Florida

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

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New Florida Law Could Mean Huge Tax Hikes for Residents

With DeSantis signing legislation, Orange County doesn't know how it can raise revenue to pay difference

(Newser) - Florida's governor and legislature have decided to eliminate the Reedy Creek District , Disney World's private government, in a political battle over the state's new law known as "Don't Say Gay." But the bill for the move will go to local officials. "The moment...

Victim: Family Attacked Me Over Belief I Turned Son Gay

4 Makarenko family members now charged with hate crime in Florida

(Newser) - A man permanently blinded and almost killed in an alleged hate crime in Florida says he was attacked by his boyfriend's family, who he says believed he had turned their son gay. The 31-year-old victim told Broward County Sheriff's deputies that his boyfriend of nine months, 21-year-old Oleh...

Cops: Teen Who Killed 6 in Crash Posted Speeding Videos

Noah Galle asked viewers to guess how fast he was going, investigators say

(Newser) - A Florida teenager accused of killing six farm workers in a January crash called himself "M5.Noah" on Instagram and TikTok, where he posted videos of himself in his BMW M5 and invited viewers to guess how fast he was going, investigators say. Police say Noah Galle was traveling...

Florida Lawmakers Pass Bill to 'Remind Disney It's a Guest'

Move would strip Walt Disney World of self-governing status

(Newser) - Update: Florida's full legislature has now passed a bill to repeal a law granting Walt Disney World's properties self-governing status. The move could have huge tax implications for Disney, per the AP . The vote escalates the clash between Disney and Republican Gov. Ron De Santis over what critics...

Florida Parents Fall Victim to Easter Egg Scam

They say they were asked to pay in advance for 'Egg My Yard' deal

(Newser) - A cruel scam left children in central Florida thinking the Easter Bunny had skipped their home, parents say. The scammed parents say somebody calling themselves "Sarah Honey" advertised an "Egg My Yard" deal on social media, promising to scatter eggs filled with candy or toys in yards, along...

Roommate Charged in High-Profile Florida Murder

Jorge Diaz-Johnston, an LGBTQ activist, was murdered earlier this year

(Newser) - Police have made an arrest in the murder of a high-profile figure in the LGBTQ community of Florida. Authorities say 36-year-old Steven Yinger strangled 54-year-old Jorge Diaz-Johnston of Tallahassee, whose body was found in a landfill in January, reports the Tallahassee Democrat . Diaz-Johnston was one of the plaintiffs in a...

Florida Finds 'Prohibited Topics' in 41% of Math Textbooks

Critical race theory, other banned content prompted rejections, officials say

(Newser) - Dozens of math textbooks submitted by publishers for use in Florida schools have flunked because they contained prohibited content, including critical race theory, state officials said. Under the headline "Florida Rejects Publishers' Attempts to Indoctrinate Students," a statement from the state education department said that 41% of math...

Bill Banning Abortion After 15 Weeks Heads to DeSantis&#39; Desk


DeSantis
Signs Bill
Restricting
Abortions
UPDATED
Apr 14, 2022 10:55 AM CDT

DeSantis Signs Bill Restricting Abortions

New Florida law outlaws procedure in most cases once fetus is 15 weeks

(Newser) - Update: Florida on Thursday joined a number of states putting laws in place to severely restrict abortions. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure that bans abortions in almost all cases once the fetus reaches 15 weeks, reports ABC Action News . "It's a statement of our values that every...

Cops Believe Microsoft Exec Was Shot in Targeted Killing

Jared Bridegan was shot on Florida road in front of 2-year-old daughter

(Newser) - Almost two months after a Microsoft exec in Florida was gunned down in what police said appeared to be a targeted killing, no arrests have been made and the reward for information has been upped to $30,000. Police say Jared Bridegan, 33, was gunned down in front of his...

