Central Florida school districts are rapidly rolling out evolving, district-by-district rules that allow limited, transparent AI use in classrooms while tightening guardrails around privacy, academic integrity, and high-stakes decision-making.

News 6 has compiled a list of the latest "book bans" from across Central Florida.

Early voting has already begun in some Central Florida counties, but starting Saturday, all counties across Central Florida will offer early voting for the Florida Statewide Primary election. Find early voting locations, information on what you need to vote, and what's on the ballot, here.

Republican candidate for Congress Dr. Nizam Razack says he has received death threats because he is Muslim. The candidate, a neurosurgeon from Orlando, is running in the U.S. House District 11 Republican primary. A report about a July 10 incident (completely redacted because a criminal investigation is in progress) was filed with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Razack told VoxPopuli that OCSO had advised him not to campaign door-to-door for his own safety. He has since hired his own security to accompany him to campaign events.

Property taxes have gone up across Florida — but some places have seen much bigger jumps than others.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties. Here are the candidates for the Sumter County School Board District 1.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties. Here are the candidates for the Sumter County School Board District 3.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties. Here are the candidates for the Sumter County School Board District 5.

A 67-year-old man was arrested in Sumter County after deputies say a late-night encounter that began with an online connection escalated into a vehicle chase, a crash and a reported threat at gunpoint.

Ahead of Florida's Aug. 18 statewide primary, Central Florida election supervisors are urging all registered voters — not just party members — to participate, as the ballot includes nonpartisan races for school board, county commission, judicial seats, and select universal primary races that are open to every eligible voter.

The decision to halt use of LPRs, manufactured by Flock Safety, was made after investigators said a Sumter County detective improperly accessed multiple law enforcement databases for personal reasons.

A Sumter County Sheriff’s Office detective has been arrested and terminated after investigators say she improperly accessed multiple law enforcement databases for information involving her husband's ex-wife.

Deputies said there were no apparent signs of foul play, but they are looking for clues into the identity of the body recovered from the river on Tuesday morning.

Dennis McGrath-Wagner says his holiday-style yard displays were a “labor of love,” but neighbors called them excessive as the district adopted stricter nuisance-lighting rules.

Seven Central Florida school districts garnered “A” grades in the latest report card released this week. Individual school grades were also released. We've listed all of the school grades.

The skies over Central Florida will light up this Fourth of July, with fireworks, festivals and celebrations stretching across the region all weekend long.

The governor is expected to speak at 10 a.m. at Lucky Goat Coffee on Eastport Drive. While the topic of the discussion is unknown, he is expected to be joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin.

The governor is expected to speak at 10 a.m. at Lucky Goat Coffee on Eastport Drive. While the topic of the discussion is unknown, he is expected to be joined by Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Visit Florida President and CEO Bryan Griffin.

A new report has emerged revealing which cities spent the most on OnlyFans last year — and one Florida metro came in at No. 2.

A crash Saturday in Sumter County has lanes of I-75 north shut down. The crash happened just after 12:00 p.m. just north of the Wildwood exit.

State officials have revealed the latest data showing which parts of Florida were most affected by fatal car crashes in 2025.

Leaving the patrol car behind, Trooper Steve hopped into one of the Sheriff’s Office’s marked golf carts, and he gave him a firsthand look at life in The Villages.

A pair of dogs was found tied to a dumpster at a rest stop in Central Florida, leading investigators to ask for help from the public, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The latest study reveals the top-ranked places to live across the U.S. — including right here in the Sunshine State.

Now that it’s May, school districts across Central Florida are gearing up to release their students for the summer.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of one of their deputies, accused of stealing narcotics from a drop box.

People living in The Villages are preparing for increased security and traffic delays ahead of a presidential visit on Friday.

A Sumter County woman is in a medically induced coma after being shot in the neck in what her family says is a case of domestic violence involving her boyfriend.

Daniel Webster, the Florida lawmaker who has represented our area in Congress since 2011, will not seek reelection. The Republican, who turned 77 on Monday, announced in a news release that “the time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children and 24 grandchildren.”

