AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Recovery: Power crews and residents continue cleanup across the Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias; more than 122,000 Floridians were still without power in a recent update. Officials are also warning storm victims about recovery scams. Death Penalty: James Robertson is scheduled to be executed today for killing his cellmate in 2008, saying he wanted a death sentence. Florida’s 17th execution this year comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew a separate death warrant for William Lee Thompson. Property Taxes: Voters face a proposal to sharply expand Florida’s homestead exemption, potentially eliminating property taxes for many homeowners. Supporters and critics are sparring over how local services would be funded. Campus Safety: No Florida college has signed on to the state’s voluntary armed-guardian program, months after a law allowed trained staff to carry guns on campus. Public Health: Florida’s dengue tally reached 296 through early October, with new cases reported in Orange County. Flooding is also driving more snakes into neighborhoods, wildlife experts say. Election Oversight: County canvassing boards are preparing for November as confidence in election fairness remains divided among voters.

Hurricane Recovery: More than 122,000 Florida customers remained without power Monday after Hurricane Isaias, which killed two people in the state and four across Florida and Alabama. The National Guard has cleared 1,700 miles of roads and distributed supplies as cleanup continues in the Panhandle. Storm Aid: Florida has opened interest-free loans for affected businesses and set up an insurance claims center; officials also warn residents about post-storm scams. 2026 Elections: Insurance costs are a key issue in the governor’s race, with candidates pitching different ways to lower premiums. Sen. Bernie Sanders and other national Democrats are also set to campaign with Senate hopeful Angie Nixon. Space Coast: SpaceX plans to launch a cargo mission from Cape Canaveral Tuesday morning, with possible sonic booms and a dawn “space jellyfish” visible in Central Florida. Courts: James Robertson’s execution is scheduled for Wednesday, which would make it Florida’s 17th this year. College Basketball: Florida has been picked to finish atop the SEC in the 2026-27 preseason poll.

Hurricane Recovery: Florida Panhandle residents are clearing storm damage after Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm. At least four people died in Florida and Alabama, including two in Escambia County; outages affected hundreds of thousands, and crews are restoring power and clearing roads. Relief and Claims: The state activated $10 million in short-term, zero-interest loans for storm-hit businesses and opened an insurance assistance center in Destin to help residents navigate claims. Sports Betting: The Seminole Tribe sued DraftKings, alleging it is operating an unlicensed sportsbook in Florida through prediction products. Gators: South Carolina stunned No. 16 Florida, 38-19, handing the Gators a second straight loss. Public Safety: Florida child drowning deaths reached 140 in 2025, and 92 have been recorded so far this year; advocates urge pool fencing, swim lessons and CPR training.

Hurricane Recovery: Florida National Guard troops are distributing supplies and clearing roads in the Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias, while state officials survey damage and plan to hand recovery duties back to civilian agencies. The storm killed at least four people; hundreds of thousands were still without power, and USPS temporarily halted delivery and retail service in 60 northern Florida ZIP codes. Gators’ Slide: Florida fell out of the AP Top 25 after a 38-19 loss to South Carolina, its second straight defeat. The Gators now face road games against Texas and Georgia. Everglades Wildlife: Python hunters can earn up to $18 an hour, plus capture bonuses, but the work means long searches through wetlands and close encounters with powerful invasive snakes.

Hurricane Recovery: Isaias killed at least four people in Florida and Alabama after striking near Destin, and left hundreds of thousands without power. Florida crews, including National Guard members, are clearing roads and helping with recovery; officials warn flooding and other hazards remain. Panhandle Updates: Santa Rosa County has a dusk-to-dawn curfew and is urging residents to avoid nonessential travel. People seeking food, shelter or medical help can call 211. College Football: South Carolina stunned No. 16 Florida 38-19 in Gainesville, handing the Gators their second straight loss. Public Health: Florida reported 44 new locally acquired dengue cases, and Broward became the eighth county with local transmission this year.

Hurricane Recovery: Isaias came ashore near Destin as a Category 2 storm, killing two people in Florida and leaving more than 420,000 utility customers without power Saturday. Crews are clearing roads and working to restore service across the Panhandle. Gators: South Carolina stunned No. 16 Florida 38-19 in Gainesville, handing the Gators a second straight lopsided loss. Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers accounted for five touchdowns. Death Penalty: Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew the execution order for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, citing concerns about his health. Veterans: Eighty-three Southwest Florida veterans returned from an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where they visited memorials honoring their service.

