AGP Executive Report

Public Safety & Privacy: Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader contracts are being canceled in multiple places over privacy and data-sharing concerns, including a Florida link tied to wildlife conservation police using lookups for ICE. Retirement Policy Watch: Florida TaxWatch is urging 2027 lawmakers to rethink the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), arguing recent changes could raise costs for taxpayers and may need limits or a future end date. Tech & Law: University of Miami’s law-and-AI efforts continue to grow with a new Miami Law and AI Lab, training students for the legal side of AI. Business & Travel: DeSantis highlighted SunTrax expansion in Central Florida to test electric air taxis and self-driving tech by end of 2026. Food Recall: Corte Argentino recalled nearly 30,000 pounds of imported Argentine raw beef sold in Texas and Florida. Wildlife Alerts: A paddleboarder helped rescue a woman after an alligator attack in the Silver River; officials also removed a 9-foot-8-inch gator. Local Economy: Tractor Supply will close 74 Petsense pet stores. Money: Powerball climbed to about $975M ahead of the next drawing.

Courts & Governance: Chief Judge Lisa T. Munyon was sworn in as chair of the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges, a two-year leadership role focused on collaboration and education for circuit judges. Public Health: A lung cancer explainer highlights warning signs like a cough that won’t quit and urges screening for high-risk people. Education: Polk County Public Schools welcomed more than 117,000 students and points to gains including a district-wide graduation rate of 87.7% and improved grades. Local Safety: Oviedo pinned and swore in four new firefighters after orientation and training across EMS, rescue, ladders, and live-fire scenarios. Health Alerts: Lee County is on dengue watch as mosquito season ramps up, with local officials describing trapping, testing, and rapid response when cases are suspected. Business & Travel: Key West topped a study of U.S. vacation searches from Pennsylvania residents, with Orlando also ranking among the most-searched Florida spots. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports show diesel and E85 prices varying by county, with some of the lowest diesel and E15/E85 figures appearing in parts of Florida.

Florida Business & Growth: Mavis Tires & Brakes opened a new state-of-the-art location in Melbourne, adding more local tire and auto repair capacity. Local Government: Citrus County earned 17 National Association of Counties achievement awards for programs ranging from workforce training and environmental restoration to public Narcan access. Housing & Development: The NRP Group broke ground on a 312-unit luxury apartment community in Port St. Lucie within the Tradition master plan. Public Safety Tech: St. Petersburg is using drones to give police “eyes in the sky,” and officials say it’s helping respond faster in urgent situations. Health Costs: A new report highlights how hospital monopolies can drive up prices, with a knee-replacement example showing major cost differences between nearby systems. Travel & Consumer Life: Disney Cruise Line added early-2027 sailings to a limited-time deal offering savings up to $1,500 per stateroom, and Florida travelers can now use digital IDs on their phones where supported. Courts & Politics: A federal judge allowed Trump to file an amended complaint in his $10B defamation fight against the BBC, while separate coverage notes pressure around the new attorney general’s role and DOJ independence. Crime: A manhunt continues after a double homicide in Wakulla County, with Joseph Ronnie Raker accused in the deaths found in the St. Marks Refuge.

Property Tax Fight: A judge says Florida’s “tax reform” Amendment 3 ballot language is misleading and orders the AG to rewrite the ballot title/summary. Energy & Mergers: U.S. Rep. Spanberger says she’ll intervene in the Dominion–NextEra merger review, arguing for scrutiny of impacts on families and small businesses. Higher Ed: “College Uncovered” spotlights who should hold power over higher education. Public Safety & Courts: Florida courts weigh in on the state’s ban on children at adult performances, while a separate case orders changes to referendum wording. Health & Food: A jalapeño-linked Salmonella outbreak has triggered recalls of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, with cases reported across multiple states including Florida. Environment: Scientists are racing to protect Florida’s coral reef as El Niño warms ocean waters. Local Business: Fort Pierce opens “Sunshine State of Mind” for locally made souvenirs and art. Crime: Hallandale Beach police arrest a man accused of fleeing after striking a police vehicle. Elections: Early voting is underway ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.

