Manatee County, Florida

The Florida Department of Transportation has revoked permission for law enforcement to operate automated license plate readers on state highway rights-of-way, giving agencies 30 days to remove them. The order, which covers all camera makers including Flock Safety, Axon, and Motorola, cites a surge in deployments and "concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes." Gov. Ron DeSantis had previously called the technology's spread "out of control." The rule does not affect cameras on local roads or private property, where most devices are located, but several Florida cities and counties, including Jacksonville, Pasco, Manatee, and Oviedo, are independently pulling their own cameras.

The move follows a broader national pullback: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halted state funding for Flock cameras after a police officer was indicted for misusing the database, while cities in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Massachusetts have suspended or canceled contracts over privacy concerns. The Institute for Justice counts 144 local governments that have dropped ALPR contracts in 2025, marking a rapid shift in Flock's political and public standing.

Florida has launched an expanded sales tax holiday covering hunting, fishing, and camping gear, now running from the fall through December 31. Building on a successful 2025 debut, the four-month holiday adds more firearm accessories to a list that already includes ammunition, firearms, bows and crossbows, rods and reels, tents, flashlights, and sleeping bags. State officials project consumers will save roughly $40 million this year.

Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers, including State Sen. Jim Boyd, frame the holiday as a way to let Floridians keep more of their earnings while encouraging outdoor recreation, a view echoed by the Florida Retail Federation. But tax policy analysts, including Miles Trinidad of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, argue temporary sales tax holidays are an inefficient relief tool that does little for lower-income families struggling with everyday expenses, and that broader, permanent tax relief would be more effective.

A Manatee County, Florida man is facing a second-degree murder charge after a physical altercation with his father left the older man with a fatal head injury, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Kieran Cantwell, 51, was initially arrested on felony battery charges on Aug. 20 following a fist fight with his 85-year-old father, Richard Cantwell, at a home in south Manatee County. Deputies said Kieran punched his father in the face, causing him to fall backward and strike his head on a tile floor. Richard Cantwell was hospitalized and died from his injuries on Aug. 24, prompting authorities to upgrade the charge against his son to second-degree murder. Investigators have not disclosed what led to the fight. Kieran Cantwell remains in the Manatee County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

Florida's primaries produced a mixed picture for both parties ahead of November's general election. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump's endorsement and a large financial edge, beating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and newcomer James Fishback despite Gov. Ron DeSantis's public misgivings; Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, running with Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick, won the Democratic nomination over state Rep. Dotie Joseph and others, pitching himself as a centrist who wants to end the culture wars. The two will meet in November to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, in a state where Democrats haven't won the governorship in over 30 years.

Progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vindman for the Senate Democratic nomination despite being outspent; she faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won her primary with Trump's backing, in the special election for Marco Rubio's former seat. Incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz turned back challengers, including Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in redrawn districts under Florida's new Republican-favored congressional map. Trump-endorsed Cory Mills lost his House primary amid domestic violence allegations, while far-right figures Dan Bilzerian and Madison Cawthorn were also defeated, alongside Rep. Randy Fine's contentious win.