Florida

Read recent news stories and current events about Florida on Newser.com

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Fox Says It Didn't Know What DeSantis Was Doing

Network says it never asked governor for an exclusive

(Newser) - A backlash quickly followed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' appearance Thursday on Fox & Friends, in which he signed a voting law —some of it from Fox News. Reporters and cameras from other outlets weren't allowed into the event, with the governor's aides telling the crowd that his...

DeSantis Signs Voter Law, Allows Only Fox News to Cover

In lawsuit, critics say rules are designed to curb voting by minorities

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a sweeping elections bill into law that voter rights advocates immediately challenged with a federal lawsuit. The Republican governor signed the freshly passed legislation ahead of his impending announcement that he'll run for reelection in the nation's largest battleground state, per...

Teen Faces Adult Charges in Rigged Homecoming Queen Contest

Emily Rose Grover turned 18 last month

(Newser) - Emily Rose Grover, the Florida homecoming queen accused of rigging the contest along with her mom, turned 18 after her arrest—and she'll be charged as an adult. Per USA Today , an assistant state attorney says the move is "not unusual," as juvenile court can't supervise...

Mom Secretly Recorded Principal Paddling Girl, 6

Corporal punishment is banned in Florida district

(Newser) - A 6-year-old girl in Florida got in trouble last month for damaging a computer screen at school—but the principal who paddled her could be in deeper trouble. The district superintendent and the Clewiston Police Department say they are looking into the paddling, which was secretly recorded by the girl'...

Florida to Drop Emergency Mandates
DeSantis Scraps
COVID Mandates
May 3, 2021 4:30 PM CDT

DeSantis Scraps COVID Mandates

Governor uses legislation and executive orders to end Florida requirements

(Newser) - Saying it's not necessary for the state "to be policing people at this point," Gov. Ron DeSantis moved Monday to cancel Florida's COVID-19 protocols. He gave widespread coronavirus vaccinations as a reason, CBS reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 15.5 million shots...

Bodies of Water Are Suing the State of Florida

Orange County lakes, streams file suit against state, housing developer under 'right of nature' law

(Newser) - Late last year, voters in Orange County, Fla., pushed through a "rights of nature" law, making it the largest US municipality to do so, per a November release from the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights. The legislation basically gives rights to rivers, streams, marshes, and lakes throughout the...

Florida Middle School Killer, 31, Dies in Prison

Michael Hernandez apparently collapsed, cause of death is not yet known

(Newser) - The teenage killer who lured a friend into a bathroom stall at their suburban Miami middle school 17 years ago and cut his throat has died in prison, the AP reports. Florida Department of Corrections online records show Michael Hernandez, 31, died Thursday. He had been incarcerated at Columbia Correctional...

Florida Passes New Voting Restrictions

Bill slammed as 'revival of Jim Crow'

(Newser) - Republican lawmakers in Florida have passed a controversial election overhaul bill despite the lack of problems in the state's 2020 election, which they say was the "gold standard" for the country. The state is the first swing state won by Donald Trump to introduce new voting restrictions following...

School Again in News Over Anti-Vaccine Sentiment

Teacher told students not to embrace vaccinated parents for more than 5 seconds

(Newser) - The Centner Academy was already in the news this week after reports that the Miami private school warned its teachers not to get the COVID vaccine, citing a debunked vaccination theory. Now, a new headline: A math and science teacher at the school told her fifth-grade students the vaccine is...

Private School Warns Its Teachers Not to Get Vaccine

Citing debunked theory, Fla.'s Centner Academy says staff will be kept from students if they do so

(Newser) - While many schools are encouraging staff to get the COVID vaccine, one private school in Miami is doing the opposite. Per CBS4 , the Centner Academy, which charges up to $30,000 per year for students in pre-K through eighth grade, emailed a letter to employees Monday citing debunked anti-vaccination theories,...

