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MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1962, NASA launched the Mariner 1 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral. Despite its mission to Venus being unsuccessful, it marked an important step in the United States' space exploration efforts.

Today, for the first time, we're running the top story from our national newsletter—the Flyover—in Flyover Florida, because we believe President Biden's historic withdrawal from the election will interest and impact all of our readers regardless of geography.

If you'd like to read more from our national publication, you can click here and be automatically subscribed.

As always, don't hesitate to share your thoughts with us and reply to this email.

Today's edition is brought to you by Peeps, by Carbon Klean. Keep your shades and glasses crystal clear this summer!

Biden Withdraws From Election, Endorses Harris

President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race Sunday, and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to replace him at the top of the ticket.

The historic announcement puts the Democratic Party into uncharted waters, with the next steps up to the party’s national committee, which will have to decide how to select a new candidate. Here’s a look at how that process would work.

Though Harris is seen by some as the front-runner, she was not endorsed in statements from two of the party’s most influential leaders, Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, who both applauded Biden’s decision but pointedly didn’t endorse his vice president.

Obama said he was confident “the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”

Biden’s decision came after weeks of pressure from other Democrats after his poor performance in the June debate with former President Donald Trump.

The last time an incumbent president withdrew from an election was in 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced he wouldn’t run for re-election. Ironically, that year's Democratic convention was in Chicago, just as this year’s will be.

University of Florida President Resigns

University of Florida President Ben Sasse resigned last week after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy. He will leave his position at the Gainesville-based university to focus on caring for his family.

The former U.S. senator from Nebraska said that “after extensive prayer and lots of family tears,” he asked university officials to look for a new president.

Sasse’s resignation is effective July 31. He will transition to teaching and maintain an advisory role.

Sasse's wife, Melissa, had an aneurysm and a series of strokes in 2007 and has been having “a new batch of memory issues.” The couple has two daughters in college, and their youngest is turning 13.

Rays Reach Final Step For New Stadium

A new multi-purpose 30,000-seat baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays needs one more vote to win final approval after the St. Petersburg City Council OK'd the plan on Thursday.

The proposal now goes to the Pinellas County Commission for a vote on July 30. If approved, the Rays will have a long-term home in the Tampa area after a decade of uncertainty.

The deal has St. Pete contributing $312.5 million, Pinellas County another $287.5 million, and the Rays and the developer paying the remainder of at least $700 million.

In addition to a new ballpark for the Rays, plans include a supermarket, affordable housing, a new facility to house the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, green space, office and retail space, and a concert venue.

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South Florida

➤ Hollywood and Altamonte Springs: City College abruptly ceased enrollment last week and is closing. The college is a for-profit institution that trains students for careers in healthcare. (Video)

➤ Palm Beach: South Ocean Boulevard closed on Saturday due to heightened security for "Mar-a-Lago and U.S. Secret Service-protected individuals,” and will remain closed until the November general election. (More)

Central Florida

➤ Hillsborough County: The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough warned residents this week of unsafe water conditions at multiple beaches and Lake Thonotosassa. (See Details)

➤ Clearwater: Eight members of the HOA board at On Top of the World Retirement Community resigned last week due to personal threats, following the resignation of five members in May. (Video)

➤ Manatee County: County residents gathered downtown last week to protest against controversial over-development issues, saying commissioners prioritize developers’ requests over the wants of residents. (More)

North Florida

➤ Gainesville: City commissioners on Thursday approved a proposal for affordable housing with smaller houses on smaller properties for smaller prices. Some leaders and residents object. (More)

➤ Fleming Island: The Florida Department of Health in Clay County issued a health alert Friday after finding harmful blue-green algae toxins in Doctors Lake near Magnolia Road. (See Precaution List)

➤ Sanford: Police announced the arrest of a Florida man for the 1999 cold-case murder of his girlfriend after new DNA testing on the murder weapon. (Video)

The Panhandle

➤ Pensacola: A judge last week ordered the city to refund between $18 and $20 million to natural gas customers charged illegal franchise fees. (More)

➤ Jackson County: A rabies alert was issued on Friday by the Florida Department of Health, which is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area. The rabies alert remains for 60 days. (More)

➤ The Miami Marlins were shut out on Saturday for the 11th time in the 2024 MLB season in a 1-0 loss to the New York Mets. The offense only mustered four hits. (More)

➤ Yandy Diaz has been moved to the Tampa Bay Rays restricted list following what manager Kevin Cash described as a “family matter.” Infielder Curtis Mead has been called up from AAA to take Diaz’s spot on the roster. (More)

➤ The Miami Heat are among 14 NBA teams currently being sued for alleged theft of copyrighted music. The team has not issued a statement on the matter yet. (More)

Yesterday's results: MLB | NASCAR | Tour de France | PGA | LPGA

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➤ A class action lawsuit was filed Friday against Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and soccer organizations CONMEBOL and CONCACAF by fans who were denied entry to the Copa America final match on July 14. (Video)

➤ Clearwater-based BayCare announced that August 10 will be the opening date for its $326 million South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City. (More)

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➤ A Jupiter man was arrested on Saturday after police found death threats he had written online against Former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance. (More)

➤ The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation in Florida is today. Florida’s primary election will be on August 20. (More)

➤ Florida deputies remind residents to keep their distance from bears after onlookers in Santa Rosa Beach attempted to take selfies with a “depressed” black bear last week. (See Photos)

➤ Universal Orlando launched a new ticket deal Thursday that allows Florida residents to visit Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure for unlimited days through December 18. (More)

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