Sheriff Objects to Vice City Makeover

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez urged the county on Thursday to reject a marketing partnership with Grand Theft Auto 6 developer Rockstar Games.

County officials pitched Rockstar in June on wrapping Miami International Airport, PortMiami, and Metromover cars in “Vice City” branding ahead of its November release.

Bermudez said the county should promote “the Miami-Dade we have worked so hard to build,” not a fictional version “defined by crime and violence.”

“Miami-Dade County is not Vice City,” Cordero-Stutz added. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office says nothing has been approved but sees “a unique opportunity to generate revenue.”

Democrats Push to Impeach Uthmeier

Florida House Democrats called for a special session to consider impeaching Attorney General James Uthmeier over the Hope Florida scandal.

A leaked grand jury report found $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was misappropriated for political purposes, flowing to committees Uthmeier controlled. Jurors found insufficient evidence to charge anyone.

“The people of Florida deserve answers,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, dismissed the push as “political chest-pounding” but is drafting reforms to bar public money from political use. Uthmeier, who says nobody did anything wrong, faces Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez in November.

Duke Energy Florida Seeks Rate Cut

Duke Energy Florida asked state regulators on Thursday to lower customer rates starting in January, a request the Florida Public Service Commission must approve before it takes effect.

A typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month would save 71 cents, while commercial and industrial bills would fall between 0.8% and 3.6%, depending on usage.

Falling fuel costs drive part of the decrease. A tax strategy also lets the utility skip a planned 2% base-rate increase while accelerating $50 million in customer savings next year.

“Right now, we know they’re carefully watching every dollar,” Duke Energy Florida state president Melissa Seixas said. The utility serves about 2 million customers statewide.

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➤ Statewide: Republican candidates outraised Democrats in most key legislative races on the November ballot as the GOP seeks to defend its supermajorities in both chambers, new campaign finance reports show. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Florida charter school enrollment reached a record 408,481 students this school year, representing 14.6% of public school students across 738 campuses in 46 counties, the state charter school consortium reported, as traditional districts lost students. (See Report)

➤ Hollywood: Hollywood Hills High and Stirling Elementary were locked down for the second time in three days on Thursday as police and K-9 units searched both campuses before officers gave the all clear. (More)

➤ Hillsborough County: Two people died on Thursday when a small plane crashed along an unpaved road near U.S. 301, prompting a response from sheriff’s deputies and fire rescue crews. (More)

➤ Miami: Dr. Wladimir Lorentz declined to answer questions about Have My Baby in Miami, the company he founded to market maternity services to foreign women, during a House Oversight Committee hearing on birth tourism. (See Details)

➤ Jacksonville: 904 Day celebrations begin today and continue through Labor Day weekend, with several communities offering free museum admission, neighborhood gatherings, live music, a downtown walking tour, Monster Jam, and St. Augustine arts showcases. (See List)

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➤ UCF opened its season at home against Bethune-Cookman last night, with James Madison transfer Alonza Barnett III making his debut at quarterback for the Knights. (See Result)

➤ The Buccaneers finalized their 53-man roster with Jalon Daniels backing up Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving emerging as a potential offensive centerpiece, and notable cuts including Jake Browning, Chris Braswell, and preseason standout Jack Pyburn. (More)

➤ NFL.com ranked the Jaguars’ defense No. 8 and the Buccaneers No. 10 entering 2026, citing Jacksonville’s strong finish last season and Tampa Bay rookie Rueben Bain Jr.’s potential to revive its pass rush. (See List)

➤ Marlins prospect Brandon Compton has emerged as a potential power bat, hitting 34 home runs across three minor-league levels, while Cam Cannarella and Aiva Arquette also strengthen Miami’s developing farm system. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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➤ Pinnacle secured $40.2 million to build 100 affordable senior apartments and 6,525 square feet of commercial space in Fort Lauderdale, with a second 100-unit phase scheduled to break ground in spring 2027. (More)

➤ Tampa-based Metrea Special Aerospace won an Australian government contract to provide advanced border surveillance systems, supporting more than 500 U.S. jobs, including positions at its local facility. (More)

➤ Newmark arranged $215.8 million in bridge refinancing for Waypoint Residential’s 1,274-unit portfolio of five newly built luxury apartment communities in Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Palm Bay, Davenport, and Gainesville. (More)

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➤ Universal Orlando will permanently close Animal Actors On Location! in November. The live animal show has run since Universal Studios Florida’s opening day in 1990. (See Details)

➤ Two nurses used a belt as a tourniquet to save a 43-year-old man after a suspected nurse shark bit his foot in shallow water near Boca Grande Key, causing life-threatening bleeding. (More)

➤ Port Orange police shot a 70-year-old woman Thursday after she fired a gun toward civilian employees inside the department’s lobby, leaving her critically injured; no officers or staff members were hurt. (More)

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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. 

➤ The U.S. military destroyed another vessel accused of refueling drug traffickers off the coast of South America. (Full Story)

➤ Popular baby wipes have been recalled after federal testing revealed bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections in infants. (Hear Details)

➤ The nation’s largest school district has pulled the plug on artificial intelligence for most of its students. (Listen Now)

Would you rather spend a Florida weekend at the beach or a theme park?

1. Beach
2. Theme park
3. Both
4. Neither

Yesterday’s Results:

Should recovered ancient artifacts be returned to their countries of origin?

1. Yes: 55%
2. Depends: 32%
3. Unsure: 8%
4. No: 5%

Which Florida county leads the U.S. in sugar cane production?

Show me the answer