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Byron Donalds Will Finish out Congressional Term, not Resign to Focus on Gubernatorial Race

Republican gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Byron Donalds says he will finish out his congressional term in office and not resign to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.

“I’m going to finish out the term. We have other work that’s got to get done,” Rep. Donalds told The Floridian shortly after votes concluded Wednesday afternoon.

In September 2018, then gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Ron DeSantis announced that he was resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives to focus on campaigning for governor.

At the time it appeared as if DeSantis had to focus had no other choice but to focus on his run for governor in 2018, but Donalds doesn’t.

Rep. Donalds, who is sitting on mountain of campaign cash and is leading in the latest public opinion polls by what seems like an insurmountable percentage advantage, has already spoke to House Leadership about his intentions, noting that he will “be back for key votes.”

Tampa CRA drops August Tampa Bay Rays discussion as board awaits direct negotiations

The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency voted to remove discussion of a proposed $100 million contribution to a Tampa Bay Rays stadium project from its Aug. 20 agenda, signaling doubt that final details would be ready in time for robust discussion at the meeting.

The move does not reject the funding request or remove the CRA from the proposed deal. Instead, board members said the item should return once the agency has been directly involved in negotiations and has a completed proposal to consider.

The CRA is being asked to contribute $100 million toward redevelopment surrounding the proposed ballpark at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. However, Thursday’s vote leaves no scheduled date for the CRA to take up its portion of the stadium financing package.

Board members again raised concerns that the Mayor’s Office, city staff, Hillsborough County and the Rays have been negotiating the broader framework without the CRA participating as a separate party. They insist that the team directly negotiate with CRA board members, composed entirely of Tampa City Council members, if they want to strike a deal.

Florida citrus leaders praise FDA's change in sugar standards for OJ

Florida citrus leaders praised a federal change taking effect Monday lowering the natural sugar content of processed orange juice, which they say will allow growers to get more of the state’s signature crop into the market and to advertise a healthier drink option.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas announced Friday the regulatory lowering of the minimum measurement of natural sugar content and soluble solids in pasteurized orange juice, known as the Brix Standard, from 10.5 percent to 10 percent.

“This long overdue reform will reduce our dependence on foreign imports, unleash American agriculture, and save the industry more than $60 million every year,” Kennedy said while at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland.

“It strengthens American supply chains and levels the playing field for American citrus growers. It maintains the safety and quality and taste of this American product.”

Ashley Moody bill would increase penalties for staging bogus wrecks with commercial vehicles

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is proposing legislation that would increase penalties for motorists who fake accidents seeking to get money from bogus insurance claims.

Moody introduced the Staged Accident Prevention Act this week. The measure would established federal criminal penalties for anyone intentionally staging a wreck with a commercial vehicle. Moody acknowledged that the bill is largely aimed at stopping people from taking advantage of commercial trucking operations.

“With over 450,000 trucking jobs in Florida, it is safe to say that truck drivers keep the economy moving. Unfortunately, there are crazed and dangerous fraudsters out there who would rather put people’s lives in danger for a quick payday instead of making an honest living putting in a hard day’s work,” Moody said in a press release.

“Anyone who stages or helps stage an accident with a commercial motor vehicle endangers people’s lives and livelihoods. On top of that, these stunts run up insurance premiums for everyone. Unacceptable. This legislation sends a clear message: if you do this, you will be prosecuted.”