AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Industry: Indigo River Publishing promoted Keira Lopez to Chief Operating Officer, expanding day-to-day oversight and support for authors and new programs. Books & Kids Lit: A wave of 2026 High Holidays picture books hits shelves, including multiple Sukkot titles and Rosh Hashanah board books from major presses. Media & Policy: A federal FCC vote lifted a national TV ownership cap, drawing sharp criticism from diversity advocates who warn it could mean fewer local jobs and less diverse ownership. Education & Learning Models: Parents questioned FWISD’s applied learning changes after a school merger, saying hands-on “applied learning lessons” are being cut back. Florida Culture & Community: Florida film club Florida Filmclub (founded by a Miami transplant) is profiled as a grassroots alternative to algorithm-driven viewing. Environment & Conservation: Conservation Florida helped preserve 1,564 acres in Highlands County as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, protecting habitat for panthers and other wildlife.

Publishing Industry Leadership: Indigo River Publishing promoted Keira Lopez to Chief Operating Officer, expanding day-to-day oversight and strategy for its growing author pipeline and nonfiction imprint. Kids’ Books & Holidays: New children’s titles are bringing fresh takes on the High Holidays, including shape-learning board books for Rosh Hashanah and playful, tradition-forward Sukkot stories. Book Censorship: A new roundup spotlights the ongoing debate over banned books in prisons and schools, framing First Amendment questions for readers and educators. Local Publishing/Media: Influential Women Magazine, based in St. Petersburg, secured Library of Congress registration for its print and digital editions, reinforcing its status as a legitimate publishing platform. Florida Community & Culture: Gulfport approved public-safety pay increases and insurance cost reductions, while Florida’s Wildlife Corridor added 1,500 acres preserved for panthers to roam. Environment & Health: Research warns extreme weather like hurricanes can spread antimicrobial resistance genes from farm runoff into coastal waters. Sports & Reading Crossover: A Florida-based golf program announcement highlights Streamsong’s upcoming Bone Valley course event, tying local leisure to broader publishing-adjacent lifestyle coverage.

Publishing & Media: Influential Women Magazine, based in St. Petersburg, has officially registered its print and digital editions with the Library of Congress, adding ISSNs and reinforcing its “legitimate publisher” model. Books & Culture: Jessica Knoll’s new novel Helpless leans into a Florida sorority-house serial-killer legacy, while a separate First Amendment explainer revisits how liability rules can chill speech—now with AI note-taking in the spotlight. Florida Community & Events: Gulf Coast Writers Association highlights regional memoir momentum; Deering Estate’s “Vessels of Memory We Carry” spotlights Gullah Geechee heritage through mixed media. Local Publishing Ecosystem: Over The Horizon Press launches from Northwest Florida homeschool alumni with a critical-thinking guide aimed at readers of all ages. Tech & Privacy: Granola faces a California class action over AI recording/consent and data handling, a warning for anyone using AI transcription apps. Sports/Books Crossover: Humane Society Naples invites “Spoil Your Dog Day,” and UM is investigating Phi Delta Theta after hazing videos circulated online.

Library & Publishing: St. Petersburg’s Influential Women says it has officially registered its print and digital magazine with the Library of Congress, a move it frames as proof of legitimate editorial publishing. Local Housing Tech: St. Petersburg broke ground on its first 3D-printed home for affordable buyers, aiming to cut build time dramatically while still meeting permitting and state building-code requirements. Cybersecurity Recognition: Constella was named a finalist in Cyber Defense Magazine’s InfoSec awards, including a “Top 25 Most Innovative Cybersecurity Companies in the World” nod, with winners slated for an Orlando event. Education Publishing: Northwest Florida homeschool grads launched Over The Horizon Press and released a critical-thinking guide aimed at helping readers sharpen reasoning across generations. Community Books & Writers: Gulf Coast Writers Association highlighted regional authors and memoir-writing encouragement, underscoring how local groups keep publishing momentum alive. Media & Privacy: A new wave of AI note-taking lawsuits targets apps accused of retaining recordings/transcripts and pushing consent burdens onto users. Food Aid & Back-to-School: Reports say millions have already lost SNAP access under new mandates, while Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday runs through Aug. 20.

