Florida

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

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After Boy's Fatal Fall in Fla., Dollywood Closing Its Own Tower Ride

Tennessee theme park's tower drop ride is made by same manufacturer

(Newser) - After the tragic death of a 14-year-old who fell from the OrlandoFreeFall ride at Florida's ICON Park, Dollywood is closing its own tower drop ride temporarily. The Tennessee theme park's 20-story Drop Line was developed by the same manufacturer as the Orlando ride, CNN reports. "Although Dollywood...

Cops: Mosque Attacker Thought It Was Caesar's Home

Slain worker at Florida Islamic center hailed as hero

(Newser) - A man accused of brutally murdering a worker at a Florida mosque Thursday morning was apparently motivated not by Islamophobia, but by a delusional belief that he was defending the property of Julius Caesar, investigators say. Police say the suspect used a propane tank to smash a window at the...

Ron DeSantis Signs Proclamation Denying Lia Thomas Swim Victory

Florida governor says Emma Weyant, a Florida native, is the real winner

(Newser) - Lia Thomas won an NCAA Division I title last week , but not according to Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor on Tuesday signed a proclamation declaring second-place winner Emma Weyant, who grew up and graduated from high school in Florida before going on to swim for the University of Virginia, the...

Thanks to Spring Breakers, Miami Beach Declares Emergency

Midnight curfew will be in effect this weekend following shootings

(Newser) - For the second year in a row, Miami Beach is instituting a curfew in response to spring break violence. Five people were injured in two shootings over the weekend while four of 371 police officers tasked with patrolling the crowds were injured in "a pair of accidents involving golf...

Disney World Under Fire After Performance by 'Indianettes'

Texas high school band and dance team performed at Florida theme park

(Newser) - Disney World is being widely criticized after a Texas high school band and drill team performed in one of the Florida theme park's parades over spring break and was accused of appropriating Native American culture. In video of the Port Neches-Groves High School performance, which went viral, the school'...

Bicyclist Dies After Drawbridge Rises as She Crossed
After Woman's
Death, Bridge
Operator Is
Charged
UPDATED
Mar 18, 2022 9:40 AM CDT

After Woman's Death, Bridge Operator Is Charged

Pedestrian was killed when Florida span was raised

(Newser) - Update: A Florida bridgetender who raised a drawbridge before a 79-year-old woman walking her bicycle reached the other side has been has charged with manslaughter in her death, police said. West Palm Beach police arrested Artissua Lafay Paulk, 43, at her home on Thursday, per the AP and Palm Beach ...

Disney Workers Among 108 Arrested in 'Operation March Sadness 2'

Florida sting operation targeted prostitution, human trafficking

(Newser) - A sheriff's office in Florida says 108 people were arrested, including a retired judge and several Disney employees, during a sting operation to combat human trafficking, prostitution, and child sexual abuse. Most of those busted in "Operation March Sadness 2" were arrested for seeking a prostitute or "...

For the First Time, Bobcat Is Seen Eating Python Eggs
'Man, That's One Brave Bobcat'
Mar 16, 2022 3:08 PM CDT

'Man, That's One Brave Bobcat'

Everglades animal raided invasive python nest, ate eggs

(Newser) - Invasive Burmese pythons have been squeezing the life out of the Florida Everglades for decades—but researchers say one species of native mammal is learning to fight back. Video captured by United States Geological Survey cameras shows a bobcat repeatedly raiding an unguarded python nest to eat eggs and clashing...

School's Swim Team Finds Surprise Competitor in Pool

3-foot-long alligator was discovered swimming at Montverde Academy in central Florida

(Newser) - Members of a Florida prep school's swim team encountered a surprise interloper when they showed up for practice on Friday. ClickOrlando.com reports the swimmers found a 3-foot-long alligator in the eight-lane, 25-meter competition pool at Montverde Academy , located in central Florida, halting the team's practice. Per a...

