SUMMARY: In the third quarter of 2024, Florida welcomed 34.6 million visitors, marking a 1.7% increase over the previous record, despite hurricanes Debby and Helene. This follows strong tourism growth in the first two quarters, totaling 109.7 million visitors so far this year. Last year, over 140 million people visited, with 92.1% being domestic tourists. International traffic also rose by 1.8%. Florida’s tourism is supported by priorities like public safety and freedom. Notably, 38.1% of visitors traveled by air, with Orlando and Miami seeing the highest numbers of enplanements.

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SUMMARY: Anthony Hill reports from downtown Tampa, where a protest against president-elect Donald Trump is underway. Demonstrators express opposition to Trump’s policies, viewing him as a divisive figure whose stances on immigration, women’s rights, and racism are unacceptable. Protesters carried signs voicing their resistance to his agenda. While some drivers showed support for the protest, others backed Trump. Meanwhile, Evan Power, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, dismissed the protests as radical leftist reactions to Trump’s victory, asserting that Trump unites the country and calling for unity under his leadership. Tensions remain high following the contentious election.

Dozens of people protested against President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday outside of city hall in downtown Tampa.

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SUMMARY: A recent audit from the Florida auditor general’s office revealed that the Commission on Offender Review failed to comply with the state constitution regarding victim rights notifications. The audit identified issues with the storage of confidential victim records and inadequate document scanning equipment. The commission, which oversees post-prison supervisory release programs, did not consistently notify victims about offender releases. Several parole cases lacked proper documentation, and some victim notification letters were incomplete. Auditors recommended updating procedures to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and improve the commission’s documentation and supervisory review processes. The commission plans to implement changes within the next year.

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