5] calls on U.S. Senate to pass a “clean short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown.” 25 of 27 GOP Governors signed letter. One of the 2 govs who did not sign the letter is @GovRonDeSantis^[6]

—@FBSaunders: Some clarification here: Sources inside the EOG tell me ⁦@GovRonDeSantis^[7] is indeed backing ⁦Brian Lamb in his bid to remain @SUS_Florida^[8] BOG Chair. Lamb’s current term runs through 1/6/26.

Tweet, tweet:

—@Fineout: It’s that time of the season… when there are supposed to be Committee meetings ahead of the 26 Session starting in January… but really not so much. Senate calendar shows more than a dozen panels are not meeting next week.

—@MarcACaputo: NYT did just did a match of this NBC story about the free speech implications of people losing their jobs for posting objectionable material on their private social media pages. Neither story mentions that both companies fire employees for the same thing

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

—@contramordor: The problem with evil Halloween decorations is that they are real, they summon real monsters, they bring forth real beings. It’s not a game. Festivities matter.

— DAYS UNTIL —

Taylor Swift’s new album ’The Life of a Showgirl’ drops — 3; Regular Session Committee Weeks begin — 6; Florida TaxWatch Annual Board Meeting — 6; ’Tron: Ares’ premieres — 10; ‘Six Kings Slam,’ featuring six of men’s tennis’ best players in the world, premieres on Netflix — 15; Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) Fall Board Meeting and Gala begins — 20; NBA returns to NBC, with 2025-2026 season Opening Day tipoffs including the Houston Rockets visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder — 21; ’Mayor of Kingstown’ season four premieres — 26; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 27; Miami Beach City Commission Elections — 35; ‘Landman’ season two premieres on Paramount+ — 47; ’Wicked: For Good’ premieres — 52; ’Stranger Things’ final season premieres — 57; Bears vs. Eagles on Black Friday — 59; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 64; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 64; Special General Elections for SD 11 and HD 90 — 70; ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ premieres — 73; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 78; ’Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 80; Broncos vs. Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day — 86; Legislative Session begins — 105; Florida Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In — 105; Milano Cortina Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 129; last day of the Regular Session — 164; Yankees-Giants Opening Day matchup/Netflix’s first exclusive MLB stream — 176; MLB 14-game Opening Day slate — 177; Tampa Bay Rays will play their first game at the newly repaired Tropicana Field — 188; MLB Jackie Robinson Day — 197; First Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (Federal) — 202; Federal Qualifying Period ends — 206; F1 Miami begins — 213; ’Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 234; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 245; Second Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (State) — 251; State Qualifying Period ends — 255; FIFA World Cup begins — 254; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 277; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 282; 96th annual MLB All-Star Game — 287; Domestic Primary Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 289; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation — 293; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to request that ballot be mailed — 310; Primary Election 2026: Early voting period begins (mandatory period) — 312; Primary Election Day 2026 — 322; Yankees host the Mets to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 — 346; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 350; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 354; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 359; Domestic General Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 366; General Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote — 370; Early Votion General Election Mandatory period begins — 389; 2026 General Election — 399; ’Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 444; Another untitled ’Star Wars’ movie premieres — 444; Tampa Mayoral Election — 518; Jacksonville First Election — 539; Jacksonville General Election — 595; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’ premieres — 613; ‘Bluey The Movie’ premieres — 675; ’The Batman 2’ premieres — 731; ’Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 808; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1018; U.S. Presidential Election — 1134; ’Avatar 4’ premieres — 1534; ’Avatar 5’ premieres — 2265.

— TOP STORY —

“No deal at White House shutdown summit, but Donald Trump broaches health care talks^[9]” via Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill, Myah Ward and Nicholas Wu of POLITICO — A federal government shutdown now appears almost certain after congressional leaders left a tense Oval Office meeting with Trump on Monday without a deal to keep agencies open past Tuesday’s midnight deadline. The two sides remain far apart, with Democrats demanding an extension of soon-to-expire health insurance subsidies and Republicans insisting such talks occur only after government funding is secured.