Senior citizen stronghold The Villages will get a visit from the president on Friday. According to the Republican Party of Florida, Trump’s visit will center on promoting policies like “no tax on tips” and “no tax on social security.”

Officers spotted Robert Anthony Morgan, 40, crawling under a garage door and jumping into a backyard pool before pulling him from the water and detaining him.

The crash near mile marker 335 has prompted a full roadblock on all northbound I-75 lanes.

News 6 has obtained new footage of a brutal wreck involving a golf cart in The Villages late last month.

Video shared with News 6 shows a Sumter County school bus getting clipped by a CSX train last week. The video, taken by student Emma Steuer, shows the bus, which was carrying 29 students, moving slightly forward from the railroad crossing just before the train passes it.

A Wildwood area man is accused of fatally stabbing and shooting his mother, allegedly telling police that God told him to shoot her. Derek Vaughn, 51, was arrested at a home off County Road 116 on Monday.

The Sumter County School District superintendent said the train clipped the back of the bus, and the driver is no longer employed with the district.

News 6 confirmed that the driver of a Sumter County school bus carrying 29 kids and two adults, which was struck by a train last week, has been arrested on 29 counts of child neglect.

First responders were called on Thursday afternoon after a train “clipped” a Sumter County school bus, according to the district superintendent.

The bill requires verification of U.S. citizenship during voter registration, mandates paper ballots for all elections and requires congressional candidates to disclose stock trading activity while in office.

It’s a popular joke in Central Florida that some residents of The Villages have been seen with loofahs on their vehicles. But is there any truth to the rumors?

The rapid “pop” of pickleball paddles — a signature sound of one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports — is now at the center of a growing dispute in The Villages.

According to a social media post, Sgt. Richard “RC” Parrish died due to “a tragic accident while vacationing”.

A 24-year-old Bushnell man died in a single-vehicle crash in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Several law enforcement agencies throughout Central Florida have set up exchange zones in their parking lots to offer safe places to conduct online sales transactions.

A new report shows where Gen Z is flocking — and one unlikely area of Florida might just surprise you.

A chlorine leak in The Villages on Thursday evening sparked a “Shelter in Place” order, according to first responders.

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.

Seven decades after a mob violence tore through Lake County and the state of Florida is still working to make amends.

Deputies shut down a stretch of Morse Boulevard on Tuesday evening after a “severe traffic accident” near Lake Sumter Landing, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Florida Forest Service is responding to another brush fire on Tuesday, this time in Sumter County, according to a social media post by the agency.

A vehicle fire in Sumter County has shut down the southbound lanes of I-75.

Deputies evacuated homes in a neighborhood in The Villages on Tuesday after they responded to explosive devices at a residence, prompting a bomb‑squad response and a federal investigation.

Trooper say a Florida man lost control of his car, drove off an overpass and landed on I-75 in Sumter, where he crashed into another vehicle.

A 19-year-old Tampa man driving a car through Sumter County on Interstate 75 died upon rear-ending a semi-tractor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A hard freeze is likely Saturday night into Sunday.

Central Florida! A cold snap we haven’t experienced in about 16 years is expected this weekend. Here's how cold each county will get.

The last time an Extreme Cold Watch was issued was 15 years ago

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said a 10-year-old boy who disappeared on Monday morning has been “located safe.”

Cold weather shelters across Central Florida will be open this weekend as record cold and dangerous wind chills hit the area.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a news conference in The Villages.

The groups that coordinate services for Central Florida’s homeless community need volunteers to take the annual census. Find out when the Point-In-Time Count is happening where you live, and help out.

A chase in Wildwood ended with a man in custody after investigators say he ran off because he had a suspended license.

People in some Central Florida counties may want to run their pool pumps overnight as temperatures fall below freezing. Here's what pool experts say to do.

A sharp cold front moving through Central Florida will send temperatures falling quickly.

