Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.17.25

Good Friday morning.

GrayRobinson is expanding its D.C. office with the addition of seasoned government contracts attorney and former U.S. Air Force JAG officer Nicole Vele.^[1]

Vele joins the firm as a shareholder, bringing extensive experience advising clients on complex federal procurement and litigation matters, including pre- and post-award bid protests, contract modifications, terminations and claims.

“Nicole’s unique blend of legal acumen, leadership experience, and government insight perfectly complements our legal-lobbying team, which has been embedded in the federal landscape for over three decades,” said John Ariale, managing shareholder of GrayRobinson’s Washington office.

“Her addition strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive legal and government affairs solutions to clients operating at the intersection of business, policy and regulation in Washington, D.C., and beyond.”

Vele, who has managed multi-billion-dollar contracting matters during her career, said she was drawn to GrayRobinson’s integrated legal and lobbying platform.

“I’m thrilled to join GrayRobinson’s dynamic team in Washington,” Vele said. “The firm’s deep integration of legal and lobbying services creates a powerful platform for advising clients on government contracting and federal litigation. I look forward to helping organizations navigate complex regulatory environments, mitigate risk and achieve mission success.”

Vele is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, New York and Wisconsin, as well as before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She is also an active member of the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section and serves on several committees focused on procurement law.

___

Promise Fund marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month with free mammograms — The Promise Fund, a nonprofit whose mission is to boost survival rates of breast and cervical cancer, is marking the month with a community-wide effort to help more women get life-saving screenings. Free mammograms will be offered at several Palm Beach County locations: Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach; Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Healthy Me in Jupiter; and Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Do Good Delray at the Delray Beach Public Library. Appointments are required — call (877) 427-7664 to register. The screenings are part of the Promise Fund’s 31-Day Challenge to reach and refer as many women as possible during October.^[2]

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

—@RealDonaldTrump: If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

—@SamStein: Congrats to our new, in house Pentagon press corps: The Federalist, the Epoch Times, OAN, Turkish newspaper Akşam, three individuals from the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, two Turkish freelancers, a reporter for the Australian, an Afghan freelancer; and three lesser-known operations, AWPS News, the India Globe and a blog called USA Journal Korea.

—@AGJamesUthmeier: Tonight, we filed a lawsuit against Gavin Newsom and California in the U.S. Supreme Court because their so-called “sanctuary” policies for illegal aliens are harming states like Florida. California must pay for the carnage of their open border policies and unlawful CDL programs.

—@CordByrd: The oral argument before SCOTUS today on Sec. 2 of the Voting Rights Act proves the insanity of the current application of the law and the untenable position state legislatures face when trying to draw maps. The Court must provide a clear remedy, which begins with an application of the 14th Amendment, which forbids discrimination based on race. I challenge anyone to listen to this OA and coherently state the Court’s redistricting jurisprudence. It’s what I found so frustrating as Chair of the Redistricting Committee. It’s why we have to go back to first principles as stated in the Constitution.

—@GovGoneWild: Today, as part of our FAFO audits, we exposed $112,468,805 in wasteful and excessive spending in Manatee County. Manatee is a ruby red county where Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-1. Wasteful spending knows no party affiliation. This brings our wasteful spending total to over $1.1B and we’re not stopping!

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) Fall Board Meeting and Gala begins — 3; NBA returns to NBC, with 2025-2026 season Opening Day tipoffs including the Houston Rockets visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder — 4; ’Mayor of Kingstown’ season four premieres — 9; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 10; Miami Beach City Commission Elections — 18; ‘Landman’ season two premieres on Paramount+ — 30; ’Wicked: For Good’ premieres — 35; ’Stranger Things’ final season premieres — 40; Bears vs. Eagles on Black Friday — 42; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 47; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 47; Special General Elections for SD 11 and HD 90 — 53; ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ premieres — 56; ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era’ six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries premieres on Disney+ — 56; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 61; ’Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 63; Broncos vs. Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day — 69; Legislative Session begins — 88; Florida Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In — 88; ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ premieres on HBO — 93; ‘Melania’ documentary premieres — 105; Milano Cortina Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 112; last day of the Regular Session — 147; Yankees-Giants Opening Day matchup/Netflix’s first exclusive MLB stream — 159; MLB 14-game Opening Day slate — 160; Tampa Bay Rays will play their first game at the newly repaired Tropicana Field — 171; MLB Jackie Robinson Day — 180; First Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (Federal) — 185; Federal Qualifying Period ends — 189; F1 Miami begins — 196; ’Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 217; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 228; Second Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (State) — 234; State Qualifying Period ends — 238; FIFA World Cup begins — 237; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 260; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 265; 96th annual MLB All-Star Game — 270; Domestic Primary Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 272; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation — 276; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to request that ballot be mailed — 293; Primary Election 2026: Early voting period begins (mandatory period) — 295; Primary Election Day 2026 — 305; Yankees host the Mets to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 — 329; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 333; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 337; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 342; Domestic General Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 349; General Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote — 353; Early Voting General Election Mandatory period begins — 372; 2026 General Election — 382; ’Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 427; Another untitled ’Star Wars’ movie premieres — 427; Tampa Mayoral Election — 501; Jacksonville First Election — 522; Jacksonville General Election — 578; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’ premieres — 596; ‘Bluey The Movie’ premieres — 658; ’The Batman 2’ premieres — 714; ’Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 791; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1001; U.S. Presidential Election — 1117; ’Avatar 4’ premieres — 1517; ’Avatar 5’ premieres — 2248.

