Hurricane Milton’s devastating landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast hit one of the most popular areas for temporary residents who spend the winter months living in the Sunshine State.

Hurricane Milton is bringing powerful winds, a storm surge and flooding to much of Florida after making landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.

Hurricane Milton ripped part of the roof off of Tropicana Field late Wednesday evening as Hurricane Milton moved through the state.

Milton is expected to storm through Central Florida this week, massively boosting chances for flash flooding in the region.

With Hurricane Milton closing in on Florida’s Gulf Coast, News 6 reporter Erik Von Ancken has responded to southwest Central Florida to survey the area.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Hope Florida would become a permanent component of the Florida Division of Emergency Management and take on a new name, “Activate Hope.”

This Florida aquarium is among the few places in the world where you can spot one for yourself.

Florida troopers say a 12-year-old girl was run over by her mother in a tragic accident near Sarasota.

He told News 6 that this wasn't his first time hooking a shark. But he's never snagged one quite this big.

Tropical storm Debby made landfall as a hurricane in one of the least populated areas of Florida, but it's been blamed for at least four deaths in that state.

Tropical Storm Debby slammed Florida with torrential rain, high winds and flooding, contributing to at least five deaths as it turned menacingly toward the Eastern Seaboard’s low-lying regions and threatened to flood some of America’s most historic Southern cities.

A 26-year-old Sarasota man was bitten by a shark while wading in an inner tube at New Smyrna Beach, according to Volusia County Beach Safety.

A Florida school board has recommended the resignation of one of its members who is embroiled in the fallout of a sexual assault investigation into her husband, Republican Party state chairman Christian Ziegler.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says a prominent Republican should step down.

Given Florida’s popular beaches, warm weather and amazing tourist attractions, it’s no surprise that the state brings in its own crowd of celebrities wanting to live here.

The college is set to terminate the program beginning with the 2024 enrollees. Board members claimed the program didn't mesh with the college's larger mission.

A manatee in the care of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium died from an injury caused during a sexual encounter with his brother, according to the USDA.

Whether it’s the culture or the climate, there are plenty of reasons that people across the U.S. are moving to Florida.

Officials say a seventh case of malaria has been documented in a southwest Florida county.

The New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Thursday moved forward with a plan to request $2 million in funding from the state Legislature to set up a “Freedom Institute” aimed at combating “cancel culture” in higher education.

Don't miss out on dragon boat racing.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a couple bills, including one eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives in higher education.

A 15-year-old Florida girl was killed when a horse she was riding fell on her head, officials say.

The New College of Florida trustees, newly dominated by conservatives appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, has voted to deny tenure to five professors.

Appearing on Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ turf, California Gov. Gavin Newsom decried what he called a conservative attempt to reshape education in the U.S., most notably at progressive institutions like New College of Florida.

Federal investigators say an air traffic controller cleared one plane to land and another to take off from the same runway in Florida last month.

Federal investigators say an air traffic controller cleared one plane to land and another to take off from the same runway in Florida last month.

Residents are complaining about burning eyes and breathing problems.

Trustees picked by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee New College of Florida have voted to abolish its small office that handles diversity, equity and inclusion programs targeted by conservatives throughout the state university system.

A 21-year-old man died after falling from the 18th floor of a construction site, according to police.

The parents of Gabby Petito have released a photo they say proves officers should have taken action during a domestic violence stop involving Petito and her then-fiancé Brian Laundrie.

A U.S. congressman from Florida who was seriously injured in a tree-trimming accident in Sarasota says he has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube sustained “several serious injuries” when he fell off a ladder while cutting trees at his property on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn has had his Twitter account reinstated as the United States marked the two-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

FEMA announced on Saturday, Oct. 29 that is is hiring for more than 300 jobs in Kissimmee, Orlando, Brandon, Fort Myers and Sarasota as the agency continues to help in Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

The devastation from Hurricane Ian has left schools shuttered indefinitely in parts of Florida, leaving storm-weary families anxious for word on when and how children can get back to classrooms.

A Florida judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit in which the parents of Gabby Petito claim that Brian Laundrie told his parents he had killed her before he returned home alone from their western trip.

Why did the alligator cross the road? Not sure we’ll ever know but it sure got drivers’ attention.

Baseball’s regular season begins this week, so that means the abbreviated spring training session for teams, which started late due to the offseason lockout, is over.

Automatic runners in extra innings are sticking around for a third straight season.

Even for a Sarasota area lauded by many for having one of the most exquisite and diverse set of restaurants in the country, it’s a place and occasion on Sundays that still stands out.

A tornado formed in Sarasota as strong storms pushed through the area.

Gov. Ron DeSantis once again refused to confirm whether he would receive or has already received a COVID-19 booster shot when asked by a reporter during a news conference in Sarasota.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday awarded $10 million to the city of Sarasota to fund multiple infrastructure projects.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held two press conferences today, in Collier and Sarasota counties, where he announced $5.8 million to fund a new technical college location in Collier County and $1.7 million to fund the installation of wastewater infrastructure in the city of North Port.

In a story published Oct. 6, 2021, about Florida allowing harvesting goliath grouper, The Associated Press erroneously reported the state is lifting its ban on catching the species.

Police in Florida searched a vast wildlife reserve near the Gulf Coast for 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito.

Florida is reporting its deadliest peak since the pandemic began, surpassing previous coronavirus surges in the state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to speak at noon Tuesday in Sarasota.

Four men were killed while trying to change a tire along a busy Florida interstate when a vehicle veered onto the roadway's shoulder.

