AGP Executive Report

Everglades Restoration: South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps signed an agreement to speed key Everglades projects using federal funds, tied to the EAA Reservoir completion in 2029. Secret Service Hazing Case: A Secret Service agent and two others face felony charges in a near-fatal University of Miami fraternity hazing case involving repeated beatings that left victims hospitalized. Veterans Legal Aid: The Legal Services Corporation released a new toolkit to help expand veterans’ access to civil legal help, including eviction and discharge-related issues. Public Health & Food Safety: A Cyclospora outbreak in Palm Beach County has been linked to recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce sold at Walmart and other retailers. Drownings (Urgent): Multiple child drowning reports are in the news, including a 5-year-old who died after being found at the bottom of an Airbnb pool in Davenport. Local Government/Politics: A judge kept Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on the Aug. 18 primary ballot after dismissing a residency challenge. Environment: Brevard County is testing “capping” nutrient-rich muck in the Indian River Lagoon with clean sand to reduce pollution without dredging. Housing/Costs: Brevard County impact fees could rise by about 45% across categories, pending future hearings and final approval. Elections & Schools: Hillsborough special-needs storm shelter pre-registration opened, while school board races and budget pressures continue to drive local coverage.

Public Health: Florida confirmed its first 2026 death from flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus, a Palm Beach County resident in their 80s, with 11 total cases reported statewide so far this year. Health Watch: A cyclosporiasis “explosive diarrhea” outbreak linked to nine states continues to spread, with Florida cases rising as health officials track where people are getting sick. Safety & Crime: A Secret Service agent and two others were arrested in Miami-Dade in a fraternity hazing case prosecutors say involved repeated beatings with canes and paddles, leaving victims hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Local Impact: Tampa’s city council removed Rays stadium funding from the agenda, adding friction to the team’s push for a new domed ballpark. Weather & Emergencies: A wildfire burned about 19,700 acres in rural southwest Palm Beach County before crews contained it. Roads & Transit: A North Miami woman was arrested after an I-95 DUI crash injured her three children, including severe head trauma. Elections & Courts: Judicial candidates can’t campaign like other races, and voters in Orange County are being reminded how to evaluate court contenders ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Business & Growth: Florida’s economy is now ranked 14th-largest globally, driven by rapid growth that’s also reshaping housing and migration patterns.

Crime & Courts: A Hillsborough driver was arrested for DUI after deputies said he drove into an active fatal crash scene on Bruce B. Downs Blvd early Sunday. Public Safety: Miami-Dade prosecutors announced arrests of three men in an alleged fraternity hazing case involving repeated beatings with canes and paddles that left victims hospitalized. Health: Florida health officials reported the first 2026 death from flesh-eating bacteria (Vibrio vulnificus) in Palm Beach County, with cases tied to warm coastal waters and shellfish exposure. Weather: Central Florida remains on alert for strong storms and possible flooding, with warnings issued across Brevard, Orange and Osceola. Infrastructure & Utilities: Homestead begins major Krome Avenue water, sewer and transit improvements, while Miami-Dade will temporarily switch drinking-water disinfection methods in late September. Local Life: Senior Resource Alliance won a USAging Aging Achievement Award for its fall-prevention program with Satellite Beach firefighters. Housing/Markets: Central Florida shows 1,299 active price reductions, with about half past 60 days on market. Real Estate & Wealth: Miami’s ultra-luxury home sales are outpacing other major markets as cash buyers keep driving record-level deals.

Public Health Alert: Palm Beach County reported Florida’s first 2026 death linked to the rare flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, with 11 confirmed cases this year and most infections tied to raw or undercooked shellfish. Food Safety: A Jupiter couple sued Publix after they say GreenWise frozen blueberries caused E. coli O145 illness, leading to a month-long medical ordeal. Animal Safety & Wildlife: Florida logged 140+ captive animal escapes since 2022, and Burmese pythons are now “established” in western Charlotte County. Local Government & Schools: Orlando finished relocating Lake Eola swans; Miami-Dade is ending free breakfast and lunch for many students at select schools serving Key Biscayne. Courts & Crime: An Orange County election lawsuit was moved to Leon County; a Broward man tied to a dancehall associate is set for a November jury trial in a double-murder case; and a COVID relief fraud suspect, Elaine Escoe, was extradited from Jamaica to face $32M charges. Public Safety: Hillsborough deputies are investigating a fatal shooting outside a Plant City nightclub.

