FLORIDA NEWS
40 years after the Challenger disaster: Lessons from a tragedy that still resonate today
Read full article: 40 years after the Challenger disaster: Lessons from a tragedy that still resonate todayWednesday marked 40 years since the space shuttle Challenger accident that killed seven crew members. The mission was not just to launch satellites but to launch the first teacher in space.
Clay County teacher suspended over Charlie Kirk comments files lawsuit against Florida education commissioner
Read full article: Clay County teacher suspended over Charlie Kirk comments files lawsuit against Florida education commissionerA Clay County teacher who was suspended in September over comments they made about Charlie Kirk following his assassination has filed a lawsuit against Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, according to federal court dockets.
Publix no longer the top grocery store in Florida, study finds
Read full article: Publix no longer the top grocery store in Florida, study findsA fan-favorite grocery chain has just surpassed Florida’s very own Publix brand of stores, according to the latest report by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Byron Donalds speaks in Ponte Vedra on Florida immigration enforcement, property taxes, vaccine mandates
Read full article: Byron Donalds speaks in Ponte Vedra on Florida immigration enforcement, property taxes, vaccine mandatesByron Donalds, Florida Representative and GOP candidate for governor endorsed by President Donald Trump, recently discussed key issues shaping the state’s future, including immigration enforcement, property taxes, and vaccination policies.
Local measles cases highlight tension over mandates, exemptions as state senator seeks expansion for vaccine opt outs
Read full article: Local measles cases highlight tension over mandates, exemptions as state senator seeks expansion for vaccine opt outsState Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, wants to expand Florida’s vaccine exemptions to allow parents to request “conscience-based” exemptions to school vaccine mandates.
Meet Tilly: A Sweet Pup in Search of a Loving Home
Read full article: Meet Tilly: A Sweet Pup in Search of a Loving HomeTilly arrived at SAHS as part of a group of 17 Yorkies and other toy breeds after their breeder passed away without clear arrangements for their care. She will be spayed prior to placement so she can enjoy life as a beloved pet—never again viewed as an asset used for breeding.
$100K Walmart partnership will help Jared Bridegan’s widow add ‘Bexley Boxes’ in every law enforcement office in Florida
Read full article: $100K Walmart partnership will help Jared Bridegan’s widow add ‘Bexley Boxes’ in every law enforcement office in FloridaFlorida’s attorney general returned to St. Johns County on Monday, alongside a representative from Walmart, to announce a major expansion of the Bexley Box initiative started by Jared Bridegan’s widow through the Bridegan Foundation.
‘Bringing sunlight and transparency’: Ron, Casey DeSantis highlight efforts to improve food safety, expose toxins
Read full article: ‘Bringing sunlight and transparency’: Ron, Casey DeSantis highlight efforts to improve food safety, expose toxinsFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis highlighted on Monday their efforts to improve the safety and integrity of the food supply across the state.
Former Florida House speaker and governor candidate Paul Renner addresses affordability challenges
Read full article: Former Florida House speaker and governor candidate Paul Renner addresses affordability challengesJacksonville attorney and Republican candidate for governor Paul Renner pointed to a simple but critical problem: costs have risen faster than wages while discussing affordability.
State Rep. Angie Nixon announces candidacy for US Senate in Florida’s special mid-term election for Rubio’s old seat
Read full article: State Rep. Angie Nixon announces candidacy for US Senate in Florida’s special mid-term election for Rubio’s old seatFlorida State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) announced Thursday that she’s joining a crowded field of Democrats who are running for U.S. Senate in the special midterm election this fall.
Florida governor candidate vows to ‘mandate’ uniforms in all public schools
Read full article: Florida governor candidate vows to ‘mandate’ uniforms in all public schoolsCEO and conservative influencer James Fishback, who previously vowed to push for a 50% “Sin Tax” for OnlyFans creators, now says he wants to see all public school students in Florida wearing uniforms.
Mom sues Florida fertility clinic after giving birth to the wrong baby
Read full article: Mom sues Florida fertility clinic after giving birth to the wrong babyAfter giving birth last month, a Florida mother is now suing an IVF clinic after it turned out the baby wasn’t hers, according to court records obtained by WKMG.
‘Eliminating all of it:’ These Florida laws will no longer be enforced, AG says
Read full article: ‘Eliminating all of it:’ These Florida laws will no longer be enforced, AG saysFlorida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an opinion on Monday in which he called out over 80 “race-based” state laws that he says mandate discrimination based on race and will therefore no longer be enforced by his department.
Where do Jacksonville city councilmembers stand on property tax elimination proposals?
Read full article: Where do Jacksonville city councilmembers stand on property tax elimination proposals?Property tax elimination proposals have become one of the most closely watched debates of the 2026 legislative session, as lawmakers advance several constitutional amendment measures that could dramatically reshape how homeowners are taxed — and how cities fund essential services.
Woman jailed after crashing her vehicle into a South Florida federal courthouse, police say
Read full article: Woman jailed after crashing her vehicle into a South Florida federal courthouse, police sayAuthorities say a woman intentionally crashed her vehicle through the front entrance of a South Florida federal courthouse building after regular hours, causing about $200,000 in damage.
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.
