FLORIDA NEWS
Florida governor candidate promises 50% ‘Sin Tax.’ Here’s what to know
Read full article: Florida governor candidate promises 50% ‘Sin Tax.’ Here’s what to knowFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ term ends this year, and several candidates are already busy with their campaigns to replace him — including one man who’s promising a 50% “Sin Tax.”
Gov. DeSantis touts ‘big results’ while continuing push for property tax relief in his final State of the State address
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis touts ‘big results’ while continuing push for property tax relief in his final State of the State addressFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his final State of the State address on Tuesday morning.
Florida’s legislative session kicks off Tuesday with property taxes topping the agenda
Read full article: Florida’s legislative session kicks off Tuesday with property taxes topping the agendaA contentious debate over property taxes is at the heart of this year’s legislative session, which is set to begin Tuesday in Tallahassee.
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins joins 2026 governor Republican primary against Trump-backed candidate
Read full article: Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins joins 2026 governor Republican primary against Trump-backed candidateFlorida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins says he’s running for governor in 2026, hoping to take over for term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Kids absent from school too much? Florida lawmakers file bills to stop that
Read full article: Kids absent from school too much? Florida lawmakers file bills to stop thatFlorida lawmakers return to Tallahassee on Tuesday to begin this year’s legislative session. Among the many bills on the docket are several focused on school attendance.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 29 Starlink satellites into orbit
Read full article: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 29 Starlink satellites into orbitSpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Gov. DeSantis, first lady tout state’s efforts to improve safety, integrity of food supply
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis, first lady tout state’s efforts to improve safety, integrity of food supplyFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis will hold a news conference Friday morning in Bartow.
Rolling Loud hip-hop festival heading to Orlando for only 2026 US Stop
Read full article: Rolling Loud hip-hop festival heading to Orlando for only 2026 US StopRolling Loud, which bills itself as the “world’s largest hip-hop festival,” is heading to Orlando this year for its only stop in the U.S., organizers announced on the event’s website.
New details after missing child found with ‘pervert’ during Flagler County traffic stop, sheriff says
Read full article: New details after missing child found with ‘pervert’ during Flagler County traffic stop, sheriff saysDays after a registered sex offender was found with a missing child in Central Florida, deputies have released more information about what exactly happened, including harrowing details from the 11-year-old who said he'd been held captive and threatened.
Gov. DeSantis calls for special legislative session to redistrict Florida’s congressional map
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis calls for special legislative session to redistrict Florida’s congressional mapFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that he will issue a proclamation to convene a special session of the Florida Legislature to redistrict Florida’s congressional map.
AI, guns, health care, education & more: 10 legislative issues to watch in Florida in 2026
Read full article: AI, guns, health care, education & more: 10 legislative issues to watch in Florida in 2026Florida lawmakers next week will start the 2026 legislative session. With hundreds of bills filed for consideration during the session, here are 10 issues to watch.
These license plates were too obscene for Florida in 2025. Here’s the full list
Read full article: These license plates were too obscene for Florida in 2025. Here’s the full listState officials have released the official list of license plate configurations last year that were considered too racy for approval.
Federal judge rules Florida violated constitutional rights of people who were dropped from Medicaid
Read full article: Federal judge rules Florida violated constitutional rights of people who were dropped from MedicaidA federal judge Tuesday ruled that Florida has violated the constitutional rights of people who were dropped from the Medicaid program because it sent notices to them that “border on the incomprehensible.”
DeSantis supports push to ban congressional insider trading, says some members are like ‘Warren Buffett on steroids’
Read full article: DeSantis supports push to ban congressional insider trading, says some members are like ‘Warren Buffett on steroids’Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed his support for a bill that seeks to ban insider stock trading among members of Congress.
Thank you! Hundreds of items donated during Channel 4’s Santa Paws drive
Read full article: Thank you! Hundreds of items donated during Channel 4’s Santa Paws driveDozens of community members helped make the holidays brighter for animals across Jacksonville during Channel 4’s Santa Paws donation drive.
These ‘potatoes’ have invaded Florida. Here’s why they’re a threat
Read full article: These ‘potatoes’ have invaded Florida. Here’s why they’re a threatAccording to the UF/IFAS, one invasive plant in Florida could be mistaken for a tasty, starchy treat: Dioscorea bulbifera, otherwise known as the “Air Potato.”
From lowering the age to buy guns to vaccine mandates: Here’s what Florida lawmakers will consider at upcoming session
Read full article: From lowering the age to buy guns to vaccine mandates: Here’s what Florida lawmakers will consider at upcoming sessionFrom changing vaccine requirements to eliminating property taxes, the upcoming Florida Legislative Session is expected to be a hectic 60 days for state lawmakers.
Community leaders call for accountability over Clay County School Board member’s inflammatory social media comments
Read full article: Community leaders call for accountability over Clay County School Board member’s inflammatory social media commentsMore community leaders in Clay County are calling for accountability after a controversial social media post about “the African American community” by a member of the School Board.
Florida congresswoman accused of stealing COVID funds maintains innocence
Read full article: Florida congresswoman accused of stealing COVID funds maintains innocenceU.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has reiterated her innocence outside a Miami federal courthouse, where she faces charges of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds.