Vice President JD Vance and Trump signaled potential openness to negotiating on the subsidies but said discussions must happen “in the context of an open government.” Democrats rejected that, arguing vague promises are insufficient as millions could face higher premiums due to expiring tax credits and Medicaid cuts.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of refusing to compromise, saying their seven-week stopgap bill excluded Democratic input and ignored urgent health care needs. Republicans countered that Democrats are holding government operations “hostage” by linking unrelated policy demands to the spending bill.

The stalemate underscores deeper divisions within the GOP. While some party leaders sense Trump wants to avoid a shutdown, hard-liners oppose any extension of subsidies, calling it a “non-starter.” Trump reportedly acknowledged that Presidents are often blamed for shutdowns but denied that would happen this time.

The Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on the House-passed continuing resolution, which funds the government through Nov. 21. However, Democrats previously rejected the measure and show little sign of shifting their stance. Without a deal, agencies will shutter, federal employees will go unpaid, and vital programs will pause early Wednesday.

Both parties are now bracing for a protracted standoff, with Democrats exploring alternative funding bills and procedural maneuvers to pressure Republicans into renewed negotiations on health care and government spending. The high-stakes showdown threatens to deepen partisan tensions and further disrupt federal operations as the deadline approaches.

— STATEWIDE —

“Hope Florida Foundation Board votes to prevent Chair’s approval of large grants following scandal^[10]” via Jeffrey Schweers of Orlando Sentinel — The Hope Florida Foundation Board approved new safeguards Monday requiring full Board approval for any grant over $50,000, a move aimed at preventing a repeat of last year’s controversial $5 million donation to an anti-marijuana group made unilaterally by the former Chair. The foundation, linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis and created to connect Floridians with support networks, faced scrutiny after $10 million from a Medicaid fraud settlement was funneled to nonprofits that aided a campaign against a marijuana legalization amendment. The new policy also mandates signatures from two Board members and bars approvals involving conflicts of interest. Lawmakers have launched investigations into whether Medicaid funds were misused, and prosecutors are reviewing the case, although officials involved deny wrongdoing.

“Storm clouds: Cities and counties sue over sweeping hurricane emergency law” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — More than two dozen Florida cities and counties filed a lawsuit Monday challenging a new state law they argue strips local governments of authority to impose stricter land-use and development regulations after hurricanes. The suit, filed in the Tallahassee circuit court, describes the measure — which bars more stringent local rules until October 2027 — as the most significant erosion of home rule powers since 1968 and states that it conflicts with existing state planning laws. Local officials say the moratorium has already nullified growth management proposals in places like Orange County. The challenge targets top state officials, including Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly, and seeks to invalidate the law, passed in response to recent hurricanes and defended by DeSantis as protecting homeowners’ rights.^[11]

“Ron DeSantis says he convinced Trump administration to speed up deportations” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis on Monday credited the Trump administration with accelerating deportations of suspected undocumented immigrants, saying new streamlined training means immigration judges can process cases “in weeks, not months.” Speaking at the University of Florida, DeSantis argued that hearings should be swift, not “like an O.J. Simpson trial,” revealing that Florida has proposed using National Guard judge advocates to serve as immigration judges, a plan he says is now moving forward after federal negotiations. He touted new state facilities, including “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Deportation Depot,” and said processing times are improving. “The folks that get processed in there, there’s a pretty quick turnaround,” he said, emphasizing that his goal is not to detain people indefinitely but enforce the law swiftly.^[12]

“Florida cops want $10.4M for immigration crackdown costs. Here’s each agency’s wish list” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of the Tallahassee Democrat — Florida law enforcement agencies across the state are requesting millions in reimbursements from the legislature to cover escalating costs tied to immigration enforcement, arguing local Sheriffs, county jails, and police departments are bearing heavy burdens. Their claims stem from increased arrests, detentions, transportation, overtime and infrastructure demands associated with enforcing stricter immigration policies. The proposal has sparked pushback from budget hawks and critics, who question the legitimacy and scale of the reimbursements, marking the issue as a flashpoint in the state’s broader fight over who pays for the cost of aggressive deportation enforcement.^[13]

