![\"\"](\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Missing-Children-FDLE.jpg\")
<\/a>Florida has some heroes working to ensure this poster gets smaller. Image via FDLE.<\/p>\nFDLE spared us from asking the J-school 101 question and named the K-9 honorees \u2014 Layla, Hank and Ziva \u2014 and their humans, too. Layla and Ritchie Kaplan found hidden digital devices that proved crucial to a Tampa child-exploitation investigation; Hank and Coleman \u201cRyan\u201d O\u2019Gara followed a one-mile trail through streets, sugar sand and woods to find a missing teen unharmed; and Ziva and Tony Sun located two endangered juveniles.<\/p>\n
Then there were two Duval County Public Schools employees whose ordinary workdays took an extraordinary turn. School bus operator Ann Tatum, certified only five months earlier, was transporting 34 kindergartners and two chaperones to the Jacksonville Zoo when a semi rear-ended her bus. She kept her cool, phoned dispatch, and maintained control of the situation until firefighters arrived to take the baton, earning her School Bus Operator of the Year honors.<\/p>\n
The same event saw teacher Franz Lerch act without hesitation to get the youngsters to safety \u2014 he even aided a student trapped by a seat belt while comforting the students, coordinating with first responders and keeping parents in the loop. The parent of the entangled kindergartner later showed up at a Duval School Board meeting to call him a \u201chero\u201d on the record, a clear precursor to receiving the Citizen of the Year award.<\/p>\n
The story behind another award began with someone whose name does not appear on the list. A citizen recognized a vehicle associated with an active Georgia AMBER Alert and provided authorities with real-time updates. The call set in motion a pursuit involving Law Enforcement Task Force\/Team of the Year Award winners Richard K. Norris and Adrian Myers of FHP and Liberty County deputies William Buckhalt, Robert Livingston and Wesley Tharpe \u2014 a chase that ultimately ended with the infant safely returned to family.<\/p>\n
But the unknown tipster\u2019s act makes it clear that heroism doesn\u2019t require leading multistate operations, being on the human end of a bloodhound\u2019s leash, or piloting 10 tons of steel with three dozen hyperactive distractions in the rearview.<\/p>\n
It can be rather ordinary: noticing an alert, recognizing the vehicle and making the call. More information on Florida\u2019s AMBER & Missing Child Alerts, as well as the Purple Alert, Silver Alert and the newly created Spectrum Alert can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Coming up, the usual assortment of news, intel, and observations from the week that was in Florida\u2019s capital city by Peter Schorsch, Drew Wilson, Drew Dixon, Liam Fineout and the staff of Florida Politics.<\/p>\n But first, the \u201cTakeaway 5\u201d \u2014 the Top 5 stories from the week that was:<\/p>\n \u2014 Take 5 \u2014<\/p>\n Cruel and unconstitutional<\/a> \u2014 A lawsuit has arrived one year after Florida Politics detailed how the Department of Children and Families\u2019 (DCF) failure to move mentally ill inmates into treatment centers due to insufficient funding from the Legislature exposed the state to costly legal action. Disability Rights Florida has filed a federal complaint accusing DCF of leaving people deemed incompetent to stand trial by a court stuck in county jails for months \u2014 far beyond the two-week deadline required under state law. Lawyers from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida Justice Institute and the Washington law firm Terris Pravlik & Millian filed the suit, which names DCF interim Secretary Kathryn Williams as the defendant in her official capacity. At issue: a state law that gives DCF 15 days to move a defendant found incompetent from jail to a state mental health treatment facility upon receipt of the court\u2019s commitment paperwork, after which the criminal case is frozen until the defendant regains competency.<\/p>\n Constitutional clash<\/a> \u2014 On Monday, the Republican Party of Florida announced its support for Amendment 1, which would increase the amount of money that could be kept in the budget stabilization fund to 25%. Then Gov. Ron DeSantis took the opposite position. \u201cThis is a foolish constitutional amendment proposal. We already have a maxed-out rainy-day fund and have recorded the largest surpluses in state history. Any additional revenue should be used to lower taxes, including by assisting local governments with grants so that homestead properties can be exempt from local property taxes. Surplus revenue could also be used to remove tolls once the property tax issue is settled,\u201d DeSantis said Monday. His position runs counter to that of party Chair Evan Power. \u201cFloridians work hard for what they have. Government should not spend it all and then come back for more,\u201d said Power. \u201cAmendment 1 keeps Florida prepared for storms, emergencies, and downturns without raising taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n DeSantis has doubts<\/a> \u2014 In the wake of a new St. Pete Polls survey showing Amendment 3 with just 45% support, DeSantis is voicing pessimism about whether the proposed homestead exemption increase can pass in November. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019s going to pass with 60%. I wanted to be bolder, and I thought that would bring out more voters who maybe aren\u2019t enthused about voting,\u201d DeSantis said at the University of Alabama\u2019s Shelby Institute. DeSantis wanted school levies to also be subject to the increased homestead exemption and for a trust fund to be set up for fiscally constrained counties, two planks of his proposal that didn\u2019t make it into the version approved by the Legislature. But despite the final product not being what he ordered, DeSantis said as recently as last month that he thought it would succeed. While it\u2019s unclear whether voters\u2019 resistance to the amendment is because it didn\u2019t go far enough, this week\u2019s poll makes clear that it clears 60% with only one group: Republicans. And just 63% of them support it. Independents favor it 40% to 32%, nowhere near the threshold, and Democrats oppose it, 48% to 24%.