Mills Under DOJ Criminal Investigation

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Mills that reportedly touches on his finances.

Mills, who represents parts of Seminole and Volusia counties and sits on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, dismissed the reporting as “fake news” and a “political witch hunt” on X. He has not been charged.

He already faces a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct, which he denies. The probe surfaces weeks before the Aug. 18 primary, days after a judge rejected a challenger’s bid to remove him from the ballot.

Data Centers Divide Governor Hopefuls

Democrat David Jolly called Tuesday for a statewide moratorium on AI data center construction “until Florida has a responsible plan to protect our water, power grid, and communities,” escalating a fight running through the entire governor’s race.

Republican front-runner Byron Donalds, who filed federal legislation Monday requiring data centers to source their own power and water, fired back that state law “already protects our water and our power grid.” Rivals James Fishback and Paul Renner back an outright ban and a pause, respectively.

Opposition is mounting statewide: more than 20 counties and municipalities have rejected major data center projects.

Florida Now Requires Athlete Heart Tests

Florida high school athletes must now complete a one-time electrocardiogram before practicing or competing under the state’s Second Chance Act, which took effect July 1. The requirement covers incoming ninth-grade athletes and any older student joining a school sport for the first time.

The law targets hidden heart conditions that can cause sudden cardiac arrest and affect roughly one in 300 young people. The screening takes minutes, using adhesive electrodes with no needles.

Athletes with abnormal results must stop playing until a doctor issues written medical clearance, and districts must keep screening costs under $50.

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➤ Statewide: Florida’s State Board of Education unanimously appointed Henry Mack as the state’s next education commissioner on Wednesday, following a recommendation from Gov. Ron DeSantis. (More)

➤ Volusia County: Volusia County approved an online domestic violence registry listing people convicted within the past 10 years, aiming to help residents make informed decisions and prevent abuse. (More)

➤ Tampa: A local pharmacist was convicted on Wednesday of illegally selling more than 330,000 oxycodone pills for cash through two South Florida pharmacies to customers without a medical need. (See Details)

➤ Tampa: USF graduate student Addison Bounds is developing jewelry that detects drink-spiking drugs and alerts users through an app, with a launch planned before the 2028 Summer Olympics. (More)

➤ Marion County: The Sheriff’s Office has become the nation’s first law enforcement agency to receive a Rapid DNA system result, accelerating comparisons that typically take up to 466 days. (More)

➤ Stuart: Authorities rescued 80 caged animals from a sweltering, unsanitary home, arresting a 77-year-old postal worker accused of collecting cats along her route in the county’s worst hoarding case. (See Details)

➤ Cape Canaveral: The city manager is requesting an outside investigation into Cape Canaveral’s finances after two straight unfavorable audits and a roughly $4 million deficit. (More)

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➤ The Dolphins signed All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks to a three-year, $51.3 million extension with $35 million guaranteed this week. He led the NFL with 183 tackles last season. (More)

➤ The Miami Heat accidentally published a YouTube video titled LeBron James Introductory Press Conference, fueling speculation before confirming it was contingency content prepared in case James returned. (More) 

➤ Bradenton’s IMG Academy enters the 2026 high school football season ranked No. 1 nationally, led by Georgia quarterback commit Jayden Wade and Texas A&M receiver commit Eric McFarland III. (See Rankings) 

➤ University of Florida researchers found that employee well-being in professional sports organizations improves when supervisors create an environment where staff feel safe to speak up and take risks. The study surveyed 224 employees across MLB, NFL, NHL, and MLS front offices. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | MLS

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➤ Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Orlando, offering rides starting at $3.25 plus roughly $1 per mile within a limited airport-area zone excluding terminals, theme parks, and downtown. (See Details)

➤ Orange County’s tourist tax task force is weighing more than $3 billion in project requests, including a proposed Dreamers stadium, as leaders debate infrastructure and housing priorities. (More)

➤ Miami has surpassed New York City in the return-to-office race, exceeding pre-pandemic attendance as companies expand their South Florida footprints, aided by the state’s tax advantages. (More)

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➤ Hemingway Days is underway in Key West, where roughly 160 bearded hopefuls in fisherman’s sweaters are vying to become “Papa” during the 45th annual look-alike contest. (See Details)

➤ Northrop Grumman’s satellite repair robot launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and will install “jetpack” pods extending satellites’ lives by up to eight years. (More)

➤ Florida has spent about $370,000 removing one man’s derelict boats, highlighting the difficulty of recovering cleanup costs from owners legally responsible for abandoned vessels. (Read Story)

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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:

➤ Stolen passwords fuel record identity theft, yet the strongest defense sits unused inside your phone. (Hear Details)

➤ Street protests and a rift inside Ukraine’s leadership have forced a sweeping shakeup of the country’s military command. (Hear Episode)

➤ One winning bid at a sight unseen foreclosure auction turned grim when the new owner found dead bodies inside. (Listen Now)

Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity?

1. Yes
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3. Only as a joke
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Yesterday’s Results:

Have you been to Cape Coral?

1. Yes: 45%
2. No: 50%
3. From there!: 5% 

What is the nickname for the Overseas Highway, which connects the Florida Keys to the mainland?

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