Florida's Latest News

Ben Sasse resigning as President of UF, citing wife’s battle with health issues

Citing concerns about his wife’s health in recent months, former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse is resigning as President of the University of Florida (UF).

Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch first broke the news. Sasse confirmed his resignation shortly after with a statement he also posted to social media.

“This isn’t an easy note to write but wanted to give you an update on our family. As many of you know, my wife Melissa suffered an aneurysm and series of strokes in 2007. Back then, the docs prepared us for the worst, but — in God’s providence — she made an incredible comeback. In the years since — from Nebraska to DC to Florida — she kept our family grounded while I missed too many family dinners, little league games, hugs, and tears. She’s the strongest person I know,” Sasse said.

“We’ve battled some nasty seizures the last couple years, but she’s always remained a warrior. In recent months, Melissa has been diagnosed with epilepsy and has been struggling with a new batch of memory issues. It’s been hard, but we’ve faced it together. A lot of late nights, a lot of hard decisions, and a lotta ‘what matters most?’ conversations. Our two wonderful daughters are in college, but our youngest is just turning 13.”

The RNC’s gubernatorial parade

The Republican National Convention this week provided a veritable sampling of potential 2026 candidates for governor.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who told Playbook no one would outwork him in whatever he decides to do next, had a saloon get-together with state party grassroots and lawmakers to kick off the week. He also held a counter-programing Harbor House seafood restaurant gathering Tuesday, the same night that Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson threw a country rock concert at the Harley Davidson Museum. In a video that went viral, Rep. Matt Gaetz taunted ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over how only one of them got a main-stage speaking slot.

Rep. Mike Waltz took the stage during primetime Wednesday to share how Trump comforted families of service members killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal. The Republican Party of Florida hosted a lunch with Gov. Ron DeSantis ally Attorney General Ashley Moody and held a breakfast with Rep. Byron Donalds, who at one point engaged in one of Florida politicians’ favorite pastimes by taking digs at California.

“Obviously, it’s like a governor’s audition, right? And they’re all coming through,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota, who’s also a GOP national committeeman and already running for CFO in 2026.

Updates: St. Petersburg City Council approves new Rays stadium project

A decision decades in the making was made today: The Tampa Bay Rays are in St. Petersburg to stay.

The St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve 12 legally binding agreements governing construction and funding for a new Rays stadium and a surrounding redevelopment called the Historic Gas Plant District. Five votes were needed for approval, and the vote was 5-3.

All that’s left is a July 30 vote by the Pinellas County Commission to commit $312.5 million in tourist tax dollars. If that’s approved, the project is a go. Commissioners have signaled support for the deal, so that vote has long been seen as the smaller hurdle.

There are a few more votes today to wrap up the city’s end of the deal, but the 5-3 approval of the core agreements all but guarantees they’ll pass. The next big step will likely take place in less than two weeks.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor unveils $1.8 billion budget. Here’s what’s in it.

Mayor Jane Castor on Thursday proposed what she called “a status quo budget,” maintaining current service levels with little left over to meet the demands posed by an influx of new residents and a backlog of maintenance projects.

“We are in good shape,” Castor, who won reelection last year, said in a speech at Old City Hall. “However, with current levels of revenue, I want to be clear, it will not address many of our gaps and growth challenges.”

In Tampa, which has transformed from sleepy port town to millennial mecca in recent years, housing demand continues to dwarf supply, public transit offerings are bare bones and streets are particularly hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists. Housing and transportation — alongside public safety, climate resiliency and tending to aging infrastructure — continue to be central focuses of city spending, Castor said.

In the last four years, the city witnessed a nearly 40% increase in costs for many goods and services, she added.