— TOP STORY —

Next year, Florida voters could get a shot in the Midterms at reshaping how local governments can levy property taxes.

House Speaker Daniel Perez has unveiled a suite of property tax measures, shaped by the chamber’s Select Committee on Property Taxes^[3], that he intends to advance “through the process” in Tallahassee.

After that, he said, voters — not lawmakers — will be able to choose “some, all or none” of the options on the 2026 ballot.

“If we have faith in the voters to elect us, we should not be afraid to let them be a part of the conversation about the taxes they pay,” Perez wrote in a Thursday memo to House members^[4].

Perez emphasized two common features across the proposals: None would allow cuts to law enforcement funding, and all would exempt school taxes, which supply roughly 46% (about $21 billion) of school funding.

The joint resolutions would go directly to voters without implementing bills, as lawmakers would only craft statutes after knowing which measures pass.

The bills include:

— HJR 201 by Rep. Kevin Steele: Eliminates non-school homestead property taxes outright. If approved, homeowners would no longer pay city/county non-school levies on their primary residence.

— HJR 203 by Rep. Monique Miller: Phases out non-school homestead property taxes over 10 years by adding a new $100,000 exemption each year to a homeowner’s non-school tax base. After a decade, the non-school portion on homesteads would be fully exempted.

— HRJ 205 by Rep. Juan Porras: Exempts Florida residents over 65 from paying non-school homestead property taxes.

— HJR 207 by Rep. Shane Abbott: Creates a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes equal to 25% of a home’s assessed value. This broad exemption would cut bills for current homeowners and aid first-time buyers entering the market.

— HJR 209 by Rep. Demi Busatta: Establishes a property insurance relief homestead exemption by granting an additional $100,000 non-school exemption to homestead owners who maintain property insurance, linking relief to insured, more resilient homes.

— HJR 211 by Rep. Toby Overdorf: Eliminates the cap on “portability” of Save Our Homes^[5] (SOH) benefits, allowing homeowners to transfer their accumulated SOH differential to a new primary residence, even when the replacement home is of lesser value, thereby preserving long-built tax savings.

— HJR 2013 by Rep. Griff Griffitts: Slows the growth in the assessed value of non-school homestead property taxes to 3% over three years for homestead property (currently it’s 3% per year) and 15% over three years for non-homestead property (currently at 10% per year).

— HB 215 by Rep. Jon Albert: Makes statutory changes, including requiring a two-thirds vote to increase millage rates and allowing newly married couples to merge their accumulated SOH benefits when establishing a shared household.

Perez said the House “does not need to limit itself to one single plan.”

— STATEWIDE —

“Report says prison gerrymandering gives unfair voting power to four Florida House districts” via Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix — While both Blue and Red states (including Florida) undertake mid-decade congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 Election, a report criticizes the way the U.S. Census and state government count prison populations for redistricting. It’s called prison gerrymandering, and a study from the Prison Policy Initiative states that four state House districts in Florida illustrate how the U.S. Census Bureau’s policy of counting prisoners where they are incarcerated, instead of where they come from, distorts the process and gives some residents a louder voice in government. The issue is not new to Florida counties with prison populations. In 2015, the ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit challenging district maps for County Commission and School Board elections in Jefferson County in North Florida, alleging the incarcerated population made up more than 42% of the voting age population in one district.^[6]

“Could Medicaid expansion fill Florida’s gap when Obamacare tax credits expire?” via Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times — As Congress fights over the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies, the health care of millions of Floridians is on the line. Florida could be the hardest-hit state when the tax credits expire at the end of the year, in part because the state has long refused to expand Medicaid. But as advocates raise alarms about Floridians on the brink of losing health care, the state’s Republican lawmakers say they are still firm in their opposition to expansion. Rep. Sam Garrison, who will be House Speaker for the 2027 and 2028 Sessions, replied with a curt “no” when asked last week if he was open to Medicaid expansion.^[7]