Local Education & Community Support: Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is giving The Education Fund $10,000 for 10 scholarships for 2026 grads heading to Miami-Dade Career & Technical Colleges, with applications open through Aug. 31. Back-to-School Savings: Florida’s annual sales tax holiday runs through Aug. 20, exempting qualifying school items like clothing and backpacks ($100 or less), many supplies ($50 or less), and select learning aids and computers. Books & Publishing Ecosystem: Independent bookstores are being credited with building community as new shops open nationwide—an encouraging counterpoint to big-box and online retail pressure. Industry & Research Access: Springer Nature and OpenEvidence announced a subscription agreement to bring Springer Nature peer-reviewed content into the OpenEvidence platform for clinicians at the point of care. Florida Culture & Events: Lake Worth Beach’s inaugural Mango Music and Art Festival is set to spotlight local and immigrant-community artists across multiple venues. Public Safety/Local News: Miami-Dade commissioners honored Miami Fire Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue Florida Task Force One for extraordinary service during the Venezuela earthquake response.

Sunshine State Awards: OutSFL and OutFAU (Florida Atlantic’s LGBTQ student paper) were named finalists in four categories, with OutSFL Publisher Jason Parsley up for Beat Reporting–Community and OutFAU recognized for LGBTQ+ coverage, a serious feature, and an arts review; winners are set for Aug. 29 in Fort Lauderdale. Local Publishing & Retail: Barnes & Noble opened a 10,000-square-foot store in Commack, NY, replacing a former Party City site, with author signings and NOOK deals as the chain pushes a major expansion plan. Industry Tech & Print/Signage: The Wide-Format Summit in Bonita Springs drew 180+ attendees, focusing on automation, efficiency, and how consolidation is squeezing margins—plus what OEMs say is next for the equipment market. Books & Community: A feature highlights how independent bookstores are building community through events and reader connection, even as big retailers pressure the market. Digital Media & Safety: TikTok’s moderation and law enforcement response followed Perez Hilton’s livestreamed self-harm incident, with TikTok ending additional streams and banning his account. AI Marketing: South Florida SEO Smooth says it boosted organic search visibility after shifting to AI-first operations, including an AI voice agent and automated reporting. Florida Education Reading: A commentary challenges Florida’s “100% kindergarten readiness by 2030” target as unrealistic, citing statewide and county shortfalls.

Florida Publishing & Books: A new wave of LGBTQ+ reading is landing this month, with picks like Nina LaCour’s Meet Me in the Garden and P. Paramita’s Appetite, plus more queer fiction and nonfiction to grow your August TBR. Publishing Industry & Rights: Authors and publishers are still pushing back on generative AI training, as the big $1.5 billion Anthropic copyright settlement keeps the spotlight on what counts as infringement versus fair use. Local Book Culture: Florida A&M’s new president, Marva Johnson, says she wants to bring back a bookstore to campus and make the central quad more lively—an effort that could reshape student life and campus publishing culture. Community Giving: Premium Service Brands franchisees, through Kids-Lift, are rolling out back-to-school projects like classroom refreshes and backpack drives. Media & Culture: Tiffany Cross discusses her new book Love, Me, a personal, political love letter to Black women navigating toxic systems and relationships.

UNESCO & Florida Publishing: An Okefenokee Swamp “Wild & Natural” coffeetable book is being considered for a new print run after the ecosystem was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the author taking names from interested readers to gauge demand. Local Book Retail: Leesburg’s new fiction-only shop, Likely Story, opened downtown and is already planning author signings and book fairs, plus trade-ins and sales across print, ebooks, and audiobooks. AI Copyright & Publishing: A major U.S. copyright fight is still reverberating in publishing after the $1.5B Anthropic AI settlement, with ongoing cases involving major publishers and platforms keeping pressure on how books are used to train models. Community & Workplace Culture: TalkingParents, a Florida-based co-parenting service, earned Florida Trend’s Best Companies To Work For nod for a third straight year. Civic Life for Readers: St. Pete Beach commissioners set a tentative property tax ceiling but asked for more resident input before deciding. Elections & Voter Talk: UNF students are weighing voter fraud claims and turnout as Florida’s primary approaches, with some voting for the first time.

