Insurance premiums are exploding across Florida — and for one retired math teacher in The Villages, the numbers are staggering. Instead of enjoying retirement, he’s trying to solve what may be the most baffling equation of his life. Last year, he paid $723 a month for coverage. In January, after enhanced federal health care subsidies expired, the bill jumped to more than $2,600 a month.

Left-lane campers are a huge frustration for many drivers in the state. But it turns out they may be breaking the rules.

A new bill would change where Florida drivers can use their golf carts in the state.

Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, sponsored a proposal (HB 339), which would give someone who was harmed after receiving a vaccine up to three years to sue the manufacturer in civil court if that manufacturer advertised the drug in Florida.

Attorney General Pam Bondi launched into a wide-ranging, passionate defense of President Donald Trump, repeatedly shouting at Democrats during a combative hearing in which she postured herself as the Republican’s chief protector.

Orange County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve new spending guidelines for Visit Orlando following an audit that raised concerns about how tourist tax dollars were used. It all stems from an audit that found the tourism agency had miscategorized some of its spending.

A group of Deltona residents is preparing to take legal action against the city, claiming the city commission violated sunshine laws by holding a meeting that was supposed to be canceled.

Florida law dictates how tourist tax dollars can be used, and lawmakers have been reticent to make changes. Right now tourist tax dollars can only be used for tourism promotion or on facilities and programs that benefit tourism.

On Monday, the city council is set to approve a $30 million cap on construction costs, a key step to begin the project, which is expected to open in 2027.

Florida lawmakers moved ahead Thursday with a proposal to get cyclists on e-bikes to slow down around pedestrians and make other safety improvements, although many suggested the effort should cover people using electric scooters as well.

The Florida State Senate has unanimously approved legislation that would allow homeowners across the state to build small homes in their backyards, potentially expanding affordable housing options for residents struggling with rising costs.

A Venezuelan national who has been held for nearly 30 days in the Orange County Jail is entitled to a bond hearing in immigration court, a federal judge ruled Thursday. He's the latest immigrant detainee to go before the court in a habeas corpus case.

Volusia residents are rallying against an initiative known as “toilet to tap,” a water recycling method being promoted statewide to address drinking water shortages caused by new development and population growth. Many Volusia residents want the county to ban the practice before it becomes a possibility locally.

Federal judges in two separate hearings in Orlando on Tuesday admonished U.S. attorneys over immigration cases and released the detainees. They're the latest defendants who have successfully argued that the government is unlawfully detaining them.

Florida's secretary of state says none of the 22 citizen initiatives proposed for the 2026 ballot got enough verified petitions to make it, including the recreational marijuana amendment. But the initiative's organizers say Byrd's statement is premature.

An Orange County spokesperson confirmed Friday that the county is “following up on complaints” about conditions inside the Orange County Jail, as corrections staff continue to be pushed to the brink by the high volume of inmates with immigration detainers.

The Senate has voted to fund most of the government through the end of September while carving out a temporary extension for Homeland Security funding, giving Congress two weeks to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country.

A Florida House panel Thursday backed a wide-ranging plan that seeks to trim health-care regulations and carry out federal changes in programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.

Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, sponsored the proposal (SB 1628), arguing that “net zero” policies from local governments drove up costs for residents and businesses in pursuit of “some goal that they’re never going to reach.” The bill would, among other things, ban growth plans that discourage fossil fuel use, or taking climate into consideration when making energy-efficient purchases.

Lawmakers started moving forward Tuesday with a proposal that would give the state the power to put President Donald Trump’s name on a Palm Beach County airport, next to a road they renamed after him.

Nearly three years after 9-year-old T’Yonna “Ya Ya” Major was shot and killed in a shooting spree in Pine Hills, her family is pushing for a new statewide alert system aimed at protecting children during active and imminent threats.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said Tuesday that the county attorney’s office is “exploring the legal issues” centered around U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s interest in opening a detention facility in Orlando.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging a new state law allowing pregnant women to use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities violates federal protections.

A Florida Senate bill would allow parents to opt out of vaccines if they conflict with their conscience, adding to an already-existing exemption for religious beliefs. The bill would also allow Ivermectin to be sold without a prescription.

Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, was hospitalized Sunday after experiencing chest pain, with emergency physicians discovering a small blood clot in his lung, according to a memo sent Monday to senators.

A major focus for redeveloping Orlando is West Church Street, which runs from Garland Avenue to John Young Parkway. On Monday, the city council will select a contractor to lead a transformation project for this roughly two-mile stretch.

Property tax cuts are one of the biggest themes of this year's Legislative session. But it has critics wondering: how do we replace those funds?

After Florida's attorney general said he would no longer enforce race-based laws, several Black Democratic legislators have announced a news conference in response.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.

