Primary Sees Tight Races and Reporting Issues

Florida’s primary election on Aug. 20 didn’t unfold as Gov. Ron DeSantis had hoped, with several races too close to call amid problems in vote reporting. You can view results by county or district here.

DeSantis’ attempt to help elect conservative-leaning school board members in 23 districts across the state hit a snag, with candidates backed by the governor losing in at least 11 races.

The Senate primary went as expected, with incumbent Sen. Rick Scott securing the Republican nomination with over 84% of the vote. On the Democratic side, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell won her primary with more than 69%.

Four Central Florida races were so close that a clear winner could not be determined. These are headed toward likely recounts and runoffs in November.

Meanwhile, a vendor issue caused numerous counties, including Palm Beach County, to experience problems with their websites displaying updated election results throughout the night.

Mars-Bound Payload Arrives in Florida

The Mars-bound twin spacecraft for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission arrived from California this week ahead of the first-ever launch of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral.

The two small satellites, dubbed Blue and Gold, will observe plasma and magnetic fields around Mars.

The mission’s purpose is to orbit Mars and help explain why Mars’ atmosphere is so thin and how it may have evolved over time. Its launch window begins in September and runs into October.

Florida Named No. 1 State for Fun

Florida is the leading destination for fun in the U.S., according to a new study that highlights states where fun is not just an option but a way of life.

To determine the most fun states in America, WalletHub compared 26 key indicators of a good time that won’t break the bank in two categories: entertainment and recreation, and nightlife.

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➤ Tallahassee: The First Florida Capitol Project in Cascades Park released construction photos, with completion scheduled by Labor Day weekend. (See Photos)

➤ Pensacola: A 21-year-old biker is in custody after leading troopers on a 140 mph chase Tuesday because she didn’t want a ticket, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: The city saved $500,000 by cutting funding for several annual events, including the Blue Angels at the Sea & Sky Air Show, due to budget restraints. (Watch Video)

➤ Hillsborough County: The Sheriff’s Office announced 148 arrests and the recovery of seven victims resulting from Operation Summer Shield, an effort to fight human trafficking. (More)

➤ Orange County: Officials unveiled a new incentive program to lure film industry production companies from competing states. Florida ended its statewide film incentive program in 2016. (See Video)

➤ Delray Beach native and tennis star Coco Gauff is on the cover of the iconic Wheaties box ahead of the 2024 U.S. Open this week, where she is the defending champion. (See Photos)  

➤ West Palm Beach: Ice America is installing an outdoor ice-skating rink at The Ben Autograph Collection Hotel downtown, using patented ice-floor technology that works in the heat. (More)

➤ Miami’s LoanDepot Park was announced as one of the host sites for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Miami will host “Pool D,” featuring Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and the Netherlands. (More)

➤ Miami Dolphins superstar Tyreek Hill is skipping the team’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a thumb injury. Head coach Mike McDaniel says the injury is minor and likely won’t affect Hill’s Week 1 status. (More)

➤ Lake Mary Little League defeated New York on Tuesday to stay alive in the Little League World Series. They will face Hawaii in the next round. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | US OPEN | LLWS 

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➤ Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park saw a 19.8% year-over-year increase in attendance from 2022 to 2023, more than any other North American theme park. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Disney is no longer seeking arbitration in a wrongful death lawsuit it tried to get dismissed over Disney+ terms. (More)

➤ Merritt Island-based All Points Logistics announced a partnership with Sierra Space for a spacecraft processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to prep the company’s uncrewed Dream Chaser space plane for missions. (More)

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➤ Miami and Tampa ranked in the top 20 of The World’s Most Walkable Cities, making Florida the state with the most U.S. cities on the list. (See List)

➤ Is beer brewed in space different? University of Florida researchers are working to find out. (More)

➤ A new interactive life expectancy map shows the average life expectancy in each state. Florida’s is 77.5 years, matching the national average. (See Map)

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Are tennis balls yellow or green?

1. Yellow
2. Green

Wednesday’s Results:

Which is your favorite theme park at Walt Disney World?

1. I don’t go to Walt Disney World: 32.2%
2. Epcot: 12.2%
3. Magic Kingdom: 10.9%
4. I love them all equally: 9.8%
5. Blizzard Beach: 9.5%
6. Animal Kingdom: 8.9%
7. Hollywood Studios: 8.7%
8. Typhoon Lagoon: 7.8%

Complete the lyric to this Kenny Chesney song: “Can’t say I got a whole lot of cares/I’m in the redneck Riviera/It’s getting crazy, getting hammered/Sitting right here at the_______.”

Show me the answer