FAMU President Resigns After Botched Donation

Florida A&M University President Dr. Larry Robinson announced on Friday he will resign as leader of the state’s only public historically Black university, a decision that comes amid a probe into a dubious failed $237 million donation.

The Florida Board of Governors recently expressed concerns about the canceled donation from Texas hemp farmer Gregory Gerami, which is currently under investigation, and university programs’ poor licensure performances.

In a letter to Kristin Harper, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Robinson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the school for seven years, which currently enrolls over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Robinson also wrote a letter to the university community. You can read the entire letter here.

Digital Driver’s License App Removed

Florida’s relatively new digital identification app, Florida Smart ID, has been removed from app stores while state leaders look for a new developer for the program they hope to relaunch in 2025.

Florida is one of only a handful of states that has used technology to allow Floridians to have a digital version of their driver’s license.

Since its launch in 2022, more than 521,000 people have downloaded the app, initially costing nearly $2 million to develop.

In an email to users last week, the only explanation given by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles was a need for “enhanced service to customers.” Anyone with the app on their phone is advised to delete it.

List: Notable Wine Menus in Florida

Wine Spectator Magazine published its list of the 2024 Best Restaurants for Wine this month, including more than 3,700 restaurants from 70 countries and naming 289 Florida restaurants. You can see the Florida list here.

Restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers are recognized at three levels of excellence.

During its 43-year history, four Florida restaurants have been honored with Wine Spectator’s top honor for extraordinary wine programs. All past Grand Award winners are listed here. 

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➤ Vice President Kamala Harris has postponed a trip to Palm Beach County planned for Tuesday in the aftermath of Sunday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. (More)

➤ Miami-Dade: The Florida Supreme Court unanimously upheld a recommendation on Friday that former judge Miguel Fernando Mirabal should be prevented from practicing law in the state for a “deliberate pattern of dishonesty.” (More)

➤ Orange County: City commissioners voted Thursday to increase the Fire & EMS property tax to pay for 163 more firefighters and four new fire stations. It’s the first Fire & EMS tax increase in 17 years. (Video)

➤ St. Petersburg: The Florida Holocaust Museum will close July 22 until early 2025 for renovations and an expansion. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: HUD presented a $2.3 million jobs grant to the Housing Authority on Wednesday, aiming to help connect residents in federal housing with job and educational training assistance. (More)

➤ Duval County: The Florida Department of Health issued a blue-green algae health alert for the St. Johns River last week, warning the public to take caution around Mandarin Point. (See Photo)

➤ Governor Ron DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention, kicking off today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (More)

➤ Panama City: Tyndall Air Force Base officials shared on Friday that construction of a $60 million coastal innovation and prototyping facility is set to begin on the Naval Support Activity base. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays have officially stopped payments toward Wander Franco’s mega-contract that he signed back in 2021. Franco has not played with the team in over a year but was still paid until Friday. (More)

➤ Miami Heat 2023 first-round pick Jaimie Jaquez Jr. scored 29 points to help the Heat take a 119-114 victory over the Boston Celtics in their inaugural summer league game. (More)

➤ Jake Burger recorded a season-high four hits in the Miami Marlins 10-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Burger’s first hit of the day was a 400-foot blast that would’ve been a home run in all 30 MLB ballparks. (See Home Run)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB |Wimbledon | WNBA | Tour de France | PGA | LPGA | Copa America | NASCAR 

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➤ Supplement Manufacturing Partners announced last week it had leased 103,494 square feet of industrial space in Largo. It will relocate its headquarters from New York to boost employment and commercial opportunities. (More)

➤ One Tampa: Construction on the city’s tallest high-rise began Thursday. The luxury downtown condominium will be 42 stories tall, reach more than 500 feet, and include 225 residences. (Video)

➤ The Miami-Dade County Courthouse is for sale for a minimum bid of $52.3 million. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and opened in 1928. (Video)

➤ Port Canaveral welcomed the largest cruise ship to ever use the port on Thursday with the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas. (More)

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➤ Bubba, a 375-pound male loggerhead sea turtle, was released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Friday after three months of rehabilitation in Cocoa Beach. (Video)

➤ A United Airlines passenger bit a flight attendant last week, causing the flight from Miami to Newark, NJ, to be diverted to Orlando. The passenger was taken to a hospital for evaluation. (More)

➤ Florida State University is the top-ranked Best Value public college in Florida, according to The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Value Colleges list. FSU ranks #16 nationally. (More)

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Of the three most popular food items identified with Florida, which is best: spiny lobster, key lime pie, or gator tails?

1. Spiny lobster
2. Key lime pie
3. Gator tails

Thursday’s Results:

Do you watch black-and-white movies?

1. 1. Yes: 58.8%
   2. No: 41.2%

In which city hall can you find the iconic Hortense Clock? 

Show me the answer