“Sen. Don Gaetz wants to protect government workers who file ethics complaints^[14]” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — Republican Sen. Gaetz filed legislation Monday to expand protections for public employees who report potential ethics violations in Florida government. The bill (SB 92) aims to shield whistleblowers from retaliation, allowing them to file complaints with the state Commission on Ethics without fear of being fired or disciplined. Employees terminated after reporting misconduct could seek reinstatement and reimbursement of legal fees. The proposal follows a 2024 law that limited who can file ethics complaints to those with direct knowledge, a move Republicans said would reduce frivolous cases. Still, critics argued that it would weaken oversight. Gaetz, who chairs the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, said the measure is meant to give government workers “a sense of security” to report wrongdoing.

“South Florida Democrats again file ‘Jaime’s Law’ to require background checks on ammo sales” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Florida requires a background check every time someone buys a gun, but not for ammunition sales. That’s a potentially dangerous double standard. Sen. Tina Polsky and Rep. Dan Daley just filed companion bills (SB 88, HB 41) to apply the exact screening requirements now in place for firearm purchases to ammo transactions. As was the case with past iterations of the bills that Polsky, Daley and former Sen. Lauren Book sponsored, there are some carve-outs. Holders of concealed carry permits, firearm licenses and specific certified law enforcement and corrections officers would be exempt. So would purchases of long guns (rifles and shotguns) and long-gun ammo from federally licensed importers outside the state.^[15]

“Peggy Gossett-Seidman revives bill to curb partisan politics on Florida campuses” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Highland Beach Republican Rep. Gossett-Seidman isn’t giving up on trying to ensure that when there’s political activity at colleges and universities, it isn’t unfairly tilted toward any specific party. She just refiled legislation (HB 49) that would set new boundaries for what can and can’t be done, politically, on school campuses. In its current form, the bill encompasses almost all levels of public education, from schools with kindergarten classes to those offering postgraduate and doctoral degrees. Gossett-Seidman said a to-be-filed amendment will nix all K-12 considerations, limiting HB 49’s effects to higher education, while expanding its scope to include private institutions.^[16]

“Florida’s minimum wage set to increase Tuesday” via Ashley Engle of Spectrum News — Starting Sept. 30, Florida workers will see a pay increase. The state’s minimum wage is going up again as part of a gradual plan voters approved to reach $15 an hour. Florida’s minimum wage will rise to $14 an hour. For tipped employees, that means a base wage of at least $10.98 an hour, plus tips. Great Harvest Bakery owner Evan Delaney in Orlando says he has already been paying his employees over the minimum wage to help support the rising cost of living. “I try to think about that — don’t try to pay people less, just try to earn more in sales and that will kind of solve any issues you might have in the business,” he said.^[17]

“Florida leaders celebrate higher ed rankings success while touting low tuition, anti-DEI policies” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Florida leaders spoke at the University of Florida to highlight seven of Florida’s public universities being recognized in the Top 100 of U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings. DeSantis, State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and others were on hand in Gainesville. UF ranked seventh in the annual rankings, followed by Florida State University at No. 21, the University of South Florida at No. 43, Florida International University at No. 46, the University of Central Florida at No. 57, Florida A&M University at No. 92 and Florida Atlantic University at No. 100. DeSantis highlighted the state’s changes to require post-tenure review, as conservatives are making changes in higher education.^[18]

“Have your child’s classmates had shots? Good luck finding out” via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel – The state is no longer publishing vaccine data on individual schools, which raises concerns, some medical experts said. “When it comes to vaccine-preventable diseases, what really matters is the community that your child is in every day,” said Jason Salemi, a University of South Florida epidemiology professor, according to the story. The Florida Department of Health continues to make countywide records publicly available online, but it’s unclear why the school-level information disappeared from the state’s website. The Sentinel story comes as state leaders are targeting vaccine mandates for schoolchildren and vaccine rates have been dropping in recent years.^[19][20]

