AGP Executive Report

FDOT ALPR Crackdown: Southwest Florida agencies are reacting after FDOT revoked permits for automated license plate readers in state road rights-of-way, giving permit holders 30 days to remove devices; Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell called it a knee-jerk move, while noting LPRs have aided major investigations. Local Transit Funding Pressure: Jacksonville’s Duval Loop was eliminated before riders moved in, and Key West Rides/Workforce Express are being replaced by a limited fixed route, highlighting how budget gaps and grant limits can reshape mobility. CDL Workforce Push: Lake-Sumter State College won a $5.2M federal grant to build a CDL training program in Eustis as federal scrutiny shuts down some CDL schools; Polk State also received $2M for a new behind-the-wheel CDL facility in Bartow. School-Zone Tech Shift: Neptune Beach ended speed-camera use in school zones and continues moving away from license plate reader-style systems amid FDOT’s statewide actions. Road Disruptions: A rollover crash shut down eastbound SR 112 lanes in Northwest Miami-Dade, sending two people to the hospital. Aviation/Charter Expansion: Flyte won approvals to expand private charter operations from Florida into the Bahamas and Caribbean. Hurricane Prep Reminder: Storm Solutions urged Southwest Florida homeowners to decide on impact windows and shutters now because manufacturing and insurance changes can stall once a storm is named.

Highway Surveillance Crackdown: Florida DOT has begun revoking permits and pushing agencies to remove Flock-style automated license plate readers from state roads, escalating a privacy-versus-public-safety fight as local law enforcement reacts in different ways. Court & Public Safety: Golf icon Tiger Woods is set to appear in Martin County court Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing in his March DUI case after a rollover crash on Jupiter Island; documents say he plans to move beyond a not-guilty plea, though the new plea terms aren’t public. Child Safety on the Road: Florida AG James Uthmeier announced charges against two women accused of keeping four children trapped in a semitruck “rolling prison” while allegedly abusing them over years, with the case tied to interstate trucking routes. Infrastructure & Energy: Chesapeake Utilities sold a 49% stake in the Florida Energy Pathway natural gas transmission project to NextEra, a pipeline expansion aimed at boosting capacity from Palm Beach County toward Miami-Dade. Local Development: Lake Placid could see a private “eco-resort” and outdoor recreation club proposed on State Road 70, with zoning changes needed for the lodge and amenities.

FDOT License-Reader Crackdown: Florida is removing automated license plate readers from state roads within 30 days after revoking permits, triggering fast local pullbacks and political pushback. Local Law Enforcement Reaction: Polk Sheriff Grady Judd called ALPRs a top crime-fighting tool, while Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said the move “crippled” police work; Orange County Sheriff’s Office said it will keep using LPRs where permitted. Privacy vs. Public Safety: Lake County commissioners voted to remove ALPRs from county roads after heated public comments, and Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner vowed to fight FDOT’s order, saying it helps solve violent crimes and locate suspects. Funding Tension: Reporting notes DeSantis approved about $4.6M for roughly 440 readers via immigration-related grants since 2025, even as the state now orders removal. Other Florida Transport Notes: Alachua and Putnam sheriffs said they’ll comply; Clearwater advanced a slow-speed manatee zone in Stevenson Creek to reduce boat strikes.

CDL Crackdown: U.S. Transportation and Homeland Security announced an interagency fraud sweep that will emergency-remove 110 commercial driver’s license schools tied to thousands of failed English proficiency tests, plus audits of third-party skills testers—aimed at improving highway safety after fatal crashes involving drivers from California. Surveillance Backlash: FDOT ordered the removal of Flock/ALPR cameras from Florida state roads within 30 days, and multiple Central Florida agencies moved to pause or end use, including Hernando and Brevard, citing privacy and misuse concerns. Space Coast Logistics: Blue Origin broke ground on an $80M payload processing facility at Cape Canaveral to expand launch infrastructure as national policy targets far higher launch rates. Road Safety Incident: Florida Highway Patrol reported a deadly I-95 chain-reaction crash in Brevard County triggered when a driver hit an alligator, leading to a fatal rollover and a driver who did not stop. Aviation Restart: American Airlines said it will resume Florida–Caracas flights Sept. 3 after earthquake damage shut down service in June. Marine Safety/Research: UF researchers are working to raise “baby” sea urchins to restore reef health by boosting survival rates early in life.