Assisted Living Emergency: Bradenton crews evacuated about 157 residents from Aviata at Bradenton Villas after a major structural collapse; officials say no injuries were reported, but they haven’t released the cause, while Manatee coordinated transport and regional partners added ambulances and accessible vehicles. School Safety: Broward County schools rolled out a school bus stop-arm camera program on 1,300 buses, with warning citations first and civil penalties starting Sept. 9. Public Health & Food Insecurity: A Central Florida homelessness nonprofit said summer demand is draining critical supplies, while Orlando’s Feed-A-Palooza at Lake Eola delivered food, diapers, and resource connections. Crime & Courts: FBI Most Wanted fraud suspect Elaine Escoe was captured in Jamaica and returned to South Florida to face charges tied to a $32M COVID-19 relief scheme; in Palm Beach County, a woman accused of exploiting an elderly man at an assisted living facility also faces charges. Traffic & Safety: An I-95 crash in Boca Raton shut southbound express lanes, and Orlando police are still searching for the driver who hit an 11-year-old e-scooter rider. Medical Update: Good Samaritan Medical Center in Palm Beach County completed its first WATCHMAN FLX Pro implantation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients.

Public Safety Leadership: Jim Stables was sworn in as Brevard County Fire Rescue chief, taking over from Patrick Voltaire after the county commission confirmed him. Road Work Disruption: North Riverside Drive in Indialantic will close starting July 27 for about a week, with intermittent lane closures afterward, as crews convert septic systems to a centralized gravity sewer. Health Alert: Florida reported its first 2026 death from Vibrio vulnificus (“flesh-eating bacteria”) in Palm Beach County; the state lists 11 cases so far. Back-to-School Support: Miami Gardens held a free back-to-school physical event with screenings, required sports exams, and school supplies. Violent Crime: Titusville police are investigating suspects who fired into an occupied home; no injuries reported. Fatal Incidents: A bicyclist died after being struck by a Tri-Rail train in Lake Worth Beach, and Hillsborough deputies are investigating a deadly shooting outside a Plant City nightclub. Animal Welfare: Humane Society of Broward is urging adoptions as kitten season ramps up, highlighting spay/neuter to curb homelessness. Hurricane Prep: PriorityEvac is selling annual memberships for guaranteed charter evacuation flights from select Florida airports to Atlanta.

Endangered Species: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed three rare Florida Keys reptiles—the Florida Keys mole skink and two snakes—as endangered, with protections effective Aug. 20. Public Safety & Animals: Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey launched an internal probe after a patrol car allegedly struck a dog and drove away; the agency also broke ground on a new $10M K-9 animal care center with 300 kennels. Health Watch: Palm Beach County reported Florida’s first 2026 death from “flesh-eating” Vibrio vulnificus, while health officials also point to rising leprosy cases tied to armadillos in Central Florida. Local Growth & Transit: Cocoa secured a $2M state appropriation for an access road to support a future Brightline station, and Homestead advanced infrastructure, housing redevelopment, and budget planning. Housing & Economy: Palm Beach County home sales jumped 22% in June, and a Homestead affordable housing project moved forward. Elections: Duval County’s vote tabulators passed a logic and accuracy test ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Community: West Palm Beach held plans for a back-to-school “Backpack Session” with free supplies and health services.

Immigration Enforcement: Florida deportation orders jumped 18% since March, with 5,415 removal orders in June—part of a nationwide surge that hit an all-time high of 79,000 orders. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis cases in Florida climbed to 168 confirmed/suspected since Jan. 1, with FDA investigating a separate outbreak as numbers rise county-by-county. Elections: Hillsborough County set early voting for the Aug. 18 primary (Aug. 3–16, 27 sites), and voters were reminded that mail-ballot requests must be renewed every two years. Health Clinics: Project LINK is offering final back-to-school health clinics in Hillsborough for uninsured/underinsured/Medicaid students, including Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 options. Disease Watch: Measles cases hit record highs in the U.S., with Florida tied to outbreaks including at Ave Maria University. Environment & Wildlife: Three South Florida reptiles were added to the endangered list, and invasive Argentine tegus continue spreading in Miami-Dade. Local Safety & Justice: Cape Coral identified 1985 missing woman Rose Marie Gayhart from remains found in a canal; Tampa arrested a driver tied to a fatal July 2 crash after speeds over 100 mph. Waste & Infrastructure: Waste Management agreed to pay $379.4M for a Medley landfill site as Miami-Dade searches for a replacement after a Doral incinerator fire.

School Fraud Watch: A new federal review finds $225M in confirmed education fraud since 2019 across 24 states and Puerto Rico, with Florida among the worst-hit for cases, including allegations involving Broward County Public Schools. Local Leadership: Two new principals are set to start the Aug. 10 school year at Acreage Pines Elementary and Golden Grove Elementary in the Acreage/Westlake area. Public Safety Tech: Broward schools will equip 1,300 buses with AI cameras to catch drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, with citations starting Sept. 9. Health Alert: Florida cyclosporiasis cases climbed to 158 since May 1, and health officials say washing produce helps but cooking is the best protection. Immigration Enforcement: Palm Beach County saw 309 arrests in a five-day ICE-led operation earlier this month. Weather Readiness: Cape Canaveral is installing real-time flood sensors and monitoring gear in Brevard to track storm conditions second by second. Space Coast: SpaceX’s Starship flight 13 was delayed to no earlier than 6:45 p.m. Friday after weather. Crime & Courts: A murder suspect was arrested at Port Canaveral while trying to board a cruise ship, and a Plant City death investigation is underway after a woman was found dead at a mobile home park.