Local Book Biz: Leesburg opened a new fiction-only shop, Likely Story, with seven fiction genres, trade-ins, and author events—another sign indie bookstores keep finding room to grow. Publishing & AI Rights: Authors and publishers are reacting to the $1.5B Anthropic AI copyright settlement, with ongoing cases against Meta and Google keeping the fight over book training data front and center. South Florida Sustainability: Miami-Dade’s Zero Waste Plan gets a plain-English walkthrough on MD Solid Waste, focusing on cutting landfill waste and boosting recycling and composting. Community & Culture: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan is set to receive an anti-censorship award alongside Stephen Colbert, underscoring Florida’s role in national literary advocacy. Election Prep: Early voting for Florida’s 2026 primary starts Aug. 8 (with some counties earlier), a reminder for readers to plan their ballots. Data Center Politics: Florida-linked reporting highlights how data center proposals are colliding with local process and public scrutiny.

AI Copyright Fight: Authors and publishers are reacting to Anthropic’s $1.5 billion copyright settlement over training claims, with payments tied to nearly half a million books—while other major cases against Meta and Google keep the fight simmering. Local Book Biz: A new fiction-only bookstore, Likely Story, opened in downtown Leesburg with seven fiction genres, trade-ins, and community events. Campaign & Community: House District 109 candidate James Bush III highlights education, neighborhood work, and affordability in his bid for the seat. Publishing Recognition: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan and Stephen Colbert are set to receive anti-censorship honors at the American Book Awards, underscoring Florida’s role in national literary culture. Indie Book Ecosystem: A roundup notes indie bookstores’ continued momentum as community hubs, alongside early voting updates and other Florida headlines.

Anti-Censorship Honors: Stephen Colbert is set to receive the Before Columbus Foundation’s anti-censorship American Book Award, with Florida independent bookstore founder Mitchell Kaplan (Books & Books) also named a recipient—another reminder that publishing and free expression are still front-page issues. Florida Publishing & Book Culture: Books & Books’ Kaplan’s recognition ties into a broader push against censorship, while local book-world items also keep popping up, from new fiction picks to bookstore partnerships. Local Publishing Events: A Sarasota-area forum will bring journalists together to discuss Florida’s data center boom and its community impacts—exactly the kind of reporting that feeds readers who care about what’s next. Community & Reading Life: MOCA Jacksonville opens “The American Century,” a major exhibition timed to the U.S. 250th anniversary, giving Florida audiences a fresh arts-and-history reason to read, visit, and talk. Consumer Tech & Scams: A report flags a surge in online scams and “friendly fraud” chargebacks—useful context for anyone tracking how digital life is reshaping everyday consumer behavior.

Anti-censorship spotlight for Florida books & bookselling: Stephen Colbert is set to receive an American Book Awards anti-censorship honor after CBS ended “The Late Show,” with Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan (Florida’s longtime independent bookstore leader) also named among the recipients. Local publishing & community ties: Old Firehouse Books highlights action-packed fiction picks, while Florida’s Books & Books continues to be recognized nationally for its role in the literary ecosystem. Florida media accountability forum: Suncoast Searchlight and Seeking Rents will host a free public discussion on data centers on the Suncoast in Venice, bringing together investigative reporters and energy coverage as local governments weigh power, water, and community impacts. Books as culture in Florida: A new children’s picture book, “My Magic Tux,” ties a UT stadium story to libraries, with proceeds supporting UT Libraries—another reminder of how publishing can drive public good. Consumer fraud & chargebacks: A report flags a surge in “friendly fraud” chargebacks, a reminder for publishers and retailers alike that digital commerce keeps changing the rules.

