WEATHER ALERT
Waffle House Index shows few Central Florida locations open after Hurricane Milton
Read full article: Waffle House Index shows few Central Florida locations open after Hurricane MiltonOn Thursday afternoon, many Waffle Houses in Central Florida, Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida were still closed, and the ones that were open could only offer limited service.
Could Helene shift east like Hurricane Ian did en route to Florida?
Read full article: Could Helene shift east like Hurricane Ian did en route to Florida?The early forecasts from the National Hurricane Center for Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 are reminding a lot of Floridians of the projected path for another recent hurricane, Ian.
Here’s what’s steering the likely Gulf of Mexico hurricane, Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, to Florida
Read full article: Here’s what’s steering the likely Gulf of Mexico hurricane, Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, to FloridaPotential Tropical Cyclone 9 was designated by the National Hurricane Center earlier Monday.
Here are 8 of the best downtown areas in Florida. See if your favorite made the list
Read full article: Here are 8 of the best downtown areas in Florida. See if your favorite made the listThe World Atlas released a listing of eight of the best downtown areas in Florida, with several Central Florida cities making the cut.
Your Florida Daily: Highway reopens after fiery plane crash kills 2, Donald Trump to appear in court
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Highway reopens after fiery plane crash kills 2, Donald Trump to appear in courtThe pilot had been cleared to land at the Naples Airport when he radioed that he lost both engines then went down on the highway.
I-75 shuts down in Florida after fiery plane crash kills 2
Read full article: I-75 shuts down in Florida after fiery plane crash kills 2Interstate 75 was shut down Friday afternoon in Collier County after an airplane collided with two vehicles, sparking a fire and killing two people, according to officials in Southwest Florida.
Your Florida Daily: Supreme Court to consider abortion rights ballot wording, statewide tornado drill happens today
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Supreme Court to consider abortion rights ballot wording, statewide tornado drill happens todayState officials want people to take shelter in an enclosed space just as you would during a real tornado warning.
Florida legislator files ‘Officer Jason Raynor Act’ after slain Daytona Beach officer
Read full article: Florida legislator files ‘Officer Jason Raynor Act’ after slain Daytona Beach officerDaytona Beach Officer Jason Raynor was killed in 2021 during an interaction with Wallace. The Southwest Florida lawmaker’s act, Senate Bill 1092, would make it completely up to the court to decide who was in the wrong during an interaction between an officer and a suspect.
Your Florida Daily: Steve Martin calls out school district for removing novel, marijuana amendment arguments begin
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Steve Martin calls out school district for removing novel, marijuana amendment arguments beginMartin sarcastically thanked Collier County Public Schools for removing his novel from school libraries
WATCH LIVE: Julie Broughton, Jonathan Kegges talk coral reef bleaching on Take 6
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Julie Broughton, Jonathan Kegges talk coral reef bleaching on Take 6The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are on fire. When it comes to Florida’s coral reefs, it’s not just that the water temperatures are blazing hot, it’s about how early the heat has come.
Florida citrus farmers await federal aid months after hurricanes damaged crops
Read full article: Florida citrus farmers await federal aid months after hurricanes damaged cropsFlorida citrus officials are promoting the “grit of this industry” as the growing season is set to close with the lowest production in nearly a century.
Hurricane Ian offers important lessons as Florida preps for upcoming season
Read full article: Hurricane Ian offers important lessons as Florida preps for upcoming seasonAs the 2023 hurricane season starts, memories are still fresh of Hurricane Ian causing billions of dollars in damage and pushing water across Southwest Florida barrier islands.
Floridians urged to remember ‘it only takes one’ during hurricane season with El Niño forecast
Read full article: Floridians urged to remember ‘it only takes one’ during hurricane season with El Niño forecastWhile El Niño tends to bring a less busy season, Floridians are still urged to remember it only takes one storm.
Massive seaweed blob moves toward Florida, could impact both coasts
Read full article: Massive seaweed blob moves toward Florida, could impact both coastsA giant seaweed blob twice the size of the US is heading towards Florida. It's already causing health problems with red tide on the West coast of the state and scientists say it will also have an affect on the East coast.
Florida property insurance company insolvent after losses caused by Hurricane Ian
Read full article: Florida property insurance company insolvent after losses caused by Hurricane IanState regulators moved forward Thursday with placing United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. into receivership after higher-than-expected losses from Hurricane Ian helped push the insurer into insolvency.
Tax breaks teed up for Florida hurricane damage victims
Read full article: Tax breaks teed up for Florida hurricane damage victimsNearly 50,000 property owners forced from their homes for more than a month by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole could be eligible for tax relief under a bill that was being prepared Friday for a special legislative session next week.
Dane Eagle, who took over Florida’s beleaguered unemployment system, resigns
Read full article: Dane Eagle, who took over Florida’s beleaguered unemployment system, resignsThe secretary of Florida’s Dept. of Economic Opportunity is resigning at the end of the month.Dane Eagle sent a resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Dec. 2.
