News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “Toasty Florida cools off as cold, rainy Florida returns”
12 hours ago

Toasty Florida cools off as cold, rainy Florida returns

Several fronts are on the horizon. Could winter be back soon?…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers crack down on illegal immigration”
The Florida Legislature. | Gary McCullough, AP
13 hours ago

Florida lawmakers crack down on illegal immigration

Here’s how Northeast Florida legislators voted on the immigration measures.…

Featured image for “What the latest data shows about Florida’s abortion ban”
Members of the The National Women's Liberation group and Planned Parenthood paint a wall commemorating the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion on Jan. 10, 2019. in Gainesville. | Chris Day, Fresh Take Florida
1 day ago

What the latest data shows about Florida’s abortion ban

Abortions in Florida have declined for the first time since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.…

Featured image for “February brings 40 more minutes of daylight”
2 days ago

February brings 40 more minutes of daylight

Days have been growing longer since Dec. 21, but the increase will accelerate quickly this month.…

Featured image for “DeSantis wants to stop ‘intrusive’ checks on boaters”
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to stop the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from making "intrusive" checks on boaters. | WFSU
2 days ago

DeSantis wants to stop ‘intrusive’ checks on boaters

Gov. Ron DeSantis says FWC officers use boat safety inspections as a pretense to pull over boaters.…

Featured image for “Legislators reject ‘bailouts’ for condo owners”
3 days ago

Legislators reject ‘bailouts’ for condo owners

Condo owners shouldn’t expect the state to pay for complying with new state laws after the Surfside collapse.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers move to block development at state parks”
Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County was on of nine parks where the state proposed lodges, golf courses and other development last year.
February 11, 2025

Lawmakers move to block development at state parks

The state last year proposed lodges, pickleball courts and other development at Anastasia State Park and eight others.…

Featured image for “COVID pushed kids outdoors. Now they’re into birdwatching.”
Members of the Manasota chapter of the Florida Young Birders Club watch birds through binoculars at Red Bug Slough in Sarasota on Jan. 25, 2025.
February 11, 2025

COVID pushed kids outdoors. Now they’re into birdwatching.

More young birder groups are popping up for teens and tweens who enjoy getting outdoors together to gawk at wildlife.…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers call another special session on immigration”
February 11, 2025

Florida lawmakers call another special session on immigration

The latest session reflects new cooperation between the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis.…

Featured image for “February’s rapid warmup could bring an early spring”
February 6, 2025

February’s rapid warmup could bring an early spring

For the next few weeks, expect warmer temperatures and drier weather across Florida.…

Featured image for “DeSantis proposes $115.6 billion state budget”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference May 9, 2023, to sign several education bills and increases in teacher pay. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
February 3, 2025

DeSantis proposes $115.6 billion state budget

The budget includes pay raises for first responders and a sales tax holiday on guns and ammunition.…

Featured image for “January brought record cold; February means winter heat”
February 3, 2025

January brought record cold; February means winter heat

Jacksonville should see high temperatures in the low-80s most of the week.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers rebuke DeSantis on special session and budget”
A general view of the Old Capitol and current Florida Capitol buildings on Feb. 8, 2023, in Tallahassee. | Phil Sears, AP
January 27, 2025

Lawmakers rebuke DeSantis on special session and budget

The rebuke included overriding the governor’s budget veto from last year.…

Featured image for “Here’s what to watch ahead of Florida’s special session”
Republican lawmakers filed a flurry of bills to crack down on undocumented immigrants and place additional restrictions on the ballot initiative process. | Sam Thomas, Fresh Take Florida
January 27, 2025

Here’s what to watch ahead of Florida’s special session

Republican lawmakers filed a flurry of bills for the special session dealing with immigration and ballot initiatives.…

Featured image for “Florida’s frosty forecast continues through Saturday”
January 24, 2025

Florida’s frosty forecast continues through Saturday

Temperatures in Jacksonville were below 40 degrees for 42 straight hours.…

Featured image for “Gulf of America: The view of people who live there”
Johnny McDonald, who was visiting Florida from his home in Tennessee, sits on a park bench facing the open Gulf on Jan. 14, 2025, in Cedar Key. He doesn't think the Gulf of Mexico should be renamed. | Libby Clifton, Fresh Take Florida
January 22, 2025

Gulf of America: The view of people who live there

President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico has left residents along the Gulf Coast sharply divided.…

Featured image for “School voucher program has high price tag, analysts say”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the school voucher bill in March 2023. | Gov. Ron DeSantis, Facebook
January 21, 2025

School voucher program has high price tag, analysts say

The Florida Policy Institute says vouchers cost the state $3.9 billion this school year.…

Featured image for “Historic winter storm heads toward Florida”
January 20, 2025

Historic winter storm heads toward Florida

A winter storm is expected to bring historic amounts of snow and other winter precipitation across the Gulf Coast states…

Featured image for “Professors sue over Florida’s diversity restrictions”
Professors at the University of Florida, Florida International University and Florida State University are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. | Fresh Take Florida
January 17, 2025

Professors sue over Florida’s diversity restrictions

The professors say diversity, equity and inclusion restrictions are punishing people with disfavored viewpoints.…

Featured image for “Another polar vortex will soon blast North Florida”
January 16, 2025

Another polar vortex will soon blast North Florida

The polar vortex is forecast to plunge arctic air deep into the Deep South by early next week.…

Featured image for “There’s a new effort to legalize marijuana in Florida”
A new effort has emerged to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. | CannabisMD TeleMed via Wikimedia Commons
January 15, 2025

There’s a new effort to legalize marijuana in Florida

The new marijuana proposal addresses objections raised when Issue 3 failed two months ago.…

Featured image for “Fleming Island senator seeks to refine condo law”
Workers make repairs to the facade of the Parker Tower Condo in Hallandale Beach on Dec. 5, 2024. | Marta
January 15, 2025

Fleming Island senator seeks to refine condo law

Sen. Jennifer Bradley said lawmakers need to clarify a condo inspection law enacted after the Surfside collapse in 2021.…

Featured image for “Fewer Florida children are receiving routine vaccinations”
The kindergarten vaccination rate in Florida dropped to 88.1%, one of the lowest in the nation. | uri Arcurs peopleimages.com/Nia L/peopleimages.com - stock.adobe.com
January 15, 2025

Fewer Florida children are receiving routine vaccinations

Vaccinations are declining as misinformation spreads and hesitancy increases.…

Featured image for “Florida manatees won’t be listed as endangered species”
Lou floats underwater in his home at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota.
January 14, 2025

Florida manatees won’t be listed as endangered species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the manatee’s numbers have not fallen enough to change their status from “threatened.”…