— D.C. MATTERS —

“‘I’m from here!’: U.S. citizens are ending up in Trump’s dragnet” via Jazmine Ulloa, Allison McCann and Jennifer Medina of The New York Times — U.S. citizens, many of them Latino men, have been stopped and in some cases taken into custody by law enforcement officers who are carrying out Trump’s immigration crackdown and who suspect the men are living in the country illegally. While many of those detained have immediately declared their U.S. citizenship to officers, they have routinely been ignored. In some cases, they have been handcuffed, kept in holding cells and immigration facilities overnight, and in at least two instances held without access to a lawyer or even a phone call. How many U.S. citizens have been swept up in the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps is difficult to say. No comprehensive log of such encounters is available from the federal government, and immigration agents are not required to document stops of citizens.^[21]

“Labor Dept. won’t release Friday’s key jobs report, other data if government shuts down” via Jeff Cox of CNBC — The Labor Department is preparing for what would amount to a news and data blackout should the U.S. government suspend operations. In a contingency plan released Friday, the department said it was looking “to ensure that DOL agencies can perform an orderly suspension of programs and operations should a lapse occur, while continuing those limited activities authorized to continue during a lapse.” While the department’s scope covers a multitude of areas, the impact on data releases will be pressing for investors. The DOL, in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has several key reports forthcoming that will provide important insights into the direction of the economy and inform Federal Reserve policymakers ahead of their next meeting in October. “BLS will suspend all operations,” the 73-page plan stated. “Economic data that are scheduled to be released during the lapse will not be released.”^[22]

— ELECTIONS —

“‘Making Florida great’: 15 Sheriffs endorse Byron Donalds for Governor” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — More than a dozen of Florida’s top law enforcement officers are rallying behind Republican Donalds’ campaign for Governor. A total of 15 county Sheriffs endorsed the Naples Republican, a Congressman running to succeed DeSantis. The list of law enforcement supporters includes Sheriffs from some of Florida’s most populous areas, including Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Miami-Dade County. “I am incredibly honored to have the support of Sheriffs from across Florida,” Donalds said. “As Governor, I will be 100% committed to law and order and keeping Florida the safest state in the nation. I will stand in lockstep with our Sheriffs and law enforcement as we work to protect Florida from criminal illegal aliens, keep drugs off our streets, and implement strong public safety laws to protect our families.”^[23]

Happening today:

and

“Natalie Milian Orbis says she has qualified for the 2026 Miami-Dade Commission race by petition” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Miami-Dade Commissioner Milian Orbis has officially qualified for the 2026 ballot by petition, her campaign announced Monday, saying the milestone proves her support comes from voters rather than political insiders. Elections officials confirmed she collected enough verified signatures through months of grassroots outreach across District 6, which includes Miami Springs, West Miami, Hialeah and parts of Miami and Coral Gables. Appointed in May to replace Kevin Marino Cabrera after his ambassadorship nomination, Milian Orbis has no declared challengers but has raised $317,500 for her campaign and political committee. The nonpartisan Primary is set for Aug. 18, with a runoff on Nov. 3 if no candidate wins a majority. She pledged to focus on safety, infrastructure and transparency.^[24]

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“West Palm Beach Commissioners criticize budget process as they approve higher property taxes” via Andrew Marra of the Palm Beach Post — West Palm Beach Commissioners gave final approval to an annual budget that increases property taxes while blaming the city’s budget process for not reducing the tax rate. The $783 million spending plan approved Sept. 24 holds the city’s tax rate steady, meaning property owners will pay more as property values continue to rise. Three of the four Commissioners at the meeting expressed frustration that they couldn’t find a way to reduce the tax rate to provide residents with some financial relief. “I’m not overly enthusiastic about this budget because I would’ve liked to have seen a small (tax rate) reduction,” Commissioner Joe Peduzzi said. “We’ve done it before. I think we probably could’ve done it again.”^[25]

