Exploring Congressional Redistricting

Lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee next month to convene committee hearings, including the new House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting announced by House Speaker Daniel Perez last month.

Rep. Mike Redondo, a Republican first elected in 2023 to represent part of Miami-Dade County, will chair the 11-person committee. The committee will explore questions related to redistricting before the next decennial census. The Senate doesn’t have a similar panel.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’s intent on a mid-decade congressional redistricting that would help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House in 2026. A new survey shows Floridians may disagree.

Watchdog group Common Cause surveyed almost 500 Floridians from all political affiliations, finding that 55% oppose the idea of redistricting, 26% support it, and 19% are undecided.

Special Election Ends in Runoff

Tampa’s District 5 city council seat attracted 14 candidates for Tuesday’s special election and is headed for a runoff. Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson died unexpectedly in June, making the seat available.

With so many people running, no candidate acquired the needed 50% plus one vote to secure the election.

The Rev. Thomas Scott, who previously served as a Tampa city councilman and a Hillsborough County Commissioner, and Naya Young, a grassroots community organizer, emerged as the top two candidates and will square off in the Oct. 28 runoff.

Scott earned the most votes, 1,454, or 27.1%. Young followed with 712 votes, outpacing the third-place finisher, Fran Tate. The winner of the election will serve the remainder of Henderson’s term through 2027.

Community College Could Be Rays’ Home

According to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, the group expected to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays is considering a new home for the team at the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough Community College (HCC).

Hagan said the group led by Jacksonville-based home builder Patrick Zalupski looked at the college site and a waterfront property in Ybor City.

Local leaders have proposed several other sites across Hillsborough County, including WestShore Plaza, the Florida State Fairgrounds, and the former Tampa Greyhound track in Sulphur Springs.

In July, Stu Sternberg agreed to sell the Rays to Zalupski and the group for roughly $1.7 billion. The transaction is expected to be finalized this month, and Major League Baseball is expected to approve the deal by the end of the season.

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➤ Statewide: On Friday, a legislative budget panel will consider directing $1 million to projects as part of the state’s America250FL campaign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. (More)

➤ Boca Raton: A small jet returning from Las Vegas was going too fast when attempting to land and was saved by a safety system employed in many airports around the world. (See Video)

➤ Anna Maria Island: City officials are speeding up plans to ban swimming off Bean Point after a man drowned there over the Labor Day weekend. (More)

➤ Orlando: Amid a potential sale of the Tampa Bay Rays, Morgan & Morgan law firm founder John Morgan is leaving the Orlando Dreamers, a group that has advocated for a Major League Baseball team in Orange County. (See Details)

➤ Volusia County: Joseph Kinney of Lake Mary was arrested on Monday on two counts of practicing healthcare without a license. Kinney’s nursing license was revoked in 2022, and he used another person’s identity to apply for nursing positions around Central Florida. (See Video)

➤ New Smyrna Beach: On Tuesday, the city commission voted 3-2 against joining a coalition of municipalities in a legal challenge against SB 180, which regulates development and bans implementing moratoriums. (More)

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➤ Naples: Sip, savor, and support at Wine Around The Water! On Saturday, September 27th, the Village Shops on Venetian Bay will host an evening of wine tastings, boutique shopping, dining discounts, and waterfront views. Tickets are $30, with all proceeds benefiting SNIP Collier’s mission to provide affordable pet care in Naples, FL. (LEARN MORE)

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➤ The University of South Florida hired Rob Higgins as the school’s first CEO of Athletics. Higgins has served as the executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission since 2004. (More)

➤ Miami Marlins All-Star Kyle Stowers reinjured himself during a rehab stint in the minor leagues and now has an undefined timetable for return. (More)

➤ The family of suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco admitted him into a mental health clinic in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Calling for “prudence,” a group of prominent civic and business leaders has added its voice to the debate about reducing property taxes in Jacksonville, saying that “reducing revenue at this time is inconsistent with maintaining public safety.” (More)

➤ Orlando-based Jeff’s Bagel Run opened its 20th location in Apopka. The company started during the pandemic and has locations nationwide. (See Video)

➤ Trade publication National Provisioner ranks Sarasota-based Boar’s Head Provisions No. 21 on its top 100 list of largest meat and poultry processors with $3 billion in sales. (More)

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➤ Record amounts of sargassum seaweed washing up on shore are threatening vulnerable sea turtle hatchlings along the coast, slowing them down and putting them at risk as they travel from the sandy beaches to the ocean. (More)

➤ A Tampa police officer’s interaction with a little girl went viral after the child took a special interest in the officer’s body camera. (See Video)

➤ The Florida Strawberry Festival returns to Plant City from February 26 to March 8 for its 91st annual event. The theme for 2026 is Still Growing! (See Poster)

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Are you in favor of congressional redistricting in Florida before the next census?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Wednesday’s Results:

Do you think Florida will be hit with a hurricane this season?

1. Not sure: 38%
2. Yes: 32%
3. Not this year: 30%

What was one of the United States’ longest conflicts, fought in Florida?

Show me the answer