Florida puts $5M toward helping residents of 6 counties pay home insurance deductibles after Hurricane Ian
Read full article: Florida puts $5M toward helping residents of 6 counties pay home insurance deductibles after Hurricane IanFlorida will disburse $5 million to help some South Floridians pay their home insurance deductibles after Hurricane Ian.
‘All hands on deck:’ Gov. DeSantis gives remarks on recovery efforts in Florida communities hit hard by Ian
Read full article: ‘All hands on deck:’ Gov. DeSantis gives remarks on recovery efforts in Florida communities hit hard by IanGov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in storm-ravaged Southwest Florida, just over a week after that part of the state took the brunt of Hurricane Ian.
‘It could have been us:’ Central Floridians head to SWFLA to help Hurricane Ian victims
Read full article: ‘It could have been us:’ Central Floridians head to SWFLA to help Hurricane Ian victimsWith just 12 hours’ notice, a handful of volunteers and a few thousand dollars’ worth of supplies, outreach groups from Alive Church in Orlando and Gainesville made the journey to Southwest Florida to help Hurricane Ian victims.
Florida to harden electric grid statewide in wake of Hurricane Ian
Read full article: Florida to harden electric grid statewide in wake of Hurricane IanLess than a week after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to large swaths of Florida, state regulators Tuesday approved utilities’ long-term plans to try to bolster the electric system.
WATCH LIVE: Sky 6 flies over flooding, damage after Hurricane Ian rips across Florida
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Sky 6 flies over flooding, damage after Hurricane Ian rips across FloridaHurricane Ian battered much of the state after making landfall in Southwest Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm, leaving significant damage and flooding virtually everywhere it touched.
Flagler County leaders warn resident to prepare for potential evacuations
Read full article: Flagler County leaders warn resident to prepare for potential evacuationsFlagler County leaders are urging residents to prepare for "eventual" evacuations in the county as Hurricane Ian bears down on Florida.
Your Florida Daily: The video camera was disguised as a fire alarm
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: The video camera was disguised as a fire alarmA tourist is charged with hiding a video camera inside a beach park restroom, a Florida couple allegedly stole $8,000 from a senior under their care and Universal Orlando is in a legal battle with a Georgia-based theme park company over a plot of land.
🐘Myakka Elephant Ranch offers an ele-phantastic experience in Manatee County
Read full article: 🐘Myakka Elephant Ranch offers an ele-phantastic experience in Manatee CountyFloridians can get up close to the largest existing land animal and help care for them at the Myakka Elephant Ranch in Manatee County.
Largest python ever found in Florida nearly 18 feet long, tips the scale at 215 pounds
Read full article: Largest python ever found in Florida nearly 18 feet long, tips the scale at 215 poundsThe Conservancy of Southwest Florida discovered and captured the largest python yet found in the state, measuring 18 feet long and weighing 215 pounds, according to a Wednesday news release.
Red tide shows up at low levels in the Indian River Lagoon, causing concern for manatees
Read full article: Red tide shows up at low levels in the Indian River Lagoon, causing concern for manateesIn the wake of the worst year for manatee deaths on record, Florida wildlife officials last week found yet another potential killer of the threatened species in the Indian River Lagoon — red tide.
3-bed, 3-bath, one huge gator: Video shows 12-foot reptile in Florida home
Read full article: 3-bed, 3-bath, one huge gator: Video shows 12-foot reptile in Florida homeA roughly 12-foot reptile was found laying on the ground of a Charlotte County home early in the morning on March 14 in the Babcock Ranch community.
DeSantis backs GOP bill that would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks
Read full article: DeSantis backs GOP bill that would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeksGov. Ron DeSantis voices support for a Republican-led bill that would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Judge denies Seminole Tribe’s request for stay in Florida sports betting case
Read full article: Judge denies Seminole Tribe’s request for stay in Florida sports betting caseA federal judge late Wednesday refused to put on hold a ruling that rejected a deal giving the Seminole Tribe control of online sports betting in Florida.
Florida’s sports betting plan with Seminole Tribe hit with legal challenge
Read full article: Florida’s sports betting plan with Seminole Tribe hit with legal challengePointing to a “legal fiction,” two pari-mutuel facilities have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a newly approved plan for the Seminole Tribe to operate sports betting in Florida.
Florida man conspired with Central Florida Oath Keepers ahead of Jan. 6 Capitol riots, FBI says
Read full article: Florida man conspired with Central Florida Oath Keepers ahead of Jan. 6 Capitol riots, FBI saysA man from Southwest Florida is accused of taking part in the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and conspiring with other members of the Oath Keepers from Central Florida head of the attacks, according to the FBI.