“Delray Beach is increasing property taxes for the first time in more than a decade” via Jasmine Fernández of the Palm Beach Post — For the first time in more than a decade, Delray Beach is raising its property tax rate after a split 3-2 vote by City Commissioners. The Commission approved a new tax rate of $6.19 per $1,000 of assessed property, up from last year’s $5.94 millage rate. For the average homesteaded property in Delray Beach valued at $447,888, the increase means a city tax bill of about $2,773 — roughly $113 more than last year. Mayor Tom Carney and Deputy Vice Mayor Angela Burns opposed the change, warning that residents are already struggling with higher costs of living. “I think this is a really bad time to raise taxes on people,” Carney said.^[26]

“Stuart to cut at least 11 city jobs to save $1M in new budget” via Keith Burbank of Treasure Coast Newspapers — At least 11 jobs will be cut from the city’s workforce starting in October, the result of a lower tax rate for the coming budget year. The cuts amount to approximately 3% of the city’s workforce. “We balanced several different issues at once,” Vice Mayor Christopher Collins said, who called for the job cuts ahead of the city’s budget meetings. Many governments statewide, including Stuart, added staff and increased spending during the COVID period, Collins said, “so we cut back on some of that personnel.” Mayor Campbell Rich, who opposed lowering the tax rate, could not be reached for comment. The number of employees laid off could be as high as 16, City Manager Michael Mortell said.^[27]

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Central Florida mostly ignored DeSantis’ push to lower property taxes” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — Despite relentless urging from the DeSantis administration to slash property tax rates, cities and counties in Central Florida essentially chose to ignore the pressure. At least 20 local governments in the four-county area have decided to maintain their property tax rates from last year. Nine increased their tax rate, while eight decreased it. But even most of those that lowered the rate at which they tax property will collect more money than last year, as a result of the continued surge in this fast-growing region’s property values. That surge also ensures that the vast majority of Central Florida homeowners will confront higher property tax bills next year, regardless of what their local governments did to tweak the tax rate.^[28]

“Where does Winter Park fit in Orange County’s redrawn Commission districts?” via Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — As Orange County Commissioners prepare to redraw district maps, elected leaders in Winter Park prefer a map known as 1A which puts the artsy city, its high tax base and 30,000 residents in a new District 7 along with neighboring towns, Eatonville and Maitland and unincorporated Pine Hills. That’s a District Winter Park would likely dominate politically. The other option, map 7B, cleaves Winter Park from Maitland and Eatonville and keeps it in a primarily rural District that stretches all the way to the Brevard County line, a long horizontal swath of land that takes about an hour to drive from west to east. It’s similar to the current District 5.^[29]

“Orange County, Windermere sue over law nullifying local growth controls” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — Orange County, Windermere and Deltona are among the 25 local governments that have sued the state seeking to overturn the law used to nullify much of Orange’s Vision 2050 plan and other growth control measures. The law, SB 180, was passed with little debate earlier this year. However, it has been interpreted by the state to prevent any city or county impacted by 2024’s hurricanes from implementing stricter development rules. The legal action was filed in Leon County Circuit Court, according to a press release from Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman, a South Florida law firm. The suit asks a judge to declare the law unconstitutional.^[30]

“Sanford woman settles lawsuit with Universal Orlando over Stardust Racers” via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel — A Sanford woman has reached a settlement agreement with theme park giant Universal Orlando just two days after filing a lawsuit that claimed she suffered bad whiplash, severe headaches and permanent injuries months after riding the Stardust Racers ride at Epic Universe. The rollercoaster is the same ride that Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, rode moments before he died on Sept. 17. Details of the private settlement were not revealed in court documents. A Universal spokesperson said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel that the theme park does not “comment on pending claims.”^[31]

— LOCAL: TB —

“Adam Hattersley suspends campaign for Hillsborough County Commission” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Former state Rep. Hattersley is suspending his campaign for Hillsborough County Commission, citing family reasons. “Serving our community has always been at the center of my work, both in uniform and in public office,” Hattersley said. “But right now, my priority must be with my family. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one for us at this time.” Hattersley announced in July that he would run for the District 7 seat to challenge Joshua Wostal, the incumbent Republican.^[32]

