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THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1764, British Governor James Grant first arrived in St. Augustine to lead East Florida.

It’s National Lemon Juice Day, so today, we pay homage to the sour citrus in our poll and trivia questions. You have our permission to indulge in a lemon treat.

Interested in getting your business in front of 80,000 Floridians? Hit reply and let us know!

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Florida Seniors are Missing Out on Benefits

The National Council on Aging released an interactive state-by-state map showing the number of American seniors eligible for benefits programs who did not enroll. About nine million were found, many of them Floridians. See the full report.

According to the report, only 37.8% of eligible Floridians are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving 858,158 who are not.

In Florida, 221,897 eligible people are not receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Florida's participation rate is 48.6%, slightly below the national rate of 49%.

Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, and Washington rank in the top quarter of all states for program participation.

Toll Relief Program Saves Drivers $164.5 Million

The Toll Relief Program for drivers in the Sunshine State has saved an estimated $164.5 million since its introduction in April, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Motorists with 35 or more paid transactions in a calendar month automatically receive a 50% toll credit on toll roads. In July alone, $41.5 million in credits were issued.

About 1.2 million motorists use the program each month, according to the state.

Happening in Florida this Weekend

From music festivals to craft fairs and car shows, here's a look at what's happening across Florida this Labor Day weekend:

HarborWalk Village Labor Day Weekend Celebration
Destin | Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 | (Details)
Down Under Country Music Festival
Port Orange | Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 | (Details)
Florida Scallop, Music & Arts Festival
Port St. Joe | Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 | (Details)
Geckofest
Gulfport | Aug. 31 | (Details)
15th Annual Labor Day Weekend Craft Festival
Downtown Venice | Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 | (Details)
Miami International Auto Show
Miami | Aug. 30 - Sept. 8 | (Details)
Heroes Salute Tribute Weekend
Florida Keys | Aug. 30 - Sept. 1 | (Details)
Key West Brewfest
Key West | Aug. 29 - Sept. 2 | (Details)

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➤ Gainesville: Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse will be paid his $1 million salary annually until 2028, according to university documents. (See Video)

➤ Florida regulators considered a proposal this week to allow Tampa Electric Co. to raise base electric rates. Consumers and businesses argued the proposal should be scaled back. (More)

➤ A stolen Ferrari chase through St. Johns County into Flagler County caused two schools to be put on lockdown on Tuesday. The suspect was arrested in connection with an armed home invasion and vehicle theft in Rhode Island. (See Details)

➤ Osceola County: The school board on Tuesday rejected a motion to implement chaplains in schools, making it the first in Florida to consider the program. (See Video)

➤ Brevard County: Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $1.23 million grant to expand restrooms and concessions facilities at the Veterans Memorial Park amphitheater planned for Merritt Island. The project will now cost an estimated $7.9 million. (More)

➤ Pasco County: The scallop season reopened on Wednesday and will run until Sept. 24 after being paused due to high levels of toxins and algae in the water. (More)

➤ The Broward Teachers Union is facing decertification after it failed to meet a key threshold in a new Florida law that no longer allows dues to be taken from employees’ paychecks. (See Details)

➤ Jesus Sanchez came up clutch for the Miami Marlins with a three-run home run in the ninth inning to put them ahead by one. The Marlins went on to win 9-8. (See Home Run)

➤ Meanwhile, Jose Siri also came up clutch with a late-inning, go-ahead two-run home run that made the difference in the Tampa Bay Rays' 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. (See Home Run)

➤ The Miami Marlins have placed star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on the PUP list to start the season, keeping him out for at least four games. (More)

Yesterday's results: MLB | WNBA | US OPEN | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Palm Beach International Airport announced this week that Southwest Airlines will offer daily nonstop service to Nashville starting March 6. (More)

➤ Fort Lauderdale-based Sixt Rent A Car hired an Orlando-based consulting firm, Labor Pros, to dissuade sales agents at Miami International Airport from unionizing, according to a disclosure report filed with the federal Department of Labor. (More)

➤ Two Amazon distribution facilities in Melbourne and Cocoa will open by year-end. The large-scale warehouses have sat empty for nearly two years. (More)

➤ Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and a specialty aircraft manufacturer signed a $40 million deal on Monday to construct a new sales and service facility by 2026. (More)

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➤ Lake Mary's Little League All-Stars baseball team is getting a Magic Kingdom parade today at Walt Disney World. The team is the first Florida team to win the Little League World Series out of 24 teams that have reached the final. (More)

➤ A former chapel was spotted floating up the Indian River, causing onlookers to do a double-take. (See Photos)

➤ A $100 million grant to the National Park Service will benefit the coral reefs at Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys. (More)

➤ A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster tipped over and caught fire after Wednesday’s launch of 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. (See Video)

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➤ Paingone Plus is the pocket-sized pain relief pen that delivers targeted relief for your acute or chronic pain in less than 1 minute. It’s natural, fast-acting, and works almost anywhere on the body! (See It Here)