AGP Executive Report

Local Business Closures: Cape Coral’s Le Petit Pastry & Tea in Coralwood Mall will shut down Aug. 28 after 2 1/2 years, with owner Adriana DeLeon citing a shoulder injury and a lease ending. Travel Disruptions: Flight cancellations are turning into longer delays for travelers heading to Florida, with tens of thousands of flights delayed and thousands canceled nationwide in mid-August. Housing & Real Estate: Central Florida’s home market cooled in July, with fewer sales and listings even as prices stayed higher than a year ago. Energy Costs: Central Florida drivers are feeling the squeeze as gas nears $4 a gallon and summer AC use cuts fuel economy. Public Safety Tech Debate: Oviedo will weigh privacy concerns over Flock license-plate cameras after new safeguards, as residents question third-party data handling. Environment & Development: Lee County commissioners will consider changes to the Southeast Lee Community Plan amid panther habitat and aquifer recharge worries. Banking Expansion: Citizens Financial opens its first Miami-Dade commercial office in Coral Gables, adding 15 staff. Business & Trade: Florida strawberry growers are backing a federal probe that could trigger tariffs on Mexican imports and raise prices.

Florida Politics: U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is entering Florida’s GOP governor primary as the fundraising and establishment favorite, with major backing and more than $111M raised as of Aug. 17—raising the stakes for whether voters follow the money. U.S. Senate: Sen. Ashley Moody is four months from facing Florida voters in a special GOP primary, with Democrats also competing for a shot at her in November. Immigration & Families: A week of coverage explains how the K-1 fiancé visa works and what it means for local communities and the economy as couples plan their move. Public Safety & Courts: A Naples woman sues St. Matthew’s House nonprofit over alleged negligent security after a 2025 driver crash injured patrons. Business & Travel: Moe’s Southwest Grill is closing 14 Florida locations after a Palm Beach-based franchisee filed for Chapter 11. Environment & Community: Floridians are invited to help with the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, recording bees and butterflies for researchers across all 67 counties. Wildlife Policy: Rep. Greg Steube’s GATOR Act would push for a federal study on whether nuisance alligator removal rules are affecting Florida’s management outcomes.

Florida Politics & Cost of Living: Byron Donalds made a final push in Boca Raton, pitching “Defending the Florida Dream” and promising insurance and health-care affordability, including a first-year review of property taxes and fees. Local Growth & Utilities: In the Panhandle, Crestview officials moved toward a possible ordinance to restrict new data center development, citing land-use, water and sewer pressures. Business & Jobs: Tampa-based Ridge IT Cyber earned its fourth straight Inc. 5000 spot after 181% revenue growth and plans to add about 20 local roles in 2026. Tech/Finance Watch: World Liberty Financial’s crypto project tied to Trump family received conditional OCC approval for a Florida-based trust bank to issue and custody its USD1 stablecoin, pending pre-opening steps. Public Safety: Florida recorded nearly 500 alligator attacks since 1948, with 33 fatal cases, and turtle volunteers on Anna Maria Island reported 55 hatchlings killed by artificial lighting. Courts & Crime: A man charged in the 2022 Jacksonville Beach murder-for-hire ambush of Microsoft manager Jared Bridegan is headed to trial in Florida.

Court Watch: The BBC asked a Florida federal court to help subpoena Trump family members—Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr.—in the broadcaster’s $10B defamation case, arguing they have “personal knowledge” and records, while Trump accuses the BBC of harassing his family. Transportation: FDOT scheduled overnight lane closures on U.S. 192 eastbound over I-4 for the Moving I-4 Forward Program, with detours posted for drivers heading toward Disney World/Celebration. Public Safety: A machete- and pickaxe-wielding suspect was arrested after allegedly smashing a jewelry display at a Costco in South Carolina, with customers and employees helping detain him. Health & Food Safety: Palm Beach County saw two FDA inspections in July—Jowdy Industries (VAI) and Mark S. Denker PA, M.D. (NAI). Local Consumer Alerts: BBB Scam Tracker data put Vero Beach at 84th in Florida for July scam reports (4), while North Port tied for 57th (6). Space & Tech: NASA announced MAX POWER, a two-day aerospace expo and air show Nov. 7-8 at/around Kennedy Space Center for America’s 250th anniversary. Business & Growth: A report says 58% of Florida small businesses use AI, with training and AI literacy key to safe adoption.