“Demi Busatta revives $28M claims bill after DCF neglect nearly turns deadly” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — Coral Gables Republican Rep. Busatta is bringing back a claims bill seeking to compensate a child who was brutally stabbed by her mother in 2015. The measure (HB 6503) seeks $28 million in compensation for a child known as “L.P.” after a court found that state authorities ignored several warnings about the mental well-being of her mother, resulting in the attempted murder of the child. Sen. Joe Gruters filed a similar measure (SB 12) in 2025, but the bill died. In June 2015, when L.P. was 6 years old, a family member notified the Sarasota Police Department, requesting a welfare check of her mother after she sent a suicide video to several family members.^[8]

“Ana María Rodriguez renews $20M fight to compensate child who overdosed in care of foster parent” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — Sen. Rodriguez has filed a bill seeking to compensate a child who overdosed while in the care of a state foster parent. The measure (SB 4) seeks a $20 million settlement for a child known as “C.C.” who sustained permanent injuries due to what the bill calls “negligence” from the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Rodriguez filed an identical claims bill (SB 2) during the 2025 Legislative Session and previously filed legislation seeking relief for C.C. in 2024 and 2023. A claims bill is a tool that lawmakers can use to compensate individuals or entities for injuries or losses resulting from the negligence or error of a public officer or agency. The now 11-year-old C.C. was left with permanent injuries that include suffering an anoxic brain injury, seizures, strokes and other neurological impairments after the child overdosed on his mother’s methadone.^[9]

“Ryan Chamberlin files first part of 3-bill package to roll back property taxes to 2022-23 levels” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Chamberlin has filed HB 149, a proposal he calls “Freedom 1,” aimed at providing immediate property tax relief by rolling back county and School District millage rates to 2022–23 levels. The Belleview Republican said it’s “the best thing we can do to provide immediate relief” and the first step in his three-part “Freedom 1-2-3” plan to eventually replace property taxes with another funding model. With levies up nearly 50% in four years, Chamberlin’s bill would cap rates through fiscal 2029, delivering an estimated 20% average tax cut statewide. The measure, which lacks a Senate companion, aligns with CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s DOGE accountability initiative by reducing local revenue and forcing officials to manage spending more responsibly.^[10]

“Berny Jacques refiles E-Verify expansion bill” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics — Jacques has reintroduced a bill (HB 197) for the 2026 Session that would require all private employers in Florida to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm that workers are legally authorized to work in the United States. The measure mirrors last year’s proposal, which passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Current law applies only to businesses with more than 25 employees; Jacques’ bill would extend it to all private employers and require annual compliance verification on tax returns. Citing widespread abuse of hiring laws, Jacques said too many businesses “subvert the law to avoid investing in American workers.” He emphasized that using E-Verify is free and relies on existing employee information already collected by employers.^[11]

“Will data centers drive up Florida electric bills? This case could decide” via Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times — For the first time in Florida, utility regulators are mulling how to handle data centers — the energy-guzzling facilities that house computer equipment needed to power artificial intelligence and other tech programs. Data centers in different parts of the country have already skyrocketed some Americans’ electric bills, as utilities must rapidly build more power plants and transmission lines to compensate for the soaring demand. The issue has come up as part of the complex rate case of Florida Power & Light, giving state utility regulators the chance to set guardrails that could set a precedent for Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric.^[12]

“Only a third of My Safe Florida Home applicants got their grant, program official says” via Ron Hurtibise of the Orlando Sentinel — Only about a third of more than 122,000 Florida homeowners who signed up to the My Safe Florida Home program since 2022 have completed their home-hardening improvements and received grants, a program official said Wednesday. Steven Fielder, who oversees the program for the Florida Department of Financial Services, told the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee that low-income applicants often fail to finish the program because they can’t afford project costs that exceed the $10,000 grant cap for eligible homeowners. Fielder told lawmakers that only 40,719 of 122,057 homeowners who received free initial home inspections have received grants of up to $10,000.^[13]

New and renewed lobbying registrations:

Anita Berry, Jeffrey Johnston, Lauren Lange, Amanda Stewart, Johnston & Stewart Government Strategies: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Timothy Carr: Justice Administrative Commission

Charles Cliburn, New Capitol IT: SLG Innovation

Jacqueline Corcoran, Jeff Hawes, Corcoran Partners: Morgan and Morgan o/b/o Sean Hurley

Christopher Dawson, Robert Stuart, Jason Unger, GrayRobinson: Tampa Port Authority

Bobby DuBose, DuBose & Associates: City of Lauderhill

Meghan Hodde, The P5 Group: City of Sebring

Brian McManus, The Southern Group: Incode Technologies

Samuel Peltier, Pittman Law Group: City of Belle Glade, Florida State University Student Government Association

Kristina Pickens, Robert M. Levy & Associates: Floridians for Responsible and Effective Solutions in Health