Hurricane Aftermath: Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 storm with 105 mph winds, then weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. Flooding, downed trees and dangerous roads remain concerns across the Panhandle, with more than 664,000 customers in Florida and Alabama without power early Saturday. College Football: Florida State’s collapse continued in a 44-20 loss at Louisville after leading 14-0; the Seminoles have now lost 11 straight road games. Tech and Teens: Florida is asking a judge to require changes to Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, including limits on teen use and features the state says can foster addictive behavior.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 3 storm, packing 115-mph winds, is nearing the western Panhandle, with landfall expected near Pensacola overnight. Officials warn of life-threatening storm surge, flooding and tornadoes; evacuations are underway and residents are urged to shelter. Florida has declared emergencies in 27 counties and staged response crews. Death Penalty: Gov. Ron DeSantis withdrew the execution order for William Thompson, 74, days before his scheduled execution. His lawyers cited dementia and heart failure. Hope Florida: A new report says state agencies paid private lawyers to represent officials scrutinized in the investigation into $10 million diverted from a Medicaid settlement. Sports Betting: The Seminole Tribe sued DraftKings in Broward County, alleging its prediction markets and fantasy products amount to unauthorized sports betting in Florida. DraftKings says its services comply with the law.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 2 storm is bearing down on the Florida Panhandle, threatening damaging winds, storm surge, flooding and tornadoes. DeSantis declared an emergency in 27 counties, and evacuations are underway in some areas as rescue crews and utility workers mobilize. Heavy rain has already flooded Central Florida streets and threatened homes. School Safety: A 5-year-old boy died after a video display board fell on him at Riviera Elementary in Palm Bay. Police called it an apparent accident and are investigating. Vaccine Policy: Florida health officials heard sharply divided testimony on a proposal to drop four school vaccine requirements, including those for hepatitis B and chickenpox. Death Penalty: DeSantis withdrew William Thompson’s execution warrant days before his scheduled execution; reports say the 74-year-old has dementia. State Government: An appeals court ordered the Hope Florida grand jury report expunged. DeSantis called the ruling a victory.

Hurricane Isaias: Florida declared an emergency in 25 counties as the storm strengthened in the Gulf, threatening the Panhandle with damaging winds, flooding and storm surge. Evacuations were ordered in some coastal areas, while rescue teams and emergency supplies moved north. Vaccine Debate: A state health hearing drew sharp criticism from doctors and support from parents’ rights advocates over a proposal to drop four vaccine requirements for school and child-care enrollment. Hope Florida: An appeals court ordered a grand jury report about the program expunged, ruling the jury exceeded its authority and the state improperly distributed the confidential document. Teen Safety Online: Florida’s attorney general is seeking a court order requiring Meta to curb features such as infinite scrolling for young users, after the state rejected a multistate settlement. Dengue: Florida reported 252 locally acquired cases through Sept. 26, mostly in Hillsborough County, and confirmed its first dengue-related death of the year.

Hurricane Isaias: The season’s first Atlantic hurricane is strengthening over the Gulf and could reach the Florida-Alabama coast late Friday or early Saturday. Florida has declared an emergency in 25 counties; Okaloosa County ordered evacuations in coastal zones and plans airport closures. Health Warning: Florida has logged 25 Vibrio infections and five deaths this year. Officials warn storm cleanup in brackish water can expose people to the bacteria. Youth Online Safety: Attorney General James Uthmeier asked a judge to require Meta to remove users under 14 and limit teens’ time on Facebook and Instagram while Florida’s lawsuit proceeds. Hope Florida: A state appeals court ordered the expungement of a grand jury report critical of the DeSantis administration. School Tragedy: A six-year-old student died after a video display fell at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay; police are investigating.

Hurricane Isaias: Florida has declared an emergency in 25 counties as the storm strengthens in the Gulf. The Panhandle faces a hurricane threat and up to 10 inches of rain in places; Guard members and emergency crews are preparing. Central Florida Crash: A school bus collision in Polk County killed a student and the driver and injured dozens, according to reports. Governor’s Race: A YouGov poll puts Republican Byron Donalds at 47% and Democrat David Jolly at 45%, a gap within the poll’s margin of error. Court Rulings: A Tampa jury ordered Joby Aviation to pay about $116.9 million in a trade-secrets and confidentiality case brought by Clearwater supplier Aerosonic. Separately, a Coral Springs man was convicted in a $15.7 million scheme involving unnecessary tests billed to Medicare during the pandemic. Insurance: Florida approved an average 12.8% rate cut for nearly 122,000 renters’ policies, effective Oct. 11.