<\/p>\n Excellent prognosis<\/a> \u2014 White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a longtime Florida political consultant, has a clean bill of health after a breast cancer diagnosis in March. \u201cAfter a medical appointment at the Mayo Clinic this week, my pathology results came back clear. I am cancer-free,\u201d Wiles posted to social media. President Donald Trump revealed in March that Wiles had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, but that her prognosis was excellent and she would be able to continue to work as she battled the disease. \u201cHer Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her. Susie, as one of my closest and most important advisers, is tough and deeply committed to serving the American People. She will soon be better than ever,\u201d Trump predicted. Supporters of Wiles, many of them Floridians, expressed gratitude and joy in the comments following Wiles\u2019s update.<\/p>\n Case closed<\/a> \u2014 Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a settlement to an ongoing lawsuit with coffee giant Starbucks. The legal action, filed in December, alleged that Starbucks was engaging in \u201crace-based quotas\u201d when hiring employees at its 934 shops in Florida. Uthmeier now says the company has agreed to stop the practice. \u201cEvery Floridian deserves to be hired, promoted, and compensated based on merit, qualifications, and character \u2014 not race or sex,\u201d Uthmeier said. \u201cThis resolution ensures that Starbucks\u2019 policies and practices fully comply with Florida\u2019s civil rights laws. DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) can never be an excuse to violate civil rights. We appreciate Starbucks\u2019 cooperation in reaching this settlement.\u201d The civil legal action against Starbucks was filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Highlands County. The 21-page lawsuit didn\u2019t single out a particular incident or an individual. But it pointed to a series of practices Starbucks has engaged in over the past five years that the suit said resulted \u201cin a pattern or practice of discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Guns and ships \u2014<\/p>\n This week in Lakeland, DeSantis announced the second year of the Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, which provides tax relief on firearms, ammunition and a wide range of hunting, fishing and camping supplies through Dec. 31.<\/p>\n DeSantis also broke ground on the Florida Archery Center at Tenoroc in Lakeland, which, on paper, will expand opportunities for Floridians to participate in shooting sports and enjoy the outdoors safely.<\/p>\n \u201cSince I became Governor, we have enacted billions of dollars in tax cuts. This year\u2019s hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday \u2014 ongoing through Dec. 31 \u2014 will provide Floridians with even more tax relief. We are proud to protect Floridians\u2019 Second Amendment rights while helping hunters, anglers, and sportsmen keep more of their hard-earned money,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n The sales tax holiday began Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. During the window, Florida will suspend the collection of sales tax on eligible firearms, ammunition and hunting, fishing and camping equipment.<\/p>\n \u201cConsumers can take advantage of the 2026 Hunting, Fishing, and Camping Sales Tax Holiday by purchasing qualifying supplies tax-free from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. Thanks to Gov. DeSantis and the Legislature, this is an opportunity to invest in equipment that helps connect people with Florida\u2019s great outdoors,\u201d added Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chief Conservation Officer George Warthen.<\/p>\n The holiday is projected to provide approximately $40 million in tax relief to Florida\u2019s hunters, anglers and sportsmen.<\/p>\n The Florida Archery Center at Tenoroc was authorized in this year\u2019s state budget. Tenoroc provides the public with supervised rifle and handgun ranges, sporting clays, 5-stand, trap, air rifle and archery ranges, allowing Floridians to meet other sports enthusiasts, shoot responsibly and exercise their Second Amendment rights safely.<\/p>\n \u2014 Green for the blue \u2014<\/p>\n This week, while visiting everyone\u2019s favorite butter town, Land O\u2019Lakes, DeSantis awarded more than $10 million in bonuses to 1,506 new law enforcement officers through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program, including 38 new recruits in Pasco County.<\/p>\n Nearly 12,500 new law enforcement officers across the state have received bonuses through the program since 2022, totaling more than $83 million.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have awarded nearly 12,500 bonuses totaling more than $83 million to our law enforcement officers. We have also made record-breaking investments in officer pay, benefits, training, and protections for the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect the people of our state. We continue to build on this foundation to keep Florida the most law enforcement-friendly state in the country,\u201d said Gov. DeSantis.