The State Board of Education on Wednesday took up a report that showed the greatest needs for teachers. For example, about 8,900 of the 37,200 total English courses taught in Florida's public schools had teachers during the 2024-2025 school year not certified in the field, according to the report.

Florida state senators approved a new bill that would bring several changes for E-Bikes in the state.

As of Friday, Jan. 16, there were 831 bookings in the jail with immigration holds, according to a county spokesperson, who noted that “there has been a significant number of re-bookings.” Here's what else we know about their charges.

Proposals that would allow single-family homes on some property zoned for agriculture and make it more difficult for local governments to increase impact fees started to move forward Tuesday in the Florida Senate.

On Monday, Florida's attorney general announced that his office will no longer enforce over 80 state laws.

Mexico is showing sensitivity to U.S. military movements since the attack earlier this month on Venezuela.

Florida is one of the deadliest states for pedestrians, with Central Florida especially dangerous. An Osceola County state representative is pushing a bill to increase technology at crosswalks around the state.

Many students will have to prepare for lectures about communism coming later this year.

HB 1341—and its companion bill in the Senate—would make it illegal for licensed dealers to sell any amount of nitrous oxide from the dealer’s premises. The prohibition, however, would not apply to places like grocery stores or supermarkets, where nitrous oxide is used in products as a propellant.

People who have been rejected from getting Florida government help to hurricane-proof their homes may get a second chance under a bill filed by an Orlando-area lawmaker.

Chemicals that can cause cancer are still being found in some of Brevard County’s drinking water. One county commissioner is expected to talk about it on Tuesday.

lorida’s annual legislative session formally opens at 11 a.m. with representatives and senators gathering in the Florida House chamber to hear opening remarks from their leaders, and also to hear from Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will be giving his last State of the State address as Florida’s governor.

Plenty of drivers have been there: pulling through a fast-food drive-thru to pick up a bite to eat on route to their destination. But is it legal to munch on the go?

The next Legislative session in Florida kicks off on Tuesday, and lawmakers are already filing hundreds of bills for consideration.

A new U.S. Postal Service rule that took effect Dec. 24 changes when mail gets postmarked, potentially affecting bill payments and other time-sensitive documents.

Truancy is a significant issue across Central Florida, where six counties—Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola and Volusia—have rates above the state average for students missing 21 or more days. To intervene early, legislators are considering HB 1181 and SB 1190, which would create a mandatory alert system. This system would require school districts to notify parents when students reach truancy levels.

The Chiarizzi family in Volusia County has been waiting three years for help to demolish their hurricane-damaged home — a house they can no longer live in. But the application is still in FEMA's hands, along with dozens of other Florida cases.

Two Florida lawmakers say the agency overseeing the state’s driver’s licenses, license plates, and the Florida Highway Patrol is a mess, and something needs to change.

A bill filed in the Florida House calls for mandatory middle school recess.

Florida officials have limited the number of items that SNAP beneficiaries can use their benefits on.

Betty Boop and “Blondie” are among the highlights of titles entering the public domain with the arrival of 2026.

The year is nearly at a close, though 2025 certainly had its fair share of major headlines.

Alligator Alcatraz. Guns. Social media. Legal battles about those and myriad other Florida issues remain unresolved heading into 2026. Here are 10 big Florida issues to watch in the courts in the coming year.

The city of Orlando wants to know what types of housing help you think are urgently needed in the city. You can take a survey to give your input.

Rest stops are a great place to pull over during a long drive. But are you allowed to catch a few winks?

Florida's airports are now required to submit monthly reports on weather-modification activities. Have there been any? News 6 requested the reports.

Orange County is formally demanding the federal government reimburse hundreds of thousands of dollars for housing ICE immigration detainees in the county jail.

The annual Florida Legislative Session starts Tuesday, Jan. 13 in Tallahassee and runs for 60 days. If you want to see what your state lawmakers are up to, if you want to tell them something, here's how to find and contact them.

Orange County Utilities is changing curbside collection days for its customers starting Dec. 29, and it will affect garbage, recycling, yard waste, and large item pickup. The county has a site to help residents figure out their new collection days.

A spokesperson with the Orange County Corrections Department told News 6 that the federal government owes the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursement payments for housing ICE detainees inside the Orange County Jail.

News 6 asked Central Florida’s congressional delegation what they did with that money.

A new Florida bill filed this week could result in higher fees for homeowners’ associations across the state.

Florida officials have limited the number of items that SNAP beneficiaries can use their benefits on.

The state wants a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by 25 cities and counties, including Orange County, over an unpopular law that blocks local development regulations.

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to the podium to advocate for changing the U.S. Constitution.

On Thursday, the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is set to approve a $218 million construction project to add an extra eastbound lane on the 408 in Orlando.

The new proposal would finally give Florida residents a process by which they can get rid of their HOAs.