Mom Accused of Killing Kids Told Cops 'I Don't Want Them'

Miami woman Odette Lysse Joassaint has been charged with first-degree murder

(Newser) - Police say they found a horrific scene after investigating repeated hang-up calls to 911 from an address in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood. Two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy, were unresponsive on a bed with their arms, legs, and necks tied and officers were unable to resuscitate...

Parents, Son Charged in Attack That Blinded Gay Man

All 3 are facing hate crime charges in Florida

(Newser) - Three family members in Florida—and possibly a fourth—are facing potential life sentences over an attack that left a gay man permanently blind. Broward County prosecutors say parents Inna Makarenko, 44, and Yevhen Makarenko, 43, are facing hate crime charges over the Aug. 6, 2021, attack, as is son...

97 Animals Killed When Florida Home Goes Up in Flames

No humans were there at the time

(Newser) - Nearly 100 animals died last week in a Florida house fire in what media reports are describing as a possible animal hoarding situation. None of the Jacksonville home's human residents were there when the fire broke out Friday afternoon, but 91 cats, five dogs, and one bird were, and...

Cops: Teen Killed Friend While Testing Body Armor

2 Florida teens are being charged as adults

(Newser) - One Florida teenager is dead and two more are facing potential long prison sentences after they took turns shooting at each other, relying on an armored vest to protect them, police say. Christopher Vining and Colton Whitler, both 17, are being charged as adults in the death of 16-year-old Christoper...

With One Year Left in Custody, a Hit Man's Puzzling Escape

Dominic Taddeo, contract killer for Rochester crime families, is back in custody

(Newser) - Update: The mob hit man who escaped federal custody has been captured, one week later. Dominic Taddeo was taken back into custody in Florida's Miami-Dade County without incident Monday around 11am, CNN reports. That's about 273 miles south of the halfway house he was assigned to in the...

It's the Deadliest US Mass Shooting to Go to Trial

Jury selection begins in Parkland case to determine whether Nikolas Cruz will be executed

(Newser) - Jury selection in the deadliest US mass shooting ever to go to trial begins Monday, with the panel chosen to determine whether Nikolas Cruz will be put to death for murdering 17 students and staff members at a high school in Parkland, Fla. Court officials say 1,500 candidates or...

'Don't Say Gay' Bill Has Its First Legal Challenge

DeSantis says Florida will defeat federal lawsuit

(Newser) - Three days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed restrictions on teaching early elementary students about sexual orientation and gender identity into law, the legislation was challenged in court. A group consisting of advocates for LGBTQ people and parents, students, and a teacher, Politico reports, filed a lawsuit that calls the...

Here's Why You Shouldn't Try to Rob Someone Walking a Dog

Poop stain led cops to suspect in Miami

(Newser) - Trying to rob someone walking their dog might not be the best idea—and not just because the dog might go on the attack. It was actually dog poop that helped lead cops to an armed robbery suspect this week, after he allegedly tried to hold up a woman in...

'I Can Ride,' Teen Exclaimed Moments Before Death

Cousin Shay Johnson recalls her last conversation with Tyre Sampson

(Newser) - Tyre Sampson was turned away from rides during his visit to Orlando's ICON Park, just not the one that killed him. That's according to his cousin, Shay Johnson, who dropped off the 14-year-old at the amusement park on Thursday. She tells Spectrum News 13 that he wanted to...

Boy Killed in Fall From Ride Exceeded Weight Limit

Manual for Orlando ride gives max weight as 287 pounds; Tyre Sampson reportedly weighed 340

(Newser) - The 14-year-old boy who died after a fall from a 430-foot drop tower ride at Orlando's ICON Park "fell right out of the seat" as the plunging 30-seat circular vehicle started braking, according to a 911 call. "The thing went down the drop, and like when it...

DeSantis Signs 'Don't Say Gay' Bill, Takes Swing at Hollywood

It will go into effect July 1

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ people. The legislation has pushed Florida and DeSantis, an ascending Republican, to...

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