<\/p>\n The program provides a one-time $5,000 after-tax bonus to newly recruited and employed officers in recognition of their choice to serve in Florida. The bonuses are part of a broader initiative to solidify Florida\u2019s position as the nation\u2019s \u201claw-and-order state.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, DeSantis also secured an additional $19.8 million in pay increases for sworn state law enforcement officers. Beyond the $5,000 recruitment bonus, benefits of becoming a Florida law enforcement officer include financial stability, upward mobility, health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs and more.<\/p>\n For more information about the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment, visit FloridaJobs.org\/Recognition-and-Recruitment<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 No bars \u2014<\/p>\n Floridians fed up with nonstop scam calls and texts may soon see tougher penalties if Attorney General Uthmeier<\/a> gets his way.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019ve probably been on the receiving end of nonstop calls and texts\u201d pitching potential rip-offs, Uthmeier said during a news conference in Pembroke Pines.<\/p>\n Uthmeier said his office is drafting proposals for lawmakers to consider during the 2027 Legislative Session. He said the office has acted against several scams, but penalties are often limited to misdemeanor charges. Uthmeier wants the state to beef up sentences.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a heightened priority for us,\u201d Uthmeier said. \u201cWe also need new legislation to crack down.\u201d<\/p>\n Those scams include bogus law enforcement fundraisers, fake jury-duty requests and false claims that police will arrest residents. Countless others exist.<\/p>\n \u201cThat needs to be a heightened felony with mandatory jail time,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n Uthmeier also wants to pressure telecommunications providers whose platforms carry the fraudulent traffic.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also want to put legal requirements on the telecommunications providers \u2026 that they cut off an unlawful campaign,\u201d Uthmeier said. \u201cThey need to take deliberate action to shut it down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Running up the score \u2014<\/p>\n Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is adding another 1,076 acres to the list of Florida farmland permanently protected from development.<\/p>\n The Agriculture Department announced rural lands protection easements covering three farms. The properties include the 85-acre Young Family Farm timber tract in Putnam County, the 75-acre David and Elizabeth Hunt cow-calf ranch in Polk County and the centerpiece \u2014 the 916-acre G-3 Ranch Addition, also in Polk County.<\/p>\n The G-3 deal dwarfed the other two tracts in both acreage and cost. The easement cost $6.45 million, including $500,000 from Polk County.<\/p>\n G-3 covers pasture, row crops, pine forest and former citrus groves being converted to strawberry and watermelon production. Creeks on the property feed the Peace River, and the land may also provide habitat for Florida panthers and other wildlife.<\/p>\n Properties secured via the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program remain privately owned, and farming operations continue as normal. The money that changes hands purchases the parcels\u2019 development rights, which allows the state to block future pickleball complexes \u2026 or, you know, development in general.<\/p>\n Though RFLPP has been around for 25 years now, one could be forgiven for believing it launched when Simpson took office in January 2023 \u2014 of the quarter-million acres in the state\u2019s easement inventory, nearly 182,000 were added during the Trilby Republican\u2019s first term.<\/p>\n \u2014 A&M HOF \u2014<\/p>\n Now is their time to shine.<\/p>\n On Monday, Agriculture Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced Jeffrey Dewey Gargiulo, Lynetta and Ken Griner, and Ron St. John as the 2027 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees. For more than 45 years, the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame has honored men and women who made long-lasting contributions to Florida agriculture and mentored young people who will carry the industry forward.<\/p>\n The induction ceremony will take place at the Florida State Fair\u2019s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 9, 2027. Congratulations are in order for the inductees.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida agriculture not only puts food on our tables, but it sustains communities in every corner of the state and is the backbone of our economy, supporting hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic impact. Florida agriculture\u2019s success is due to the old-fashioned hard work, vision, and leadership of people like Jeffrey Dewey Gargiulo, Lynetta and Ken Griner, and Ron St. John,\u201d said Commissioner Simpson.<\/p>\n \u201cEach of these Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees has strengthened and grown Florida agriculture through innovation, entrepreneurship, service, and supporting the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and growers.\u201d<\/p>\n Gargiulo has spent the last four decades helping shape Florida agriculture and the national produce industry. In 1978, he co-founded Gargiulo Inc. with his brother, John, sold it to Monsanto in 1997, and later became President and CEO of Sunkist Growers, where he helped expand global sourcing operations. He and his wife, Valerie, established Gargiulo Vineyards in Napa Valley in the early 2000s and contributed to philanthropy by co-founding the Naples Children & Education Foundation and the Naples Winter Wine Festival.