Donalds Announces Run for Governor

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced his candidacy for governor during a prime-time interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, saying, “I think now is the time to now take the mantle and lead our state into the future.”

Donalds, 46, a Republican from Naples, was first elected to Congress in 2020. He would be Florida’s first black governor.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Donalds graduated from Florida State University in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in finance and marketing. He has worked at TIB Bank, CMG Life Services, and Moran Wealth in Naples.

Donalds entered politics as part of the Tea Party movement and won a state House seat in 2016. In 2020, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 19th District and was re-elected in 2022.

Lawmakers Want Epstein Files Released

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faces mounting pressure from lawmakers to release the “client list” of deceased Palm Beach billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Bondi said she’s reviewing files related to Epstein’s investigation per a directive from President Trump. Epstein’s client list, a document suspected to include high-profile names, could be among them.

Leading the pack of lawmakers calling for the list’s release is U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-St. Petersburg, who chairs a congressional task force on declassification of federal secrets.

Property Insurance Costs Top Concern

Polling that sampled 800 likely voters adds to the pile of recent surveys listing property insurance costs as the top concern among Florida voters.

One in three likely 2026 general election voters told the Associated Industries of Florida Center for Political Strategy that the price of property insurance, which has risen rapidly in the last five years, is the state’s most pressing issue.

Two other economic concerns, inflation (21%) and housing costs (11%), were among the top five issues listed in the initial findings of AIF’s Q1 2025 Statewide General Election Poll.

The poll also asked about five Republicans who might run for governor in 2026, including First Lady Casey DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. DeSantis received a favorable response from 30%, the highest of those listed.

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➤ Tallahassee: James Uthmeier, recently appointed as Florida’s attorney general, formally filed to run for a full term, promising to “keep Florida safe, strong, and free.” (More)

➤ Delray Beach: An independent investigation into the Brightline train crash in December determined that the firefighters did not engage in willful breaches of city or fire rescue policies. (See Details)

➤ Ocala: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he will allocate $541 million to widen a busy stretch of I-75, speeding the project by 10 to 15 years. (More)

➤ Brevard County: The Sheriff’s Office requested $10 million from the legislature to help fund the building of a $20 million complex in Viera that would include a regional law enforcement training center. (More)

➤ Vero Beach: The city’s finance director, Steve Dionne, resigned after failing to meet the state’s annual audit deadline of Jan. 15. (See Photo)

➤ The Orlando Magic lost 122-82 in a 2024 playoff series rematch against Cleveland. (More)

➤ Florida Panthers star Sam Bennett scored a power-play goal during the team’s 4-1 win over Nashville. (Watch)

➤ Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel received an A+ in the NFLPA annual player survey, one of six coaches given the score. (See Report Cards)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ The Jacksonville edition of Monopoly is now available, featuring cultural sites, historic landmarks, charitable organizations, and businesses in the Bold City. (See Photos)

➤ The median sale price of condominium units along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts is falling, according to a Redfin report. (More)

➤ A new nonprofit, the Naples-based Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation, aims to preserve the state’s citrus industry by providing grants to small growers. (More)

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➤ Plant City’s 90th Florida Strawberry Festival hopes to shatter its attendance record of 600,000 with a star-studded music lineup for this year’s event, which runs from today through March 9. (See Performers) 

➤ Tampa International Airport is readying for spring break, with airport officials expecting more than 3.3 million travelers to pass through during the season. (More)

➤ Daytona Beach’s 84th Annual Bike Week festival begins Friday and runs through March 9. (See Travel Guide)

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Which is your favorite berry?

1. Strawberry
2. Blueberry
3. Raspberry
4. Blackberry
5. Other
6. Like them all
7. I don’t like berries

Wednesday’s Results:

Do you enjoy going to the theater for plays?

1. Yes: 29%
2. Depends on the play: 27%
3. No: 24%
4. Prefer a movie: 20%

Which county is one of the nation’s top agricultural counties with yearly fruit and vegetable crops valued at more than $360 million?

Show me the answer