Counties Work on Flood Management

Some Florida counties are taking a second look at their flood management plans after the recent flooding in Texas and as Florida enters hurricane season.

Areas in the state with the highest risk of flooding along rivers and streams include Duval, Lee, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Polk, and Volusia counties, as well as parts of the Panhandle, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In the San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville, officials are alleviating chronic flooding issues through a new pump station, which is draining flood water in a matter of hours rather than taking 24-48 hours to dissipate.

In Seminole County, the Saint Johns River Water Management District is actively monitoring their lake levels and levee system, with Woody Boynton, bureau chief for operations and maintenance, saying, “We have the utmost confidence that we can handle what Mother Nature will throw at us on the levee side of our property.“

New Shark Alert System Considered 

A bipartisan bill to create an AMBER Alert-style shark warning system that notifies beachgoers of nearby shark attacks passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

The bill, dubbed Lulu’s Law, is named after 16-year-old Lulu Gribbin of Alabama, who survived a shark attack in June 2024 while vacationing in Florida’s Panhandle.

In New Smyrna Beach—often dubbed the “Shark Bite Capital of the World”—residents worry the system could spark unnecessary panic.

Previous shark bite victim Charley Hajek, also known as Gnarly Charley, said, “They should do that in South Africa or Australia where they have great whites and shark attacks. Not for a shark bite. We don’t have shark attacks here; we have shark bites.”

3 Florida Cities Named ‘Boomtowns’

Three Florida cities ranked in the top five fastest growing cities in the United States in a recent study by LendingTree.

Orlando placed second, behind Austin, Texas, while North Port ranked third. Cape Coral took fifth place, rounding out the top five.

“Why the surge of success in the Sunshine State? The year-round warm weather, of course, comes to mind, but it’s also a hot spot due to lower taxes (no state-level personal income tax) and more relaxed regulations,” LendingTree said in a report.

➤ Fort Pierce: A man charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump at a golf course last year told a federal judge Thursday that he wants to fire his lawyers and represent himself. (Details)

➤ West Palm Beach: Northlake Boulevard will be closed for eight days beginning Aug. 1 for a construction project, impacting tens of thousands of drivers. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: Freight transportation company CSX laid off 125 managers Thursday as part of a “realignment.” (More)

➤ Everglades: The 2025 Florida Python Challenge began yesterday and runs through July 20, offering prizes for the longest snake caught and the most snakes removed. (More)

➤ Orlando: Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists are warning patients that Russian hackers could have accessed their information in a May data breach. (Details)

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➤ Miami Northwestern football coach Teddy Bridgewater is under investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association after asking fans to donate money to help cover football expenses—some of which included meals and Uber rides. (More)

➤ Korean sensation Ha-Seong Kim blasted his first home run with the Tampa Bay Rays over the infamous “Green Monster” wall at Fenway Park in Boston. (See the Play)

➤ Former FSU basketball player Ryan Reid passed away on Wednesday at the age of 38. Reid was teammates with the Seminoles’ current coach Luke Loucks from 2008-2010. (More)

➤ Buccaneers left tackle Tristan Wirfs is expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from the knee surgery he underwent earlier this week. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Wimbledon | PGA | LPGA

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➤ A pediatric cancer patient at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale was surprised with a Panthers jersey signed by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. (See Video)

➤ A boat rented in Key West was reported missing Wednesday and was found in Cuba later that day. (See Video)

➤ Dolphins Doris, Kitana, Dagny, and Wren are adjusting well to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where they’re actively engaging with trainers and fellow dolphins after being relocated from Gulf World for safety reasons. (See Video)

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Do you drink Dr. Pepper?

1. Yes, love it!
2. Sometimes
3. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you spend more time making breakfast on weekends?

1. Yes: 40%
2. No: 60%

At least 33 places in the U.S., including Florida, have what word in their name?

Show me the answer