Florida questions Orlando, Orange County spending

Florida woman sentenced for sex crime against stepson, hit with over $1,000 in fines

OCALA, Fla. (CBS12) — A Marion County woman convicted of sexually abusing her 15-year-old stepson was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines and fees, including contributions to child advocacy and rape crisis programs....

Florida Challenging Fans to Bring Noise Saturday

It is no secret that Florida’s matchup with No. 9 Texas is important. The Gators enter Saturday on a three-game losing streak and are welcoming the Longhorns back to The Swamp for the first time since 1940. But with its back against the wall,...

Florida death row has had women but not many. Have any been executed?

Florida has executed two women in its history, including the infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Sixteen women have been sentenced to death in Florida, but most had their sentences commuted or were resentenced. Currently, only one biological...

Florida Power & Light offers tips on lowers utility bills

ORLANDO, Fla. — A local power company is offering tips on how to lower your electric bill. Florida Power & Light says small changes in your home can make a big difference. One of those is using cold water to wash clothes. Officials say that can...

Florida Court Blocks Police From Using The Smell Of Marijuana Alone To Search Vehicles

A Florida court has ruled that police cannot search a person’s vehicle based only on the smell of marijuana. The District Court of Appeal of Florida Second District on Wednesday issued an opinion, authored by Judge Nelly Khouzam, overturning a...

Florida sees the fallout from free speech after Charlie Kirk's murder

Free speech. Do we have it? The answer is layered, especially as the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has brought this issue to the forefront. Kirk was polarizing; many adored him, and many thought his words were hateful. Social...

Florida double homicide suspect caught in Georgia

James Daniels. Courtesy of Reynolds Police Department REYNOLDS, Ga. - U.S. Marshals have arrested a Florida man wanted in a double homicide after tracking him to Reynolds, Georgia. What we know: James Daniels, 60, of Miami, was captured Oct. 1...

Florida Gov Hopeful Byron Donalds Unveils Affordable Housing Plan at Miami Forum

With Florida’s gubernatorial race just over a year away, Republican frontrunner Byron Donalds took center stage as the keynote speaker of Miami Realtors’ inaugural Housing Affordability Forum, laying out how he would tackle one of the state’s most...

Florida Gator Fans Are Worried They'll Beat Texas. Yes, You Read That Right

Never a dull moment in the land of college football fandom. PublishedOctober 2, 2025 2:05 PM EDT•UpdatedOctober 2, 2025 1:49 PM EDT Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Being a fan of a sports team seems like a pretty simple job. You would think that...

Call for Proposals: 2026 Talent Strong Florida Summit

Florida College Access Network (FCAN) is pleased to issue a call for presentation proposals for the 2026 Talent Strong Florida Summit, to be held May 6-8 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay (2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, FL 33607). The Talent Strong Florida...

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office investigating dog attack that left Palatka woman hospitalized

PALATKA, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a dog attack that hospitalized a woman in Palatka on Wednesday. Officials said the dog is believed to be a brown and white pit-bull mix breed. It may have an injury to its head...

Florida maid arrested after pawning multiple pieces of jewelry stolen from clients’ homes, deputies say

BUNNELL, Fla. - A Florida maid has been arrested on theft-related charges following a month-long investigation where she allegedly pawned multiple pieces of jewelry stolen from her clients’ homes. What we know: Detectives with the Flagler County...

Orange County mayor says he stands by county spending amid criticism from Florida DOGE

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, a Democrat reportedly considering a run for Florida governor next year, pushed back against allegations of wasteful spending made by Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency task force Wednesday as tensions...

DeSantis, Ingoglia scold Orlando, Orange County over 'wasteful' spending

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia scrutinized several cities' and counties' spending in Florida discovered through the state's DOGE efforts, including Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, Orange County. In Orlando, he questioned the...

John Arcano: Drug companies threaten Florida’s health care safety net

Taxpayers, get ready for another round of bailouts. However, unlike Wall Street executives who begged Uncle Sam to cover their risky bets, cash-strapped nonprofit rural health care providers have not gambled away their resources. Quite the...

Labor shortage impacting Florida's maritime industry

Labor shortage impacting Florida's maritime industry SO MUCH OF LIFE HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA REVOLVES AROUND THE WATER. BOTH WORK AND PLAY. BUT A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS COULD IMPACT ALL OF THAT. HERE WITH MORE ON THESE CHALLENGES IS ALYSSA. ALYSSA...

Collier county students invited to enter 'Art for Democracy' contest

The Collier County Supervisor of Elections has partnered with Champions for Learning and Collier County Public schools to launch the "Art for Democracy" competition. Students K-12 are encouraged to express their understanding of democracy through...

South Florida sees huge spike in September home sales due to lower interest rates

South Florida saw a radical reversal in single-family home sales in September, and a recent drop in interest rates is being credited for the spike in the market. All three South Florida coastal counties reported huge increases in home sales last...

2 children hospitalized after car crashes into pedestrian in Florida City

FLORIDA CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - - Two children were airlifted to the hospital after a car crashed into a pedestrian in Florida City. Paramedics with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Florida City Police responded to the 400 block of Northwest 14th Street...