“Trevor Rector, son of Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, arrested for DUI” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Trevor Rector, the son of Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, was arrested earlier this month for driving under the influence. His blood alcohol level registered at nearly double the legal limit, at 0.144 and 0.143. Mayor Rector posted the $500 bond to have his son released from the Pinellas County jail Sept. 2 following the arrest the previous night, according to Clerk of Court records. Trevor Rector is 25 years old. Clearwater Police pulled him over at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, which was Labor Day, for unlawful speed. According to his arrest affidavit, Trevor Rector was traveling 58 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone.^[33]

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“FAMU president apologizes to Alabama State after band announcer’s ‘disparaging’ remark” via Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat — Florida A&M President Marva Johnson issued a public apology Saturday to Alabama State after the school’s Honey Beez — the well-known plus-sized dance team that performs with the Mighty Marching Hornets — became the target of an inappropriate remark. After the Honey Beez left the field after their performance during halftime of the FAMU-Alabama State football game at Bragg Memorial Stadium, longtime Rattlers band announcer Joe Bullard called them “the new face of Ozempic” in reference to a prescription medication used to manage type 2 diabetes and sold for weight loss. The incident quickly spread across social media, drawing ire and disgust.^[34]

“UWF gauging interest in opening free K-3 school on campus” via Mary Lett of the Pensacola News Journal — The university is currently surveying faculty, staff and students about the interest in opening a K-3 laboratory “lab” school, charter school or philanthropically funded school on the Pensacola campus. Housed in the university’s School of Education, the school would provide tuition-free schooling for children of UWF employees and students. If successful, Manny Diaz, UWF interim president, said at some point, the school could expand up to sixth grade and possibly be offered to other local students. It would also give UWF students seeking degrees in education an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in an actual school setting, Diaz noted.^[35]

“Due to federal cuts, Alachua County Library District to suspend interlibrary loan service” via Chelsea Long of The Gainesville Sun — Federal budget cuts have left Florida’s Division of Library and Information Services unable to fund the shipment of materials to and from libraries across the state. The average cost to deliver a package is $2.04 using the Florida Library Delivery Service, which is partially funded by federal Library Services and Technology Act grants. Without the statewide courier, sending packages through USPS or FedEx would cost libraries more than double that amount. “No library, no matter how much money they have, can possibly have every book that’s published, every article that’s published … for a public library that’s just not feasible,” Bourg said. “Having that network of other information professionals helps us fill in those gaps of things that we either can’t or don’t collect or have access to.”^[36]

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Red tide blooms are most likely to occur during the Fall. What are conditions like now?” via Chad Gillis of the Fort Myers News-Press — Red tide season revolves around the Fall months, although an outbreak can occur at any time of year. Millions of pounds of dead marine life washed up on Lee County shores in the Summer of 2018. That bloom started in the Fall of 2017 and was around through January 2019, but the Summer was when conditions were at their worst. This year, coastal conditions are clear, and there doesn’t appear to be any excess of red tide in brackish or Gulf waters, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state agency charged with monitoring red tide blooms.^[37]

“Estero Fire battalion chief accused of fraud, video voyeurism among slew of charges” via Tomas Rodriguez of the Fort Myers News-Press — Months after a Southwest Florida battalion chief was placed on administrative leave, state authorities have confirmed his arrest on dozens of fraud, video voyeurism and interference charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Albert “Shane” Sibert, 54, of North Fort Myers, on one count each of a scheme to defraud, grand theft, official misconduct, digital voyeurism dissemination, unlawful use of a tracking device, aggravated stalking, violation of an injunction for protection against stalking, battery and money laundering. Sibert, a battalion chief at Estero Fire Rescue, also faces 16 counts of unlawful interception of wire or oral communications and six counts of video voyeurism. Authorities stated that their investigation commenced in September 2024.^[38]

“Myakka City residents alarmed by creeping development getting ‘out of hand’” via Carter Weinhofer of the Bradenton Herald — Residents and officials who oversee the Myakka River are worried about the impacts of development inching closer to one of the region’s final frontiers. Some Myakka City residents are concerned that growth threatens the rural way of life they moved there to pursue, and the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council has said increased buffers are warranted. However, with SB 180’s restrictive language, there isn’t much county officials can do to limit nearby development. At a recent Manatee Board of County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Carol Ann Felts brought forward a discussion about what the county could be doing to preserve Myakka.^[39]

