FLORIDA NEWS
Publix is not Florida’s best-ranked employer, study finds. Here’s who took No. 1
Read full article: Publix is not Florida’s best-ranked employer, study finds. Here’s who took No. 1The study looks at the factors that workers appear to care about most in an employer, such as compensation and work-life balance.
Tax exemptions for landlords? Here’s how this Florida proposal would work
Read full article: Tax exemptions for landlords? Here’s how this Florida proposal would workFlorida lawmakers are pushing for a new proposal that would provide landlords with property tax exemptions for their rental properties.
My Safe Florida Home portal reopens for hurricane upgrades as state seeks to spend leftover cash
Read full article: My Safe Florida Home portal reopens for hurricane upgrades as state seeks to spend leftover cashA state program to help homeowners make upgrades to their homes against severe weather has leftover cash and now applicants have another chance to apply.
This invasive lizard is expanding throughout Florida. Here’s what to watch for
Read full article: This invasive lizard is expanding throughout Florida. Here’s what to watch forThese large lizards can reach up to 5 feet long in some cases, and they pose a potential threat to the state if left unchecked.
‘Monster:’ Florida doctor accused of trading drugs for sexual favors sentenced to 12 years for drug trafficking
Read full article: ‘Monster:’ Florida doctor accused of trading drugs for sexual favors sentenced to 12 years for drug traffickingSt. Augustine doctor Scott Hollington, 59, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, according to News 6 partner News4JAX.
Self-proclaimed ‘doctor’ who performed surgeries in Florida wasn’t licensed, deputies say
Read full article: Self-proclaimed ‘doctor’ who performed surgeries in Florida wasn’t licensed, deputies sayMiami-Dade deputies said Wilson Muñoz Suarez — known to patients as Dr. Wilson Muñoz — had no right to perform any procedures in Florida, according to News 6 partner Local 10 News.
Florida justices weigh execution of ‘morbidly obese’ inmate
Read full article: Florida justices weigh execution of ‘morbidly obese’ inmatePointing to his obesity and other medical conditions, lawyers for Death Row inmate Michael Tanzi are trying to halt his scheduled April 8 execution by arguing that using the state’s lethal-injection procedure would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
‘Just don’t:’ Florida ranks 3rd in nation for laser strikes on aircraft, FAA reports
Read full article: ‘Just don’t:’ Florida ranks 3rd in nation for laser strikes on aircraft, FAA reportsFlorida is among the top three states in the country for reported laser light incidents targeting aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Cursive writing could make comeback in Florida schools thanks to new proposal
Read full article: Cursive writing could make comeback in Florida schools thanks to new proposalWhile some believe that cursive writing is essential for young scholars, others argue that it is an outdated skill that should be left in the past.
Man accused in shooting that left woman, her 3 sons dead in Florida
Read full article: Man accused in shooting that left woman, her 3 sons dead in FloridaA mother and her three sons were killed on Wednesday evening in South Florida, leaving her daughter and the apparent shooter in the hospital, according to deputies.
‘Pressing issues:’ DeSantis lashes out over Florida budget vote, vies for property tax cuts
Read full article: ‘Pressing issues:’ DeSantis lashes out over Florida budget vote, vies for property tax cutsFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to social media on Thursday to go after state lawmakers after they overrode some of his vetoes from last year’s budget.
Florida wildlife officials close ‘Unusual Mortality Event’ as manatee starvation deaths decrease
Read full article: Florida wildlife officials close ‘Unusual Mortality Event’ as manatee starvation deaths decreaseManatees in Florida are slowly doing better after an effort to preserve their mortality and habitat, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Melbourne firefighters’ widows continue fighting for denied benefits
Read full article: Melbourne firefighters’ widows continue fighting for denied benefitsThe widows of two Melbourne firefighters who died from cancer contracted in the line of duty are still being denied benefits they are supposed to receive under Florida law.
Minimum wage exemptions take another step closer to becoming Florida law
Read full article: Minimum wage exemptions take another step closer to becoming Florida lawA Florida bill aimed at carving out exceptions to the state’s minimum wage law made further headway through the Florida Legislature this week.
Proposed amendment could create Florida version of DOGE. Here’s what to know
Read full article: Proposed amendment could create Florida version of DOGE. Here’s what to knowThe proposal would get rid of the Lieutenant Governor position and the Government Efficiency Task Force, instead replacing them with a COGE.
Florida Sen. Randy Fine defends ‘terrorist rag’ comment at committee meeting
Read full article: Florida Sen. Randy Fine defends ‘terrorist rag’ comment at committee meetingDuring public comments on Tuesday, a man named Robert Lee was on the podium making remarks when Fine informed him his 30 seconds to make remarks was up. The men then traded words in an exchange that's been circulating on social media.
Florida House Speaker Perez compares higher ed searches to ‘Spoil System’
Read full article: Florida House Speaker Perez compares higher ed searches to ‘Spoil System’Appearing before leaders of the state university system, House Speaker Daniel Perez on Wednesday defended a bill that would repeal a law shielding information about school presidential candidates from public disclosure.
Florida could soon have its sales tax slashed. Here’s how low it may go
Read full article: Florida could soon have its sales tax slashed. Here’s how low it may goSpeaker Perez said that if the proposal is successful, it will make Florida the only state in the country's history to permanently reduce its sales tax.
