GOP Has Edge in Early Voting

Early voting for Florida’s Tuesday primary ends Saturday, and officials say over 1.2 million Floridians have already cast their ballot either by mail or in person. 

Former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cast his vote in Florida’s primary on Wednesday, voting in Palm Beach County.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Republicans had outvoted Democrats by nearly 90,000 votes statewide despite Democrats requesting more vote-by-mail ballots.

Lightning Owner Selling Majority Stake

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik confirmed on Tuesday that he’s selling his majority stake in the team.

The sale would value the Lightning at close to $2 billion and will not change day-to-day operations, with Vinik remaining in charge of the organization for the next several years.

Sportsnet reported that the buyer is believed to be Doug Ostrover, the co-founder and CEO of Blue Owl Capital, though the deal is not complete.

If completed, the Lightning sale would be the largest in NHL history, surpassing Michael Andlauer’s $950 million purchase of the Ottawa Senators in September.

FAMU President Calls for Resignations

Florida A&M Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard asked the university’s senior leadership team of 19 people to resign from their positions by Tuesday in a letter sent on Monday. Read the full letter here.

Beard said he found the change “necessary” for the university to achieve its long-term goals, in consultation with the school’s Board of Trustees and the past president.

Beard was appointed by the FAMU Board of Trustees two weeks ago after former president Dr. Larry Robinson’s resignation.

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➤ Stuart: A new sign on Kanner Highway was unveiled this week, noting the town’s recent designation as USA Today’s Best Coastal Small Town in America. (See List)

➤ The Army Corps of Engineers signed off on a new Lake Okeechobee water release schedule this week after five years of debate and a $1.8 billion investment in the rehabilitation of Herbert Hoover Dike. (More)

➤ Orlando International Airport announced Tuesday it will upgrade two of its airside buildings as part of a $50 million renovation project. (More)

➤ Redington Beach: A judge backed the town this week in a long-running legal fight with waterfront property owners about public beach access. (More)

➤ Flagler County is using drone technology to tackle beach erosion along its Atlantic coastline, streamlining regulatory challenges. (Watch Video)

➤ Palatka: A 15-year-old high school athlete died Tuesday in his home after complaining of chest pains before football practice. (Watch Video)

➤ Visit Florida announced that a Panhandle tourism campaign will launch this fall, funded by a three-year $10.5 million grant tied to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. (More)

➤ Panama City: St. Andrews Bay STEM Academy opened last week with an inaugural class of 60 students. (Watch Video)

➤ Miami Marlins right fielder Kyle Stowers went all out to make a diving catch that helped the Marlins shut out the first-place Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. (More)

➤ Junior Caminero got his first hit since rejoining the team at the Major League level with a scorching single that left his bat at 116.3 MPH. (More)

➤ Miami Heat great Dwayne Wade is reportedly in the running for a major commentary job with either NBC or Amazon. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB

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➤ Quade Books opened its first U.S. location in Aventura Mall in Miami last month. The Argentina-based bookstore curates a bilingual selection. (See Photos)

➤ Tampa-based LM Funding announced a letter of intent to purchase a bitcoin-mining facility in Texas after securing a $5.6 million loan. (More)

➤ The Aldi supermarket chain has begun converting a Winn-Dixie supermarket in Lakeland into an Aldi’s, the first of many conversions to come. (More)

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➤ Maddie, a St. Augustine Yorkie, survived a shark attack when she fell off a boat in the Intracoastal Waterway. (See Details)

➤ If you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, Elijah Wood and Hayden Christensen are scheduled to appear at the Tampa Bay Comic Con from August 23-25. (More)

➤ Insurers in Florida estimate that $90 million in claims will be paid to nearly 12,000 policyholders due to Hurricane Debby. (Watch Video)

➤ Central and South Florida will experience a touch of fall weather this weekend, with dryer air tamping down humidity. (See Maps)

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Do you think Florida’s law regulating social media content violates First Amendment rights?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Undecided

Wednesday’s Results:

Would other people say you’re a good driver?

1. Yes: 74.4%
2. No: 25.6%

Where in Florida was the annual “Sara de Soto” Pageant, which started in 1916?

Show me the answer