Justice Watch: Florida’s AG issued an investigative subpoena to Dr. Anthony Fauci, demanding COVID-era books, cash records, and guidance details tied to pandemic decisions. Autonomous Tech: Zoox is set to begin paid robotaxi service in Miami and Austin after getting a federal exemption allowing commercial fleets of up to 2,500 vehicles for two years. Energy & Power: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger moved to intervene in the Dominion–NextEra merger, a reminder that utility deals can trigger major state-level pushback over rates and reliability. Public Health: Sarasota and Manatee counties are tracking a rise in Cyclospora cases alongside a nationwide Salmonella probe linked to jalapeño peppers. Environment: A sixth dead great hammerhead was found on a Florida beach this year, raising alarms about fishing impacts on a critically endangered species. Local Business/Travel: A Florida couple retired early and bought a home in Greece sight unseen, swapping theme-park life for coastal living. Sports & Culture: Inter Miami honored Lionel Messi’s late father during a match in Miami.

Back-to-School & Local Business: Southwest Florida Rotary’s Business Expo & “Blessings in a Backpack” in Babcock Ranch drew hundreds and collected 162 backpacks for area students. Community Drive: In LaBelle, Women of Truth Outreach Ministry’s 10th annual giveaway served more than 200 kids with backpacks, supplies, shoes, and partners like the Slow Ground Foundation. Legal Trouble for Beach Wildlife: Two Florida business owners face third-degree felony charges after allegedly scattering about 1,500 “toxic” mothballs on St. Pete Beach to deter endangered black skimmers. Immigration & Work Impacts: Haitian residents in Florida fear deportation as TPS ends; Miami’s Haitian-Bahamian chef Wilkinson “Ken” Sejour says ICE activity and the labor shortage are hurting his business. State/Records Fight: The UK’s OPM is still deciding a Freedom of Information request about the prime minister’s travel, seeking legal advice from the attorney general. Sports & Florida Ties: Serena Williams’ rebranded Starfire Ventures says it will back overlooked founders; and a Florida man gifted Tyrese Maxey a Spider-Man artwork.

Florida Lotto & Mega Millions: A Bradenton-area Mega Millions winner and a Lakeland Sunoco ticket helped push Florida Lotto’s jackpot to $6 million for the Aug. 5 drawing, with the jackpot resetting to $1 million for Saturday’s Aug. 8 game. Sports & Entertainment: The Pro Padel League is raising big money for growth in the U.S., with celebrity backers and luxury-brand interest. Local Economy & Travel: Gas prices stay in focus for drivers, with Marion County premium hitting a low of $3.99 and Lake County premium as low as $4.19 in the week ending Aug. 1. Courts & Politics: A federal judge in Florida paused parts of Trump’s BBC lawsuit over financial disclosures, while lawyers say Trump’s family could still face depositions. Immigration: ICE arrests at domestic airports are rising, and immigration lawyers shared six steps for travelers if stopped or detained. Environment: Conservation groups plan to challenge Endangered Species Act changes that could affect protections for the Florida manatee and other species. Boating: New data highlights Lee County as a major boating hub, with tens of thousands of boat storage positions and hundreds of marine facilities.

Local Energy Reliability: Keys Energy Services (KEYS) won the Florida Public Power Endurance Award for keeping average outages to 60 minutes or less in consecutive years, highlighting reliability investments for the Lower Keys. Community & Tourism: Key West’s Artisan Market wraps its 2026 Summer Pop-Up Series Aug. 9 at Indigenous Park in Higgs Beach, with lobster-season themed vendors and donation-based wildlife center tours. Nonprofit Staffing: Last Stand in the Florida Keys hired Tricia Coyne as administrative and development coordinator to expand its long-running environmental and civic advocacy work. Business & Travel: Hertz, headquartered in Estero, reported Q2 results that beat expectations on both revenue and earnings as it narrows losses, while Gringos Locos abruptly closed all four Orlando-area locations. Housing & Economy: A new report finds foreign buyers are down nationally, but Florida—especially Miami—still leads international home purchases. Policy Watch: A judge ordered Florida’s property tax amendment ballot language rewritten, saying it’s misleading to voters. Sports & Culture: A Florida-set “Crawl 2” sequel is in the works, shifting the story to a submerged New York City.

