Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 5.7.25

Good Wednesday morning.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign just launched its “Businesswomen for Byron” coalition.

Erika Donalds, founder and Chair of Optima and the Congressman’s wife, will serve as the coalition’s honorary Chair.

“I’m honored to lead this coalition of amazing, accomplished, and influential women from across the Sunshine State,” Erika Donalds said.

“I come from a long line of Florida business owners and know firsthand the importance of having a Governor that understands the needs of businesses in our state. As our next Governor, my husband will continue the great work that has been done to create Florida’s low tax, low regulation environment, and improve upon our education system to ensure our workforce is sufficiently prepared to meet the growing demands of our economy.”

At its launch, the group provided a list of more than 100 women in business from across Florida. Those include retired UBS Securities CEO Teresa Ressel, who was previously Assistant Secretary and CFO of the United States Treasury under President Donald Trump. The campaign stressed the link to the administration and Trump’s endorsement of Donalds’ candidacy.

“As President Trump’s endorsed candidate for Governor, Byron Donalds will work with the President to enact his economic agenda and restore our nation’s economy,” Ressel said.

Having spent his career in the financial sector, Byron understands the importance of lower taxes, cutting red tape, and expanding access to capital for small businesses to keep Florida’s economy strong and ensure every Floridian can achieve the American Dream.”

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

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—@Jason_Garcia: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will sign legislation making it easier for agricultural companies to build housing for migrant farmworkers (Senate Bill 700):

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—@TBTimes_Bulls: #FSU announces school-record multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992. @FSUHoops had a 994 over that 4-year span, 3rd among ACC schools. @FSUFootball reported a program-best score (990) for the 3rd straight report, the 4th-highest score in the ACC

— DAYS UNTIL —

Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting — 6; Florida Chamber Leadership Conference on Safety, Health + Sustainability — 8; Epic Universe grand opening — 15; Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ premieres — 16; ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ premieres — 16; Florida Chamber Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solution Summit — 22; ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ premieres — 23; Tony Awards — 32; Special Election for SD 19 — 34; DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will meet — 35; Special Primary Election for Senate District 15 to succeed the late Geraldine Thompson — 48; Florida Chamber Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit — 48; ‘Squid Game’ season three premieres — 51; James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ premieres — 65; ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ premieres on Netflix — 79; ‘Fantastic Four – First Steps’ premieres — 79; Florida Freedom Forum — 87; ‘Eyes of Wakanda’ premieres on Disney+ — 91; Florida Chamber Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit — 97; Special Election for Senate District 15 — 118; the Emmys — 130; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 133; Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio premieres — 142; Future of Florida Forum (F3) & Florida Chamber annual meeting — 173; ‘Wicked: Part 2’ premieres — 198; Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit — 210; Florida Chamber Annual Insurance Summit — 210; DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 224; ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 226; Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 275; ‘Avengers 5’ premieres — 363; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 380; FIFA World Cup 26™ final — 401; Another untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 591; Tampa mayoral election — 664; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 731; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 877; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 1164; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 1280; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1680; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2411.

— TOP STORY —

“Ron DeSantis derides House panel studying a property tax cut as ‘dog & pony show’” via Mitch Perry of Florida Phoenix — Gov. DeSantis criticized Florida House Republicans Tuesday, targeting Speaker Daniel Perez’s newly formed 37-member Select Committee on Property Taxes, calling it a “total dog and pony show” designed to “kill property tax relief.” DeSantis derided the inclusion of “some of the most left-wing Democrats,” like Orlando’s Anna Eskamani, saying, “You shouldn’t be trying to resurrect the Democratic Party when you have a three-to-one majority.”

The Governor also mocked the Legislature for extending its Session due to budget disagreements, stating, “It’s honestly not that hard to do any of this stuff … You just look back at what’s been done over the last six years … and you basically copy and paste.”

The feud between DeSantis and Perez has intensified, centering on whether property or sales taxes should be cut. Perez’s Committee aims to craft a constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot. DeSantis also criticized Republicans who recently switched parties, accusing them of “smuggling their leftism into the Republican Party” and suggesting some House Republicans are “motivated by leftism,” which he likened to “lipstick on a pig.”

DeSantis did express approval for a condominium fee relief bill (HB 913) heading to his desk, though he remained irked it wasn’t addressed in a January Special Session. The Legislative Session is now extended to June 6 as leaders work on a budget framework, including $2.8 billion in tax relief.

— EPILOGUE —

“DeSantis announces he will sign fluoridation ban” via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel — DeSantis announced he will sign into law legislation that bans local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water, ending a decades-old practice that health professionals have long credited with slashing rates of tooth decay, especially in poor communities. Once DeSantis signs the bill, Florida will become the second state in the country to prohibit the cavity-fighting mineral, following Utah, which ended fluoridation this year. “It’s forced medication when they’re putting fluoride into your water supply,” DeSantis said. “Why should this be forced on people? It really shouldn’t be forced on people.” Orange County and the Orlando Utilities Commission, which combined serve about 370,000 customers and had resisted earlier calls to halt fluoridation, said they would change course once the bill was signed.