Education & Community: Miami-Dade is pushing the “Fathers Forward Initiative” to bring dads and father figures into schools to boost literacy, mentoring, and a school-to-college path. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis keeps climbing in Florida, with Miami-Dade leading and cases spreading across dozens of counties—health officials urge careful food and produce handling. Immigration & Health Care: Haitian TPS protections got a short reprieve after a federal appeals court order, but advocates warn a Supreme Court-driven rollback could leave tens of thousands of Haitian health workers without authorization, threatening staffing for hospitals and nursing homes. Local Courts: Florida’s Supreme Court rejected discipline for an Orange/Osceola judge tied to the “chopped cotton” courtroom comment, while another reprimand was overturned. Crime & Safety: A Miami-Dade woman confessed to fatally burning a partner in a Valentine’s Day 2024 case; a Cutler Bay voyeurism suspect will stay jailed; and a tugboat captain pleaded guilty after a Biscayne Bay crash killed three girls from a sailing camp. Business/Real Estate: A $11.4M lien was filed tied to the Seven Islands development in Palm Beach County. Weather/Travel: A bomb threat briefly shut down I-95 airport exits in Palm Beach County; South Florida stays hot with scattered storms.

Elections & Politics: Florida’s Aug. 18 primary is coming fast, with early voting set for Aug. 8-15 and vote-by-mail requests due Aug. 6; coverage highlights crowded governor and congressional races, including the new Congressional District 22 spanning four counties and affecting about 125,000 Collier voters, plus Orlando mayor and other local primary matchups. Immigration & Community Impact: Miami-Dade leaders are urging Haitians to prepare as a federal appeals court blocks an immediate end to TPS, buying time before protections lapse, while county officials push for action as the deadline nears. Public Safety & Courts: A Plant City shooting left one person injured after an argument turned violent; in Brevard, three men face murder charges tied to a fake 2021 DEA-style raid on a Merritt Island home. Education & Housing: Hillsborough school leaders discuss turning part of the former McLane Middle School campus into workforce housing for district employees. Environment & Health: Researchers are moving endangered elkhorn coral ashore as South Florida braces for another bleaching risk; separate reporting also flags rising leprosy concerns in Brevard. Local Government & Privacy: A Florida wildlife agency is accused of targeting critics with secret surveillance via driving-record pulls tied to Flock cameras. Culture: The South Florida Soul Rodeo returns to West Palm Beach, celebrating Black cowboy culture.

Education Leadership: The Florida Board of Education unanimously approved Henry Mack as the new education commissioner, backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pick to replace interim Paul Burns and take over after Anastasios Kamoutsas’ departure. Local Governance & Environment: Severe drought has expanded into parts of Miami-Dade and Broward, with Palm Beach’s coastal areas now abnormally dry, adding pressure to already stressed water conditions. Cost of Living: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s prices topped New York’s in 2024, with housing and everyday costs pushing the region higher. Public Safety: Broward deputies identified the driver in a fatal Pompano Beach crash involving a BMW that hit a man near a bus bench; the investigation continues. Courts & Schools: Hillsborough schools are moving to reduce classroom screen time for K-2 students, aiming for more teacher-led instruction. Health: The CDC says cyclosporiasis cases are nearing 4,200 nationwide since May 1, with Florida reporting dozens of cases but not yet confirmed as part of the current outbreak. South Florida Culture: Miami-Dade officially named the American flamingo its county bird. Crime & Courts: Miami-Dade charged a mother and son in a $670,000+ Synchrony jewelry fraud scheme using stolen identities.