Couple Plans Lavish Wedding at Someone Else&#39;s Mansion
Couple Plans Lavish Wedding
at Someone Else's Mansion
in case you missed it
Apr 25, 2021 1:00 PM CDT

Couple Plans Lavish Wedding at Someone Else's Mansion

They allegedly crashed 'IHOP Mansion' in Florida

(Newser) - Courtney Wilson and Shenita Jones had an elaborate wedding weekend planned at a luxurious Florida mansion over the weekend. Just one problem: The 16,313-square-foot Southwest Ranches home belongs not to them, as they claimed it did in their online wedding invitation, but to Nathan Finkel, son of early IHOP...

DeSantis: Nothing Close to as Tough as New 'Anti-Riot' Law

It includes stricter punishments, and protections for drivers who hit protesters

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a controversial anti-riot bill Monday that will more strictly punish people who take part in protests that turn violent. The timing coincides with the wrapping up of Derek Chauvin's trial in the death of George Floyd, and DeSantis referenced that case, saying the Minnesota...

Complaint: Nurse Threatened to Kill Harris in Vids to Spouse

'Kamala Harris, you are going to die,' Niviane Petit Phelps is accused of saying in one video

(Newser) - A Florida woman whose husband is incarcerated apparently shared a little too much with him and is now in legal trouble herself, accused of threatening to kill Vice President Kamala Harris. Per a criminal complaint filed earlier this month in federal court, Niviane Petit Phelps allegedly sent videos and photos...

Woman Who Coughed on Cancer Patient Is Going to Jail

Florida woman Debra Jo Hunter sentenced to 30 days behind bars

(Newser) - A Florida woman who coughed in the face of a cancer patient last year was on Thursday sentenced to 30 days in jail and six months of probation. Debra Jo Hunter was involved in an angry confrontation with staffers at a Pier 1 Imports in Jacksonville on June 24, attempting...

Florida Sues CDC, Demands Cruise Ships Be Allowed to Sail

State says Americans are just flying to other countries to cruise

(Newser) - The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. DeSantis said the no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as the industry generates billions for the economy and employs tens of...

Cops Saw 'Weapons All Over the Wall.' Brothers: Not Exactly

Fort Lauderdale police accused of excessive force felt threatened after seeing 'Star Trek' props: suit

(Newser) - Two police officers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who've been previously accused of what the Sun Sentinel dubs "overzealous policing" have now been hit with a lawsuit by two brothers who are claiming the same. Per the complaint filed Monday against officers Alexander Paul and Steven Pohorence, as well...

Man's 2.8K-Mile, 14-Month Run Is a Big First

Don Muchow, an Ironman with diabetes, ran from California's Disneyland to Florida's Disney World

(Newser) - It was an endurance run that was supposed to take just under 100 days. It ended up taking 14 months, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but Don Muchow's ultramarathon from California to Florida is still a big first. Per WESH , the 59-year-old Texas man is said to be the...

60 Minutes Under Fire Over Story on DeSantis
60 Minutes
Sees Backlash
Over Story
on DeSantis
the rundown
Apr 6, 2021 10:59 AM CDT

60 Minutes Sees Backlash Over Story on DeSantis

Florida Democrats join those saying negative piece about vaccine distribution is off base

(Newser) - 60 Minutes aired a damning story about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday, and it continues to reverberate. But this time, the backlash seems to be more against 60 Minutes instead of its target. Even Democrats in the state are coming to the defense of the Republican governor. Coverage:
  • The
...

Longtime Congressman Alcee Hastings Is Dead
Longtime Congressman
Alcee Hastings Is Dead
obituary
Apr 6, 2021 9:44 AM CDT

Longtime Congressman Alcee Hastings Is Dead

Florida Democrat was elected after being impeached as a federal judge

(Newser) - Longtime Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida has died at age 84 after a two-year fight with pancreatic cancer. The Palm Beach County Democrat died Tuesday, according to chief of staff Lale M. Morrison. Hastings had been a reliably liberal voice on Capitol Hill since he first won his seat in...

60 Minutes Confronts DeSantis on Publix Vaccine Deal

Fla. governor denies 'pay to play' deal for chain after $100K campaign donation

(Newser) - Florida's reservoir emergency isn't the only reason the state's governor is finding himself in headlines again. Sunday night's episode of 60 Minutes featured a report by Sharyn Alfonsi, which criticized vaccine rollouts in the Sunshine State under Ron DeSantis, per the Hill . The report specifically looked...

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