“DeSantis disses House over condo bill, says changes ‘should have been done in January’” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — DeSantis approves of condo safety legislation lawmakers passed last week, but he thinks it could have come much sooner and believes the House’s initial version of the bill wasn’t up to snuff. “I think it ended up in a good spot,” he said of the measure (HB 913) that passed unanimously April 30 after undergoing changes in both chambers of the Legislature. “I was not supportive of the House bill. I would have vetoed that and called them in for a Special Session. And don’t forget, I did the Special Session in January. In that Special Session, I called for the condo relief to be done then. There’s no reason the bill that was passed couldn’t have been passed in January.”

“Bill shielding lawmakers’ addresses among public records exemptions ready for Governor” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — A bill exempting the home addresses of congressional, state and local elected officials from public records requirements is now a signature away from becoming law. During this Session, the Legislature passed several measures to protect personally identifiable information, including that of public officials and their families. DeSantis will receive a bill (SB 268) sponsored by Sen. Shevrin Jones to exempt officials from public records requirements. Their children and spouses will also be protected. Critics raised concerns that the move serves as another weakening of Florida’s Sunshine Law. But backers justified the privacy protections, emphasizing the need to safeguard public officials and their families. The bill says harassment or threats could discourage people from becoming involved in public office.

“Bill focusing on hurricane preparedness, response awaits Governor’s nod” via Mackensie LaPorte of WFLA — Florida lawmakers passed Senate Bill 180, a measure shaped by “lessons learned” from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, sending it to the Governor’s desk. The bill addresses permitting, home elevation and expansion and mandates pre-approved debris management sites for all municipalities. Rep. Lindsay Cross noted many communities lacked emergency plans. Rep. Will Robinson said the bill aims to “help those folks in the future that are going through their darkest hours.” Lawmakers emphasized the bill forces better local government coordination and preparedness for future storms, though they anticipate further refinement as more lessons are learned in upcoming hurricane seasons.

“Bill mandating AEDs to save students from cardiac arrest heading to Governor” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — A bill requiring cardiac emergency response plans and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on Florida’s school campuses will head to DeSantis for his signature. Rep. Alex Rizo and Rep. Taylor Yarkosky sponsored the bill (HB 1607). During the bill’s passage through the House, Yarkosky detailed the stats on cardiac arrests in schools and how low the survival rate drops if an AED is unavailable. “Sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 killer on school campuses. It equates to about four of our Florida youth dying every day from sudden cardiac arrests or around 1,400 students in Florida,” Yarkosky said.

— MORE LEGISLATIVE —

“Last-second bartering yielded two education omnibus bills” via Jay Waagmeester of Florida Phoenix — Two bills contained the bulk of education policy that passed through both legislative chambers, negotiated until the final hours of the scheduled Regular Session on Friday. Lawmakers couldn’t agree to lift the secrecy of university presidential searches, lift labor restrictions for minors, or to implement a full ban on cellphones in high schools, although they did find common ground on requiring parental consent for corporal punishment. HB 1255 and HB 1105 served as the main vehicles for education policy, combining several shorter proposals from throughout the Session. Florida made headlines as the first state to ban cellphone use during instructional time in 2023.

“Erased: Legislature fails to pass cursive writing bill” via Andrew Powell of Florida Politics — A bill to integrate cursive writing into exams for elementary school students won’t receive a signature from DeSantis after it failed to pass the Legislature. Rep. Toby Overdorf sponsored the measure (HB 921) to mandate additional cursive school instruction for elementary school students. The House unanimously passed the legislation in March. However, its identical Senate companion bill (SB 1394) sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall was not considered in any Committees to which it was assigned. Under current standards, elementary school students receive some instruction on writing cursive. But schools aren’t explicitly required to teach students to read it, and state law does not require cursive writing examinations or evaluations.

“Worker advocates manage to kill Florida bill that would have eliminated labor protections for temp workers” via McKenna Schuler of Orlando Weekly — In a stunning victory, Florida temp workers, spearheaded by formerly incarcerated individuals from Beyond the Bars, defeated a bill (HB 6033/SB 1672) that would have repealed the 1995 Labor Pool Act. This effectively killed the measure aimed at stripping protections, like itemized paychecks and bathroom access, from nearly 1 million workers. The bill, backed by staffing agency Pacesetter, stalled in a Senate Committee after Beyond the Bars members lobbied and testified in Tallahassee. Jackson Oberlink of Florida for All said, “These formerly incarcerated temp workers took on the most powerful lobbyist in the state and won,” highlighting the grassroots effort that preserved crucial worker rights.