Miami-Dade Budget: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava unveiled a $14.3B 2026-27 plan that keeps the tax rate flat but targets cuts like eliminating some bus routes, warning deeper reductions could follow if a property tax ballot measure passes. Homelessness Enforcement: Miami commissioners are set to vote on an ordinance that would make it easier to arrest unhoused people sleeping outdoors, with debate over whether it criminalizes poverty. School Board Race: Miami-Dade District 1 candidates faced questions on school choice, charters, immigration, and closures as the district wrestles with declining enrollment and staffing issues. Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: Florida’s tax-free shopping period starts July 20, with clear limits on clothing, supplies, and computers. Amendment 3 Poll: A UNF survey says Amendment 3 could pass only if voters don’t learn what it does, with support dropping sharply when details are explained. Transit Safety: A Miami-Dade bus crashed into a Miami Beach building after hitting gas lines, triggering evacuations and a fast emergency response. Brevard Finances: Cape Canaveral asked the Brevard Sheriff’s Office to investigate a $4M deficit and whether mismanagement played a role. Brightline in Cocoa: Cocoa received a $2M state grant to build access infrastructure for a planned Brightline station, even as Brightline’s finances face new scrutiny. Palm Beach Health: Cyclospora concerns are driving people to grow food at home as outbreaks spread. Everglades Water: The state will take over and speed up a key Everglades plumbing project to move freshwater and reduce salinity risks. Tropical Weather: Tropical Storm Bertha continues west along the northern Gulf Coast with warnings still in effect. AI Data Centers: Palm Beach County rejected Project Tango and is moving toward new rules, while other communities weigh future AI data center limits. Local Crime: A Hialeah man faces attempted murder charges after a gun malfunctioned during an alleged domestic attack.

Tech & Real Estate: Alphabet’s Google is reportedly quadrupling its Miami office footprint to about 45,000 square feet at 1450 Brickell, signaling deeper commitment to South Florida as co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin ramp up local home buying. Campus Rights: FIU faces pressure from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to drop conduct charges against students who staged a silent indoor protest over immigration enforcement. Elections (Tampa Bay): A Tampa Bay voter guide lays out what to know ahead of the 2026 election, including key dates and voting options. Public Safety (Broward/Palm Beach): A former West Palm Beach juvenile detention employee was arrested on charges tied to alleged sexual abuse of a teen; in Lauderhill, police are offering a reward after a man was shot and killed. Police Bodycam (UCF): Newly released UCF bodycam footage shows a trans student confronting an officer over pronouns before being pepper-sprayed, tased, and arrested. Wildlife: Florida wildlife officials confirm Burmese pythons are breeding in a new Charlotte County area outside the Everglades core range. Hurricane Prep: A West Palm Beach company is marketing an annual subscription that guarantees seats on charter evacuation flights to Atlanta during major threats. Tourism Funding (Orange County): Orange County’s tourist tax task force is back to review about $3B in proposals, including a possible push for an MLB stadium. Housing/Local Economy: Palm Beach County’s luxury market saw a $25M Boca mansion pending sale, highlighting continued high-end contract activity.

Conservation & Land Protection: Miami-Dade received a $925,000 donation to buy and manage critically endangered pine rocklands, protecting habitat for dozens of imperiled species. Wildlife Watch: Florida wildlife officials confirmed Burmese pythons are breeding in western Charlotte County, raising fears of a new foothold beyond the Everglades. Severe Weather: Tropical Storm Bertha formed in the Gulf and prompted warnings for parts of the northern Gulf Coast, with storm-surge risk for areas closer to the coast. Space Coast: SpaceX is set to launch from Cape Canaveral Tuesday with Northrop Grumman’s MRV-MEP mission, with a backup opportunity Wednesday. Public Safety (Brevard): A fire destroyed a Melbourne Beach home; the lone occupant was taken to a burn center and the cause is under investigation. Courts & Crime (Hillsborough): A woman was arrested in the death of a 3-year-old girl, with prosecutors alleging inflicted injuries while she was in her care. Local Housing Politics (Brevard): The county commission will revisit whether the Live Local Act can overturn its rejection of a Merritt Island apartment project. Alligator Encounters: A Palm Bay family reported a massive alligator blocking their front door until wildlife removed it. Back-to-School: Florida’s tax-free school supplies holiday is underway, with key items exempt and deadlines for shoppers.

Public Safety: A Hillsborough County deputy was released home after being shot in the face during an ambush in Ruskin; officials say the suspect was killed by law enforcement. Crime & Courts: A Tampa woman was arrested and charged in the April death of a 3-year-old girl, with prosecutors alleging she caused the injuries while caring for the child. Animal Cruelty: Broward authorities charged Amy Fisher’s eldest son, Brett Anthony Bellera, and his girlfriend in the Dec. 2024 death of their cat, alleging “involuntary heat exposure,” possibly by microwave. Local Government & Health Costs: Florida economists say counties could owe about $420M toward Medicaid this year, with Amendment 3 potentially increasing the burden later. Economy & Housing: Central Florida homebuyers absorbed a big wave of price cuts, leaving 1,424 active reductions, with more than half considered “stale.” Business/Tech: Ondas agreed to buy drone maker Dzyne Technologies for $876M, boosting its defense and counter-drone push. Environment: The FWC says Argentine black-and-white tegus are spreading in the Everglades, and asks residents to report sightings. Education: Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is underway, running July 20 through Aug. 20.