Florida Politics & Elections: Voters are in the final stretch of Florida’s primary push, with early voting already underway and campaigns crisscrossing South Florida. A new poll shows Ryan Elijah leading Rep. Cory Mills in Florida’s 7th District GOP primary, and the race for U.S. Senate is also heating up as candidates make last-minute turnout appeals. State Policy: Florida House Bill 173 on parental rights is drawing major attention ahead of its July 1, 2026 impact, while commentary warns Amendment 3 could have unintended consequences, including opening the door to a state income tax. Transportation & Travel: FDOT begins a yearlong lane closure on Miami Gardens Drive near the Golden Glades Interchange, urging drivers to plan detours. Business & Economy: The Tallahassee Chamber is pushing a more unified regional strategy as the FSU Health merger nears a final deal, and Disney Experiences highlights global growth driven by guest connection. Community & Lifestyle: “Pilates on the Field” brings local wellness businesses together at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, and National Thrift Shop Day celebrations kick off early in Bay County.

Sports & Local Life: Houston is signing veteran QB Brett Rypien after Graham Mertz tore his ACL in the Texans’ first preseason game. Education & Agriculture: A South Sumter High School student will represent Florida FFA at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this October. Gas Prices: Brevard County’s lowest premium gas hit $4.09 in the week ending Aug. 8, with the statewide premium average at $4.67. Environment: Florida Keys coral teams are moving vulnerable elkhorn and staghorn corals to deeper, cooler water to head off renewed heat stress after the state’s worst bleaching in 2023. Public Safety: Florida Highway Patrol arrested 18 after a Tampa street takeover near U.S. 301, including one driver facing an aggravated battery on a law enforcement charge. Health & Access: Gov. DeSantis announced nearly $188M to expand rural health care access across 31 rural counties. Business & Travel: Allegiant plans seven new East Coast routes to Florida airports, boosting leisure travel options. Real Estate & Affordability: Florida Realtors’ convention next week will spotlight AI, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and a Wealth Building Summit for agents. Politics: Florida voters head to a special U.S. Senate nominee primary Tuesday for Marco Rubio’s vacant seat.

Property Taxes: Florida AG James Uthmeier rewrote the Amendment 3 ballot title and summary after a judge said the original language was misleading and politically charged, including a bigger homestead exemption and a lower non-homestead assessment cap. Public Safety & Health: Manatee County was named the state’s top performer in efforts to cut opioid-caused deaths, and the county is now seeking public comment on a draft update to its Lasting Manatee storm recovery plan. Weather: The National Weather Service extended a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Big Bend, with damaging 60 mph winds and hail plus a flood advisory. Tourism & Travel Costs: Mexico doubled its cruise passenger fee to $10, with further increases planned through 2028. Local Business & Community: Winter Garden’s proposed children’s museum is pitching for millions from Orange County’s tourism tax, while Islamorada’s new yoga studio is offering classes and private sessions. Tech & Privacy: Flock Safety is tightening its camera data retention and adding new requirements for vehicle search handling. Arts & Culture: A Winter Garden children’s museum proposal and a Manatee recovery plan update both show how local decisions are shaping Florida life right now.

Courts & Justice: Eleventh Circuit Judge Gina Beovides received Florida’s Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence, praised for mentorship and hands-on leadership at the Florida Judicial College. Public Safety & Pay Equity: Public defenders are pushing to close a growing prosecutor pay gap, warning the $22,500 starting disparity is hurting recruitment ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Legal Reporting: The Florida Bar’s Reporters’ Workshop is accepting applications for its Oct. Tallahassee training on court coverage, public records, and First Amendment issues. Business & Growth: Orlando’s Adega Gaucha hit the Inc. 5000, ranking among the fastest-growing private companies as it expands beyond Florida. Health Care Expansion: HCA Florida Healthcare plans a full-service hospital in Cape Coral starting in 2027, aiming to open in 2029. Insurance & Risk: Mangrove Property Insurance says its 2026-2027 catastrophe reinsurance program is complete and exceeds regulatory and rating requirements. Public Finance: Florida AG Uthmeier rewrote the Amendment 3 property tax cut ballot summary after a judge flagged misleading political language. Crime & Fraud: Seven people were arrested in a South Florida $100M shell-company workers’ comp and insurance fraud scheme; separate reporting also highlights a major Martin County cocaine bust. Community & Local Economy: A Venice data center forum highlighted how community pushback can shape local policy responses to new hyperscale projects.

Property Taxes: Florida AG James Uthmeier has rewritten the ballot language for Amendment 3 after a judge said the original wording was misleading and too slogan-like, replacing it with a more direct description of homestead exemption increases and assessment caps. Public Health: Florida confirmed a fifth equine case of eastern equine encephalitis after a horse in Jackson County tested positive, a warning sign that mosquitoes are carrying the virus. Local Law Enforcement: Marco Island named interim Police Chief Joseph Belardo as permanent chief, citing standardized noise-response changes. Business & Travel: Mexico doubled its cruise passenger fee for foreign visitors to $10, with more scheduled increases, drawing pushback from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. Sports & NIL: LSU is in a dispute over whether it can use Jayden Daniels’ name/image/likeness tied to a jersey-number issue involving LSU cornerback DJ Pickett. Community & Events: Fort Myers Beach will host the ROAR Offshore powerboat race Sept. 11–13, and Cape Coral’s Animal Shelter kicks off its online auction Aug. 17–21 to support local pets.