“Legislature exempts Wekiva Study Area from Live Local Act” via Laura Kinsler of GrowthSpotter — In a late-Session maneuver, the Legislature has exempted a large swath of environmentally sensitive Central Florida land from a law that encourages development of affordable housing — a move aiming at a controversial planned Seminole County apartment building near the Wekiva River. The new protections for the Wekiva Study Area, unanimously approved last week and headed to DeSantis for review, are among a series of revisions to the groundbreaking Live Local Act. The new legislation (SB 1730) will allow local governments to block affordable housing projects in the Wekiva Study Area, a vast swath of land spanning over 200 square miles in portions of Lake, Orange and Seminole counties.

— STATEWIDE —

“DeSantis hails ‘good order and discipline’ of ban on transgender members of the military” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis is celebrating a Supreme Court decision keeping people who are transitioning genders from serving in the Armed Forces as legal challenges proceed. “The President has clear authority as Commander in Chief of the military to ensure good order and discipline,” DeSantis said as he lauded the high court for having “halted the madness.” A Trump executive order from January said, “Expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.” Several district courts blocked the ban, but the Supreme Court allowed it to stay in place until courts decide the merits of suits over the policy. DeSantis has been outspoken about his conviction that transgender people shouldn’t serve.

“Why the Hope Florida scandal isn’t going away and why it could get worse” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — April was a disaster for Casey DeSantis, and as long as she considers a gubernatorial run, the Hope Florida scandal will be her albatross. A $10 million Centene settlement donation to Hope Florida, then funneled to groups opposing a marijuana amendment her husband fiercely fought, raises serious questions. Adding to it, the Governor’s then-Chief of Staff chaired the anti-pot committee. Rep. Alex Andrade’s probe revealed damning money flows, and he rightly says, “if someone defrauded the state … they’d go to prison.” Unanswered questions remain about funds potentially fueling DeSantis’ political ambitions and the foundation’s own legal compliance. This hypocrisy-laden scandal is an onion; the more layers peeled, the more it stinks.

“‘I love Hispanics!’ Berny Jacques recreates Trump’s viral taco bowl pic on Cinco de Mayo” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — In a move met with mixed reviews, Rep. Jacques recreated Trump’s famous taco bowl picture nine years after the President posted it, complete with the kicker, “I love Hispanics!” Jacques, who unsuccessfully sponsored legislation this year to expand Florida’s illegal immigration-focused E-Verify requirements, posted the photo on X at 8:51 p.m. Monday. It shows him in a restaurant with one hand forking a similar taco bowl and the other giving a thumbs-up. “Happy #CincoDeMayo!” he wrote. “The best taco bowls are made in House District 59. I love Hispanics!”

— 100 DAYS —

“Donald Trump, Mark Carney faceoff in Oval Office leaves gaping differences on tariffs, 51st state” via Rob Gillies and Josh Boak of The Associated Press — Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Carney faced off in the Oval Office, showing no signs of retreating from their gaping differences in an ongoing trade war that has shattered decades of trust between the two countries. The two kept it civil, but for Trump’s calls to make Canada the 51st state, Carney insisted his nation was “not for sale.” Trump shot back, “Time will tell.” Asked by a reporter if there was anything Carney could tell him to lift his tariffs of as much as 25% on Canada, Trump bluntly said: “No.” The U.S. President added for emphasis, “Just the way it is.” Carney acknowledged that no bit of rhetoric on tariffs would be enough to sway Trump, saying that “this is a bigger discussion.” “There are much bigger forces involved,” the Canadian leader continued. “And this will take some time and some discussions. And that’s why we’re here, to have those discussions.”

“Supreme Court lets Trump ban transgender troops while case continues” via Ann E. Marimow and Justin Jouvenal of The Washington Post — A divided Supreme Court allowed Trump to bar transgender troops from the military while litigation over the policy proceeds. The justices granted the Trump administration’s request to lift a lower-court ruling that had blocked the President’s executive order nationwide. As often happens with emergency requests, the majority did not explain their reasoning. The court’s three liberal justices — Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — said they would have kept the hold on Trump’s policy in place. Trump issued the order to remove transgender troops from the ranks soon after taking office in January, characterizing transgender identity as a “falsehood” that does not comport with the “humility and selflessness required of a service member.”

“Trump administration threatens schools with student-loan restrictions” via Matt Grossman and Douglas Belkin of The Wall Street Journal — The Trump administration’s latest threat to colleges and universities: Get your former students to pay back their loans or future students might not get any. The administration is invoking rules allowing the government to shut off the federal student-loan spigot for specific schools if too many former students have lapsed on payments. The government has long had the power to restrict federal student aid if too many students don’t pay it back — a check intended to make sure the government isn’t on the hook for degrees that don’t pay off for graduates. Losing eligibility for federal aid is a potentially devastating blow to a school’s ability to attract students.