<\/p>\n The Griners\u2019 planned career paths took a hard right turn in 1989 with the tragic death of her brother, Tommy Usher, which led them to focus on the family\u2019s multigenerational agricultural operation, Usher Land & Timber. She has been a member of the Florida Forestry Association since 1988 and became its first female president in 2012. She served 14 years on the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board, including 10 years as Chair, and served on the Florida Forever Advisory Council and, for more than a decade, on the Acquisition & Restoration Council and the Florida Forestry Council. Ken has served as President of the Florida Cattlemen\u2019s Association, Chair of the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and a Board member of the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association.<\/p>\n St. John started on a dairy farm in Western New York, but after moving to Florida in 1986 and establishing Levy County Dairy, he became a pioneer in advanced dairy practices. He founded Alliance Dairies, which grew into one of the region\u2019s leading dairy enterprises. He is also a supporter of environmental conservation, cooperative leadership, education, entrepreneurship, youth agriculture, hospice care and international dairy development.<\/p>\n For more information about the inductees, the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame or the banquet, visit FloridaAgHallofFame.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Money for nothin2\u2019 \u2014<\/p>\n Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia<\/a> is rebranding Florida\u2019s unclaimed property website, one of the state\u2019s most popular public services.<\/p>\n The website Floridatreasurehunt.gov is being recast to ClaimyourcashFL.gov<\/a>. The Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Unclaimed Property returns assets to residents of the Sunshine State who may have overlooked or lost track of cash being held in utility deposits, stagnant bank accounts, outstanding paychecks or refunds they never claimed.<\/p>\n Ingoglia acknowledged that the unclaimed property program has long been successful in returning assets to Floridians but said it was time for a rebrand. The website now directs residents to an online portal<\/a> where they can search for money owed to them using only verified identification.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s long past due for a rebranding of the name,\u201d Ingoglia said of the program while on the University of Central Florida<\/a> campus. \u201cThe emphasis is on yours, not ours. \u2026 Unbelievably, 1 in 5 Floridians has abandoned property.\u201d<\/p>\n Floridatreasurehunt.gov has carried that moniker for 20 years \u2014 and this year alone, several months have set records<\/a> for returns to Floridians claiming abandoned property.<\/p>\n The unclaimed property program focuses on monetary property in financial assets only. Physical property is not part of the service.<\/p>\n Ingoglia held the announcement on the UCF campus and presented a $41,700 check to school officials. His Office found that amount in outstanding unclaimed assets.<\/p>\n \u2014 Instagram of the week \u2014<\/p>\n \u2014 Red snapper ahoy, hopefully \u2014<\/p>\n Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody<\/a> is renewing efforts to secure approval for new Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP<\/a>) applications for red snapper.<\/p>\n Moody is leading a South Atlantic congressional delegation urging the U.S. Department of Commerce<\/a> to approve new permits for catching the species in federal waters. Moody has pursued the issue since March<\/a>, though Commerce has not approved the applications.<\/p>\n She and several other lawmakers have worked to extend the red snapper season in Atlantic waters. In 2025, the red snapper season lasted only two days<\/a> under federal regulations. A federal court also halted prior EFPs<\/a> for Florida\u2019s approved red snapper season in May.<\/p>\n In a press release<\/a>, Moody said her objective is to secure more state control over red snapper fishing in Florida. She said states have worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a> to develop stronger EFP application processes, and they want Commerce officials to move forward.<\/p>\n Approving the EFPs would improve recreational access, strengthen conservation based on the best available science, and support the coastal economies that depend on red snapper fisheries, according to Moody.<\/p>\n \u201cSouth Atlantic anglers deserve more than a two-day red snapper season. We have already seen the success of state-led management in the Gulf, where Florida\u2019s red snapper season grew to 126 days in 2025 while maintaining healthy fish stocks. That\u2019s why I am leading an effort to ensure we can manage our own red snapper season and continue strengthening our recreational fishing opportunities,\u201d Moody said.<\/p>\n \u2014 Xello-ent! \u2014<\/p>\n Less than two months after the State Board of Education approved him for the job, Education Commissioner Henry Mack<\/a> has federal dollars to put behind one of his longtime priorities.<\/p>\n The Florida Department of Education has been awarded $6.6 million from the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education to expand work-based learning for Florida students, particularly those in rural areas or without reliable transportation.<\/p>\n The money will expand Xello, the state\u2019s career-planning and work-based learning platform. FDOE says more than 1.1 million students actively use the system. The grant will add virtual work experience, simulated industry challenges, technical skills exercises, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, giving students access to career exposure without requiring them to travel far afield.