Orlando Commissioner Switches Parties

Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz released a lengthy op-ed on Tuesday explaining his decision to switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party. He cited his disagreement with various GOP positions.

“I once believed it stood for duty, accountability, individual freedom, and family values. But over time, that party has changed. And I can no longer stand by in silence as it turns its back on the very people I’ve sworn to protect,” Ortiz said in his letter.

Ortiz, a retired police officer and U.S. Marine veteran, has served on the city commission for 17 years, representing a majority-Hispanic district spanning the Conway area and the Semoran Boulevard corridor.

Kangaroo Captured in St. Cloud

A loose kangaroo was found in Central Florida on Monday, prompting wildlife investigators to start a search for the animal and its owner. 

After several reports in St. Cloud of people having seen a kangaroo, a licensed kangaroo facility owner helped a wildlife investigator locate it. The marsupial was found calmly hiding in a thicket and safely tranquilized.

The animal was taken to a local facility equipped to house kangaroos, where a veterinarian confirmed it was healthy.

Marlins Use Robot to Sharpen Batting Skills

The Miami Marlins are revolutionizing their batting practice with a high-tech pitching robot. The Trajekt Arc, weighing 1,200 pounds, simulates professional pitchers with remarkable accuracy.

The state-of-the-art technology is one of about 70 such robots in use across four professional baseball leagues worldwide. It projects lifelike images of opposing pitchers, allowing players to face a starter’s full arsenal before stepping onto the field.

The robot replicates a pitcher’s release points, pitch types, and speeds. It can be tailored to specific opponents, with coaches inputting data to replicate an opposing pitcher’s curveballs, fastballs, or sliders—enabling players to take at-bats against a virtual version of that starter before a game.

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➤ South Florida: Six of the 205 arrests in the FBI’s nationwide Operation Restore Justice, aimed at combating sex trafficking, occurred in South Florida. (More)

➤ Palm Beach County: The school district is the first in the state to implement digital mapping technology to help first responders during school emergencies, including active shooter situations. (More) 

➤ Fort Myers Beach: A recall campaign led by a former town councilman and a former mayor is underway to remove current council members John King and Karen Woodson. (See Details)

➤ Pinellas County: In a 3-2 vote during a public meeting, Treasure Island city commissioners fired City Manager Chuck Anderson, citing a failure of leadership in the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes last year. (More)

➤ Orange County: A Lamborghini driver opened fire at another vehicle during a road rage incident on the Florida Turnpike on Monday and now faces charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and criminal mischief. (More)

➤ West Palm Beach: A prostitution sting this week led to the arrests of seven men charged with soliciting an undercover officer posing as a sex worker. (More)

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➤ Florida State softball’s Lonni Alameda was named ACC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her career after leading the Seminoles to an 18-3 conference record. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, No. 6-seeded Florida softball was eliminated from the SEC’s postseason tournament by Ole Miss on Wednesday, ending their 19-season streak of making the tournament’s quarterfinals. (More)

➤ The Orlando Magic are exploring the potential of using “Hawk-Eye” camera tracking to improve the in-stadium fan experience. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Ocala) introduced the App Store Freedom Act this week. It would require app stores like those run by Apple and Google to allow third-party developers to install their software outside the dominant platforms. (More)

➤ Brightline, the Miami-based rail service, announced bundled travel passes for customers after halting an earlier program last year. New multi-ride options will help commuters save money. (More)

➤ The Businesswomen for Byron coalition has been launched by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign, with his wife, Erika Donalds, founder and chair of Optima, serving as honorary chair. (More)

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➤ A Cape Coral man was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park on Sunday after getting too close to the animal. He suffered minor injuries. (More)

➤ Space jellyfish, a visual effect caused when light reflects off a rocket’s exhaust plume in the evening hours after sunset, is an atmospheric phenomenon sometimes visible in Central Florida. (See Photo)

➤ SharkCon is set to return to Tampa on July 12-13 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, with actor Richard Dreyfuss on hand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws. (Buy Tickets)

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Do you own any vinyl records?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

Have you ever driven with an expired driver’s license?

1. Never: 62%
2. Once or twice: 19%
3. I plead the fifth: 19%

What’s the name of “Florida’s most haunted bridge,” found in Jackson County?

Show me the answer