“Trump administration continues to suggest FEMA could go away” via Bart Jansen and Zac Anderson of USA Today — Trump’s administration continues to suggest the Federal Emergency Management Agency could be coming to an end, with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reiterating to lawmakers that the President would like to abolish FEMA. Trump discussed eliminating FEMA in the wake of recent natural disasters in California and North Carolina. “I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away,” Trump said while touring flood damage in North Carolina in January, before continuing to Los Angeles, which was devastated by wildfires, where he said, “I say you don’t need FEMA, you need a good state government.” The top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, questioned Trump’s plan for the embattled agency after his budget proposed to cut $644 million in FEMA grants.

“Jared Moskowitz mocks Trump’s ‘ridiculous’ Alcatraz idea, jokes he got it from ‘watching late-night movies’” via Sarah Rumpf of Mediaite — Rep. Moskowitz ridiculed Trump’s proposal to reopen Alcatraz during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, suggesting Trump got the idea from movies. Moskowitz highlighted the prison’s 1963 closure due to high operating costs, noting its current success as a tourist site. “Perhaps he was watching Escape from Alcatraz,” Moskowitz quipped, revealing the film aired in South Florida near Mar-a-Lago shortly before Trump’s announcement. Displaying movie posters, Moskowitz called the idea “ridiculous” and a “distraction” from “real problems in the prison system.” Witnesses at the hearing did not support reopening Alcatraz.

“Why San Francisco hates the idea of turning Alcatraz back into a prison” via Jim Carlton and Sara Randazzo of The Wall Street Journal — To some in this city, turning Alcatraz back into a prison would be a crime. Calling the prison a “symbol of law and order,” Trump said he is directing the Bureau of Prisons and other federal agencies to rebuild Alcatraz to house “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” San Francisco boosters aren’t keen on the idea and visitors aren’t so sure. National Park Ranger Matthew Connelly welcomed more than 100 tourists and said he’d take questions. Just not all. When the subject of Trump’s proposal came up, he looked concerned and directed a reporter to call public affairs.

“Trump’s Kennedy Center debut: Les Mis and six-figure checks” via Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer of The Atlantic — Trump’s promised cultural renaissance will begin with misery — specifically, Les Misérables. Trump plans to attend a showing of the musical at the Kennedy Center next month and host a private fundraising reception beforehand, marking the first performance he will participate in at the center as President and his first effort to raise funds for the institution he now runs, two people familiar with the fundraiser told us. In his first term, Trump rejected Washington, D.C.’s most celebrated cultural institution, after artists protested his administration and threatened to boycott Kennedy Center–related events at the White House. But after returning to office this year, Trump took over the Kennedy Center, replacing Board members and making himself Chair — prompting questions about whether the donations that sustain the institution would dry up. Now Trump, a prolific political fundraiser, is raising money for the center, which, like much of the rest of the city’s institutions, he hopes to remake in his image.

— MORE D.C. MATTERS —

“‘Something’s got to give’: Macro Rubio takes on dual roles as Trump’s Ukraine talks stall” via David Catanese of the Miami Herald — Rubio’s new role as national security adviser will place him closer to Trump at a higher frequency as the administration struggles to hatch a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. But the added responsibility will also test the bandwidth of the secretary of state, with experts expressing skepticism that Rubio will be able to effectively juggle two high-wire positions for half a year or longer, as some officials forecast. “I honestly don’t see how he can do both jobs,” said John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trump’s first term. “Something’s got to give, and it’s got to be one job or the other … They will see more quickly than I think they believe that this just isn’t going to work.”

“Byron Donalds says feds can’t hire enough judges to give deportees due process” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — “It is not physically possible to hire that many judges and process them out of the country. This is why you cannot have open borders to begin with,” Donalds said on “Meet the Press Now.” Donalds noted that Congress is considering “dollars provided to the administration to speed up the deportation efforts,” but doesn’t believe formal hearings are practical or necessary. He also says the framers of the Constitution “never envisioned that there would be an executive that would allow millions of people to come into the country illegally,” referring to President Joe Biden. Furthermore, the nation can’t “hide behind due process,” Donalds said, since “it would take us 15 years to actually process people back out of the United States.”

“Kat Cammack proposes bill ending Apple, Google app store dominance” via Anthony Adragna of POLITICO — Rep. Cammack introduced the “App Store Freedom Act” Tuesday, aiming to force major app stores like Apple’s and Google’s to allow third-party software installation outside their platforms. The bill, targeting stores with over 100 million U.S. users, would also mandate allowing third-party apps as defaults and hiding pre-installed apps. Cammack said: “For too long, consumers and developers have borne the brunt of anti-competitive practices.” This move comes amid ongoing Justice Department antitrust lawsuits against both tech giants. Google declined to comment, and Apple has not yet responded.