— D.C. MATTERS —

“Former Donald Trump aide John Bolton is indicted over handling of classified information” via Devlin Barrett and Glenn Thrush of The New York Times — Bolton, the national security hawk and former adviser to Trump who became one of his most outspoken critics, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on Thursday on charges of mishandling classified information. An 18-count indictment accused Bolton of sending more than 1,000 pages of “diary” notes about his day-to-day activities as Trump’s national security adviser in 2018 and 2019. Many of those notes included “national defense information,” including details classified as top secret, according to the indictment.^[14]

“Head of the U.S. military’s Southern Command is stepping down, officials say” via Eric Schmitt and Tyler Pager of The New York Times — Adm. Alvin Holsey is stepping down as head of U.S. Southern Command less than a year into his tenure, amid escalating Pentagon attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela. The Trump administration has framed the mission as a counterdrug and counterterrorism effort, though insiders say its true aim is to weaken Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Holsey reportedly raised legal and ethical concerns about killing suspected traffickers without congressional authorization, as the U.S. has no declared conflict in the region. His departure follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s broader purge of top officers — many of them women and people of color — as he reshapes the Pentagon around loyalty and ideological conformity while expanding U.S. military operations and covert actions in Latin America.^[15]

“Trump names more foes he wants prosecuted as Pam Bondi and Kash Patel look on” via Glenn Thrush of The New York Times — In a display of power and compliance, Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Patel joined Trump in the Oval Office to tout “law enforcement successes,” only to hear Trump demand prosecutions of political adversaries including Special Counsel Jack Smith, Andrew Weissmann, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. The officials nodded silently as Trump branded Smith “a criminal” and pressed for charges against others, part of his broader campaign to weaponize federal law enforcement. Bondi and Blanche have echoed Trump’s rhetoric publicly, while Patel openly praises him. Their subservience reflects a Justice Department remade to serve Trump’s political will, eroding long-standing norms of independence that once defined the FBI and Department of Justice.^[16]

“Chamber of Commerce sues over Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee” via Brian Schwartz and Louise Radnofsky of The Wall Street Journal — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sued the Trump administration over hefty new fees in the H-1B visa program, joining the legal campaign against the administration’s changes to a program used by some of the biggest tech companies in the U.S. The lawsuit places the Chamber among the few business groups challenging the Trump administration in court over policies they say will hurt employers. An earlier lawsuit over the $100,000 fee for new visa applications was filed in federal court in California by a health care staffing business and labor unions. Lawsuits over sweeping global tariffs, meanwhile, were brought by small businesses, including a wine importer and an educational toy company, not Fortune 500 companies. The Chamber’s lawsuit is seeking to block the new H-1B program restrictions, which were rolled out in a presidential proclamation that the Chamber says, “is not only misguided policy; it is plainly unlawful.”^[17]

“Judges admonish Trump administration, hand it legal setbacks in Chicago cases” via Mark Berman, Marianne LeVine and Kim Bellware of The Washington Post — Judges rebuked the Trump administration for its arguments involving military troops and actions by federal officers in the Chicago area, reflecting a degree of skepticism in high-profile legal battles swirling around the country’s third-biggest city. Trump has sought to deploy the National Guard in and around Chicago, where his administration’s immigration enforcement actions have prompted protests. A federal appeals court panel said Thursday that it would not let Trump send troops anywhere in Illinois for now, leaving in place a lower-court ruling blocking his administration from dispatching the National Guard there.^[18]

— ELECTIONS —

“Is Ron DeSantis’ fundraising might waning?” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — DeSantis just turned in a particularly weak fundraising quarter, considering his track record. Between July 1 and Sept. 30, DeSantis amassed $529,000 through the Florida Freedom Fund, a political committee used to defeat ballot measures he opposed last year, which he repurposed after the election to “elect strong leaders” in Florida. In a vacuum, it’s not an insignificant haul. But the PC’s fundraising last quarter was less than a tenth of what it collected in its first full quarter after beginning operations in mid-May 2024, when it gathered nearly $5.7 million. In the next quarter, it collected half that, $2.8 million. Then it raised $1.6 million and $1.3 million in the next two quarters, respectively.^[19]

“Kat Cammack secures valuable Trump endorsement for third term” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — President Trump has officially endorsed U.S. Rep. Cammack’s re-election bid. He praised the Gainesville Republican in a Truth Social post. “Congresswoman Kat Cammack is doing a fantastic job representing the wonderful people of Florida’s 3rd Congressional District,” Trump wrote. “In Congress, Kat is working tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Champion our Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Kat Cammack has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Cammack embraced the support.^[20]

