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Byron Donalds vows to carry on Charlie Kirk’s legacy and impact

Naples Congressman Byron Donalds and conservative activist Charlie Kirk were more than political kindred spirits. In March, when Donalds threw a governor's race kickoff rally in Bonita Springs, Kirk appeared in a video endorsement, in which he called Donalds "one of the most important voices in America today."

After Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10, Donalds pledged to carry on Kirk's legacy so that his "impact will be felt for generations to come ... Charlie Kirk was not only an American political legend, but I am honored to have been able to call him my friend."

"He believed in the greatness of America, he believed in the power of conversation, and he fought to make our country a better place."

The two appeared frequently together on news segments and podcasts, including Kirk's own, and were tightly aligned in their support of President Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.

As he spoke about Donalds at the March rally, Kirk called out Trump's early and enthusiastic endorsement of Donalds, saying he'd be "an amazing governor of the state of Florida," and pledged to visit college campuses in support of Donalds.

‘Continued success’: DEP finds Florida meets federal air quality standards for fifth year running

Florida has once again hit a milestone for clean air.

For the fifth consecutive year, the state has met all federal air quality standards, according to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). That makes Florida the most populous state in the nation to hit those marks — a point DEP officials say is driven by Florida’s broad monitoring network and pollution controls.

DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert said the milestone reflects years of work with partners in the public and private sectors.

“Florida’s continued success in meeting federal air quality standards shows that protecting our environment goes hand-in-hand with supporting a strong economy,” Lambert said. “By working with communities, businesses, and partners across the state, we’re keeping our air clean, our residents healthy, and our economy thriving.”

The Environmental Protection Agency sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide. Meeting those standards means Florida’s air, on average, is cleaner than that of many peer states, despite rapid growth and development.

Florida CFO honors firefighters, pushes property tax cuts at Lake Mary event

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said Wednesday that his push to eliminate property taxes on most homes is a “lofty goal,” but it is achievable and will force local governments to cut wasteful spending.

Property taxes are by far the largest source of revenue for Florida cities and counties, a state without an income tax.

Ingolia — along with other Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis — has advocated this year for doing away with taxes on homesteaded properties as a way to make housing more affordable. They insist that it will not harm key government services.

“We’ve calculated the numbers where they (local governments) can fully fund fire and police and do a lot of the essential services and still cut the budget,” Ingoglia said during a press conference in Lake Mary. “They’re just not trying. We’re going to show them the road map.”

What a Florida DOGE audit of local climate policies could mean for the clean energy movement

Florida's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is auditing the clean energy initiatives of local governments as part of its “promise to ensure transparency and accountability in government.”

A Tampa Bay Times investigation initially reported on the state's inquiry into policies regarding carbon emissions, solar energy, and electric vehicles at Hillsborough and Pinellas counties and the city of St. Petersburg.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request for comment, but in a summer press release, he described the state’s boots-on-the-ground visits to local government offices this way:

“Florida is the model for fiscal responsibility at the state level, and we will utilize our authority to ensure local governments follow suit,” DeSantis said. “Florida’s DOGE efforts are owed to the taxpayer, and yet another way their state is pursuing fiscal responsibility.” 

The Times reports that a state assessment of local government spending on climate policies and other initiatives could be released in mid-October.