A 12-year-old girl was reported missing in Lady Lake on Wednesday, and deputies are warning residents to stay away from her, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Statewide, the Florida high school graduation rate is at 92.2%, up from 89.7% the previous year. Central Florida's school districts are also touting improved rates.

Temperatures on Friday dropped to their lowest in a while, and we expect more cold weather on the way starting Sunday and into next week. Shelters for people who need to stay somewhere warmer are available across Central Florida.

The Sumter County school board on Tuesday approved new rules for e-bikes.

A man and a woman died after being struck in a golf cart at an intersection near The Villages, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the crash caused one vehicle to roll over. The injury was non-life-threatening, and there was no roadblock.

It’s already been a week into the new year, and state officials have revealed which parts of Florida were most affected by fatal car crashes in 2025.

Wildwood utility crews responded to a water main break that the city said affected a “significant number” of utilities customers in and around the downtown area.

A man was killed in a motorcycle crash in The Villages, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A deadly wreck is under investigation in Sumter County.

Another five Central Florida eateries were forced to shut down, and they all reportedly shared one feature in common: rodent droppings.

The end of 2025 is approaching, and it’s time to ring in the new year!

With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act being signed into law last month, Florida residents are slated to see big tax cuts on average.

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

Thousands of residents of The Villages are breathing a sigh of relief after learning of a deal between UnitedHealthcare and the new owners of The Villages Health System.

As negotiations between UnitedHealthcare and The Villages Health continue, patients are wondering whether their UHC plans will be accepted at TVH in 2026. One expert we talked to said these longer negotiations are becoming more common.

Thousands of The Villages Health patients insured through UnitedHealthcare may have to find new healthcare providers if a deal isn’t reached between CenterWell, a division of Humana, and UnitedHealthcare.

Body-camera footage released by the police department shows the encounter between the driver and the officers who brought his vehicle to a stop.

From markets to festivals to drive-through displays, the options are endless when it comes to holiday fun.

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said an inmate who escaped from a detention center in Bushnell on Sunday has been located.

The high school football playoffs kicked off this week and a number of teams across Central Florida start a journey toward a state title.

Troopers say a crash into an overpass in Sumter County prompted the closure of Florida’s Turnpike.

A Sumter County teacher accused of having an “inappropriate relationship” with a 16-year-old student was arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.

A Sumter County teacher accused of having an “inappropriate relationship” with a 16-year-old student was arrested, according to the sheriff’s office.

Patients at The Villages Health were told the company's sale earlier this year would not affect their care. But negotiations between UnitedHealthcare and the new owners could mean thousands will have to find new Medicare plans, change doctors, or pay more money.

Central Florida high schools now know when/where football teams will play in the playoffs, starting Nov. 14.

Most major grocery stores in Central Florida will be closed on Thanksgiving, so for people with a preferred store, getting everything on that list is paramount. But if you’re not picky, there are a handful of stores that will be open, albeit with reduced hours.

U.S. News & World Report has revealed its latest ranking of the best elementary schools across the nation, including those within Florida.

A head-on crash in Sumter County on Thursday morning left one man dead, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

As the government shutdown continues, federal employees are working without paychecks, and starting Nov. 1, federal SNAP benefits will not be available. If you or someone you know needs help with food donations, check out these websites to find programs near you.

According to investigators, the case stems all the way back to February 1971, when a woman’s body was discovered by a couple of hitchhikers under the Lake Panasoffkee Bridge.

According to investigators, the case stems all the way back to February 1971, when a woman’s body was discovered by a couple of hitchhikers under the Lake Panasoffkee Bridge.

A recent report has revealed the fastest-growing cities in the United States — and it turns out the top pick is right here in Central Florida.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the fire started due to a mechanical issue with the vehicle.

In Central Florida, at least 18 No Kings rallies are expected from Palm Coast to Poinciana, and of course, in Orlando on Saturday. They’re among 2,500 expected protests nationwide.

A man was killed in a crash on US-301 in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.