“Why Maxwell Frost wants Democrats to ‘get caught fighting’” via Tim Murphy of Mother Jones — Democratic representatives, led by Rep. Frost, were blocked by Secret Service from entering the Treasury Department and Department of Education during protests against Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency.” Frost stated they went because “an unelected billionaire has access to the private information of our constituents and we want answers.” At another lockout, Frost remarked, “Elon is allowed in, but not you.” Musk responded to one incident on X with a waving emoji. The direct actions, initiated by Frost after seeing an online comment (“Y’all should pull up … You’re freaking right!”), signal an emergent Democratic resistance to what Frost calls a “billionaire right-wing neo-fascist takeover.”

“Stephanie Haridopolos named Chief of Staff to U.S. Surgeon General” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Haridopolos was named acting Chief of Staff and senior adviser to the U.S. Surgeon General. “In my new position, I’ll continue my work with public health, but on the federal level,” she said. The Florida physician was recently honored as the University of South Florida’s 2024 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health. In 2023, Haridopolos led an effort to increase eligibility for Florida KidCare from 200% of the federal poverty level to 300%. Before that, she was heavily involved in lobbying for Florida’s pill mill law. “Getting involved in statewide health policy has driven me to help more people,’’ she said.

—“CDC reports 216 child deaths this flu season, the most in 15 years” via Mike Stobbe of The Associated Press

— ELECTIONS —

“‘I certainly have considered it’: Francis Suarez still interested in a Governor’s run, but …” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Miami Mayor Suarez is again talking about a potential run for Governor. While a bid for Governor would be tougher with Trump’s endorsement belonging to Donalds, Suarez said he hasn’t tossed the prospect altogether. “I’m not saying I’m completely not considering it. I certainly have considered it,” he said at an Axios/The Race event ahead of this past weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium. The two-term Mayor added that because Trump already “weighed in on the Governor’s race in a way that makes it hard” for other GOP candidates to compete, he may ultimately seek “other ways to serve.”

“She’s back (again): Daphne Campbell files to run for Dotie Joseph’s HD 108 seat” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Former Sen. Campbell is continuing her quest to regain elected office, this time with a run to succeed term-limited Rep. Joseph in House District 108. Campbell, who served three terms in the House before winning a two-year term in the Senate, filed paperwork April 11 to run for HD 108. So far, she faces one fellow Democrat, Dinah Escarment, a radio host and tax, immigration and real estate services executive who also serves as a State Committee member for the party. Campbell, 67, has repeatedly run to win office since she lost her Senate re-election race to now-Sen. Jason Pizzo in 2018.

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“Billboards rise in South Florida slamming DOGE cuts to parks” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Hundreds of billboards are rising in 40 U.S. cities, including in the Greater Miami area, bashing staff and service cuts at national parks under Trump and his Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the signs are posted at 12 locales on Interstate 95, the Palmetto Expressway, the Dolphin Expressway, and several key roadways like Bird Road and U.S. 441. They’re calling attention to budgetary and personnel slashes at nearby parks, including Biscayne National Park, with the message, “Park rangers fired. Made possible by D.O.G.E.”

“Miami-Dade Commission defies Mayor, votes again to end adding fluoride to water” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald — With Florida poised to order a halt to adding fluoride to water supplies statewide, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday once again voted to end the dental-health practice in the Miami area, too. County Commissioners voted 8-4 to override Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s veto of Miami-Dade legislation passed last month ordering a halt to the county’s fluoridation program for drinking water. Levine Cava needed five Commissioners to vote with her to sustain the veto and fell one short. Voting against the override were Commissioners Marleine Bastien, Eileen Higgins, Raquel Regalado and Micky Steinberg.

“Miami-Dade County Commission picks a new member from West Miami” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald — A longtime county employee and West Miami leader secured a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission to replace Kevin Marino Cabrera, the District 6 Commissioner who left office to become Trump’s Ambassador to Panama. Natalie Milian Orbis, 38, was appointed to Cabrera’s seat by most of the remaining 12 Commissioners, who opted against a Special Election to select someone to fill out the remaining two years of Cabrera’s first term. Milian Orbis is a West Miami City Commission member and is on leave from her full-time post as Director of the County Commission’s Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. She’s giving up both posts to become a County Commissioner.

“Personnel note: Miami-Dade Sheriff taps Christine Del Portillo to lead external, government affairs” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has tapped Del Portillo, a veteran government and community outreach professional, to lead the Sheriff’s Office’s external communications with lawmakers and the public. Del Portillo brings more than a quarter-century’s worth of experience in campaign and government work to the job. She worked for two decades for former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, including as Deputy Chief of Staff, and six years as South Florida Regional Director for U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. Del Portillo joined Cordero-Stutz’s team last month. “I’m excited to have her on my team,” Cordero-Stutz said on X.

