State Rep. Joe Casello Dies

Florida state Rep. Joe Casello (D-Boynton Beach) died of a heart attack on Friday at age 73. A public memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks.

Casello made the decision to be taken off life support after learning his heart was at 15%, releasing a statement: “Helping people in their times of need wasn’t just part of the job—it was a calling and a privilege that I will always hold close to my heart. To everyone who has supported me throughout the years: thank you.“

Casello served as the Boynton Beach City Commissioner for District 4 from 2013 to 2018. He previously worked as a firefighter in Massachusetts and served in the U.S. Air Force.

Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis is required to call a special election when a legislative seat is vacated due to a death.

Retired Service Members Warned of Threats

The U.S. military warned that some retired senior military personnel living in Florida could be targets of terrorists due to their service in Iraq or Syria. 

“This was a credible report to which we notified our internal audiences, and we notified those concerned,” said Lt. Col. Allie Scott, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. “We send these types of notifications often within our command.”

Some former military members, however, suggest such an alert is rare. “It could be emanating from a group that’s affiliated with ISIS or ISIS itself, or some group that was involved in the insurgency in Iraq,” said former senior Secret Service agent Donald Mihalek.

Retired service members are asked to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. 

Woman Loses $15K to AI Scam

Sharon Brightwell of Hillsborough County was scammed out of $15,000 after she received a phone call from an unknown number claiming to be her daughter needing bail money after a car crash.

“There is nobody that could convince me that it wasn’t her. I know my daughter’s cry. Even though she’s an adult, I know her cry,” Brightwell said.

Brightwell followed specific instructions from a man claiming to be her daughter’s lawyer. She withdrew the money without telling her bank what it was for and placed it in a box on her front porch.

Her family believes that the scammer used videos of Brightwell’s daughter on Facebook and Snapchat with AI to generate a near-perfect replica of her voice. She and her daughter have now established secret code words to verify each other’s identity.

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➤ Jacksonville: The body of 79-year-old Jacksonville native William Davis was discovered on Mount Washington in New Hampshire last week, days after he went missing from a hiking trail near the visitor center. (More)

➤ St. Petersburg: The Coast Guard offloaded nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine—valued at $93.2 million—on Thursday, following seizures from six vessels during a two-month operation in the Eastern Pacific. (More)

➤ Brooksville: A man was arrested for DUI after troopers spotted him driving a lawn mower erratically on a busy toll road. (See Photo)

➤ Clay County: The Safe Animal Shelter is in danger of closing due to road construction affecting traffic to the shelter, causing donations to fall by more than 60 percent. (More)

➤ Woodville: Rick the Barber and Heavenly Hair Studios are hosting an event on Aug. 10, offering free haircuts, backpacks, and school supplies to help kids look their best heading back to school. (See Video)

➤ Bay County: The Historical Society of Bay County is seeking artifact donations for an upcoming Smithsonian exhibit showcasing the region’s culinary history. (See Video)

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➤ Miami Marlins All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers belted a monster walk-off home run to deliver the Marlins an 8-7 extra-innings win over the Kansas City Royals. (See Home Run)

➤ Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs has been ranked as the top player at his position in a recent ESPN poll of NFL coaches, executives, and scouts. (More)

➤ Tampa Bay Rays two-time All-Star pitcher Shane McClanahan had a rough showing in his rehab appearance with AAA Durham, allowing three runs in 0.2 innings. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Soccer | PGA | Tour de France

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➤ Firefighters rescued a sea turtle that got itself stuck between rocks on a Martin County beach last week. (See Video)

➤ Historic Fort Gatlin in Orlando is expected to go up for auction with a starting bid of $1.4 million in 60 days. Residents have started a petition to the county to convert it to a park instead. (See Video)

➤ A waterfront estate in Siesta Key has been listed for sale for $15.95 million. The current owner says you can hear the “blowholes of the dolphins as they swim by.” (See Photos)

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How many clocks do you have in your home, not including your phone or TV/computer?

1. None
2. 1-3
3. 4-6
4. 7 or more

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you play the computer word game Words With Friends?

1. Yes: 20%
2. No: 80%

Which classic horror film had several scenes filmed in Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee?

Show me the answer