<\/p>\n The effort will focus on industries the state considers both fast-growing and high-paying, including aviation and aerospace, life sciences, energy security, agricultural technology, information technology and cybersecurity. Florida Virtual Campus and Florida State University will help carry out the expansion.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida\u2019s workforce strategy is simple: every student should graduate with a clear path to a good job, not just a diploma,\u201d Mack said. \u201cThese funds strengthen the strategy by giving millions of middle and high school students direct exposure to the kind of work in industries critical to the future of the Florida economy.\u201d<\/p>\n The award follows Mack\u2019s broad early-September reorganization<\/a> of FDOE\u2019s leadership team, aimed at better coordinating education and workforce programs. Mack previously oversaw career and adult education, vocational rehabilitation and other workforce-focused divisions at the agency.<\/p>\n \u2014 Disclosure day \u2014<\/p>\n A little TO on the AI for students.<\/p>\n This week, the Florida State Board of Education announced it had adopted new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and educational technology in Florida School Districts, charter School Boards and Florida College System institutions. The move creates a comprehensive, parent-centered framework for AI from VPK through college.<\/p>\n Florida\u2019s new rules require AI to provide additional support for teachers and parents, not replace them, and require greater classroom transparency about how educational tools are used, including for students dually enrolled at Florida colleges.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida will not outsource childhood to a chatbot. We welcome tools that help teachers teach, and students learn. We will not accept tools that hide from parents, harvest student data, grade kids in secret, or pretend to be a friend. In this state, a teacher stands in front of the class, a parent has the last word, and a student still has to think,\u201d said Gov. DeSantis.<\/p>\n At a minimum, School Districts, charter School Boards and Florida College System institutions must adopt transparent policies governing AI and other educational technologies. They must notify parents when an AI instructional tool is approved \u2014 including the tool\u2019s name, the courses involved, and how students will interact with it \u2014 and give parents the choice to opt their child into using the tool or to receive a non-AI alternative.<\/p>\n \u201cAn educated person can use a powerful tool without becoming dependent on it. That is the line Florida is drawing,\u201d said Florida Commissioner of Education Mack.<\/p>\n \u201cAI belongs in a classroom when it sharpens instruction, elevates or enhances the learning experience, protects privacy, and leaves the student\u2019s own mind stronger than it found it. It does not belong in a classroom when it writes the essay, scores the child in secret, offers itself as a companion, or co-opts the intellectual virtue of critical thinking. We are preparing Floridians for an AI economy. We are not raising a generation that outsources judgment or rationality.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida\u2019s message for students, parents and teachers is that the state will not choose between innovation and humanity. Students will be prepared for an AI-driven world but won\u2019t be trained by it, profiled by it, befriended by it or replaced by it.<\/p>\n \u201cBoards exist to protect the conditions of real learning. These rules do that. They tell every District and college in Florida: publish the tools, tell the parents, keep the records, prove the instructional value, and do not let a vendor turn a child into training data. Innovation without those conditions is not leadership. It is abdication,\u201d said State Board of Education Chair Ryan Petty.<\/p>\n \u2014 Downing drownings \u2014<\/p>\n A new study shows Florida far exceeded the rest of the country in the number of drownings over a five-year period.<\/p>\n The analysis by Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers<\/a> found that 5,372 people drowned in Florida from 2020 through 2024. That\u2019s an average of 1,074.4 deaths per year.<\/p>\n The next-closest state was Washington with 305 drownings per year.<\/p>\n Florida also ranked near the top in drownings per 100,000 residents, according to the analysis.<\/p>\n \u201cThat equates to a drowning fatality rate of 4.81 per 100,000 residents, the fifth highest of any U.S. state. By comparison, Alaska, the first-ranked state, recorded a rate of 8.63, and the national lowest, Connecticut, recorded just 2.01,\u201d the study concluded.<\/p>\n The law firm\u2019s analysts consulted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System<\/a> to compile its rankings.<\/p>\n The figures support Florida lawmakers\u2019 concerns. The Legislature this year approved a new measure to make it easier for parents to get swim lessons for their children.<\/p>\n Gov. DeSantis signed the measure<\/a> (SB 428<\/a>), which took effect July 1. It expands eligibility for the state\u2019s Swimming Lesson Voucher Program<\/a> from children ages 1 through 4 to those ages 1 through 7.<\/p>\n \u2014 Yes, yes and no \u2014<\/p>\n Florida TaxWatch<\/a> has released its guide to the three proposed constitutional amendments on Florida\u2019s Nov. 3 ballot, recommending yes votes on the first two and a no vote on Amendment 3.<\/p>\n Amendment 1 would raise the cap on the state\u2019s Budget Stabilization Fund from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections and generally require annual transfers of up to $750 million.<\/p>\n Amendment 2, meanwhile, would exempt tangible personal property used in agricultural production or agritourism from property taxes.