Congressional Race: Jim Schwartzel, one of 10 candidates for Florida’s 19th District GOP nomination, is pitching a “Trump conservative” agenda focused on affordability, border security, and Everglades water quality. GOP Primary Politics: Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’s staying out of the intraparty fight to succeed him, signaling skepticism about multiple contenders while arguing winning office is different from being a good governor. Housing & Cost of Living: A Realtor.com/NAR Housing Mismatch Report finds the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro has a shortage of affordable home listings, with a listing-income alignment score of 67% in March 2026. Immigration: A federal judge’s move ending TPS for Haitians is already raising fears in South Florida, with reports of ICE detentions and growing anxiety in Little Haiti. Local Wildlife Rules: Orange County commissioners advanced a plan to tighten how exotic wildlife is imported for entertainment after the Sloth World Orlando deaths. Travel & Business: United adds a seasonal West Palm Beach–San Francisco nonstop starting Nov. 7, and Tampa’s CLEAR program is set to expand with facial-recognition lanes.

Boating Economy: New NMMA data puts Florida at No. 1 for recreational boating sales in 2025, pulling in $5.75 billion and leading the nation. Business Leadership: Vision Marine Technologies names Lakshmi Rampersaud general manager for its Nautical Ventures retail and service operations in Florida. Health Tech Partnership: OneOncology and OpenEvidence team up to embed AI-driven clinical evidence tools into oncology workflows for community practices nationwide. Local Government & Growth: Lee County supervisors seek specialized legal help as they weigh how to regulate data centers and other major economic projects. Housing & Taxes: Florida’s Amendment 3 fight intensifies as a judge orders ballot language changes and opponents warn renters could pay more. Schools & Safety: Lee County schools keep focus on achievement and safety, while districts push reminders as kids return and crack down on drivers passing stopped school buses. Courts & Culture: A federal appeals court upholds Florida’s ban on children attending adult drag performances. Politics: DeSantis stays noncommittal on endorsing a GOP governor candidate, but says Paul Renner would be a “really good” governor. Earnings Watch: Celsius shares drop after Q2 results miss expectations. Primary Spotlight: Collier County voters head to an Aug. 18 primary with several local races still undecided.

Legal & Courts: Florida AG James Uthmeier subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci over alleged COVID-era self-dealing, teaming with Louisiana and West Virginia as the probe targets guidance, awards, grants and financial incentives. Consumer Protection: A Miami-based company, Support Pets LLC, faces a proposed class action claiming it sold invalid emotional support and service-animal documentation. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis cases are rising on Florida’s Suncoast, with Sarasota and Manatee reporting 12 confirmed/probable cases as the CDC investigates clusters tied to food. Environment & Water Quality: FAU won an $800,475 EPA grant to use AI-guided, 3D-printed structures to pull excess phosphorus and help prevent harmful algal blooms. Business & Local Economy: Real Brokerage touts 26% agent growth as it pushes to close its REMAX deal; meanwhile, Northwest Collision Center expanded its St. Pete customer lounge after growing its facility. Safety & Travel: A Florida alligator-attack roundup highlights how to track incidents after a deadly Seminole County case.

Property & Housing: A new Florida report finds 2,900 required condo milestone inspections were never completed, with 25% of inspections left undone and many local agencies failing to report data—raising fresh questions about safety, repairs, and why some unsafe buildings weren’t cleared. Politics: Florida’s property-tax amendment fight is heating up as a judge orders ballot wording rewritten and opponents warn Amendment 3 could drain local budgets and strain public safety services. Public Safety & Courts: Florida AG James Uthmeier joined a multi-state push with a subpoena to Dr. Anthony Fauci over alleged COVID-era “profiting” tied to guidance impacting Florida businesses and consumers. Tech & Energy: FAMU-FSU researchers unveiled GridFusionX, an AI tool aimed at improving electric-grid demand and renewable forecasts to help operators cut costs and reduce blackout risk. Local Business/Travel: Orlando Dreamers renewed a bid for $975M in tourism tax funding for a proposed baseball stadium near SeaWorld, pitching major private investment and job creation. Community & Services: Manatee County officials responded to concerns about conditions at Bishop Animal Shelter, with residents citing heat, shade, and capacity issues.

