Florida’s First Autonomous Vehicle Plant

Florida’s first autonomous vehicle manufacturing plant, code-named Project Link, will be built in Jacksonville by the German company Holon. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

The city and state combined to offer up to $15.7 million in financial incentives for the $100 million plant, which will produce 15-seat electric autonomous vehicles.

The 491,000-square-foot facility, set to break ground in about six weeks on the city’s Northside, will initially employ 150 people, with potential growth to over 1,000.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will be the first American customer for the city’s three-phase autonomous shuttle service, the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) project.

5-Ton Palmetto Berries Heist in Palm Beach County

State investigators have recovered over 5 tons of saw palmetto berries illegally harvested from the Corbett Wildlife Area in northwestern Palm Beach County.

Seven people are facing seven felony charges, nine misdemeanors, and eight noncriminal citations.

Some people consider the berries to have medicinal properties and sell them for $2 or more per pound. The amount of berries recovered equals the weight of two Ford F-150 trucks.

Saw palmettos are a critical source of shelter and food for more than 200 species in Florida. According to state law, a permit is required for their harvest and sale, even on private land.

Young, Rich Professionals Flock to Florida

Young professionals are flocking to Florida and Texas for tax advantages and thriving job markets, according to a recent study.

A SmartAsset report, which analyzed IRS data, found that Florida and Texas attract more than double the number of people aged 26 to 35 with incomes of $200,000 or more than any other state. See the full study here.

Florida led the nation with a net gain of 1,786 young and wealthy households, while Texas followed closely with a net gain of 1,660.

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➤ Gainesville: The University of Florida spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel for hires by then-President Ben Sasse, who allowed them to work from home in other states while periodically commuting to the school’s campus. (See Details)

➤ Jacksonville: JEA, a community-owned utility company, will begin charging customers a processing fee for credit or debit card payments starting Sept. 30. (More)

➤ Daytona Beach: Fire Station No. 1, Florida’s second-oldest operating fire station, is getting a facelift and new location after receiving a $10 million state grant. (See Video)

➤ Ponce Inlet: The Marine Science Center will be closed for nine months for a $4.2 million renovation that includes new exhibits, expanded public education opportunities, and enhanced staff and volunteer areas. (Video)

➤ Lake-Sumter: State College President Dr. Heather Bigard resigned, effective immediately, citing personal reasons to focus on her health and family. (More)

➤ Miami-Dade County: Officials will draw the lucky winners of the Dream Homes Lottery today. The lottery to purchase two newly constructed homes received 23,483 applications from July 24 to Aug. 7. The purchase price is $394,000, while the median home value in Miami-Dade County is close to $600,000. (See Video)

➤ The Miami Marlins defeated the division rival Washington Nationals for the first time in 2024 with this walk-off single in extra innings by shortstop Xavier Edwards. (Watch Video)

➤ The Orlando Magic have invited two-time NBA Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung to their training camp for the 2024-2025 NBA season. (More)

➤ Florida Gators freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will make his first career start on Saturday against Samford. Lagway was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | WNBA | US Open | Paralympics

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➤ Tampa International Airport released new, full-color concept renderings for the $1.5 billion Airside D, the airport’s first new Airside in almost 20 years. (See Renderings)

➤ Parkland Corporation is selling its Florida business, including 100 convenience retail locations. The planned divestment covers nearly half of the company’s U.S. retail sites. (More)

➤ Tallahassee-based Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical marijuana company, has donated $75 million to Smart & Safe Florida, the group backing Amendment 3 on the November ballot. (See Details)

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➤ An anonymous source called a Florida family to alert them that their missing loved one’s body was allegedly found decomposed inside a closet at a local nursing facility. (See Details)

➤ A Florida doctor removed the wrong organ from a patient, resulting in an “immediate, catastrophic death.” (More)

➤ Reimagining Nature: Dalí’s Floral Fantasies will be on display at The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg through Oct. 20. After two decades in storage, the fruit and floral prints are being displayed together for the first time. (See Photos)

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Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

Have you ever been to a rodeo?

1. Yes: 64.3%
2. No: 35.7%

What area of Florida is known as the Sport-Fishing Capital of the World?

Show me the answer