— TOP OPINION —

“What Democrats are demanding isn’t negotiation” via John Thune for The Washington Post — A government shutdown is looming. Without action by Oct. 1, vital programs will stall, federal workers — including the military — will miss paychecks, and millions could lose access to critical services. It doesn’t have to happen.^[40]

Republicans have introduced a clean, short-term funding measure to keep the government open through Nov. 21, buying time to finish the full appropriations process. It contains no new policies, just an extension of current funding levels.

But Democrats are refusing to support it. After bipartisan progress on spending bills earlier this year, they’re now demanding over $1 trillion in new spending and are willing to risk a shutdown to get it. That’s not negotiation — that’s hostage-taking.

Major decisions about the size and scope of government should be debated through the regular appropriations process, not forced through at the 11th hour under threat of crisis. Extending funding now allows lawmakers to continue bipartisan talks without harming the public.

Democrats once supported similar “clean” funding extensions — 13 times under President Joe Biden. Their sudden reversal now jeopardizes not only government operations but also public trust.

There’s still time to avoid unnecessary harm. The House has passed the extension, the President is ready to sign it, and all that’s left is a Senate vote. Passing this bill would ensure the government’s continued functioning and allow both parties to continue negotiating long-term priorities. The alternative — shutting it down for political leverage — is reckless and irresponsible.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“New College poised to lead as nation’s top liberal arts institution” via David Rancourt for Florida Politics — Real education is measured in what students learn and achieve. For us, recent top national rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Washington Monthly are not news; they are confirmation. Our model is thriving, evidenced by our strongest incoming class in a decade, with rising test scores, a near 4.0 average GPA and increased selectivity. This success is built upon our 60-year foundation of free thought and rigorous inquiry, which remains unchanged. Our hallmarks — narrative evaluations, student-faculty contracts, and senior theses that rival graduate work — endure. Our ambitious goal is to become the No. 1 liberal arts college in America by teaching students how to think, not what to think, fostering the marketplace of ideas our nation needs.^[41]

“I’m proud the Miami-Dade Commission passed a balanced budget” via Anthony Rodriguez for the Miami Herald — Miami-Dade County has approved a balanced $12.9 billion budget focused on fiscal responsibility and protecting working families. Throughout the process, every expenditure was scrutinized to ensure residents receive essential services — such as public safety, transit and parks — without unnecessary tax or fee increases. More than $29 million was reallocated from county offices to prevent new park fees and proposed fare hikes for Metrorail, Metrobus, and STS were eliminated to maintain affordable public transportation. Despite pressure to raise revenue, all new fees were opposed to shield residents already burdened by rising costs for necessities like insurance, groceries, and gas. The final budget preserves critical investments, prioritizes affordability, and reflects a continued commitment to careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars.^[42]

“DESTINation: $80M is a lot of money, but the ROI is more than worth it” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Florida officials are weighing an $80 million plan to buy nearly 4 acres of prime waterfront property in Destin to create a new state park — a rare chance to preserve coastal land before it’s developed into luxury condos. The land, purchased for $8 million in 2016-17, has since appreciated in value due to rising prices and costly improvements, including seawalls and a marina. Okaloosa County has pledged $5 million toward the deal, which would expand public access, relieve crowding at nearby Henderson Beach State Park and protect the environment. The state Department of Environmental Protection backs the purchase and once acquired, the county would manage the park, creating a 110-acre public recreation area along Norriego Point.^[43]

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

—”FSU opens ‘invigorating’ Garnet Gaming Lounge on campus for video gamers, esports teams” via Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat^[44]

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Celebrating today are Curt Anderson of The Associated Press, Michael Cantens, Tracy Duda Chapman, Harrison Fields, Jason Gonzalez of Lawson Huck Gonzalez PLLC, Jason Holloway, Steve Lapinski, Capital City Consulting’s Chris Schoonover, and Vito Sheeley.

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