Suarez Exits Presidential Race-Long to Lead Space Florida-‘Stop Sale’ Continues at 17 Gas Stations

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on Tuesday suspended his long-shot bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

The announcement came after Suarez did not qualify to take part in a GOP debate last week. “While I have decided to suspend my campaign for President, my commitment to making this a better nation for every American remains,” Suarez said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I will continue to amplify the voices of the Hispanic community — the fastest-growing voting group in our country. The Left has taken Hispanics for granted for far too long, and it is no surprise that so many are finding a home in America’s conservative movement. Our party must continue doing more to include and attract this vibrant community that believes in our country’s foundational values: faith, family, hard work and freedom. Younger voters, Independents, urban voters and suburban women — all of whom I’ve carried in previous elections — among others, should find a comfortable home in the GOP and its policies.”

But the Democratic National Committee took a shot at Suarez — and other Republican candidates — as he exited the race. “One fewer Republican who wants to ban abortion nationwide,” Democratic National Committee spokesman Ammar Moussa said in a prepared statement. “Too bad the rest of the field is just as extreme. Good riddance.” News Service Florida

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‘Stop Sale’ Continues at 17 Gas Stations

Seventeen Florida gas stations remained under a “stop sale” order Tuesday because of concerns about gas contaminated with diesel fuel at the Port of Tampa, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said. The department Saturday announced that “human error” at the port resulted in the “strong likelihood” of contamination of gas sold to a number of stations supplied by Citgo.

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Gas contaminated with diesel fuel could cause engine damage or affect the operability of vehicles. The 17 stations are in several areas of the state, including Tampa, Fort Myers, Lakeland and Daytona Beach, the department said in a news release. Meanwhile, eight stations had been cleared for gas sales after inspections and testing. Also, six stations initially suspected of receiving contaminated gas didn’t receive such shipments.

With Hurricane Idalia expected to slam into the state Wednesday, Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said Tuesday that more than 400,000 gallons of gas were available. “We have more than enough fuel to backfill any issues that we have going on right now,” Guthrie said. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said the state’s ports are “fully stocked with fuel and ready to respond.” News Service Florida

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Long Tapped to Lead Space Florida

A recently retired commander of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base, was selected Monday by the Space Florida Board of Directors to become the agency’s president and CEO.

Col. Rob Long and the agency still need to work out a salary and other terms of employment. Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who chairs the Space Florida board, described Long as “very enthusiastic, very energetic, very passionate about the future of Space Florida.”

Long will replace Frank DiBello, who stepped down from his $325,000-a-year position on June 30. DiBello had run the agency since 2009. The board last month interviewed Long, Space Force Maj. Gen. John Olson, an assistant to the chief of space operations at the Pentagon, and former Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority Executive Director Dale Nash. News Service Florida

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