Proposed bill targets vaccination discrimination, disclosure requirements
Read full article: Proposed bill targets vaccination discrimination, disclosure requirementsCalling it the “Health Care Medical Freedom Act,” a House Republican on Monday filed a bill that says health-care providers could not “discriminate” against patients based on vaccination status and seeks to add disclosure requirements when children get vaccinated.
Can you be too old to drive in Florida? Here’s what the law says
Read full article: Can you be too old to drive in Florida? Here’s what the law saysWhile there’s no exact age at which Florida drivers are no longer allowed to get behind the wheel, there are some rules that kick in when you get old enough.
Social media, utility rates, marijuana & more: 10 legal issues to watch in Florida in 2026
Read full article: Social media, utility rates, marijuana & more: 10 legal issues to watch in Florida in 2026Alligator Alcatraz. Guns. Social media. Legal battles about those and myriad other Florida issues remain unresolved heading into 2026. Here are 10 big legal issues to watch in the coming year
Number of Duval County schools targeted as Schools of Hope down to 2: Jax Today
Read full article: Number of Duval County schools targeted as Schools of Hope down to 2: Jax TodayMonths after saying it was planning to open charters inside 25 existing Duval County public schools under the “Schools of Hope” law, Miami-based Mater Academy withdrew 23 of those letters of intent this month, according to a report from our news partner, Jacksonville Today. A DCPS parent shared her thoughts on the development.
Zelenskyy says he will meet with President Trump in Florida on Sunday for talks on Ukraine security guarantees
Read full article: Zelenskyy says he will meet with President Trump in Florida on Sunday for talks on Ukraine security guaranteesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that he will meet on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida.
‘Hush hush:’ New messages released in mysterious death of 18-year-old girl on cruise ship
Read full article: ‘Hush hush:’ New messages released in mysterious death of 18-year-old girl on cruise shipA 16-year-old boy being investigated in the death of his stepsister on a Carnival cruise ship last month has no recollection of the incident, according to recent court documents.
FBI: Lyft driver terrorized by escaped Georgia inmates before she was rescued in Florida
Read full article: FBI: Lyft driver terrorized by escaped Georgia inmates before she was rescued in FloridaAuthorities say three inmates have escaped from a jail near Atlanta and hijacked a Lyft car to reach south Florida.
DeSantis supports doing away with yellow registration decals, vows to veto any bill requiring front license plates
Read full article: DeSantis supports doing away with yellow registration decals, vows to veto any bill requiring front license platesAfter a license plate law went into effect back in October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made his opinion clear on any future legislation for license plates.
Florida education commissioner calls out Clay County School Board member for ‘discriminatory social media post’
Read full article: Florida education commissioner calls out Clay County School Board member for ‘discriminatory social media post’A controversial social media post by a member of the Clay County School Board captured the attention of the Florida Commissioner of Education on Monday, and he’s calling for the board member to explain himself at a State Board of Education meeting next month.
Start 2026 With Purpose: Volunteer on MLK Day of Service With United Way Northeast Florida
Read full article: Start 2026 With Purpose: Volunteer on MLK Day of Service With United Way Northeast FloridaVolunteers of all backgrounds will come together to support hands-on projects focused on neighborhood revitalization, meeting basic needs, and strengthening financial well-being—the building blocks of strong, thriving communities.
Split Happens Ep. 6: Why courtroom etiquette matters more than you think
Read full article: Split Happens Ep. 6: Why courtroom etiquette matters more than you thinkIn Split Happens, Episode 6, host Katie Garner sits down with board-certified marital and family law attorney Jay Henderlite of Sasso Guerrero & Henderlite to unpack a topic many people overlook until it’s too late: courtroom etiquette.
Hanania Automotive adds Palm Coast dealership, continuing Northeast Florida growth
Read full article: Hanania Automotive adds Palm Coast dealership, continuing Northeast Florida growthJacksonville-based Hanania Automotive Group has expanded into Flagler County with the purchase of Flagler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Palm Coast, marking another milestone in the company’s growth across Northeast Florida.
Expert explains why Florida would be hit harder than any other state if Obamacare subsidies expire
Read full article: Expert explains why Florida would be hit harder than any other state if Obamacare subsidies expireIf Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year, Florida will be hit harder than any other state. The clock is ticking with Congress struggling to unite behind a plan to extend tax credits.
Muslim rights group sues Florida Gov. DeSantis over ‘foreign terrorist’ label
Read full article: Muslim rights group sues Florida Gov. DeSantis over ‘foreign terrorist’ labelA leading Muslim civil rights group in the U_S_ has sued Florida Gov_ Ron DeSantis over his order labeling it a “foreign terrorist organization.”.
What license plate covers, frames are now illegal? Crime & safety analyst breaks it down as new law sparks confusion
Read full article: What license plate covers, frames are now illegal? Crime & safety analyst breaks it down as new law sparks confusionA new state law, House Bill 253, took effect in October and makes it illegal to display anything that obscures a vehicle’s license plate — even partially or from an angle. Since the law passed, questions and confusion have flooded social media and local law enforcement inboxes.
A Kentucky father had been looking for his daughter for 43 years. A Crime Stoppers tip from Florida changed everything
Read full article: A Kentucky father had been looking for his daughter for 43 years. A Crime Stoppers tip from Florida changed everythingA Kentucky father will be able to celebrate Christmas with his daughter for the first time in 43 years, and it was all thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip from Florida.