Publishing & Books in Florida: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan shared a national anti-censorship award with Stephen Colbert, underscoring Florida’s ongoing fight for open access to reading. Local Book Culture: UT Press scored a feel-good sports milestone with “My Magic Tux,” the first children’s picture book from the press, with proceeds benefiting UT Libraries. Media Industry Watch: Florida-headquartered Newsmax (NMAX) is highlighted for its growth push and investor attention as shares recover from earlier lows. Community & Events: MOCA Jacksonville opened “The American Century,” a major 100-year survey of American art running through March 2027. Civic Tech & Reporting: Suncoast Searchlight and Seeking Rents will host a free Aug. 11 forum on data centers in Venice, with journalists tackling the boom’s local impacts. Health & Coastal Safety: Florida reported its first Vibrio vulnificus death of the year, a reminder for beachgoers and seafood fans to watch for early symptoms. Politics & Policy: Medicaid work requirements took legal effect, reshaping coverage rules for many adults nationwide, with Florida in the broader mix.

Publishing & Booksellers: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan shared a national anti-censorship award with Stephen Colbert, underscoring Florida’s booksellers’ pushback against censorship. Local Journalism & Accountability: Suncoast Searchlight and Seeking Rents will host a free Aug. 11 forum in Venice on the data center boom, featuring reporters covering impacts on power, water, and communities. Arts & Culture: MOCA Jacksonville opened “The American Century,” a major exhibition tracing 100 years of American art through March 7, 2027. Queer Literary Community: Orlando hosts the Golden Crown Literary Society Conference Aug. 5–9, aiming to build a joyful queer space for Florida readers and authors. Florida Publishing Events: The Miami Book Hub is spotlighting a South Florida Writers Roundtable, adding to the region’s steady slate of author-focused gatherings. Books & Reading Picks: A summer reading roundup highlights new titles including Chanel Cleeton’s “An Infinite Love Story” and other 2026 releases. Media/Books in the News: UT Press debuts “My Magic Tux,” a children’s picture book tied to a Tennessee football story, with proceeds supporting UT Libraries.

Publishing & Booksellers: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan (Coral Gables) shared a national anti-censorship award with Stephen Colbert, underscoring Florida’s ongoing fight for open access to literature. Local Publishing & Community: The Miami Book Hub is launching a South Florida Writers Roundtable, adding another venue for Florida authors to connect and publish. Florida Events for Readers: Golden Crown Literary Society’s Aug. 5–9 conference in Orlando promises a joyful, queer space for sapphic readers, with authors, editors, publishers, and some free public events. Library/Media Spotlight: Suncoast Searchlight and Seeking Rents will host a free Aug. 11 forum in Venice on the data center boom’s impact, featuring journalists covering the issue across the Suncoast. Book Culture & Releases: UT Press debuts “My Magic Tux,” the first children’s picture book from “Big Orange Tux Guy” J.R. Greene, with proceeds supporting UT Libraries. Workplace/Industry News: Florida Bar members face an Aug. 17 fee deadline, a reminder of the compliance grind that affects publishing-adjacent legal professionals.

Anti-Censorship Spotlight: Books & Books founder Mitchell Kaplan, of Coral Gables, shared a national anti-censorship award with Stephen Colbert as both were honored by the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Awards—coming after CBS ended Colbert’s show. Workplace Recognition: The Miami Foundation landed on Florida Trend’s “Best Companies To Work For” list, ranking 13th among medium-sized employers. Publishing & Community Events: Orlando’s Golden Crown Literary Society conference (Aug. 5–9) returns as a sapphic, queer-friendly gathering with authors, readers, editors, and some free public events. Booksellers in Action: Flutterbuy Books & More in Cape Coral hosted a sold-out signing for Tommie Weber’s inspirational novel “Chasing Miracles,” calling it the store’s “Best Day Ever.” Local Book Culture: A Fort Myers roundup highlights new and beloved bookstores and libraries as summer go-to spots for readers. Florida Bar Deadline: Nearly 20,000 Florida Bar members still haven’t renewed; fees are due Aug. 17 with a $50 late fee.