The city of Clermont and Lake County agree that lower response times for ambulance service in the city are needed, but what's the best way to do that? The city is looking to break from the county and go on its own.

On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new executive order designating two groups as FTOs.

The state’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, made up of state representatives and senators, voted unanimously Monday to investigate the city of Daytona Beach over reports about spending irregularities and a surplus in building permit revenues.

States across the country are issuing their own guardrails on artificial intelligence, and President Trump wants it to stop. But as AI drives soaring demand for raw processing power, data centers are rapidly reshaping communities and indirectly having a negative effect on some people’s wallets.

On Friday, DeSantis took to Fox & Friends to discuss his proposal for how to manage property tax cuts if they get approved next year.

A new Florida bill filed last week would let residents grow their own cannabis — but only if they meet certain criteria.

Lake County released a statement Friday that grocery company Kroger signed the termination agreement the county initiated last week. As part of the deal, the company must reimburse the county $460,714.53 by Dec. 31.

The long‑time local official is well aware of the concerns over traffic, affordability and development that have stretched across the county for more than a decade.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lambasted the potential for abuse in the rising realm of artificial intelligence and called for an “AI Bill of Rights.”

Proposed changes to Tavares' garage sale ordinance that would require residents to obtain permits and could impose fines on those who violate the new rules, went back before the City Council on Wednesday.

This week, Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to allocate $460,000 to Rebuild Together Greater Florida, a nonprofit organization that helps low and moderate-income families with housing repairs.

E-bikes and other micromobility devices are popular, but Orange County commissioners say more residents are complaining about safety issues with the people using the bikes. Now the county is trying to figure out what it can do about it.

Commissioners in Lake County are set to discuss a proposed ordinance aimed at cracking down on noise issues on the Lake Dora Sandbar during Tuesday’s county commission meeting.

The Transportation Security Administration has announced that U.S. air travelers without a REAL ID will face a $45 fee starting in February.

Why do large companies sometimes lobby for regulation in their own industries?

The policy count at the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has dropped to its lowest level in six years — and is headed toward the smallest number ever.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that distracted driving is a dangerous habit. But what about when you come to a standstill?

Siding with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, a Leon County circuit judge on Friday ruled that state officials did not err when ordering supervisors of elections to scrap more than 200,000 petition signatures supporting a proposed constitutional amendment to allow recreational marijuana.

A bid by Orange City’s mayor to remove the city clerk failed Friday night after a packed special meeting where every resident who spoke urged the council to keep her in the job.

A Florida lawmaker has introduced legislation that seeks to end a statewide practice of selling residents’ driver’s licenses and ID card information to private companies, data brokers, insurance analytics firms, and foreign-owned entities, according to reporting from News 6 sister station WJXT News 4 in Jacksonville.

Cory Mills, the Republican who represents Seminole and Volusia counties in the U.S. House, is facing censure by a fellow Republican over a growing number of allegations, including sexual violence and misconduct, federal defense contracting violations, and stolen valor.

Orange County school board members expressed concern and confusion Tuesday surrounding the potential implications of a recently enacted law that allows charter schools to move into underused schools in the district.

On Tuesday night, the Eatonville council will vote on a resolution to clarify the mayor’s executive powers and reaffirm that council approval is required for certain actions. The resolution comes after the mayor’s involvement with the transfer of the Hungerford property from Orange County Public Schools to Dr. Phillips Charities in late September.

Brevard County might ask voters to pay for cleaning the Indian River Lagoon for another 10 years. Tuesday, county commissioners will pick up the debate over renewing the 2016 half-cent sales tax when it expires next Election Day.

As part of an effort to reinvent how America handles its homeless, the Trump administration is slashing funding to long-term housing programs, a decision advocates fear will force many of Central Florida’s disabled and most vulnerable back out onto the streets.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is urging a state judge to deny a request to stop the black bear hunt scheduled for December.

This week, the Florida Board of Education approved the full list of standards students can be expected to learn as part of a new communism curriculum in schools.

After a record 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end last night, bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of federal workers who went without pay for more than six weeks.

President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.

How should the tax revenue generated from tourists be spent in Orange County? That is a question that has been at the center of a debate for years.

As discussions continue in Washington to end the ongoing government shutdown, air travelers across the country — including those at Orlando International Airport — are still facing flight delays and cancellations due to a federal mandate reducing flight operations at major airports.

As Thanksgiving approaches, thousands of Central Florida families are bracing for the holiday with empty cupboards and little hope for relief, as the federal government’s shutdown of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stretches into a second week, leaving many anxious and local food pantries overwhelmed.

Orange County Public Schools wants to know if it should move its start times.

Almost a year after Orlando approved placing cameras outside dozens of schools, the city council is set to decide which company will install them.