License Plate Reader Crackdown: FDOT revoked all permits for automated license plate readers on Florida state highway rights-of-way and ordered agencies to remove devices within 30 days, citing privacy concerns, misuse reports, and rapid deployment growth; Gov. DeSantis called the tech “out of control,” and Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said his office is shutting down readers immediately. Local Enforcement Rollbacks: Volusia, plus multiple Northeast Florida counties, moved to end or pull ALPR systems after the FDOT directive, with officials pointing to public trust and privacy backlash. Defense & Workforce Funding: DeSantis announced nearly $23M for Florida’s defense industrial base and training, including $15.3M via the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund and support for shipbuilding, aerospace, and maritime supply chains. Truck Fraud Crackdown: DHS and DOT launched a multi-state effort targeting fraud in trucking, including emergency action against CDL training schools tied to alleged certification misconduct. Space Coast Expansion: Blue Origin continues ramping up at Space Coast Regional Airport and Titusville as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope prepares for launch from Florida. Road Disruptions: A Verizon van fire on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge closed northbound lanes and backed up I-275 traffic before reopening. Safety & Traffic: Tropical Depression 5 formed in the Gulf, with Dolly remnants expected to boost Florida rain chances; separate crash reports included an I-95 chain-reaction involving an alligator and a hit-and-run search.

Airport Modernization: Punta Gorda Airport is nearing completion on an almost $44M terminal facelift, adding 12 gates, expanded TSA lanes, more seating with digital charging, and a new Wolfgang Puck—funded by FAA, FDOT, and passenger fees. Aviation Security Tech: The same airport has begun operating a new $22M TSA inline baggage screening system that boosts throughput to about 1,800 bags per hour and routes suspicious bags for secondary screening. Road Safety & Enforcement: Florida’s “Super Speeder” law (HB 351) has generated about 4,964 citations statewide as of Aug. 24, creating an arrestable “dangerous excessive speeding” offense for extreme speeders. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Flock Safety camera/ALPR use is facing rising scrutiny after reports of mistaken stops and privacy concerns, with activists and lawmakers pushing for limits or bans. Local Traffic Disruption: A deputy-involved shooting in LaBelle shut down part of SR 29 for hours while FDLE investigated. Weather Watch: Forecasters are tracking two tropical systems in the Gulf/Atlantic that could bring heavy rain to parts of the region, with Florida Straits impacts possible later in the week.

Aviation & Space: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched from Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, with the rocket filmed over Bermuda as it headed for a million-mile destination. Airport & Air Travel: Palm Beach County is seeking the remaining $2.75M from Florida to complete promised airport renaming upgrades after lawmakers approved only half of the requested funds. Road Safety: Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly Orange County crash where a pickup ran a red light and hit a Jetta on International Drive; the Jetta driver died and the pickup driver was arrested on DUI and leaving-the-scene charges. Transit & Micromobility: Lake County will consider removing license plate readers from county right-of-way amid privacy concerns, with a Sept. 1 vote on the agenda. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports Polk County’s lowest E85 price at $2.99/gal (week ending Aug. 22) and notes premium and E15 pricing trends across Florida. Logistics & Security: A Chinese student was charged with lying to U.S. border officials about taking photos at a Chicago airport cargo facility tied to a FedEx security incident. Public Safety: Florida AG announced recovery of 163 missing children statewide in a five-day operation spanning major metro areas.

Treasure & Tourism: Florida placed No. 3 in a new ACE.com study of America’s top “real-life treasure hotspots,” scoring 44.55 thanks to shipwrecks and prehistoric fossils tied to the Treasure Coast’s 1715 Spanish fleet. Rail Safety & Accountability: The Miami Herald and WLRN won top honors at Florida’s Sunshine State Awards for “Killer Train,” a Brightline investigation that found the deadliest major passenger rail record in the U.S. Local Mobility: Volusia County is adding a 1.3-mile paved link to the Spring-to-Spring Trail in DeBary, closing a gap in the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. Public Health Spending: New Medicaid billing figures show sharp local growth in multiple Florida communities, including big jumps in alcohol and drug abuse treatment in Wesley Chapel and medicine services/procedures in Miramar. Infrastructure & Growth: Hillsborough’s “bed tax” model is helping fund the Tampa Bay Rays’ new stadium, with hundreds of millions tied to hotel guest taxes. Tech & Power Politics: A national backlash against data centers—driven by noise and rising electricity bills—is showing up in midterm campaign ads, including in states like Ohio and Texas.