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Eyes are on South Florida for redistricting after SCOTUS voting rights hearing” via Claire Heddles of the Miami Herald — South Florida congressional seats are in Republicans’ crosshairs after this week’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing about the Voting Rights Act — a case DeSantis has been closely watching, and which outside advocates say could put three Democratic seats in Florida at risk. “We believe Florida will become ground zero for discriminatory redrawing of maps should this court not make the right decision,” April England Albright, National Legal Director for Black Voters Matter, said after the hearing. Both Democratic and Republican groups are already gearing up for a coming legal battle in Florida over new, mid-decade maps ahead of next year’s Midterms.^[21]

“Florida AG to defend Miami-Dade College after court temporarily blocks Trump library’” via Claire Heddles of the Miami Herald — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office is jumping in to defend Miami-Dade College in what he’s calling a “bogus lawsuit,” after a judge temporarily blocked the school from transferring the deed for prime downtown land the state plans to give Trump’s presidential library foundation. CFO Ingoglia has also filed a request to join the lawsuit on the college’s behalf. The Sunshine law case hinges on whether the college’s Board of Trustees gave “reasonable notice” ahead of a brief Sept. 23 meeting where they unanimously voted to hand over property adjacent to the Freedom Tower to a state Board at no cost, without any debate or discussion. The state’s Internal Improvement Trust Fund voted to give the land to Trump’s library foundation a week later. The only restriction on the deal is that construction has to begin within five years.^[22]

—“Charlie Kirk supporters protest School Board member Edwin Ferguson while NAACP shows support” via Greg Lovett of The Palm Beach Post^[23]

“Heat-hardy corals turn white off Broward. Bleaching ‘rare’ and ‘concerning’” via Ashley Miznazi of the Miami Herald — Heat-hardy corals off the coast of Broward County escaped a mass bleaching event two years back that devastated much of South Florida’s reef tract. They couldn’t take the heat this Summer. Earlier this month, researchers documented that several species of soft corals, which typically withstand high temperatures, had also turned ghostly white. Jose Lopez, a professor with Nova Southeastern University’s Halmos College of the Arts and Sciences, called the discovery ‘rare’ and ‘concerning.’ Bleaching, caused mainly by high ocean temperatures but also pollution, can put corals under “long-term stress” that weakens them and can sometimes kill them. “Corals are the canaries of the ocean. Like canaries in the coal mine, ocean form. And this is another sign,” Lopez said.^[24]

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Orlando airport ‘reviewing’ Kristi Noem video blaming Democrats for shutdown” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Airports across the country are refusing to show a video message from a top Trump administration official that blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. But Orlando International Airport says it is still considering what to do. The video puts Orlando airport officials in a difficult position. DeSantis’ appointees dominate the airport’s Governing Board, but the city it serves is one of Florida’s Democratic strongholds. “We are reviewing the request from the Transportation Security Administration and reviewing our existing policies,” said Angela Starke, a spokesperson for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees the Orlando International Airport.^[25]

“Lawsuit could halt planned Orange County Convention Center expansion” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — An Atlanta developer is seeking to halt a planned $560 million expansion to the Orange County Convention Center until the county builds a highway interchange promised nearly 30 years ago. Universal City Property Management filed a lawsuit late last month in Orange County Circuit Court, citing land covenants attached to a 1998 sale of 230 acres to the county. The county bought the land to expand the convention center amid a nationwide race to be a leader in hosting business meetings. Under the terms of the $69 million deal, the county couldn’t expand the convention center again until it extended Kirkman Road from Sand Lake Road to State Road 528, with a highway interchange.^[26]

“Jim Gray keeps outraising Tom Keen in Orlando City Council race” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Orange City Commissioner Gray continues to hold a significant fundraising advantage over former state Rep. Keen in the final weeks of the Orlando City Council District 1 race. Gray raised $58,000 compared to Keen’s $22,000, which includes Keen’s $6,500 loan to his campaign. The latest campaign finance reports cover activity from July 1 to Oct. 8. The race’s other two candidates, Manny Acosta and Sunshine Linda-Marie Grund, have raised $3,400 and $2,000, respectively, so far. On Nov. 4, Orlando City voters will decide who should represent Districts 1, 3 and 5. In an interview, Keen acknowledged that he has been financially outmatched. But he said his strategy is knocking on more than 4,000 doors so far and hoping endorsements from U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and state Rep. Anna Eskamani help bring out the Democratic vote in the district, which leans blue.^[27]

“Palm Coast narrows City Manager search to two candidates; final interviews set for November” via Brenno Carillo of The Daytona Beach News-Journal — The pool of six candidates competing to become Palm Coast’s next City Manager has been narrowed down to two names: David Fraser and Michael McGlothlin. Both men will travel to the city for final interviews in November. The two emerged as the top choices after the City Council used a ranking voting system to determine which candidates had the Board’s consensus. The five Board members ranked their top three choices from the pool of six, which also included Anthony Schembri, Thomas Thomas, Carl E. Geffken and Norman West.^[28]

“Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson receives 10% salary increase after glowing evaluation” via Brenno Carillo of The Daytona Beach News-Journal — The Bunnell City Commission on Oct. 13 voted unanimously to raise City Manager Jackson’s salary by 10% after he received an evaluation of 2.74 out of 3. Jackson received a 7.5% salary bump, with an additional 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (or COLA). Jackson’s salary increased from $146,972.80 to $157,976.00 with a 10% total raise. All other city employees received the 2.5% COLA increase on Oct. 1. Jackson thanked Board members for their “partnership,” as well as city staff, and said working with the city “is an honor and a privilege.”^[29]

“Is Daytona Beach willfully ignoring communities and undermining voters? Lawsuit says yes” via Eileen Zaffiro-Kean of The Daytona Beach News-Journal — For the second time in two years, the city has been sued for its plan to redistrict Daytona Beach City Commission zones. After scrapping a redistricting plan that spurred a lawsuit in 2023, City Commissioners adopted a new strategy on Oct. 1. Two weeks later, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, that new plan was met with a second lawsuit. Three residents and a community organization called VOTE! have filed the latest federal lawsuit challenging the redistricting plan just adopted by City Commissioners, arguing that the new map unlawfully ignores communities of interest and neighborhood needs in favor of impermissible racial goals.^[30]

“Orange County teacher told to remove Kirk poster from classroom” via Hayley Crombleholme of WESH — A teacher in Orange County says he was told to take down a Kirk poster hanging in his classroom. He says he’s filed a grievance, hoping to hang it back up. William Loggans teaches comprehensive law honors and economics at Horizon High School. In his classroom, he says he hangs posters with inspirational quotes from Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, and, most recently, Kirk. The poster shows a picture of Kirk and reads, “Never underestimate the power of your voice and the impact you can have on the world when you speak up for what you believe in.” “I didn’t see anything political with it at all,” Loggans said. “It’s just an inspirational quote by Charlie Kirk.”^[31]

— LOCAL: TB —

“St. Pete adopts legislative priorities before ‘lame duck’ Session” via the St. Pete Catalyst — St. Petersburg officials are closely monitoring a storm recovery bill that prevents them from regulating development. Potentially losing property tax revenue is another top concern for 2026. The city will also advocate for firearm restrictions, environmental resiliency programs, insurance cost reductions and child care subsidies amid what one municipal lobbyist called a “fairly crazy” Legislative Session. While the full Legislature will not be convened until January, Committee meetings began Oct. 6. A City Council Committee approved St. Petersburg’s annual list of legislative priorities. Council member Lisset Hanewicz kicked off the discussion by referencing a recent article regarding SB 180.^[32]

“Tampa woman posed as immigration lawyer, clients say, leaving dozens in limbo” via Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times — Yordanka Rumayor said she paid $18,000 to an immigration service in Tampa that promised temporary permits or humanitarian parole and legal representation for her family. But the paperwork, she said, was never filed. María Victoria Abio La Rosa said she paid the same service $15,000 for applications for herself, her husband and her son. After months of believing their legal struggles were over, she was told by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that her family remains in limbo. The two Cubans are among a long list of immigrants who said they trusted Dayana Barreto García and her Tampa firm, García SM Immigration Service, to help them secure documents and visas.^[33]

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Despite budgetary pressures, this Florida School Board spends big bucks on banned books” via Douglas Soule of WUSF — “And Tango Makes Three” costs less than $8 on Amazon. But it’s costing a Florida School Board more than $300,000 to keep that children’s picture book off school library shelves. The bill has fallen to Escambia County education officials, who also recently raised the local property tax, citing various budgetary pressures. “That’s a lot of money,” said Stephana Ferrell of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, a book access advocacy group. “That’s a lot of books. That’s a lot of books that we could be investing in classroom libraries… We could do a lot of good things with that money.” The District had paid attorneys nearly $312,000 in legal fees by the end of May in response to federal litigation filed by the book’s authors.^[34]

“Florida wipes ‘culture,’ ‘diversity’ and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses” via Michael Vasquez of The Tributary — Returning from Summer break, University of North Florida professor John White was caught off-guard by the urgent news, relayed by administrators, that the state ordered certain taboo words to be removed from all class syllabi or course descriptions in the university’s teacher-education department, where he’d worked for 17 years. The offending words included “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion,” and “culture” — a list that came down from state officials, according to UNF emails, and represents the latest effort by the DeSantis administration to eradicate what it views as left-wing concepts, like systemic racism, from Florida’s universities. State officials cast a wide net, ensnaring courses like White’s where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts far removed from culture-war politics.^[35]