“Two Miami mayoral candidates to be deposed by former City Attorney’s legal team” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald — Two candidates for Miami Mayor will be deposed by the legal team representing former Miami City Attorney Victoria Méndez in an ongoing lawsuit against the city, Méndez, City Manager Art Noriega and Commissioner Joe Carollo. Former City Commissioner Ken Russell and former City Manager Emilio González, who both filed paperwork earlier this year to run for Mayor of Miami, have been subpoenaed by Méndez’s legal team. Méndez is seeking dismissal from the suit. Russell is slated to give his deposition on Tuesday, and González said his is scheduled for later this month.

“Report: New police station on rise in Fort Lauderdale has eight critical safety issues” via Susannah Bryan of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — A blistering report calls into question the safety of Fort Lauderdale’s new police headquarters currently under construction. The draft report, an 80-page peer review obtained this week by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, finds eight critical safety concerns with the three-story building. A major design flaw was discovered last year. In March 2024, hairline cracks began forming along the entire length of a support beam on the top floor. A roof slab on the three-story building’s northwest corner was bending, causing cracks in the concrete. The original design of the headquarters building called for steel. That was later changed to poured concrete with panels.

“More than 200 people apply to replace Verdenia Baker as Palm Beach County Administrator” via Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post — More than 200 applicants, from all over the United States and beyond, are looking to become Palm Beach County’s next Administrator. This job is expected to pay as much as $477,000 a year. The applicants include Deputy County Administrator Patrick Rutter, Assistant County Administrator Isami Ayala-Collazo and County Clerk Joseph Abruzzo. Two current County Administrators in Florida have also applied: Anthony Schembri of Citrus County north of Tampa and Joy Andrews of St. Johns County near Jacksonville. Applicants outside Florida include Mark Sohaney, the CEO of the Joint Pearl Harbor-Hickam military base in Honolulu; Angelita J. Alvino, Superintendent of National Parks of St. Croix; and Aaron Vassalotti, City Manager of Woodland Park, Colorado.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Orange County uses leftover COVID-era funds to surprise residents by forgiving medical debt” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — About 310,000 Orange County residents are getting surprise letters in the mail this week notifying them that their often sizable medical debt is suddenly gone. Who paid the bills? Orange County government picked up the tab for $473 million worth of unpaid medical bills sold for pennies on the dollar, costing $3 million to erase. Orange County is one of several governments, from Flint, Michigan, to the entire state of Connecticut, which use federal stimulus funds to cover patients’ outstanding health care debt. The county has been working with a nonprofit paying off billions of dollars of unpaid medical bills across the U.S. “This program is the latest countywide effort to improve the quality of life for our residents,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said in a statement this week.

“Orlando Commissioner Tony Ortiz switches from Republican to Democrat” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — Orlando City Commissioner Ortiz has switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, citing his disagreement with GOP positions on issues ranging from immigration to banning certain books in schools to dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Ortiz, a retired police officer and U.S. Marine veteran, has served on the City Commission for 17 years, representing a majority-Hispanic district spanning the Conway area and the Semoran Boulevard corridor. He said he had formally filed the paperwork. “The Republican Party is not the Republican Party I signed up with,” said Ortiz, who had described himself previously as a “Ronald Reagan Republican.”

“Orange, Osceola Boards rebuff Split Oak Forest defenders’ last-ditch pleas” via Stephen Hudak and Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel — Defenders of Split Oak Forest tried but failed Tuesday to persuade Orange County government to take legal action to halt construction of a toll road through the public land’s southern wedge. Forest advocates insist Orange County has grounds to oppose the highway, even though it sits solely in the Osceola County portion of the preserve. County lawyers say they don’t. Without a lawsuit to stop it, the Central Florida Expressway Authority seems set on its preferred route to run a 1.3-mile leg of the Osceola County Parkway through the forest. CFX has already planted stakes outlining the path, and on Monday, Osceola County Commissioners approved the plan.

“Schools lawyer accuses DeBary officials of ‘self-serving financial greed’ in school fight” via Mark Harper of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — The fight between the city and Volusia County Schools over the construction of a new K-8 school in DeBary is starting to get personal. In a strongly worded letter, a lawyer representing Volusia County Schools accused DeBary officials of breaking the trust of its community by fighting the effort to build the school. “Your aggressive, dogmatic message is reprehensible. You pretend to be protecting the interests of your constituents,” wrote attorney Ted Doran. “Your actions belie the true focus of your self-serving financial greed. When the school is built, and you have long since left your position with the city, you will be remembered for having been on the wrong side of history.”