<\/p>\n TaxWatch opposes Amendment 3, which, among other changes, would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and cut the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%.<\/p>\n The watchdog group isn\u2019t alone in opposing the controversial measure. State economists estimate it would cut $5 billion from local government budgets in the 2027-28 fiscal year, with losses expected to grow thereafter.<\/p>\n As for the recommendations, TaxWatch said they are anchored in \u201ca determination of its appropriateness as a constitutional amendment, given the belief that the contents of the Florida Constitution should be limited to matters that are essential or fundamental.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp explained: \u201cA proposed amendment may very well be a good idea, but voters must ask themselves, \u2018Does it belong in the Constitution, or should the Legislature decide if it should be in statute?\u2019 The Constitution loses much of its significance as the foundation of government when the process of constitutional amendment is used as a substitute for legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n All three measures were placed on the ballot by the Legislature and require at least 60% approval to pass. Florida TaxWatch\u2019s guide can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Is your refrigerator running? \u2014<\/p>\n Cool as ice.<\/p>\n Florida A&M University (FAMU) recently renovated a laboratory that houses a dilution refrigerator, a machine capable of creating an environment colder than outer space. It is one of two purchased through a pair of five-year National Science Foundation grants totaling $10 million.<\/p>\n While the name might make you hungry, it\u2019s not a fridge like the one in your kitchen: There are no shelves or food inside. Its sole job is to remove nearly every trace of heat and vibration so researchers can study qubits \u2014 the extraordinarily sensitive building blocks of quantum computers.<\/p>\n Together, the refrigerators and the quantum research they enable put FAMU at the forefront of a rapidly developing field with potential applications ranging from medicine and health data protection to weather forecasting and fertilizer production with less energy and pollution.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be here for the breakthrough. I want to be here when it happens,\u201d said Charles Weatherford, physics professor and Director of the FAMU Center for Plasma Science and Technology, where the Quantum Lab is located.<\/p>\n The lab also gives FAMU students the opportunity to learn on sophisticated equipment at the leading edge of science without leaving the 850 area code.<\/p>\n \u201cThe refrigerator is required to achieve the operating environment for the qubits. We have to get rid of thermal noise so we can manipulate the quantum state and harness its properties for computing,\u201d said Wei Guo, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.<\/p>\n \u201cThis research is all about developing better qubits. If we can build a large-scale quantum computer, then we can solve complicated problems that even large clusters of classical computers cannot solve.\u201d<\/p>\n The research is also helping determine whether advanced computing can protect clinical health information by comparing methods of generating the random numbers used in cybersecurity.<\/p>\n It could also help with drug development: Researchers could use advanced computing to model how molecules interact, potentially narrowing the search for compounds that perform a specific medical function. They could also explore materials that are stronger, more efficient, or capable of conducting electricity with far less energy loss.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could do something really important here in this lab,\u201d added Weatherford.<\/p>\n \u2014 Bye, bye Alford \u2026 Mike next? \u2014<\/p>\n Big changes are coming for the Garnet and Gold sports.<\/p>\n This week, Florida State University (FSU) announced that Michael Alford is no longer serving as Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective Sept. 14.<\/p>\n FSU President Richard McCullough appointed Bruce Warwick \u2014 the current Senior Associate Athletics Director \u2014 to serve as Interim Director of Athletics while the university conducts a national search for a permanent successor.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael Alford has served the University and our student-athletes with dedication, and we thank him for his contributions to our athletics programs. As we begin this transition, our focus remains on the success of our teams and continuing to provide every competitive advantage we can to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff,\u201d McCullough said.<\/p>\n Alford joined FSU as Director of Athletics in 2021 after serving as President of Seminole Boosters, Inc. During his tenure, FSU football head coach Mike Norvell led the Seminoles to a 13-0 season in 2023, but they were left out of the College Football Playoff in a controversial move \u2014 one defended by na\u00efve talking heads such as ESPN\u2019s Kirk Herbstreit. The Mouse is never wrong!<\/p>\n Following that season, Norvell signed an eight-year, $84 million contract extension amid supposed interest from Alabama, which was looking for Nick Saban\u2019s replacement. Since that extension, which Alford oversaw, FSU football has gone 8-18 \u2014 and plays this Saturday against the very school that wanted Norvell and is doing just fine without him. Hindsight is 20\/20.<\/p>\n \u201cChanges like this are never easy, but sometimes necessary,\u201d Florida State Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins said. \u201cWe have made significant investments and structural changes in our athletics program and Seminole Boosters over the past few years, but more are needed.