Tropical Storm Isaias: The National Hurricane Center says Isaias formed in the eastern Mexico waters and is expected to strengthen into the Atlantic’s first hurricane before possible Gulf Coast impacts, with dangerous wind and storm surge risks from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. State Emergency Prep: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an emergency order for 25 counties as Tropical Depression 9 threatens the Panhandle and Big Bend, with resources staged for rapid response. Wet-Weather Warning: Forecasters warn Florida could see a stormy, rain-heavy stretch, and a strong El Niño may bring a wetter, more severe winter. Local Governance: Hillsborough County is tightening short-term rental rules, including registration and a county response requirement, as neighbors push back on noise, trash, and accountability. Public Safety & Crime: A Florida man was arrested after investigators say he accessed a woman’s computer and posted private info in more than 100 TikTok videos. Health & Community: An FSU study finds people using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs often face stigma in their own social circles. Sports: The Florida Panthers beat the Kings 2-1, but Brad Marchand left with an apparent lower-body injury.

Sports & Health: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov won’t need surgery for his lower-body injury and is expected back in 6-8 weeks, a key update after he landed on long-term injured reserve. Public Health: The Florida Department of Health warned Manatee County residents after sentinel chickens tested positive for West Nile virus, urging mosquito bite prevention and standing-water cleanup. Dengue Watch: Dengue continues spreading across Florida, with 252 locally acquired cases reported statewide, including 252 in seven counties and a steady pace of new infections. Local Business: Central Florida’s Business Expo in Lakeland drew nearly 100 exhibitors and focused on relationship-building and growth. Education & Community: Palm Beach County held its annual school fair with programs from more than 100 schools. Crime & Courts: Florida AG James Uthmeier sued TP-Link over claims its routers misled customers about security and ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Transportation & Growth: Brightline secured $57.5 million for a new Cocoa station expected to boost jobs and access to the Space Coast. Safety: A Winter Haven school bus crash left two dead, including a 10th-grade student, after a multi-vehicle collision.

Severe Weather Watch: Florida braces for a very wet, unsettled week as tropical moisture pushes into the state, with showers and storms Tuesday and elevated rain chances through the week, plus stronger onshore winds by Wednesday with gusts near 30 mph and coastal rip-current risks. Tropical Development: The National Hurricane Center says a Gulf low has high odds of becoming a tropical depression within days, with interests along the Gulf Coast urged to monitor closely. Local Infrastructure: FDOT released final designs for the Cortez Bridge fixed-span replacement over the Intracoastal Waterway, with construction planned to start in November in two phases. Public Safety: A fatal school bus crash in Winter Haven left a student dead and sent 26 students to hospitals after the bus was struck by an oncoming car. Wildlife Milestone: Loggerhead sea turtle nesting hit a record high in 2026, with preliminary counts showing 136,972 nests statewide. Legal/Policy: Florida’s AG sued sweepstakes casino operators Chumba, Global Poker and Stake, seeking to shut them down and recover alleged player losses. Business & Community: RaceTrac is investing $63M to remodel 98 Florida stores with new pizza bars and coffee upgrades.

School Safety Tragedy: A school bus overturned in Winter Haven after a crash with an oncoming car, killing a 10th-grade student and the Jeep driver; 26 students were taken to hospitals, with at least one in critical condition. Tropical Weather Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking a Gulf disturbance (Invest 92L) with a 60% chance to form into a depression soon and 80% by week’s end, with impacts still uncertain for Florida. Public Health: DOH-Manatee issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory after sentinel chickens tested positive for West Nile virus, urging residents to prevent bites. Local Infrastructure: DeSantis cut the ribbon on a new I-95/Oslo Road interchange in Indian River County, opening a year early and aiming to cut commute and emergency response times. Elections & Taxes: Amendment 3’s property tax changes are drawing backlash from sheriffs and local officials, while Florida Democrats say the voter registration gap with Republicans is at its worst in decades. Space & Education: UCF is expanding space medicine training to prepare future astronaut healthcare providers.