21-year-old angry at father drives dad’s car into ocean at Florida beach, police say
Read full article: 21-year-old angry at father drives dad’s car into ocean at Florida beach, police sayJacksonville Beach Police said a 21-year-old man drove his father’s car into the ocean because he was angry with him, according to News 6 partner News4JAX.
Florida House on board with proposal to raise highway speed limit. Here’s how fast you could go
Read full article: Florida House on board with proposal to raise highway speed limit. Here’s how fast you could goThe House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee backs an amendment to HB 567 that would raise the speed limit on limited access highways, like I-4 or I-95.
Florida Senate bill does away with labor restrictions for 16, 17-year-olds
Read full article: Florida Senate bill does away with labor restrictions for 16, 17-year-oldsA year after lawmakers relaxed the state’s child labor laws, a divided Florida Senate panel on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would further roll back work restrictions for kids as young as 14.
3 dead, child missing after boat carrying 8 capsizes on St. Johns River in Jacksonville
Read full article: 3 dead, child missing after boat carrying 8 capsizes on St. Johns River in JacksonvilleA child remains unaccounted for nearly 60 hours after a vessel capsized on the St. Johns River near the Dames Point Bridge, sending eight people into the water.
Florida Gov. DeSantis joins governors in Idaho, Montana. But what’s he planning?
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis joins governors in Idaho, Montana. But what’s he planning?Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold two news conferences on Monday at the state capitols in Idaho and Montana, according to the governor's office.
‘Concerning reports’ of dolphins leads to investigation at Florida marine park
Read full article: ‘Concerning reports’ of dolphins leads to investigation at Florida marine parkAn investigation is being conducted into a Panama City Beach marine park following “concerning reports” about bottlenose dolphins, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
DeSantis returns millions in federal funds as Florida cities receive DOGE letters
Read full article: DeSantis returns millions in federal funds as Florida cities receive DOGE lettersFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to social media, announcing that the state had returned hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
Property insurance companies get the OK to take over more Florida Citizens policies
Read full article: Property insurance companies get the OK to take over more Florida Citizens policiesFlorida regulators this week approved proposals by three insurers to take as many as 135,540 policies in June from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp., as some carriers use the process of assuming Citizens policies to help fuel growth.
Early voting underway in US House, Florida Legislature special elections. Here’s where you can vote
Read full article: Early voting underway in US House, Florida Legislature special elections. Here’s where you can voteElection officials in Central Florida are making final preparations as early voting begins Saturday for the special election in Congressional District 6, which will determine who replaces Mike Waltz in the U.S. House of Representatives.
5 local springs to visit if you can’t get a Wekiwa Springs reservation
Read full article: 5 local springs to visit if you can’t get a Wekiwa Springs reservationPeople have mixed feelings on this, but one thing that doesn’t change, you might need a backup if you can’t get a spot into the Wekiwa Springs this summer. Here are five of our favorite, lesser-known springs in the Central Florida area.
Southwest flight almost takes off from taxiway — rather than runway — at Orlando International Airport
Read full article: Southwest flight almost takes off from taxiway — rather than runway — at Orlando International AirportOfficials say a Southwest Airlines flight almost took off from a taxiway — rather than a runway — at a central Florida airport on Thursday before an air traffic controller stopped the plane.
Are these 2 major Florida bridges at risk of collapse? That’s what feds want to know
Read full article: Are these 2 major Florida bridges at risk of collapse? That’s what feds want to knowFederal investigators are urging bridge owners to figure out whether dozens of notable bridges across the U.S. are at risk.
Florida bill pushes new ‘Smart Living’ course in high schools. Here’s what that means
Read full article: Florida bill pushes new ‘Smart Living’ course in high schools. Here’s what that meansThe curriculum would be implemented as two stand-alone courses between grades 8 and 12, helping prepare students to "function in adulthood."
Florida amendment proposal would lower property taxes — but only if you have these
Read full article: Florida amendment proposal would lower property taxes — but only if you have theseOne of the latest Florida amendment proposals aimed at cutting property taxes gained legs on Thursday after it passed through a House committee meeting.
Higher lawsuit limits for local Florida governments advances in House
Read full article: Higher lawsuit limits for local Florida governments advances in HouseAmid opposition from local governments, the House Budget Committee on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a proposal that could lead to cities, counties and other government agencies paying more in lawsuits over people getting injured.
DeSantis warns he has ‘tools,’ including suspending local officials, if they don’t cooperate with ICE
Read full article: DeSantis warns he has ‘tools,’ including suspending local officials, if they don’t cooperate with ICEFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis says his office has tools including suspending officials from office to compel local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in assisting in detentions and deportations.
Long lines at Florida DMVs as companies scoop up, sell appointments, tax collector says
Read full article: Long lines at Florida DMVs as companies scoop up, sell appointments, tax collector saysOne reason people can’t get appointments is that companies are scooping up time slots and then selling them, sometimes for up to $250 a reservation, according to News 6 partner Local 10 News.
Florida bill calls for more regulations on dangerous dogs
Read full article: Florida bill calls for more regulations on dangerous dogsVolusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood joined the family of an 8-year-old boy killed in a DeLand dog attack to speak on behalf of a bill they hope can prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Florida man faces execution for the killing of an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother
Read full article: Florida man faces execution for the killing of an 8-year-old girl and her grandmotherA Florida man who pleaded guilty to killing an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother during a night of drinking and drug use is facing scheduled execution.