Daytona Fire Chief Retires amid Probe 

Daytona Beach Fire Chief Dru Driscoll will retire July 24 as state prosecutors and auditors examine spending in the city and fire department.

Driscoll leaves after 27 years with the city, 13 as chief. His departure makes him the third official to exit since the state investigation began. A city audit flagged more than $500,000 in vehicle-maintenance charges and over $50,000 in food spending between 2021 and 2025.

Driscoll, subpoenaed in April, has disputed the audit’s findings. His last day in the office is July 9, and the broader state investigation into city finances continues.

Florida Court Lifts Under-21 Carry Ban

A state appeals court struck down Florida’s ban on concealed carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, ruling it violates the Second Amendment.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal sided with Jaylen Eubanks, an 18-year-old convicted in Broward County in 2024. The unanimous panel found 18-to 20-year-olds are part of “the people” protected by the Second Amendment, and that the state showed no historical tradition supporting the ban.

Attorney General James Uthmeier, who declined to defend the statute, said the state will not appeal and will carry out the ruling through agriculture regulators. The decision is not final pending any rehearing motions.

Statewide Pet Adoption Event Wraps

Animal shelters across Florida waived adoption fees over the weekend for the Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event, a statewide push to find homes for more than 2,000 dogs and cats.

Nearly 50 shelters and rescue groups took part, anchored by a regional event at Jacksonville’s Prime Osborn Convention Center, with others joining from Sarasota to South Florida. Every adopted pet was spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations.

Organizers kept it simple: bring an ID and meet a new pet. Every adoption, they noted, creates room for the next animal in need.

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➤ Jacksonville: The Sheriff’s Office safely located a 70-year-old man with dementia on Saturday after he was reported missing earlier in the day from his home near Moncrief Road. (More)

➤ Sanford: Transportation officials broke ground on the first of five planned truck parking facilities along the I-4 corridor, a project expected to add more than 800 spaces and reduce unsafe roadside parking. (See Details)

➤ Fort Lauderdale: Officials say the yellow tint some residents have noticed in tap water should fade when the new Prospect Lake Clean Water Center opens this fall, updating technology and improving water clarity. (More)

➤ Cape Coral: A school-supply drive collected more than 40,000 items in two weeks, providing backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other classroom essentials to local students ahead of the new school year. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new state law taking effect July 1 creates a Blue Envelope program aimed at improving communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism during traffic stops. (More)

➤ Hollywood: Five people were hospitalized on Saturday after storm winds gusting up to 50 mph sent a cabana frame crashing into a crowded pool area at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. (More)

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➤ Quarterback prospect Knox Kiffin, the son of LSU coach Lane Kiffin, visited Florida’s Friday Night Lights showcase and threw for recruits as the self-described Gators fan continued building ties with the program. (More)

➤ Florida baseball is adding Oregon State right-hander Zach Edwards from the transfer portal, giving the Gators a second Beavers pitcher this offseason to follow new pitching coach Rich Dorman to Gainesville. (More)

➤ A Naples running club that started with three friends on Vanderbilt Beach has grown into a social media sensation, drawing young people from across Southwest Florida and building a fast-growing fitness community. (More)

➤ Cape Verde continued its surprising World Cup run with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay on Sunday in Miami. Tournament debutant Cape Verde earned its second straight draw and moved to two points in Group H, two behind leader Spain entering the final group-stage match. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | U.S. Open | NASCAR | WNBA

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➤ Orlando-based GXVE Homes Initiative plans to build up to eight affordable homes a year across Central Florida, with a pilot program targeting prices around $200,000 as regional home values top $400,000. (See Details)

➤ Central Florida tourism reached a record 76.7 million visitors in 2025, though visits from Canada, the region’s largest international market, fell 13.3% from the previous year. (Watch)

➤ USAA is issuing dividend payments averaging about $760 to eligible Florida auto policyholders as insurers roll out rate cuts following recent legal reforms and increased market competition. (See Details)

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➤ A father-daughter team of robotic surgeons leads two specialty programs at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, combining decades of experience with a family bond that extends from the operating room to home. (More)

➤ Dozens of east Tallahassee families picked up free hurricane preparedness buckets Saturday, stocked with ponchos, batteries, flashlights, and first-aid supplies. The Victory House Community Resource Center plans another giveaway July 7 through 9. (See Details)

➤ A Florida man is accused of causing a crash that seriously injured two people on I-75 on Friday before trying to steal a medical helicopter sent to transport the victims. (More)

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Would you ever adopt a shelter pet?

1. I already have
2. Yes, I’d consider it
3. Maybe, depending on the pet
4. No

Saturday’s Results:

How classic dad is/was your dad?

1. Not a classic dad: 42%
2. What’s classic dad?: 25%
3. Beer-and-tongs grill master: 13%
4. Classic dad: 10%
5. Dad energy: 10%

What 1942 screwball comedy is set in Palm Beach and stars Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea?

Show me the answer