Florida Courts & LGBTQ+ Rights: The 11th Circuit cleared the way for Florida to enforce its law restricting children from attending “sexually explicit” performances, sending the case back to a trial court after striking down a preliminary block. Elections & Local Governance: Candidates in Baker County and Florida House District 10 sparred over growth, water/sewer needs, and how to protect rural character ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Housing & Property Taxes: A judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 property-tax ballot language rewritten, while local officials continue planning around shifting rules. Public Health & Safety: A federal survey found Florida hospitals posted the lowest patient satisfaction ratings in the country, with some facilities still earning high marks. Community & Business: Lakeland’s Kiwanis “Stuff the Bus” campaign kicked off for nearly 10,000 students across 29 elementary schools. Immigration: A federal judge lifted a stay ending Haiti TPS protections for about 330,000–350,000 people, paving the way for deportations.

Aviation Safety: The FAA is investigating a Marine One separation incident near Washington National Airport, after controllers didn’t halt commercial flights as required; both the Trump helicopter and a regional jet to Pensacola landed safely. Local Governance & Growth: Lee County supervisors voted to hire specialized legal counsel to help craft data-center and other economic-development ordinances. Courts & Culture: A federal appeals court cleared Florida’s ban on children attending sexualized drag shows, sending the case back for further proceedings. Housing & Taxes: A judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 property-tax ballot language rewritten, with Miami-Dade warning the measure could cut CRA funding and other local services. Business & Consumer: Amazon Business is rolling out dedicated, branded delivery trucks in 13 states including Florida. Economy & Work: A new report says crop farmers face deeper losses and need more stabilization help for the ag economy. Environment & Tourism: Seaweed sargassum is smothering Caribbean and Gulf coastlines, with scientists warning it’s an unusual, worsening pattern. Space Coast: SpaceX is set for a Florida launch carrying AST SpaceMobile satellites. Community Events: ROAR Offshore powerboat races return to Fort Myers Beach Sept. 11-13.

Property Taxes (Ballot Fight): A Leon County judge ordered Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot title and summary rewritten, saying the current language is misleading and “akin to a political slogan,” and gave AG James Uthmeier 10 days to fix it. Local Impact (Law Enforcement Warning): Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called Amendment 3 “ludicrous,” warning it could cut local funding for law enforcement, fire, and emergency services. Retail & Delivery (Drone Expansion): Walmart and Wing launched drone delivery in parts of Central Florida near select Supercenters in Apopka and Clermont, with small orders lowered by tether and shown as an option in the Walmart app. Sports Business (Dolphins Leadership): Tom Garfinkel stepped down as Miami Dolphins president/CEO after 13 years; he stays involved as vice chairman while owner Stephen Ross’s new Ross Sports & Entertainment names Daniel Sillman CEO. Dining Trend (Adults-Only Event): A Hollywood steakhouse is drawing attention for monthly nude dining; the city says the event is legal because staff remain clothed. Economy & Growth (MLB Push): The Orlando Dreamers released new stadium renderings and plan to seek $975M in tourism tax money, pitching a domed 45,000-seat venue and major job creation.

Local Business & Jobs: Brevard’s business scene gets a boost with Tim Balz joining the Groundswell Startups board, Palm Bay naming Gretchen Sauerman as its new economic development director, and a new Brevard Public Schools senior scholarship. Storm Prep: Volusia County is hosting a “Before the Storm Expo” Aug. 8 to connect residents with hurricane-season resources. Southwest Florida Giving: Sanibel Captiva Community Bank donates $5,000 to United Way’s One in a Million campaign. Health Alert: Palm Beach and Miami-Dade officials confirm locally acquired dengue fever cases and urge mosquito protection. Tech & Law: 15 state attorneys general demand OpenAI preserve records tied to the Hugging Face hack, citing risks of harm. Politics (Florida): Florida AG James Uthmeier discusses the state’s Fauci investigation and whether a presidential pardon could shield him. Real Estate Costs: Reports say cash-strapped HOAs are ramping up foreclosures on delinquent homeowners. Retail: Walgreens is closing fewer than 100 stores in 2026, including one Fort Myers location. Travel & Work: Spirit’s exit is hurting retail foot traffic at Detroit’s Evans Terminal, a reminder of how airline changes ripple into local businesses.