Former UF Leader’s Spending Scrutinized

Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse disputed allegations of “inappropriate spending” on Friday after Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state leaders suggested an investigation. 

A student newspaper article earlier in the week said Sasse awarded secretive consulting contracts and tripled his budget to $17.3 million at the state’s flagship university.

Sasse, who abruptly resigned in July, issued a lengthy message on social media pleading his case.

The state university system’s Board of Governors said the Florida auditor general’s office “is conducting a regularly scheduled audit” at the university.

Florida Gets 2nd-Quarter Tourism Boost

Florida saw record tourism during the second quarter of 2024, as it continues to try to get the international market back to pre-pandemic levels.

Visit Florida last week estimated the state had 34.2 million visitors during the April-June period, 1.64% more than during the same period in 2023, setting a new all-time high for second-quarter tourism in the state’s history.

Travelers from other parts of the U.S. accounted for 92% of Florida’s second-quarter visitors.

In the first six months of 2024, the state had an estimated 74.8 million visitors, a 1.4 percent increase from the first half of 2023.

List: Destin Tops Summer Ranking

Two Panhandle cities are among the 10 most popular affordable summer travel destinations in the U.S., according to HomeToGo’s 2024 Summer Travel Survey. See full list here.

Destin topped the list of the most in-demand summer destinations, seeing a 29.86% rise in searches year-over-year. More than 5 million visitors travel to Okaloosa County each year.

Panama City Beach ranked #5 behind Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Cost matters to American travelers, with 32% saying that price is the most important factor in their choice of vacation destination, overtaking activities and experiences (25%) and weather (19%).

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➤ The FBI conducted several raids across South Florida on Friday connected to the murder-for-hire plot to kill car-designer-to-the-stars Alex Vega. (See Details)

➤ Broward County: The Pet Disaster Alert system, or PDA for short, is a new database of pets and their owners created by a non-profit to help owners find lost pets after a storm hits. (Watch Video)

➤ Union representatives for AT&T workers said they plan to picket sites across Central Florida today, the first business day after 15,000 workers went on strike. (More)

➤ Port St. Lucie: A new $28 million, 54,000-square-foot police training facility is being built in the current municipal complex. (See Photos)

➤ St. Petersburg: Police made one of the largest local drug busts in two decades, arresting two and confiscating fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, along with $500,000 in cash. (See Details)

➤ Gainesville: Commissioners last week approved a downtown ambassador program that will cost $3.1 million over three years. (More)

➤ Daytona Beach and the Daytona Tortugas broke ground for the Jackie Robinson Ballpark renovation last week. The minor league baseball park is getting a $30 million renovation. (Watch Video)

➤ Tallahassee: Florida’s attorney general and 23 other state AGs submitted a brief to the Supreme Court arguing that states should be able to require proof of citizenship for voting. (See Details)

➤ Destin earned the top fishing spot in the state for 2024, according to FishingBooker, based on six criteria, including average review score. (See List)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in wild fashion on Friday when an error allowed the game-winning run to score. (Watch Video)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tampa Bay Bucs 20-7 in preseason play Saturday, dropping the Bucs to 1-1 for the preseason while the Jaguars remain undefeated. (See Highlights)

➤ The Miami Marlins pulled off an unconventional 8-9-4-2 double play Sunday that began with a great catch by center fielder Derek Hill. (Watch Video)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | LLWS | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | NASCAR

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➤ Hyatt Regency Orlando sold for $1.02 billion, or $622,000 per guest room, to a joint venture last week. It is one of the region’s largest convention hotels. (More)

➤ Lockheed Martin announced last week that it’s buying Boca Raton-based Terran Orbital, a global leader in satellite manufacturing, for $450 million. (More)

➤ Steward Health Care announced plans to sell its Brevard County hospitals to Orlando Health for $439 million in a deal that’s subject to U.S. Bankruptcy court approval. (More)

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➤ A Florida Man spent his $132 million GameStop riches to buy the third-largest stake in JetBlue Airways. (More)

➤ A Florida doctor is facing disciplinary action after state officials say his failure to wear hearing aids during a colonoscopy left a patient screaming in pain. (More)

➤ The “dog-poop killer” lashed out at his victim’s widow before being sentenced to life in prison. (Watch Video)

➤ Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse in Maitland won a Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, a prestigious honor in the comic book industry. (More)

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Do you go fishing?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Only when I’m forced to

Friday’s Results:

Do you have a favorite chicken wing recipe?

1. No: 30.5%
2. I like all kinds: 24.5%
3. Yes: 22.5%
4. I don’t like chicken wings: 22.5%

Which classic horror film featured scenes filmed in a North Florida springs?

Show me the answer