Five Deaths Tied to Unlicensed Homes

Prosecutors say elderly and disabled patients were tased and pepper-sprayed inside a network of unlicensed Central Florida assisted living homes, according to bond hearing testimony Thursday.

Ronald Keith Pack, 60, and Marie Carenan, 56, allegedly ran eight unlicensed facilities in Osceola and Polk counties, seizing residents’ benefits and medications while restricting them behind padlocked doors.

Former staff testified residents were forbidden from calling 911, and investigators connected five deaths to the homes.

The pair face multiple felony counts and have been denied bond.

Ocala Storm Topples Trees, Cuts Power

A severe thunderstorm tore through Ocala Saturday afternoon, toppling trees onto homes and knocking out power to about 3,000 customers.

Falling trees snapped multiple transmission poles, and about 600 customers were still dark by evening; some remained without power Sunday. One tree crushed the garage of Michelle Flanagan’s home near NE 14th Street while her daughter and grandchildren were inside. “You can see daylight through there,” she said.

Officials reported no injuries. Crews spent Sunday replacing broken poles and restoring service to the remaining customers.

World Cup Boom Sweeps South Florida

South Florida businesses are reporting record crowds as World Cup matches pack Miami Gardens, with fans filling restaurants and shops through quarterfinal week.

FIFA estimates the seven matches at Hard Rock Stadium will pump $1.3 billion into the region, with up to 1 million visitors expected. “This is seven Super Bowls in five weeks,” said host committee chair Rodney Barreto, noting the boost arrives in the summer off-season, unlike the region’s winter Super Bowls.

South Florida’s tournament run ends July 18, when Hard Rock hosts the third-place match.

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➤ Miami-Dade County: Officials proposed what could become the county’s largest marina at the former Seaquarium site, drawing opposition from fishing guides and environmentalists who say it threatens Biscayne Bay’s remaining seagrass flats. (More)

➤ Also Miami-Dade County: Health officials issued swim advisories for Bark Beach and Golden Beach in Miami-Dade County after water samples showed elevated levels of Enterococcus bacteria, which can indicate fecal contamination. (See Details)

➤ Polk County: Highway Patrol troopers rescued a possible kidnapping victim during a traffic stop after spotting a truck tied to an abduction alert, arresting the suspect and safely recovering the woman. (See Details)

➤ Miami: Little Havana’s “Liberation Day” rally marked the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021, protests in Cuba, when thousands demonstrated against food and medicine shortages and widespread power blackouts. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: A multi-agency team canvassed the Apalachee Ridge neighborhood during the city’s Hurricane Prep Safety Walk, checking smoke detectors, identifying storm hazards, and distributing emergency supply buckets. (See Details)

➤ Orlando: Hundreds gathered at Lake Eola Park for the national Walk for Lives Trek, where organizers raised fentanyl awareness, distributed naloxone, and connected families with overdose prevention resources. (More)

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➤ Tampa Bay Rays prospect Nathan Flewelling blasted a two-run homer, earned MVP honors, and helped the American League beat the National League 6-1 in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. (More) 

➤ The Miami Marlins are expected to add talent before the Aug. 3 trade deadline while keeping ace Sandy Alcantara, with multiple reports saying the club is targeting help at third base, in the rotation, and in the bullpen. (More)

➤ New Miami Heat forward Bobby Portis Jr. will wear No. 95, saying he chose it during his drive down Interstate 95 as a fresh start after wearing No. 9 in Milwaukee and because he was born in 1995. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA | NASCAR | Golf

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➤ Harvard Discovers Why Diets Fail After 50. It’s not willpower—it’s your GLP-1. This “weight loss hormone” controls appetite and fat burning but declines with age. Now, a breakthrough botanical can naturally boost your body’s own GLP-1 production in seconds daily—no costly injections or dangerous side effects required. (Learn More)

➤ Bipartisan legislation reintroduced in Congress would allow condominium owners to use FHA loans to help cover special assessments for mandatory safety repairs enacted after the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse. (More)

➤ Naples-based Jet Agency Global faces 18 lawsuits across four states over canceled flights, unpaid charter bills, and alleged trade secret theft, with court judgments against the company exceeding $1.17 million. (See Details)

➤ Publix recalled GreenWise frozen organic blueberries sold in eight states after an E. coli outbreak sickened 12 people, including 11 in Florida, and hospitalized four. (See Report)

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The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 Trillion opportunity in “clean” coal.

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel, and other valuable commodities (just like Rockefeller did with oil). And they just broke ground for their flagship coal reformation plant. With a White House that favors domestic energy and the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact. 

The company fully subscribed its first Reg A+ round by $25M. Now their offering has reopened at $9.01/share due to increasing investor demand.

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➤ A 22,000-square-foot Delray Beach mansion designed around its owner’s luxury car collection, including the Aston Martin featured in the James Bond film Skyfall, has hit the market for $85 million. (See House)

➤ The Atlantis crew reunited at Kennedy Space Center to mark 15 years since STS-135, the final flight of NASA’s space shuttle program. The four astronauts flew the last mission in July 2011, closing 30 years of shuttle flights. (More)

➤ Operation Southern Slow Down begins today as law enforcement agencies across Florida and four other Southeastern states increase enforcement of speeding and aggressive driving through July 18 during the peak summer travel season. (More)

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➤ New Hidden Panic Button That Saves Lives. InvisaWear lets you secretly call for immediate help whenever you feel unsafe – without needing to reach for your phone or draw attention to yourself. Learn More

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Think the King’s English is the “original” English? Turns out the poshest accent in Britain is one of the newest, and the oldest sounds are hiding somewhere surprising. (Hear Where)

➤ Firefighters spent decades spraying a foam that saved lives, and now more than a dozen states are racing to destroy every last drop of it. (Hear Why)

➤ You can learn to spot an AI deepfake in about an hour, and the six telltale signs aren’t what you’d expect. (Hear How)

Which hidden room would you build in your dream home?

1. A home theater
2. A bar/lounge
3. An office
4. A pantry
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever adopted an animal from a shelter?

1. More than once: 38%
2. Yes, once: 22%
3. I’d like to: 5%
4. No: 35%

Which famous Miami Beach hotel appeared in the James Bond film Goldfinger?

Show me the answer