Uthmeier Opens Fauci Investigation

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation into former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement came hours after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times before a Senate committee examining the pandemic response. “It’s past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID,” Uthmeier wrote on X.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., subpoenaed Fauci, 85, to answer questions about the pandemic. The committee will vote next week on holding him in contempt.

Fauci has denied lying about the pandemic, calling the accusations “preposterous.” Uthmeier didn’t say which Florida laws his office is examining.

Judge Weighs Property Tax Ballot Challenge

A Leon County circuit judge heard arguments Wednesday over whether Florida’s proposed property tax cut amendment, headed to the November ballot, misleads voters.

The measure would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 by 2028 for all levies except school taxes. Plaintiffs, including former Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, say the title “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” uses biased, political language.

Attorney Jamie Cole said, “This is probably the worst example of a biased ballot question and an inaccurate ballot question that we’ve seen.” Benjamin Gibson, the attorney representing the state, countered that the summary is fair and needn’t explain hypothetical consequences.

Judge David Frank asked both sides for proposed rulings by Monday. If he orders changes, Attorney General James Uthmeier would have 10 days to rewrite the language before mail ballots are printed in late August.

SpaceX Launches Classified Mission

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:09 a.m. Thursday.

The mission, designated NROL-95, flew from Space Launch Complex 40. The payload’s purpose wasn’t disclosed.

Minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster landed back at the Cape on its seventh flight, SpaceX’s 642nd booster landing. Residents across Orange and Seminole counties reported sonic booms as the booster came home.

It was the third NRO mission flown on a Falcon 9 under a Space Force national security launch contract awarded in 2024.

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➤ Melbourne: Florida charged a 66-year-old Canadian citizen with felonies for voting in seven general elections since 2004 despite being ineligible. Investigators say Giorgio Mucelli, a lawful permanent resident, admitted he knew he couldn’t vote but felt it was the “right thing to do.” (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Only 44% of Florida children entering kindergarten last fall met the state’s readiness benchmark, according to a Florida Chamber Foundation report released Thursday. Pinellas County posted the highest rate at 53%; Jefferson County had the lowest at 13%. (See Report)

➤ Winter Haven: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said James Duckett, the former police officer executed Tuesday for a 1987 murder, also killed 14-year-old Jeanifer Weldon that same year. Detectives will meet with prosecutors to formally close the 38-year-old cold case. (See Details)

➤ Miami: A 37-year-old Miami man pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return and agreed to pay the IRS more than $34 million. Daniel Liburdi is also forfeiting two Ferraris and $37.5 million in Miami Beach and U.S. Virgin Islands properties. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Florida’s Cyclospora case count has climbed to 264, with 210 reported in July, per the Florida Department of Health. The intestinal infection is linked to contaminated produce. Recalled iceberg lettuce reached some Florida Walmart and Taco Bell locations. (See Report)

➤ Miami: Enrollment has boomed in Miami Dade College’s commercial driver’s license program as immigrant truckers work to meet federal English proficiency rules. Enforcement ramped up after a truck driver in the country illegally caused a crash that killed three people on the Turnpike last year. (See Details)

➤ North Miami: A 53-year-old driver crashed his work truck into five parked cars and the front of Lost City Brewing Company on Wednesday afternoon. Police say his license had been suspended since 2012. The brewery was empty an hour before opening. (See Video)

➤ Jacksonville Beaches: A 19-year-old faces criminal mischief charges after police say he spray-painted eight Flock license plate cameras across Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and a Georgia county. He told investigators he doesn’t trust the readers. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Florida middle and high schoolers will begin required “History of Communism” instruction when school starts next month. The state standards cover communist regimes’ ties to poverty, famine, and political repression, plus 45 minutes yearly on Victims of Communism Day. (See Details)

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➤ Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a hamstring injury during conditioning testing on the first day of training camp and didn’t practice. Head coach Todd Bowles said he’s currently day-to-day with the injury. (More)

➤ University of Miami quarterback Darian Mensah was voted preseason ACC Player of the Year, receiving 97 first-place votes. The Hurricanes led all programs with eight preseason All-ACC selections. (More)

➤ Former University of Florida swimmer Caeleb Dressel won the men’s 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. National Swimming Championships, finishing in 47.70 seconds. (More)

➤ Arnold Palmer Invitational organizers announced Thursday that the Orlando tournament will join the PGA Tour’s new top-tier Championship Series in 2028. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ The Florida Lottery sold $9.7 billion in tickets in the fiscal year that ended June 30, up 6.35% from the prior year. Scratch-off games drove $7.14 billion of the total, reversing a two-year slowdown blamed on inflation. (See Details)

➤ Florida Citrus Sports pitched Orange County’s tourist tax task force on a $54 million, four-story parking garage at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday. The 1,000-space garage, topped with a helipad, would take about 30 months to build. The stadium currently has roughly 3,800 parking spaces. (See Details)

➤ The Jacksonville Community Land Trust will break ground early next year on Roosevelt Commons, a 124-unit community on 10.6 acres in the city’s Eastside. Homes will sell for $160,000 to $240,000 to buyers earning up to 80% of the area’s median income. (See Details)

➤ South Florida developers are spending hundreds of millions expanding marinas as billionaires relocating to Miami and Palm Beach create a shortage of slips for yachts over 100 feet. The region is now home to 54 billionaires. (Read Story)

➤ Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater opened eight new stores, including Sephora, Primark, and the first Miami-Dade location of Margaritaville’s LandShark Bar & Grill. Fabletics arrives in August, and Pop Mart later this year. (See Details)

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➤ The 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada is back on the market for $14.9 million. The bayfront prize has grown into a 3.2-acre compound with three structures since a sweepstakes winner from Iowa claimed it nearly two decades ago. (See Photos)

➤ Sarasota occupational therapist Kyle McCreight, 38, wrapped his fourth season on American Ninja Warrior, using the platform to raise money for children with limb differences through the Never Say Never Foundation. His three-legged therapy dog, Tre, helps open those doors. (Read Story)

➤ New Smyrna Beach keeps drawing millions of swimmers and surfers despite its “shark bite capital of the world” reputation. Volusia County officials say most incidents are bite-and-release cases of mistaken identity as sharks feed on bait fish near shore. (See Details)

➤ Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a new silverback leading its gorilla troop for the first time in nearly 30 years. Bakari, a 21-year-old western lowland gorilla, succeeds Gino, who led the troop from the park’s opening in 1998 until his death last year. (See Details)

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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:

➤ The father who gave his son the rifle used in Georgia’s deadliest school shooting has been sentenced in a first-of-its-kind case. (Hear Details)

➤ Coordinated cyberattacks on dozens of Minnesota water plants are reportedly under investigation for possible ties to Iran. (Hear Episode)

➤ Belgian authorities say an intern inside NATO’s top military command is suspected of spying for an unnamed foreign power. (Listen Now)

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