“Space Florida signs agreement with apprenticeship institute to increase aerospace builders” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Space Florida is collaborating with the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast (ABC FEC) to strengthen Florida’s construction workforce in the aerospace and other space-related commerce. The agencies inked a deal in late April to formalize the partnership, featuring the ABC FEC’s Institute Apprenticeship College. The apprenticeship school is the ABC FEC’s educational and training wing. The “memorandum of understanding” agreement stipulates joint efforts to increase skilled trades training and workforce education to handle the increasing requirements for growing space-related infrastructure and associated facilities surrounding Cape Canaveral, as the reinvigorated space industry is growing along the Space Coast.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Failed transit tax refunds arrive while Hillsborough grapples with worsening traffic woes” via Breanne Williams of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — As Hillsborough leaders struggle to keep up with the wear and tear of its heavily utilized roadways, the state has begun refunding residents the funds county leaders had once hoped would launch its transit infrastructure to new heights. When the 1% sales tax known as All for Transportation was passed by voters in 2018, it promised to address Hillsborough’s traffic congestion and lack of transit options. From January 2019 to March 2021, roughly $569 million was collected. However, the Florida Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional, sending the funds to limbo. Last year, a plan was created that chopped the funds into fragmented pieces: $256.4 million going toward road resurfacing projects and the rest allocated toward legal fees, a refund program for residents, and to supplement the cost of other tax holidays in the county.

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“UF presidential candidate would bring political baggage to Gator Country” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — The University of Florida announced Sunday that University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono is the sole finalist to become its 14th president. The selection follows a secretive, nearly yearlong search. Ono, an immunologist with prior presidential experience at the University of British Columbia and Cincinnati, would replace Ben Sasse, who resigned last July. Rahul Patel, Search Committee Chair, praised Ono’s “proven record.” However, Ono’s tenure at Michigan faced controversy over handling pro-Palestinian protests and a graduate student strike. The UF faculty union criticized the search’s secrecy. Ono is expected to be approved by trustees and the state Board of Governors, starting later this Summer.

“How first criminal investigation of city since Donna Deegan became Mayor started and what’s at stake” via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union — State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s investigation of how the city of Jacksonville kept written records listing the names of gun owners who entered City Hall and the Yates Building marks the first criminal investigation of actions by the city since Mayor Deegan took office in July 2023. Nelson launched the probe on April 22 and has not yet delivered any conclusion in the ongoing investigation. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has separately said that if the allegations are true, it would be a “serious breach of Florida law.”

“Family sues over Florida deputy’s killing of U.S. Airman Roger Fortson” via Kate Payne of The Associated Press — The family of a U.S. airman who was shot by a Florida sheriff’s deputy inside his own home sued the deputy, the sheriff and the owner of the airman’s apartment complex, saying they want to ensure people are held accountable for his 2024 death. The complaint alleges that Deputy Eddie Duran used excessive and unconstitutional deadly force when he shot Fortson just seconds after the Black senior airman opened his apartment door in Fort Walton Beach on May 3, 2024. Duran was responding to a domestic disturbance report at Fortson’s apartment that turned out to be false. “I want accountability because he was 23. I want accountability because he had a life ahead of him. I want accountability because he was in his own home,” said Fortson’s mother, Meka Fortson, who wore a shirt emblazoned with an image of her son in his Air Force uniform.

“Mayport ferry service on State Road A1A in North Florida knocked out of service due to mishap” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — It’s going to take a bit longer than usual to trek through State Road A1A in North Florida due to a mishap at the St. Johns River Ferry Service. A slipup at one of the ferry slips to the Mayport vessel that takes motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians across the St. Johns River has led the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) to announce an indefinite shutdown. “The closure follows an incident currently under investigation by the JTA and in coordination with the appropriate authorities. No injuries were reported,” a JTA press release said. Reportedly, a ferry vessel struck a boarding ramp on the south side of the St. Johns River that is part of the slip attached to the historic Mayport fishing village area. Inspections are already underway, and repairs have been ordered.

“North Florida Land Trust nabs 83 acres of land for preservation in Clay County” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has snatched up another tract of land the nonprofit group will turn into conservation property. An 83-acre conservation easement was acquired by the NFLT in Clay County just west of Jacksonville. The land is in the area southeast of Camp Blanding, a military installation and training area for the U.S. Army. The conservation land is in the “compatible use buffer zone” for the Army and is also located in the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor (O2O). The land was purchased from the Hughes family for $540,000 with funding from the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program. “The purchase of this conservation easement ensures that this property will never be developed or changed from its existing use. It is Now or Never,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT.

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Bradenton Police used ‘retarded’ and ‘Oriental’ on arrest reports for the past 20 years” via Chris Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The Bradenton Police Department has used “retarded” and “Oriental” in arrest reports filed by officers as checkbox options to describe citizens for the last 20 years, derogatory words that former Presidents and Governors have condemned, are considered hate speech by advocacy groups and were legislatively scrubbed from federal and state laws over a decade ago and replaced with more dignified descriptors. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office also uses the word “Oriental” as an option to designate a person’s race, as well as “crippled” and “harelip.” However, the agency misspells it as “hairlip.”

