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7 takeaways from the 1st GOP primary debate

Eight Republican presidential candidates gathered for the first primary debate of the 2024 cycle, offering Americans one of their first major chances to start weighing who will be the GOP standard bearer next year.

What voters got was two hours of sharp elbows over everything from age to policy to, of course, former President Donald Trump.

On stage were Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

DeSantis wasn't attacked as much as expected but didn’t appear to falter, sticking to his talking points and ended up fighting for airtime -- speaking for the fourth-longest amount of time, behind Pence, Ramaswamy and Christie.

"I think he did very well tonight and looked the most presidential of all the candidates. His answers were clear and concise, and he was able to introduce himself as an effective leader, a veteran, and family man. I really appreciate that he spoke directly to the voters instead of engaging in shouting matches like the other candidates," said Nick Iarossi, a Florida lobbyist close to DeSantis' campaign.

Ron DeSantis adds endorsements from 21 state, local officials after GOP debate

Ron DeSantis followed up his “commanding performance” in the first 2024 Republican presidential debate by adding 21 more endorsements from state lawmakers and local officials, his campaign says.

The post-debate haul brings the number of state-level officials backing him to more than 300 — the most of any candidate in the race, DeSantis for President said.

Gino Bulso, who joined fellow Tennessee Reps. Dale Carr and Jason Zachary in throwing support behind DeSantis, said Florida’s Governor is the right person to reverse President Joe Biden’s “radical policies and rising prices.”

“We need a President who understands how to rebuild the American dream and fight for the middle class,” he said in a statement. “Ron DeSantis has the vision, experience, and energy to reverse our economy’s decline and make life affordable for working families.”

Central Florida tourism brought $87.6 billion in economic impact last year: study

Central Florida’s tourism generated an unprecedented economic impact of $87.6 billion last year — a 31 percent surge from the previous year due to increases in visitor spending, job creation, and state and local tax revenue.

A study conducted by Tourism Economics, a subsidiary of Oxford Economics, reveals that Central Florida saw a 38 percent upswing in visitor spending in 2022, reaching $55.5 billion and surpassing pre-pandemic levels by $7.5 billion. The spending was largely concentrated in Orange County, according to the study, with 85 percent of the total visitor expenditure, while Osceola and Seminole counties contributed 12 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

“The new data from Tourism Economics shows that the post-pandemic rebound of our region’s tourism industry tremendously benefitted our community,” said Casandra Matej, President and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Visitors are the economic driver for our region’s economy, creating jobs for residents and contributing billions of dollars in taxes collected for our local government.”

Some Florida doctors hope new golf cart law will curb a rise in youth injuries

Starting Oct. 1, teens in Florida won't be allowed to drive golf carts on public roads without a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit, according to a new state law passed during the legislative session earlier this year.

Doctors like Meghan Martin at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg applaud the move and hope it will improve golf cart safety.

“A couple years ago we'd see golf cart injuries intermittently, but honestly over the last three years they have only been continually increasing," Martin said. "We're seeing them fairly regularly now and some of the injuries are more significant.”

The pediatric emergency medicine physician says All Children’s has treated 16 children and teens for serious golf cart injuries so far this year, according to the hospital’s trauma registry.

Of those, 12 involved head injuries, including seven brain bleeds, while five patients had fractures.