Fonde is among an estimated 272,000 unemployed Florida residents who have been locked out of their CONNECT unemployment accounts.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will be providing an update regarding Tropical Storm Elsa Saturday evening.

A Sarasota-area man pleaded guilty to his involvement in the Capitol Hill riots on Wednesday.

Toxic plumes of oceanic bacteria known as red tide are continuing to move up the western Florida coast, strewing thousands of dead fish on beaches.

Florida has reversed itself and now says a downtown Jacksonville bridge can be decorated in rainbow lights to celebrate gay rights.

An 11-year-old girl is dead after witnesses say she ran back into her burning home, possibly to save her two puppies.

Buffy was trained by Palmetto-based Southeastern Guide Dogs as part of a four-dog pilot program for scent detection.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A water-logged coyote that was trying to doggy paddle its way back to land while lost in Sarasota Bay got a helping hand from a police officer. Sarasota Police Department public information officer Genevieve Judge said she’s grateful for the positive feedback. Ad“We’re so appreciative of our community and social media followers and the kindness they are showing by thanking Officer Dixon. Our officers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect all humans and all animals,” Judge said. “Officer Dixon is one of two officers assigned to our Marine Patrol Unit.

In the last 50 years, our lowest temperature for the winter has risen. Orlando lowest temperatureIn Gainesville, the rise is not as rapid as in Orlando. Gainesville lowest temperatureBut Gainesville, while still up, proves to be a “cool” exception in Central Florida. So keep in mind that, even when we have a cool run in the winter, overall our winters are warming. And what some call “global warming” can actually be reimagined as “global weirdness” like warming winter lows that sneak up before you notice.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A Florida man fatally shot a woman in front of a police officer and then was also fatally shot Saturday, authorities said. While the officer fired at the suspect, it wasn't immediately known if he was killed by the officer or died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sarasota Police Chief Jim Rieser. The officer responded to a report of gunshots and a woman screaming and arrived to find the man with a gun. The suspect then shot the woman, Rieser said. The department didn’t release the names of the officer, the shooter or the woman killed.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla – Florida’s famous high-wire acrobat Nik Wallenda walked the plank at the Legoland Florida Resort on Friday. The performer, originally from Sarasota, performed the epic high-wire walk nearly 600 feet cross the skies of the theme park. Legoland Florida also started a new show, Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show and PirateFest Weekends. During the new PirateFest Weekends, guests can meet the famous Lego Pirate characters and participate in all-new shows and activities. Pirate Weekends runs Feb. 12-14, 20-21, 27-28.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A city official in Florida was involved in a fight outside a bar on Christmas Eve, a newspaper reported Monday. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports Sarasota Commissioner cwas attacked by multiple men after a verbal dispute. A photo later shows him lying on the sidewalk with his arms by his side. In a written statement to police, Battie, said he was walking back into a restaurant when he saw his friend in an argument with one of the suspects. Battie told an officer that was all he remembered of the altercation.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A Florida man who had been storing a trash can for a friend for more than two months, found a badly decomposing body inside when he opened it, authorities said. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said the unidentified man had been holding the 55-gallon container for a friend who promised to retrieve it later. But that person never returned and after about two months, the man smelled a foul odor and opened the container. Inside were human remains that had been wrapped up. The Herald-Tribune reported Tuesday that the sheriff's office is investigating the identify of the remains and how they died.

VENICE, Fla. – A woman was fatally shot at a bank in Venice on Monday morning, sheriff’s officials said. The shooting happened just after 9 a.m. at a BB&T bank branch in Venice, which is near Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. Arriving deputies found the woman dead at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released many details about the shooting. But officials said “all involved parties are accounted for," the post said,Investigators are working to notify the woman's relatives.

SARASOTA, Fla. A bystander video showing a Sarasota police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed black man a week before the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted an investigation and promises of transparency. Two Sarasota officers are seen on video holding down Patrick Carroll, 27, during a domestic violence call on May 18th. Utilizing your knee on someones neck is not something that we train, Sarasota Police Deputy Chief Patrick Robinson said. Its not something that we authorize and its not something that we stand behind.The department told news outlets it wasnt aware the officer placed a knee on Carrolls neck until it was tagged in the video on social media on Monday. The officer who placed his knee on Carroll's neck has been placed on administrative leave, the department said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Publix is looking to hire thousands of employees for the company’s stores and distribution centers amid the spread of the coronavirus. Various jobs are listed for stores throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Jobs are also listed at the distribution centers in Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Lawrenceville, and McCalla. The company is offering benefits for full-time employees and part-time employees, according to Publix. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Friday morning that will allow law enforcement officers to pull over drivers who are texting and driving. Though the new law allows police officers to proactively make the roads safer, the fines for texting and driving stay the same. 5 things to know about Florida's texting and driving billBefore signing the bill, DeSantis cited some of the statistics about distracted driving crashes. Since 2013, lawmakers have sponsored 31 different pieces of legislation to strengthen Florida’s texting and driving law. Simpson compared the texting and driving bill to the seat belt bill during the 1980s.

Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday morning making texting and driving a primary offense in the state of Florida. News 6 has been behind the Driving Change effort ever since anchor Matt Austin was injured in a crash. Since 2013, lawmakers have sponsored 31 different pieces of legislation to strengthen Florida’s texting and driving law. On Sept. 9, 2016, News 6 anchor Matt Austin was waiting for a traffic light to turn green when a vehicle slammed into his car. [VIDEO BELOW: Florida passes texting and driving bill]