Grand Jury: Hope Florida Cash Misused

A state grand jury found Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration misappropriated $10 million in Medicaid settlement money to fund political activities, according to the sealed report leaked on Wednesday.

The $67 million settlement with vendor Centene sent $10 million to first lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation, then through two nonprofits to a political committee run by then-chief of staff James Uthmeier, helping defeat the 2024 marijuana amendment.

Jurors found insufficient evidence to charge anyone. The governor’s office called it a baseless smear. Uthmeier, now attorney general, and Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., who authorized the settlement, face voters in November.

Florida Sues 2 Pharmacy Middlemen

Attorney General James Uthmeier sued pharmacy benefit managers Prime Therapeutics and Express Scripts on Thursday, accusing the two competitors of colluding to fix prices paid to Florida pharmacies.

The complaint, filed in Polk County circuit court, targets a December 2019 “collaboration” under which Orlando-based Prime adopted Express Scripts’ lower reimbursement rates. Prime valued the deal’s first three years at $2.5 billion in “cost savings.”

The suit alleges horizontal price fixing under the Florida Antitrust Act and seeks civil penalties, damages, and an injunction. Uthmeier said the collusion forced many pharmacies “to fill prescriptions at a loss.” Neither immediately responded.

Car Wash Claim Sparks Mar-a-Lago Chase

A Loxahatchee woman led police on a high-speed chase Tuesday after driving into a closed security checkpoint near Mar-a-Lago.

Alexa Rae Scharf parked beside the screening tents at the Bath & Tennis Club and turned on a hose, an affidavit says. Questioned by a Secret Service agent, she replied, “I’m here for the car wash.”

Scharf fled, resurfaced at an oceanfront estate a half mile away, and forced officers to dodge her SUV in a second pursuit before she was stopped. As officers pulled her from the vehicle, a pit bull inside bit one of them, and an officer shot and killed the dog.

Scharf faces two counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, felony fleeing, and resisting an officer. 

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➤ Orange County: State health officials issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory after sentinel chickens tested positive for West Nile virus, prompting expanded surveillance and targeted treatments. (See Details)

➤ Surfside: Commissioners gave final approval this month to a permanent memorial for the 98 people killed in the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse, featuring 13 Pillars of Light containing debris from the building. (More)

➤ Martin County: Deputies arrested two 19-year-old Port St. Lucie residents accused of at least 13 burglaries, including several in gated communities. Searches recovered stolen firearms, and both face grand theft, armed burglary, and larceny charges. (See Details)

➤ Okeechobee: Utility officials recommend residents test their water after routine summer sampling found high lead levels at nine homes, though individual plumbing, not the broader supply, is believed responsible. (More)

➤ Tampa: The city reached a nearly $590,000 settlement with state regulators over odor problems and unauthorized discharges at its Howard F. Curren wastewater plant, agreeing to fund upgrades. (See Details)

➤ Orlando: Orange County Public Schools enrolled 7,600 fewer students this school year, far exceeding the state’s projected 2,000-student decline and creating funding and staffing challenges for Central Florida’s largest school district. (More)

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➤ A Ninth Judicial Circuit judge denied UCF edge rusher Dean Miller’s request for an injunction against the NCAA, blocking his bid for another year of eligibility after transferring from Kansas. (More)

➤ No. 17 Florida volleyball made history Thursday by facing No. 1 Nebraska in the first volleyball match played at an NFL stadium, part of a four-team tournament with a record $1 million prize pool. (More) 

➤ Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. sprained his AC joint but is expected to be ready for the Week 1 opener against Cincinnati. The former Miami pass rusher was the 15th overall pick in April’s draft. (More)

➤ The Orlando Magic signed 2022 first-round pick Malaki Branham, who averaged 8 points across four NBA seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | U.S. Open | Soccer | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Florida’s first-time unemployment claims fell for a third consecutive week to 5,033, while the state’s unemployment rate declined for a second straight month to 4.6% in July. (See Report)

➤ Printeez, a Canadian printing company, will open a Lakewood Ranch location by late September to avoid retaliatory tariffs, investing $4 million in equipment and planning to hire 40 to 70 employees. (More)

➤ The historic Miami-Dade County Courthouse’s auction closes at 5 p.m. today with a $35.41 million minimum bid for the 1928 downtown tower where Al Capone once stood trial. (See Details)

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All Eyes Are on This 6,150% Growth Opportunity

People’s sunglasses can now do more than block Florida’s UV rays.

In 2025, AI smart glasses shipments jumped 322%. It’s just the start, too. By 2040, experts say this market will have grown another 6,150% as names like Apple, Google, and Samsung race in.

But user habits paint a different picture. Despite Meta’s sales climbing, engagement-per-user fell. One major problem’s lingering, and Tap Systems thinks they solved it.

That issue? Nobody’s solved how to control them. Voice is awkward in public. Frame buttons are tiny. But Tap’s patented tech can detect 145+ distinct micro-gestures, giving total control to smart glasses users. Even better? It’s compatible with any manufacturer’s tech.

They’ve already shipped 45,000 Gen 1 & 2 units, generated $5M+ in sales, and raised $20M+ from investors. And until midnight PT, you can join them as an investor and unlock 10% in guaranteed Tap Systems bonus shares on top of your stake.

➤ University of Florida researchers found four arabica coffee cultivars produced promising early yields in Homestead, suggesting Florida-grown coffee could become a specialty crop despite climate, soil, labor, and management challenges. (Read Story)

➤ The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale earned a Guinness World Record after staff and volunteers assembled 4,500 pieces into the world’s largest magnetic tile mosaic, depicting a sunny beach. (See Details)

➤ Tropical Storm Dolly, the Atlantic season’s fourth named storm, formed on Thursday with 40 mph winds but should weaken before reaching the Leeward Islands. The name is a coincidence as storm names are set years in advance. (See Report)

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➤ Women Over 50: Why You’re Losing Muscle (And 3 Ways to Stop It) Losing 1% of muscle yearly after 50? Harvard warns this leads to lost independence. But a Doctor of Physical Therapy discovered three simple rules to reverse age-related muscle loss—no weightlifting required. Takes seconds daily and delivers stronger bones, better balance, natural energy, and lifelong independence. (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. 

➤ A military judge has finally set a trial date for the accused leader of the Sept. 11 attacks after decades of delays and setbacks. (Full Story)

➤ The Army will build nuclear reactors at five major bases to protect its power supply from vulnerable outside grids. (Hear Details)

➤ A Virginia doctor woke up to a bat trying to crawl into her mouth, and now she has an urgent warning. (Hear Warning)

Who’s your Florida college football team?

1. Florida Gators
2. Florida State Seminoles
3. Miami Hurricanes
4. UCF Knights
5. USF Bulls
6. Other
7. Not a football fan

Yesterday’s Results:

Should Florida place statewide limits on license plate readers?

1. Yes: 65%
2. Not sure: 20%
3. No: 15%

What abandoned Florida town was originally known as Cooks Ferry?

Show me the answer