Healthcare Costs: Hospitals are increasingly asking insured patients to pay upfront before care, a shift that’s spreading beyond elective services. Public Safety & Community: Lee County is second statewide for recycling performance, hitting an adjusted 87% rate. Local Events & Skills: A Sanibel-Captiva public speaking workshop series wraps Aug. 29 with a resilience-focused session. Missing Person Alert: Texas DPS is seeking 68-year-old Ovidio Chojolan, last seen in San Antonio Aug. 12. Tech & Privacy: Flock and other license-plate camera systems are under renewed scrutiny as new tools help people track where cameras operate and what data is searched. Space & Florida Ties: A Pine City family member helped support Artemis II recovery operations tied to Patrick Space Force Base in Florida. Business & Growth: Jacksonville’s CTRL+ALT Digital expands its med-spa web and marketing portfolio with a redesign for Botox’d Beauty Company. Sports Media: Orlando Magic games will move to over-the-air partners WRDQ TV 27 and select broadcasts on WFTV Ch. 9 for 2026-27. Cybersecurity: U.S. water systems face rising cyberattacks targeting control equipment, with some incidents triggering boil-water notices. Courts: A federal lawsuit challenges Florida’s sex offender registry as unconstitutional. Transportation: I-95 southbound near Ormond Beach reopened after a deadly crash involving two tractor-trailers and a deer.

Local Politics & Elections: Marco Island voters are weighing Amendment 3’s impact on homestead exemptions, with city officials warning of a projected $12M revenue drop over five years. Community & Business: The Englewood Chamber says executive director Doug Izzo is resigning Aug. 8 to lead the Englewood Board of Realtors. Public Safety & Accountability: Punta Gorda police arrested contractor Michael Vandenburgh for violating probation tied to unlicensed contracting claims. Housing & Cost Pressures: A new report finds tourism workers in the region face housing costs rising faster than pay. Education & Growth: Florida Tech opened Crimson Crossing, a $96M, 556-bed student housing complex in Melbourne. Environment & Federal Policy: South Florida groups warn federal changes to the Endangered Species Act could weaken protections for manatees and green turtles. Travel & Weather: Severe storms disrupted flights nationwide, with major delays and cancellations reported across big hubs. Business & Trade: ParcelRecordsUSA expanded a statewide Florida property records directory covering all 67 counties. Healthcare Workers: HCA Florida Osceola employees rallied for better pay, safety, and benefits.

Connectivity & Business: Google says it’s expanding Americas Connect with three new subsea cable systems linking South America and the Caribbean to the U.S. and Europe, aiming to boost reach and resilience for Google Cloud. Local Economy & Jobs: Data centers are drawing big investment interest in Florida’s Heartland, but officials are being warned that power, water, siting, and infrastructure costs can reshape communities for decades. Weather & Preparedness: The National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Cristobal and Invest 92L, with Invest 92L expected to become a depression soon—Florida residents are urged to keep hurricane kits ready. Community & Aid: South Florida volunteers are packing supplies for Colombia earthquake victims, with donations and gear still needed. Civic Life: Black civic groups are pushing early voting plans ahead of Florida’s Aug. 18 primary, citing low turnout in Miami-Dade. Public Safety: Sneads voted 3-2 to disband its police department, shifting law enforcement to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Sports: Dolphins and Commanders hold a joint practice ahead of Miami’s preseason opener Aug. 14.

Local Elections: Orange County’s elections office is under fire for ditching mailed sample ballots for the 2026 primary, replacing them with a QR-code info mailer that critics say hurts older and lower-income voters. Public Safety & Health: A Sarasota County restaurant was temporarily closed after inspectors found live roaches and other violations, and later faced an administrative complaint after a closure sign was removed. Community & Seniors: A Sebring workshop taught seniors how to spot scams and handle civil disputes, with help from a Florida AG-linked Seniors vs Crime effort. Local Development: A Parramore native is pitching a “smart city” transformation for historic Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood, aiming for thousands of homes, hotels, retail space, and even a vertiport. Transportation: FDOT is running joint maintenance on the Edison Bridge with lane closures and shifting work zones, urging drivers to slow down and plan extra time. Business & Jobs: Orlando-area business owners are being urged to start succession planning early as retirements accelerate, with legal guidance on ownership and leadership transitions.

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.