Road Safety Tragedies: Florida Highway Patrol reports two deaths after a US-41 crash in Hillsborough County involving a turning pickup and two motorcycles; the 18-year-old passenger and the motorcycle driver died, while others were taken to hospital. Crash Response: In Palmetto Bay, a pickup collided head-on with a flatbed semi on US-1, triggering a small engine fire; the pickup driver died and the semi operator was unhurt, with US-1 closed for hours. Local Streets & Mobility: St. Petersburg residents are pushing for safety upgrades along MLK St. South after multiple pedestrian and cyclist deaths, calling for more lighting, traffic-calming and better crosswalks. Law Enforcement & Traffic: Flagler deputies say they captured a carjacking suspect near a Wendy’s after Stop Sticks disabled the vehicle and victims were rescued. Accountability in Public Finance: Sarasota auditors say a newly elected tax collector’s $100,767 payout from a housing-finance agency violated state law, with questions about whether any transition services were performed. Public Health & Logistics: FDA-linked recalls hit 0.9% sodium chloride IV bags from B. Braun and Baxter due to particulate concerns. Community Impact: FDLE says a statewide operation recovered 163 missing children, with cases referred for prosecution.

Local Land-Use Clash: Pinellas County commissioners moved to put in writing that large, standalone data centers are already prohibited in unincorporated areas, aiming to protect industrial land, utilities, and limit the electricity and water strain tied to AI and cloud services. Public Safety & Courts: A probable-cause case in Alachua County led to a 30-year-old Florida mom receiving four years for aggravated manslaughter after a crash killed a toddler and infant who were found dead in the car’s floorboards because they weren’t properly restrained. Transportation Enforcement: A Melbourne man was arrested 10 months after a fatal hit-and-run killed a 70-year-old bicyclist, with investigators using security footage to identify the vehicle. Roadway Risk: Florida Highway Patrol reported a concrete truck crash on I-75 near Wesley Chapel after a tire blew, leaving the driver with serious burns and prompting a GoFundMe for recovery. Tech, Privacy, and Infrastructure: Miami officials are investigating illegal removal of nearly a dozen protected mahogany trees along I-95, with FDOT saying it didn’t order the cuts. Aviation/Logistics Watch: A Russian national living in Florida was convicted for exporting over $900,000 in aircraft parts to Russia’s Aeroflot, tied to a broader export-control and smuggling scheme.

Commercial Trucking Workforce: FleetForce and State College of Florida marked FleetForce’s 10,000th CDL graduate, highlighting ongoing demand for drivers as the program trains students over four weeks. Road Safety Enforcement: Alachua County school zone speed cameras logged 400+ potential violations in the first weeks of school, with citations mailed for speeding in active school zones. Traffic Disruption: A multi-vehicle crash on the Florida Turnpike in SW Miami-Dade closed lanes near Caribbean Boulevard and sent one person to the hospital. Local Infrastructure Upgrade: FDOT is installing a new $1.9M traffic signal at SR-82 and Alabama Road South in Lehigh Acres to cut delays and improve safety. Public Space Rules: Florida’s homelessness laws don’t ban homelessness, but restrict where people can sleep or camp on public property. Space & Aviation Policy: Trump signed an executive order creating a U.S. Space Academy, while FAA/spaceport activity continues to expand Florida’s role in launch planning. Parks & Mobility: Florida State Parks Foundation added 25 e-bikes for rangers statewide, starting with Silver Springs State Park.

FDOT I-75 Expansion: FDOT is holding open houses and a virtual meeting on its 21-mile I-75 widening in Lee and Collier counties, expanding parts from 6 to 10 lanes and others from 6 to 8, with residents raising concerns about traffic, noise, and safety. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: A USA TODAY investigation links Flock Safety license plate reader misuse to arrests, firings, and investigations across multiple states, including Sarasota, Florida, where an officer was fired and arrested after repeated tracking. Aviation/Comms Incident: The NTSB says a Marine One close call near Reagan National Airport involved communication problems tied to departure notice issues, with investigators still looking into what happened. FAA Telecom Upgrade: The FAA selected AT&T to lead its next-generation air traffic communications backbone, taking over from Verizon on the FENS program. Road Safety Project (Gainesville): FDOT proposed a $5.4M University Avenue improvement in Gainesville, including resurfacing and a new pedestrian crosswalk, with construction targeted for winter 2027 through spring 2029. Crash Update (Brevard): Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal US-1 crash near Micco where an SUV struck a woman in a crosswalk.