\u202fThis step begins the next phase of restructuring that the University must commit to in order to compete in this era of college sports.\u202f The President and the Board are in lockstep on the mission and what the results must be.\u201d<\/p>\n Warwick, who was hired at Florida State in 2020 after an extensive career with the NFL\u2019s Los Angeles Rams, will oversee the athletics department\u2019s day-to-day operations during the transition.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that we remain dedicated to providing continuity and support to our student-athletes, coaches and staff, who remain our top priority,\u201d Warwick said.<\/p>\n \u2014 Purple until 2030 \u2014<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Tallahassee State College (TSC) announced that it had renewed its designation as a Collegiate Purple Star Campus \u2014 recognition of TSC\u2019s continued support for military-connected students and families.<\/p>\n The Collegiate Purple Star Campus Designation recognizes Florida colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to helping military students and families successfully transition to and navigate college. The designation lasts three academic calendar years, extending TSC\u2019s status through April 2030.<\/p>\n \u201cMilitary-connected students bring tremendous experience, perspective, and leadership to our campus community. We are proud to continue providing the resources and support they need to achieve their educational and career goals. This designation reflects the commitment of our faculty and staff to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed,\u201d said Jim Murdaugh, President of TSC.<\/p>\n A highlight of TSC\u2019s commitment to military families is the Richard W. and Karen B. Moore Veterans Success Center \u2014 TSC\u2019s one-stop resource for veterans, active-duty military members, reservists, National Guard members and military-connected families. The center helps students navigate educational benefits, connect with college and community resources and transition from military service to college and the workforce.<\/p>\n \u201cMaintaining this designation reflects the work we do every day to make sure our military-connected students know they have a place at TSC and people here who are ready to help them. We are honored to serve those who have served our country and their families,\u201d said Benjamin Carman, TSC Veterans Success Center Manager.<\/p>\n Florida College System Chancellor Kathryn S. Hebda also congratulated TSC on maintaining the designation and recognized its continued dedication to military students and families.<\/p>\n \u2014 6 awards added to the display \u2014<\/p>\n Get the speech ready and hope you don\u2019t get played off by the orchestra.<\/p>\n This week, Leon County Government announced it had received six state and national awards for public relations excellence from the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA), and the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO).<\/p>\n The annual FPRA Golden Image Awards recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida. The 3CMA Savvy Awards recognize government communications and programs that effectively engage constituents. NACIO\u2019s Awards of Excellence honor the work of county government communicators and their departments nationwide.<\/p>\n \u201cThese award-winning projects reflect Leon County\u2019s commitment to deliver timely, relevant, and engaging communications for all the citizens we serve. The communication efforts of our County continue to set a high standard and exceed expectations, reaching citizens in innovative and impactful ways to keep them informed and connected,\u201d said Leon County Commission Chair Christian Caban.<\/p>\n Leon County received two FPRA Golden Image Awards of Distinction: one in the website category for \u201cLeon County Citizens Connect App\/Emergency Information Portal\u201d and one in the specialty-item category for \u201cWorld Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 Library Card.\u201d<\/p>\n Leon County won a 3CMA Silver Circle Award in the graphic design\/other marketing tools category for \u201cLeon County Government Miccosukee Community Center History Wall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeon County is dedicated to working alongside residents to deliver exceptional and essential services,\u201d stated Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Community and Media Relations team consistently finds new ways to promote transparency and connect citizens to our many County programs and services.\u201d<\/p>\n Leon County also received three NACIO Awards of Excellence.<\/p>\n \u201cOur communications team excels in connecting citizens with County services that shape our community. This recognition from state and national organizations speaks to the creativity, professionalism, and dedication of our Community and Media Relations team,\u201d added Leon County Public Information and Communications Manager Kianna Gilley.<\/p>\n \u2014 New senior center \u2014<\/p>\n A new playground for the older folks.<\/p>\n On Sept. 23, the City of Tallahassee invites the entire 850 community to a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the second, 40,000-square-foot Tallahassee Senior Center.