New Initiative Feeds Families

The Farmers Feeding Florida (FFF) program connects farmers and ranchers with surplus stock in the slow season and families struggling to make ends meet.

By expanding food bank infrastructure, the Sunshine State can supply more fresh produce, meat, and other products to more food banks to help hungry people.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Senate President Ben Albritton joined other state leaders and representatives from the agriculture sector to announce the program’s launch. Albritton called it a “hand up, not a handout.”

Included in the 2025-26 state budget, FFF uses state funding to increase the availability of fresh food products for Floridians who face food insecurity daily. About 170,000 gallons of milk went to needy families within the past month.

State Road 534 Connector Approved

The Central Florida Expressway Authority’s (CFX) governing board voted 7-3 to declare 44 acres of land in Orange County necessary for acquisition, despite opposition to the move.

The land, which includes some conservation acreage, will be used to build a toll road through the protected Split Oak Forest.

Three acres of Eagles Roost, a 232-acre Orange County-owned park, are now the agency’s preferred route for a new segment of State Road 534 to connect State Road 417 in Orange County, near Boggy Creek Road, to Nova Road in Osceola County.

The agency also released its preferred route for the Southport Connector, a 15-mile tolled expressway in Southern Osceola County. It will traverse the Florida Wildlife Corridor and pass near the Disney Wilderness Preserve.

School Resource Officer of the Year

Officer Ashley Pierce, a school resource officer (SRO) who has served for 16 years at Lawton Chiles Middle School, was named Florida SRO of the Year by the Florida Association of School Resource Officers.

An officer with the Oviedo Police Department, Pierce received the special acknowledgment for her work for Seminole County students with her K9 partner, Xander.

The annual award recognizes SROs who have gone above and beyond their normal duties and shown dedication to their communities as leaders.

Pierce leads several initiatives on campus for students, including managing the school’s food pantry and organizing holiday clothing drives. She was selected from a pool of candidates across the state.

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➤ East Coast: Hazardous beach and boating conditions are expected off the coast this week, as Hurricane Erin travels through the Atlantic. (See Map)

➤ Broward County: Two off-duty fire rescue lieutenants saved a victim from a burning car on I-75 Sunday morning. (See Video)

➤ New Smyrna Beach: A woman who claims she lost her unborn child after being exposed to bacteria from raw milk filed a lawsuit against Keely Farms Dairy. State health officials have tied the farm to at least 21 cases of E. coli and Campylobacter bacteria sickness. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: Two passengers aboard the Carnival Elation, which departed from the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal on Thursday, drowned in the Bahamas in separate incidents on Celebration Key, Carnival’s private island. (More)

➤ Leesburg: Starting Oct. 1, developing land in the city will cost more, as building permit fees will increase to 2018 levels—a minimum of $150 for residential and $250 for commercial. (See Video)

➤ Orlando: Magical Dining started last week and runs through Sept. 30, with over 160 Central Florida restaurants participating in the 20th anniversary of the culinary celebration. (See Details)

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➤ The Miami Marlins are using a pitch-cloning robot to precisely replicate the opposing pitchers’ style and pitch frequencies. (More)

➤ Lionel Messi scored a crucial goal and dealt the game-sealing assist in his first game back with Inter Miami since injuring his hamstring. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars acquired defensive tackle Khalen Saunders via trade from the Saints mere hours after playing against him in the preseason. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | LLWS

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➤ The Florida GOP removed new immigration merchandise for “The Deport Depot” from its website after Home Depot objected to its logo being mimicked. (More)

➤ Gainesville officials plan to add cardiovascular screenings to barbershops. The Fresh Fades and Healthy Hearts initiative seeks to prevent heart attacks. (See Video)

➤ A 270-acre piece of land in Melrose was purchased on Aug. 1 as the planned site of Wildflowers Music Park and winter festivals. The park requires a zoning exception that some residents oppose. (More)

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➤ An Orange Park man completed his third cross-country trek on Sunday at Jacksonville Beach—a celebration of his journey from addiction to advocacy. (See Photos)

➤ The history of communism will be a required subject in Florida public schools starting with the 2026 school year. The mandate was signed into law in April 2024. (More)

➤ Sunday was the last day to ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Coaster at Universal Studios in Orlando. The ride opened in 2009 and permanently closed to make room for a new attraction. (See Photo)

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Would you ever want to walk across the state or the country if you had the time and ability?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe

Monday’s Results:

Have you ever flown on JetBlue?

1. Yes: 46%
2. No: 54%

What bridge in Jacksonville was known as the Yellow Monster?

Show me the answer