MLB cuts spring training travel, drops college opponents
Read full article: MLB cuts spring training travel, drops college opponents(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)NEW YORK – Major League Baseball revamped its spring training exhibition schedule because of the pandemic, cutting travel for Florida-based teams in an effort to minimize coronavirus risks. College baseball teams, which often play big league clubs but are not subject to major league testing protocols, were dropped from the revised schedules announced Friday. Split-squad games, traditionally used in the first half of the exhibition season to allow evaluation of more players, also were eliminated. Pitchers and catchers open spring training workouts Wednesday, and the exhibition season starts Feb. 28, two days later than initially announced on Sept. 16. The rejected plan would have pushed back the start of spring training until March 22.
Florida Gov. DeSantis urges patience amid high demand for vaccinations
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis urges patience amid high demand for vaccinations“The COVID vaccine supply is limited,” DeSantis said Wednesday during an appearance at a Palm Beach County senior complex where 300 residents were being inoculated. A large part of the job to vaccinate seniors has fallen to hospitals and some county health departments. In addition to focusing on the 65-plus population, DeSantis included as a top priority health care workers who have direct contact with patients. Senior said his member facilities have “hundreds of sites running from Pensacola to Miami” that can be used to administer vaccinations. He said he anticipates that his members will work with county health departments but said details are still being worked out.
Florida Gov. DeSantis expands emergency for ‘erratic’ Eta
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis expands emergency for ‘erratic’ EtaTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Pointing to the “erratic nature” of the storm as it threatened a large part of Florida’s west coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday expanded a state of emergency and asked President Donald Trump for a federal emergency declaration as Tropical Storm Eta prepared to make landfall Thursday. The hurricane center advisory said tropical-storm and storm-surge warnings were in effect from Bonita Beach in Southwest Florida to the Suwannee River in northern Florida. The governor on Saturday declared a state of emergency for counties in the southern part of the state, after Eta last week hit Nicaragua as a hurricane. In the request to Trump, which could bring federal financial assistance to Florida, DeSantis said some counties also had declared local states of emergency.
LIVE RADAR: Eta lashes Central Florida with rain
Read full article: LIVE RADAR: Eta lashes Central Florida with rainORLANDO, Fla. – All eyes are on Eta, which has weakened from hurricane status back to a tropical storm before its expected landfall Thursday north of Tampa. Tropical storm force-winds greater than 40-50 mph will push through on Thursday. Rain chances increase to 80% on Thursday. Rain chances decrease as the system pushes up and away by the weekend, with highs in the upper 80s on Saturday. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect until Nov 14 4:31AM for the following shaded counties: Lake #flwx #news6 pic.twitter.com/aA6EnfN3YV — News 6 WKMG (@news6wkmg) November 11, 2020
High coronavirus positive case rate reveals flaws in Florida Department of Health report
Read full article: High coronavirus positive case rate reveals flaws in Florida Department of Health reportSome of the private laboratories are not reporting any negative tests but hundreds of positive COVID-19 tests. In recent days, the Florida Department of Health noticed that some smaller, private labs werent reporting negative test result data to the state. Health First, a Brevard County health care provider, has seven labs with only positive test results, per the state numbers. News 6 reached out to the facilities across Central Florida with high positivity rates in the state report. A review of the state report found that the hospitals testing data shared with News 6 does not match for St.
Florida doctors: If you’re not wearing a mask, why?
Read full article: Florida doctors: If you’re not wearing a mask, why?A day after Florida netted the highest positive cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic arrived in the state on March 1, doctors in Southwest Florida pleaded with the public to wear face masks and avoid large gatherings. On Friday, Florida reported nearly 9,000 new positive cases of the coronavirus with a 13% positivity rate compared to the number of tests. The recent cases in Florida have trended younger, the median age in Florida dropped from above 65 to 39 in the past few weeks. A surgical mask or medical mask protects the wearer’s nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs. “That’s my message to the public today is please wear a mask when you’re in a crowded area.
Small Florida town worries toll road may wipe it out
Read full article: Small Florida town worries toll road may wipe it outSometimes referred to locally as the toll road, the project would create connector roads through corridors in three parts of the state. For Alva residents, a new highway through their part of the world threatens a lifestyle that changes little as time and generations pass. Ron DeSantis authorized the design and construction of bringing a toll road through rural Florida, and rural is the keyword here.”A bill signed by the governor in May would patch three corridors into the state highway system. Studies are underway to develop routes for a new Southwest-Central Florida connector from Collier County to Polk County. In Alva, residents fear a route will be recommended that will come close enough to forever change historically rural areas in Southwest Florida.
Red tide cited after manatees, thousands of fish found dead in Florida
Read full article: Red tide cited after manatees, thousands of fish found dead in FloridaCAPE CORAL, Fla. – There’s a water crisis in Southwest Florida that is wreaking havoc on wildlife. Thousands of fish and several manatees have washed up dead because of red tide. On Tuesday, three manatees washed ashore, and WINK News reports that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission claims this year there are higher than normal manatee deaths from red tide. “I hate to say it, but it’s like a natural disaster if you ask me,” said Englewood resident Jane Tellor to WINK News. It’s so bad that Lee County commissioners declared a local state of emergency and need funding to remove the massive amounts of dead fish.