“FWC takes bears for DNA analysis after deadly attack kills man, dog in rural Collier County” via Tayeba Hussein and Stacey Henson of the Naples Daily News — For the first time in recorded Florida history, a black bear has killed a human. Officials are working to find the bear, with three already taken for DNA analysis. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a call about a bear mauling a man and his dog in the tiny, remote area of Jerome, officials said. FWC officials announced the scene remains active, with officers continuing to set traps and search for bears. FWC Executive Director Roger Young said they had shot three bears and sent them for DNA analysis to the University of Florida. They won’t know if they got the bear responsible until the results are confirmed.

— TOP OPINION —

“Why I think confidentiality helped UF secure a top president” via Rahul Patel for the Tampa Bay Times — The University of Florida is on an undeniable upward trajectory, and to continue this momentum, we, the Presidential Search Committee, unanimously recommend Dr. Ono as our sole finalist. We listened extensively to the UF community; their input shaped our priorities. While Florida law typically requires multiple finalists, this was an exceptional circumstance. Confidentiality was paramount to attract top-tier candidates, including sitting presidents like Ono from the University of Michigan. Many highly qualified leaders simply won’t risk their current roles by being publicly named in a multi-finalist search. Our process, mirroring practices at other leading research universities, allowed us to secure a visionary leader. We’re confident Ono will propel UF to even greater achievements.

— OPINIONS —

“A Pulitzer injustice” via Byron York of the Washington Examiner — You all remember Evan Vucci’s “Fight” photo of Trump after the assassination attempt – undeniably iconic. Yet, the Pulitzer for breaking news photography went to Doug Mills for his “bullet photo.” While Mills’ shot was remarkable for capturing the bullet, Vucci’s image, alongside Anna Moneymaker’s close-up, truly defined the moment. It’s hard not to see politics at play. Some journalists worried Vucci’s photo made Trump look too heroic, calling it “free PR” and a potential “propaganda machine.” The Pulitzer board could have honored all three, or at least included Vucci. But even without their prize, Vucci’s photo will endure as one of this era’s most important images.

“Jacksonville pharmacist: Congress must deliver common sense on pharmacy middleman reform” via Kevin Duane for The Florida Times-Union — As a longtime pharmacy owner, I applaud Florida’s leadership in tackling abusive pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who inflate drug costs, but this fight needs to go federal. PBMs pocket savings that should go to my customers, and their tactics like “spread pricing” hurt everyone. While Gov. DeSantis enacted state reforms, we need Congress, including Sens. Scott and Ashley Moody, to extend these to programs like Medicare. Despite strong bipartisan support, Scott’s recent blockage of a PBM reform package is unacceptable. Pharmacies are closing daily, patients are skipping doses, and PBMs are creating monopolies. It’s time for Washington to deliver common sense reform and let us compete fairly. We can’t wait.

“Legislation criminalizing AI-fueled ‘revenge porn’ is timely” via the Miami Herald editorial board — For victims of deepfakes and AI-generated revenge porn, the damage is deeply personal and immediate. To have those images removed, victims are left with zero guidance and forced to navigate an evolving landscape with limited recourse against the person posting the fake images. Recognizing the increased concerns over deepfakes — images or audio altered by artificial intelligence — the Florida Legislature passed legislation cracking down on fake, pornographic depictions of people. Known as Brooke’s Law, House Bill 1161 will require internet platforms to create a way for people to have altered sexual depictions and copies of such depictions removed from their platform upon request of the victim. The bill gets its name from former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s daughter, Brooke, who was a victim of a deepfake pornographic image circulated on the social media platform Snapchat. Sadly, Brooke’s story isn’t unique.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Hurricane Preparedness Week has government agencies, utility companies urging need for response plans” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — The hurricane season officially began May 1. Hurricane Preparedness Week is underway, urging Americans to prepare for deadly storms. For Florida, it’s a stark reminder of a brutal 2024 hurricane season when three tropical blasts hit the state, closing schools, evacuating millions of people, and causing billions of dollars in damage to counties on both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. “Hurricanes, storm surges, and flooding can wash away homes and properties, but the greatest threat is the loss of life, making readiness paramount. Those living in at-risk areas should have a family evacuation plan and a supply of non-perishable food, water, medicine, batteries, and other essential items,” a White House announcement said. Communications and utility companies also mobilize as they enter the so-called “Mean Season.”

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Happy birthday to INFLUENCE Magazine Creative Director Christy Jennings Ploch, Jennifer Edwards, Jeff Howell, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, and former U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch.

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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.