Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
— First Shot —
The state’s school choice apparatus got a reminder this week that where there’s public money, there’s somebody trying to Photoshop a receipt.
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrests of two women accused of defrauding the Step Up for Students scholarship program by submitting altered reimbursement documents and forged paperwork, according to the Department of Financial Services.
The Step Up for Students program, administered through the Department of Education, provides scholarship funding that families can use for educational and therapeutic services.
Investigators with the department’s Criminal Investigations Division say Tamesha Smith fraudulently obtained more than $13,000 after allegedly altering a dozen receipts tied to tuition and training reimbursements after her son had already withdrawn from school. Meanwhile, authorities say Amanda Tyson improperly received about $7,600 by altering reimbursement receipts and forging a doctor’s note used to qualify her child for the scholarship program.
Both women face charges including grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, uttering a forged instrument and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Under Florida law, the charges filed against both women are third-degree felonies that can each carry penalties of up to five years in prison.
“Those who try to manipulate scholarship programs aren’t only breaking the law, they are stealing opportunities from families and hardworking students wanting to strengthen their future,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Florida scholarships are not a personal bank account; my office will continue to protect the taxpayers and ensure that greedy criminals are put behind bars.”
— Evening Reads —
—“‘Both parties kind of get it wrong’: The young men who may swing the Midterms” via Kellen Browning and Emma Goldberg of The New York Times
—”Donald Trump appointees push $250 banknote with his portrait” via Jonathan O’Connell of The Washington Post
—“The blue-state delusion over unions” via Nicholas Bagley of The Atlantic
—“Brett Kavanaugh just won a surprising victory for racial justice” via Ian Millhiser of Vox
—“One million new-car buyers are gone and they’re not coming back soon” via Sharon Terlep of The Wall Street Journal
—”‘Alligator Alcatraz’ could be emitting hundreds of tons of toxic gases, new case claims” via Liv Caputo of the Florida Phoenix
—”Schools, police risk losing revenue under Ron DeSantis property tax plan” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel
—“Poll shows 20% of Florida Hispanics who voted for Trump in 2024 say they wouldn’t do it again” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
—”Inside Broward classrooms: How tech-savvy students are using AI to help reshape public education” via Lois K. Solomon of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Ballots have been seized across the U.S., no one knows what will happen next” via Kim Zetter of WIRED
— Quote of the Day —
“I guess this is what happens when you’re the front-runner in a City Council race.”
— Clearwater City Council candidate Jared Leone, on past charges resurfacing.
— Put it on the Tab —
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Pour a Tequila Surprise for the Orlando couple who unexpectedly received funding in the state budget.
Send a Favorite Son to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is leading Vice President JD Vance in another 2028 head-to-head ballot test.
With efforts to bring digital signs to downtown Tampa gaining momentum, Billboard Cocktails may want to consider entering the market … just a suggestion.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
NCAA baseball regionals begin Friday
College baseball’s NCAA regionals open this weekend in Tallahassee and Gainesville, with four teams from the Sunshine State beginning the road to the College World Series.
In Gainesville, the Florida Gators are the top seed in the region and host school. Florida (39-19) is scheduled to face Rider (33-18) at 1 p.m. ET on Friday (ESPN+). The Gators are the No. 8 seed nationally and are competing in the regionals for the 18th straight postseason under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the longest active streak in the nation.
The regional is a double-elimination format. The winner of the Florida-Rider game will advance to the winner’s bracket to face the winner of the Miami-Troy game (6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, ACC Network).
Miami (38-18) lost a pair of games against Florida early in the season.
In the Tallahassee Regional, Florida State is the top seed. The Seminoles (38-17) face St. John’s at 3 p.m. ET on Friday (ACC Network) with Coastal Carolina and Northern Illinois on the other side of the bracket. The Seminoles have won 30 NCAA regionals since 1975 and made the College World Series last in 2024 under head coach Link Jarrett.
The other Florida team playing in the regionals, UCF (31-21), will open against North Carolina State in the Auburn Regional at 6 p.m. ET on Friday (ESPNU).
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
