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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2005, Donald Trump wed former model Melania Knauss at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach.

On Tuesday, Marco Rubio (R-Miami) was sworn in as President Donald Trump's Secretary of State by Vice President J.D. Vance. He is the first Latino in this role. You can see the ceremony here.

Today's sponsor is Weight Loss by Hims. Check out their products below.

Weather State of Emergency Declared

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency late Monday due to the winter storm bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the Panhandle and North Florida.

"Hazardous driving conditions will exist Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, especially over bridges, overpasses, and elevated surfaces," DeSantis stated in his order.

State offices in 34 counties, including Tallahassee, are closed today. The National Guard and Florida Guard have been activated to respond, and state transportation crews are mobilizing snow plows and de-icing equipment.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Florida State University's Tallahassee and Panama City campuses are closed today, along with 23 school districts.

Scott Brings Venezuelan President-elect to Inauguration

Senator Rick Scott attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump alongside Venezuela's President-elect Edmundo González, who replaced Maria Corina Machado when she was barred from running against Nicolás Maduro by his regime.

Despite allegations of widespread electoral fraud, Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term. Opposition leaders claim there is credible evidence that González received more votes than Maduro.

Scott hopes the Trump administration will adopt a fresh approach to U.S. policy on Venezuela, stating that González, elected with the support of Machado's leadership, represents a "beacon of hope" for those oppressed by Maduro's authoritarian rule.

Three 'Up-And-Coming' Florida Cities

Orlando, Sarasota-Bradenton, and Jacksonville have been named among the "15 Up-And-Coming U.S. Cities To Visit In 2025" by WorldAtlas. The list highlights growth, affordability, and an abundance of outdoor activities as key factors.

Although Orlando's theme parks are a major attraction, the list highlights revitalized Lake Eola Park as a hub for festivals, boat rentals, and scenic walks. The Mills 50 district is celebrated for its global cuisine and vibrant street art scene.

Sarasota is also noted for its extensive art scene, while nearby Bradenton complements Sarasota with the Village of the Arts and a scenic riverwalk along the Manatee River.

Jacksonville Beach and Little Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville are both listed as prime spots in the state's most populous city. The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the MOSH (Museum of Science & History) are also highlighted.

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➤ St. Johns County: Mike Waltz, who has represented Northeast Florida in Congress since 2019, resigned from office on Monday before the inauguration to serve as President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser. (More)

➤ Fleming Island: Sen. Jennifer Bradley has filed a bill to undo a state law—mandating later start times for middle and high schools—that is set to go into effect July 1, 2026. The Legislature passed the new start-time rules in 2023. (See Details)

➤ Polk County: Eight current or former residents prosecuted for their involvement will likely be free of all charges after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pardoning all "individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021." (See Details)

➤ Escambia County: More than a dozen homes built by the county to help meet the need for affordable housing have remained vacant. A selection committee has recommended that the county partner with Pensacola Habitat for Humanity to sell the houses. (More)

➤ Orange County: Over 4,500 volunteers packed 1 million meals for California wildfire victims and those in need across Central Florida as part of nonprofit U.S. Hunger's second annual MLK Day of Service Million Meal Pack. (See Video)

➤ Hardee County: Deputies and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement seized nearly $200,000 worth of plants from a marijuana grow house that used a "sophisticated" setup to steal utilities. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars have missed out on their first choice for the head coaching vacancy after former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson opted to take the Chicago Bears job instead. (More)

➤ Miami football finished ranked No. 18 in the final AP Top 25 Poll of the season after being ranked in the top 10 for most of the regular season. (More)

➤ Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect Carson Williams has been named as the No. 1 shortstop prospect in all of baseball. (More)

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➤ Florida has been ranked as the best state to start a business in 2025, according to a recent WalletHub study. (More)

➤ The Hammered Lamb, a beloved pub and fixture in Orlando's Ivanhoe Village for 12 years, will serve its last drink on Jan. 25. (See Why)

➤ Jacksonville-based Redwire, a space technology company, agreed to buy Edge Autonomy, a provider of uncrewed airborne system technology, for $925 million in cash and stock. (More)

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➤ A pair of provocative billboards on one of Central Florida's busiest highways condemn antisemitism and aim to reach the more than 70 million visitors who travel to Orlando each year. (See Video)

➤ The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) invited 27 high school students who excel in STEM programs to come to the Daytona International Speedway to learn about the opportunities that exist in motorsports related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (See Photos)

➤ A Florida woman was arrested in Brevard County after authorities found drugs in a bag labeled "Definitely Not A Bag Full of Drugs." She had been released from jail just 10 days earlier on similar charges. (See Photo)

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