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Blaise Ingoglia rips into Manatee County government spending as ‘the worst’” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — CFO Ingoglia blasted Manatee County’s budget as the worst example yet of government overspending during his ongoing fiscal accountability tour. Citing his Department of Government Accountability’s review, Ingoglia said the county wasted $112.46 million in Fiscal Year 2024-25, even after adjusting for population growth and necessary public safety spending. Since 2019, he noted, the county’s general fund has surged 69% — a $269.94 million jump — despite adding only 61,500 residents and 472 government employees. Addressing criticism that his audits target Democratic strongholds, Ingoglia pointed out that Manatee is a Republican-led county and said, “I will not stand idly by whether you are a Democrat or Republican.” His reviews across seven municipalities have uncovered $1.1 billion in excessive spending statewide.^[36]

“No pay for three Lee County, Florida teachers who posted about Kirk” via Mickenzie Hannon of the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News — Three Lee County School District employees who were recommended for termination over social media comments about conservative activist Kirk’s death are currently suspended without pay. District spokesperson Rob Spicker confirmed the status on Oct. 14, adding that the suspensions began Oct. 3, the same day the employees were formally notified of the superintendent’s recommendation for termination. “Those recommended for termination are suspended without pay,” he said.^[37]

— TOP OPINION —

“Cory Mills’ constituents deserve better representation in Congress” via the Orlando Sentinel editorial board — Expelling a sitting member of Congress demands the highest threshold of evidence and restraint. It is not a tool for political convenience but a solemn act to preserve the institution’s integrity. Yet, every so often, circumstances arise that compel the House to face what it would rather not: a member whose conduct stains both the office and the chamber itself.^[38]

That moment has arrived for Rep. Mills, who now faces a restraining order after a judge found credible evidence that he poses an ongoing threat to a former girlfriend, Miss United States 2024 Lindsey Langston. The court determined she had “reasonable cause to believe” she was in danger of “another act of dating violence.” The word “another” speaks volumes.

Langston’s account, bolstered by other women’s complaints, paints a grim pattern. One ex-girlfriend told police Mills assaulted her during a domestic dispute and later pressured her to recant. Meanwhile, his business entanglements raise serious ethical questions. The House Ethics Committee is already examining whether Mills’ defense-contracting firms violated conflict-of-interest laws while he served on the Armed Services Committee.

Compounding this are allegations that Mills misrepresented his military service record — claims that go to the core of his public persona. When such distortions accompany accusations of personal violence and corruption, the cumulative weight becomes impossible to ignore.

No criminal convictions exist yet, but the evidence presented is substantial, credible and consistent. When George Santos was expelled, his offenses were less severe on paper. To keep Mills seated while these findings deepen is to invite further disgrace.

The House should act — swiftly, transparently and decisively. Florida’s 7th Congressional District deserves a representative capable of leadership, not scandal. The integrity of Congress and public trust in it cannot afford another slow-motion collapse.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“I resigned from the military because of Trump” via Doug Krugman of The Washington Post — On Sept. 30, at an unprecedented gathering of senior military leadership, Trump said, “If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room — of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future.” I wasn’t invited to be in the room that day, and I had decided months earlier that I had to leave. By coincidence, Sept. 30 was my last day as a colonel in the United States Marine Corps. I gave up my career out of concern for our country’s future. United States military officers take an oath to defend the Constitution without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. I swore or repeated that oath under five Presidents, starting with former President Bill Clinton. I risked my life for it, serving as an infantry officer in two wars. I watched Marines die for it.^[39]

“D.C. attackers go free, showing limits of Trump crime crackdown” via Byron York of the Washington Examiner — A 15-year-old girl who pepper-sprayed former Trump administration staffer Edward Coristine during an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C., received nine months’ probation from Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs, who cited the teen’s traumatic upbringing and emphasized rehabilitation over punishment. Her accomplice, also 15, pleaded guilty to multiple counts — including assault and robbery at a nearby gas station — but received only 12 months’ probation. Prosecutors did not seek jail time in either case. The attack, part of a larger surge in youth violence, drew national attention after Trump shared a photo of the battered victim and condemned D.C.’s lenient crime policies. The case underscores rising frustration with juvenile justice in the district, where 92% of serious youth offenders reoffend.^[40]

“We didn’t learn from Kirk’s murder” via John Hill of Tampa Bay Times — Kirk’s murder should have been an inflection point for America’s leaders, a moment to turn down the volume, to explain the meaning of free speech and to repair the contours of our civic debate. But I’m afraid we’ve squandered any chance to learn from this tragedy and worry that our reactions — if anything — are moving us farther down the wrong path. The conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA was fatally shot Sept. 10 at a college in Utah while holding one of his signature events in which Kirk invited students to challenge his beliefs. In the aftermath of his killing, which drew an outpouring of reaction, scores of people nationwide have been fired or disciplined for commenting on Kirk or the attack, including teachers, lawyers and health care workers.^[41]