<\/p>\n The center will expand access to lifelong learning, wellness, community, fitness, art, music and more. Attendees may enjoy refreshments and tour the facility after the ceremony. The second senior center, at 2743 Welaunee Boulevard, will provide the community\u2019s growing population of active adults with more opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cOpening the second Tallahassee Senior Center is a testament to the City\u2019s commitment to transformative projects that enhance the well-being of our community. The additional center will allow the City to better serve the growing senior population and the need for expanded programs for current and future residents,\u201d Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said.<\/p>\n Since 1978, Tallahassee Senior Services has operated from the historic Armory building on North Monroe Street, which was built in 1935 to accommodate military troops. Today, the building is home to classes, games, concerts and community gatherings.<\/p>\n With the second location, the flagship site and 14 smaller neighborhood branches, staff and volunteers will coordinate nearly 200 activities a month and host programs serving approximately 500 seniors a day.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are incredibly excited to welcome the community through the doors of Tallahassee\u2019s second senior center. This beautiful building will be a place where friendships grow as seniors stay active, engaged and connected. We know the profound impact that investing in projects like this has on our community\u2019s quality of life and appreciate everyone who helped get us to this point,\u201d stated Senior Services Manager Ceola Grant.<\/p>\n The new building isn\u2019t just for seniors; the entire Tallahassee community can enjoy it. Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n Schedule information for the Welaunee Boulevard and N. Monroe Street centers will be available at Talgov.com\/Seniors<\/a> and in the weekly Tallahassee Senior Services newsletter.<\/p>\n For questions, visit Talgov.com\/Seniors<\/a> or call 850-891-4000.<\/p>\n \u2014 Emmy winners breakdown \u2014<\/p>\n TV\u2019s biggest night was Monday \u2014 the Emmys \u2014 so instead of the usual movie write-up, here\u2019s what went down and a good list of what you should catch up on.<\/p>\n Numbers-wise, Apple TV led the night with 28 wins, followed by HBO Max with 21 and Netflix with 16. But the big story was Apple TV\u2019s \u201cWidows Bay,\u201d which took home Best Comedy Series, beating the final season of the critically acclaimed, fan-favorite, and Television Academy-adored \u201cHacks\u201d from the kings of TV themselves, HBO Max.<\/p>\n Widow\u2019s Bay took home 14 Emmys, the most ever for a comedy series in a single season, breaking the record set by \u201cThe Studio\u201d last year. It finished just four behind the overall record set by \u201cShogun\u201d in 2024.<\/p>\n Matthew Rhys took home Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow\u2019s Bay and Lead Actor in a Limited Series\/Anthology\/TV Movie for \u201cThe Beast In Me\u201d on the same night \u2014 the first person ever to do so \u2014 upsetting Oscar Isaac in \u201cBEEF\u201d Season 2 along the way. Rhys also has a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy for \u201cThe Americans,\u201d making him the only actor with a lead Emmy in all three categories.<\/p>\n Longtime TV veterans Hiro Murai and Katie Dippold took home gold for directing and creating and writing the series, respectively. Scene-stealer Kate O\u2019Flynn beat Hannah Einbinder from Hacks in the supporting actress category, meaning no one has repeated in the category in seven years.<\/p>\n The same can\u2019t be said for Jean Smart, who won Lead Actress in a Comedy for Hacks. She became the first person to go undefeated in the category for every season of her show. Five for five.<\/p>\n Stephen Root, a comedy icon of the past 30 years, won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Widow\u2019s Bay and even had a University of Florida shoutout on the prompter image below. It was considered a big upset over Harrison Ford for his turn in \u201cShrinking,\u201d which was also up for a handful of awards Monday.<\/p>\n<\/a>Save a few bucks on the gear to nab a few bucks.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>To any LEOs on the fence \u2026 the well isn\u2019t dry.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Like everyone else, James Uthmeier wants to cut the cord with these scammers.<\/p>\n<\/a>Young Family Farm in Putnam County. Image via FDACS.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Lynetta and Ken Griner. Image via FDACS.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>When the CFO brings a novelty check, smiles are guaranteed.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Ashley Moody is working to reel in more fishing permits.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Henry Mack announced that a major grant is coming to Florida\u2019s Department of Education.<\/p>\n<\/a>AI will need to stick to a supporting role in Florida.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Florida earned one of the No. 1 rankings everyone wishes didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>The first two are up to snuff. The third? Not so much.<\/p>\n<\/a>Wei Guo, Ph.D., professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Charles Weatherford, Ph.D., director of the FAMU Center for Plasma Science and Technology, and Charles Akins, Ph.D., executive director of the Office of Title III. Image via Jeff Adams\/FAMU.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Senior Associate Athletics Director Bruce Warwick will serve as Interim Director of Athletics while a national search for a permanent successor is conducted.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>TSC renewed its designation as a Collegiate Purple Star Campus.<\/p>\n<\/a>They\u2019ll slot nicely alongside the pile of awards Leon snagged earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>The ribbon has an execution date.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n