Florida
Donald Trump suffers Florida primary loss
A Florida state Senate candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump has lost his Republican primary election to a candidate endorsed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
With more than 95 percent of the vote counted on Tuesday night, results showed that Trump-backed David Shoar was defeated by Florida state Representative Tom Leek by the considerable margin of 47 percent to 28 percent, according to The Associated Press.
In addition to DeSantis, Leek was endorsed by many other powerful figures in Republican Florida politics, including U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who also won his primary race on Tuesday.
Shoar, formerly the sheriff of St. Johns County, ended the race neck-and-neck with the third-place finisher, former professional wrestler Gerry James, despite being given Trump’s “complete and total” endorsement this month.
“David Shoar is a tremendous America First Patriot who is running to represent the incredible people of Florida’s 7th State Senate District!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on August 5.
“David Shoar, who is 100% MAGA, and has been with us from the very beginning, has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he added.
Trump’s endorsements have shown mixed results. While many of his endorsees have seen success, a number of high-profile candidates backed by the former president have lost their primaries, including three candidates who lost races during a single night in late June.
Newsweek reached out for comment to Trump’s office via email on Tuesday night.
Daytona Beach NBC affiliate WESH described Trump’s endorsement of Shoar as “really an extension of the feud” between the former president and DeSantis.
While the Florida governor became the target of Trump’s wrath after challenging him in the GOP presidential primaries, he has since gone on to endorse Trump’s bid to return to the White House.
Shoar and other opponents of Leek attacked him over the price of property insurance in Florida, blaming the costs on policies that he supported in the Legislature. A number of trial lawyers also opposed Leek for writing a bill to combat “lawsuit abuse,” according to Florida Politics.
Leek told Florida’s Voice on Tuesday night that he owed his “incredible victory” to voters who “did not fall for the false attacks” from “statewide Democrat, personal injury lawyers, who spent millions of dollars trying to influence a local state Senate Republican primary election.”
Shortly before Leek’s victory, twice-failed congressional candidate, conspiracy theorist and Trump loyalist Laura Loomer urged Republicans to vote against the “RINO [Republican in Name Only]” in a post to X, formerly Twitter.
“Florida Voters Must Reject RINO Tom Leek @TomLeekforFL who helped contribute to the insurance crisis in Florida & betrayed President Trump,” Loomer wrote. “President Trump has endorsed David Shoar for Florida Senate District 7!”
Leek is heavily favored to win November’s general election, as District 7 leans heavily Republican. He will face Democrat George “T” Hill, a self-described “former lifelong Republican, self-made millionaire, gender fluid transwoman seeking office in the Florida Senate.”
Florida
Snowcat Ridge returns with Florida’s winter wonderland for holiday season
DADE CITY, Fla. – Looking for a winter wonderland that isn’t too far from home? Snowcat Ridge in Dade City officially opens for the season on Friday.
Despite the state’s tropical landscape, Snowcat Ridge brings a unique alpine snow park and gives visitors a chance to experience snow and winter activities without leaving Florida.
The park’s centerpiece is a massive 60-foot-tall snow tubing hill with runs extending up to 400 feet, where families can zoom down on tubes while surrounded by snow.
READ: Top destinations people dream of traveling to for the holidays
“So this year, what we really wanted to do was focus on what people said they enjoy most—the Christmas aspects of the park. So I said, ‘okay, let’s really do the Christmas thing,’” said Winston McDaniel with Snowcat Ridge.
Guests can also build snowmen, create snow angels and engage in snowball play inside the park’s 10,000-square-foot Arctic Igloo. The facility also has cutting edge snow-making technology to maintain snowy conditions.
There’s also a cozy lodge for guests to grab hot chocolate and winter treats.
“It’s just about really doubling down on what it means to spend family time here at Christmas,” said McDaniel.
MORE: After 112 years, ‘Operation Santa’ still accepting letters
In the evening, the slopes at Snowcat Ridge transform into a colorful LED light display, illuminating the snow and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for guests.
For more information on the park and its hours of operation, visit snowcatridge.com.
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Florida
Florida man charged with plotting to bomb New York Stock Exchange
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Florida
‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE to 'reboot' US government
A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange in an effort to “reboot” the US government, according to the FBI.
Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, from Coral Springs, Florida, was charged with attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building involved in interstate commerce.
The FBI began investigating Yener in February after receiving a tip that he was storing materials related to bomb-making in a storage unit. Agents searched the area after obtaining a search warrant. They found “bomb-making sketches, numerous watches with timers electronic circuit boards and other electronics that can be utilised to build bombs.
According to the FBI, Yener had also been conducting online searches about bomb-making since 2017.
In March, Yener admitted to authorities during questioning that he had knowledge of making “rockets” and “bombs” and had previously tried to join a “domestic extremist group.” He also revealed that in 2015, he had considered travelling to Iraq to join ISIS but ultimately decided against it because he doubted the group’s ability to meet its objectives.
Yener allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he planned to detonate the bomb during the week before Thanksgiving, targeting the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan. Court documents state that his goal was to “reboot” the US government.
‘I feel like Bin Laden’
“There is one place that would be hella easy… the stock exchange, that would be a great hit. Tons of people would support it. They would see it and think dude, this guy makes sense, they are [profanity] robbing us. So that’s perfect,” he told the agent.
“I feel like Bin Laden,” he told the undercover agent.
Weeks before his arrest, Yener had modified two-way radios to function as remote triggers for explosives. He also planned to wear a disguise while planting the device, according to court filings.
Yener appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon, where it was decided he would remain in custody while awaiting trial.
(With inputs from agencies)
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