“Broward County’s public safety is not just a line item” via Gregory Tony for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — For seven years, the Broward County Commission has refused to fund the Broward Sheriff’s Office fully, jeopardizing public safety and forcing deputies, firefighters and 911 operators to do more with less. Despite an independent study showing BSO ranks near the bottom in South Florida pay, the Commission approved only a 3% budget increase — far less than the double-digit boosts granted in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. This chronic underfunding has strained recruitment, retention, and morale, leaving Broward vulnerable as experienced personnel leave for better-paying agencies. The sheriff’s appeal to the state Administration Commission is not political; it’s a last resort to protect residents. Broward’s first responders deserve fair compensation, and the county’s citizens deserve the same safety commitment neighboring communities enjoy.^[42]

“The insurance stability lever the Florida Legislature forgot” via Jeff Brandes and John Rollins for Florida Politics — Florida’s property insurance market is finally stabilizing, with new insurers entering the state, lower reinsurance prices and fewer lawsuits. Yet premiums remain stubbornly high because of an overlooked policy choice: the automatic inflation of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund’s “retention,” or statewide deductible, which determines when the fund begins reimbursing insurers after a storm. Since 2010, that retention has quietly climbed from $4.5 billion to $11.3 billion, forcing insurers to buy billions more in costly private reinsurance and pass those expenses to homeowners. Resetting the retention to its 2010 level could save insurers several billion dollars, lower premiums by about 5%, and still keep the fund solvent. Florida doesn’t need sweeping reform — just the courage to fix what’s been hiding in plain sight.^[43]

— WEEKEND TV —

ABC Action News Full Circle with Paul LaGrone^[44] on Channel 10 WFTS: Bryan Stern, founder of Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue, joins live from Tel Aviv with an update on relief efforts and the fragile peace deal there. Political analyst Dan Snell breaks down how Trump can leverage his diplomatic success abroad to shift focus to domestic issues like the government shutdown. And real estate expert Vincent Arcuri offers insight on how the shutdown is freezing parts of the housing market and delaying flood insurance approvals across Florida.

Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede^[45] on CBS 4 in Miami: The Sunday show offers viewers an in-depth look at politics in South Florida and other regional issues.

In Focus with Allison Walker^[46] on Bay News 9/CF 13: A discussion of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a look at efforts to reduce the number of domestic violence incidents and protect the most vulnerable. Joining Walker are Diana Finegan, District 2, Citrus County Commission and Mindy Murphy, president and CEO of The Spring of Tampa Bay.

Political Connections^[47] on Bay News 9 in Tampa/St. Pete and Political Connections^[48] on CF 13 in Orlando: The weekly Sunday show is now a joint weeknight show airing Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.

The Usual Suspects^[49] on WCTV-Tallahassee/Thomasville (CBS) and WJHG-Panama City (NBC): Gary Yorton speaks with Dr. Robert McClure of The James Madison Institute.

This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice^[50] on Channel 4 WJXT: Jacksonville City Council member Ron Salem; Operation New Uniform CEO Michele McManamon, and NATCA’s Southern Regional Vice President Dan McCabe.

This Week in South Florida with Glenna Milberg^[51] on Local 10 WPLG: Milberg talks with Luther ‘Uncle Luke’ Campbell. The lead singer for the hip-hop group “2 Live Crew” is also a community advocate and high school football coach. Campbell talks about a new bill in the Florida Senate that would let coaches offer financial help to K-12 athletes. The big news of the week and the newsmakers on Sunday at 11 a.m.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Paul Daniel ‘Ace’ Frehley, KISS lead guitarist and solo artist, dies at 74^[52]” via Jem Aswad of Variety — Frehley, co-founder and lead guitarist of the legendary rock band KISS and a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has died following injuries suffered during a fall last month. He was 74. Frehley’s family wrote in the statement: “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”

“Ancient lead exposure may have helped humans evolve over Neanderthals, study finds” via Mason Leath of ABC News — Exposure to lead by ancient humans could have given modern humans a survival advantage over other species – more specifically, their ability to better resist lead’s harmful effects. An international research team analyzed the lead content of 51 fossilized hominid teeth, the most ancient samples of which were around 1.8 million years old and found that signs of lead exposure were present in 73% of the samples, which included Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and other extinct Homo species. Based on their findings, researchers postulate that Homo sapiens reacted better to lead exposure evolutionarily than Neanderthals, a species that was a close relative to Homo sapiens and that went extinct around 40,000 years ago.^[53]

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Best wishes to former state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, Mark Hollis, Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph, and Ray Seaman of Progress Florida. Today would have been former Rep. Kristin Jacobs’ birthday.

___

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