Transit Contract: WeDriveU won a contract to run Collier Area Transit’s fixed route, paratransit (CATConnect) and demand-response services, starting Oct. 1 from a new Naples customer center. Road Safety: A 55-year-old woman was killed while crossing U.S. 1 in Palm Bay; FHP says a driver entered on green and didn’t see her in the crosswalk. Aviation/ATC: An NTSB preliminary report says the Marine One crew had radio issues and failed to reach air traffic control before a loss-of-separation incident near Reagan National. Retail & Traffic: Walmart bought 62+ acres near Lehigh Acres along State Road 82 for a new store, raising local traffic and noise questions. Rail/Commuter: Inter Miami CF and Tri-Rail launched a $10 round-trip ticket promotion to the Miami Intermodal Center for 2026 home matches, with added late-night train service. Food Supply Chain: USDA recalled raw Argentine beef sold in Florida and Texas due to missing required import reinspection. Port/Shipping (Outside FL): The Port of Philadelphia opened a new cruise terminal after years of redevelopment.

Aviation & Infrastructure: FDOT says it’s adding more protection after a box truck repeatedly struck the U.S. 1 bridge over the Melbourne Avenue waterfront in Melbourne—new clearance warning brackets are set to trigger emergency flashing lights when vehicles are too tall. Road Safety: A Sumter County deputy says a driver fleeing a traffic stop slammed into a school bus carrying 19 children; the children were safe and the suspect was arrested after running on foot. Port & Logistics: Million Air Florida Keys is building a new fixed-base operator facility at Marathon International Airport, aiming to finish by year-end with a restaurant and dedicated flight-planning space. Emergency Management: Florida’s DeSantis-backed CORE initiative is rolling out to train the next emergency management leaders. Aerospace: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope cleared a key launch readiness step at Kennedy Space Center, targeting an Aug. 30 Falcon Heavy launch. Maritime Security: U.S. and Ecuador reporting highlights how cartel-linked networks exploit Ecuador’s fishing sector and ports to move cocaine.

Missing-Children Recovery: Florida AG and FDLE announced the recovery of 163 missing children in “Operation Statewide Shield,” the largest in state history, with rescues concentrated in Tampa (46), Miami (41), Jacksonville (32) and Orlando (21). Local Infrastructure & Public Safety: Hialeah’s cabinet meeting highlighted pool closures and reopenings as the city works through maintenance and health-violation issues affecting several city pools. Aviation & Space Coast Watch: NASA and SpaceX are targeting Aug. 30 for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch from Kennedy Space Center, with live coverage starting well before liftoff. Transit Procurement: A national transit bus industry push argues procurement reform is key to lowering costs and speeding delivery for agencies facing aging fleets. Airport Security Policy: TSA is scrapping its Gold+ privatized screening effort after limited airport uptake, shifting to an “evolved” version of the existing Screening Partnership Program. Public Health: Citrus County confirmed a locally acquired dengue case, with mosquito-control and prevention steps underway. Logistics & Trade: South Carolina Ports added capacity via a new weekly service to South America, boosting reefer access for food exporters. Road/Traffic Planning: FDOT will hold public information sessions on proposed I-75 improvements in Lee and Collier.

Space & Logistics: SpaceX says it will build a $100 billion “Starbase Louisiana” on Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish, a 125,000-acre coastal site with 10 Starship launch pads, on-site propellant and power, deep-water shipping, and an airport; construction is slated to start next year with a first Starship launch expected in 2029, aiming to ramp up thousands of flights annually. Environment & Safety: Wildlife groups warn the project could threaten coastal habitats and hurricane protection, urging the FAA not to waive environmental review requirements as licensing rules are updated. Roads & Congestion: Parents at Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes say dismissal car lines are stretching onto surrounding streets for hours, prompting school district response. Transit: Miami-Dade transit ridership rose 7.6% in June year over year, with Metromover up 54.1% and bus ridership slightly higher, helped by Bus Rapid Transit. Weather Tragedy: A Margate mother and her 2-year-old daughter died after a lightning strike during a storm.