Billionaire Banker's Son Killed by Boat Propeller

Juan Carlos Escotet Alviarez dove from vessel to rescue fiancee from water

(Newser) - The son of a Spanish-Venezuelan banking billionaire was killed in a tragic accident at a fishing tournament in the Florida Keys Saturday. According to an accident report from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, when Juan Carlos Escotet Alviarez's fiancee fell from the stern of a 60-foot vessel, the...

Spring Break Goes Badly for West Point Cadets

7 people were hospitalized in Fort Lauderdale after ODing on powdery substance laced with fentanyl

(Newser) - Spring break in Fort Lauderdale didn't end well for one group this week, with seven people hospitalized after ODing on fentanyl, several of them confirmed to be West Point cadets. Police say that Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to a call at a vacation rental home in Wilton Manors...

Unusual DUI Case Involves Several Cans of Right Guard

Authorities in Stuart, Fla., say Katherine Theodore huffed deodorant spray before driving

(Newser) - Authorities pulled over a vehicle in Florida's Martin County over the weekend being driven by an apparently intoxicated woman, but she wasn't hit with typical DUI charges. CBS12 reports that sheriff's deputies made a traffic stop in Stuart on Sunday after witnessing erratic driving, and when they...

Starving Florida Manatees Get a 55-Ton Snack

Experimental program aims to stop die-off

(Newser) - More than 55 tons of lettuce have been fed to starving Florida manatees as part of an experimental program to help the slow-moving marine mammals since their natural food is being destroyed by water pollution, wildlife officials say. The lettuce, funded by more than 1,000 individual donations, is offered...

After Outrage, Disney CEO Opposes 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

Bob Chapek called Ron DeSantis

(Newser) - Disney employees were outraged by the company's failure to condemn Florida's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which is now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk , as it worked its way through the state legislature. Now, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has spoken out against the bill, though...

Trooper Puts Herself in Path of Car Speeding Toward Race

Florida Highway Patrol's Toni Schuck is being hailed for her 'self-sacrifice'

(Newser) - Florida Highway Patrol Master Trooper Toni Schuck steered her vehicle to the left to block the lane in which a driver was speeding toward her. Then, just as the driver steered to go around her, Schuck turned to the right. The result was an ear-splitting crash as the car slammed...

Man Killed Using Port-a-Potty at End of Work Shift

The spotter for heavy-equipment operators in Polk County, Fla., was crushed by a bulldozer

(Newser) - A Florida landfill worker walked into a port-a-potty at the end of his workday Friday and never walked out. A colleague who was parking a bulldozer accidentally ran over the port-a-potty, crushing the man inside, according to authorities, who responded to the Polk County North Central Landfill after 5pm. Aaron...

Dunkin' Worker Who Killed Customer Gets 2 Years House Arrest

Corey Pujols was called a racial slur by Tampa customer

(Newser) - Update: A Dunkin' employee who punched a customer, causing the man's death three days later, has been sentenced to two years of house arrest plus three years probation after pleading guilty to felony battery, reports the Tampa Bay Times . The charge was reduced from aggravated manslaughter under a plea...

Florida Teacher Hospitalized After Attack by 5-Year-Old

It's the third time this has happened, union president says

(Newser) - A teacher in Florida was hospitalized after she was attacked by a 5-year-old special needs student her union chief describes as "enraged." According to a police report, the attack happened when the boy was taken to a "cool down" room after he started throwing things and flipping...

&#39;Don&#39;t Say Gay&#39; School Bill Clears Florida House
Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill
Goes to Governor
UPDATED
Mar 8, 2022 12:06 PM CST

Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Goes to Governor

DeSantis expected to sign measure restricting what teachers can say about LGBTQ issues

(Newser) - Update: Legislation known widely in Florida as the "don't say gay" bill is about to become the "don't say gay" law. The state Senate on Tuesday passed the measure, which restricts what teachers in grades kindergarten through third can tell students about gender identity or sexual...

Florida Breaks With CDC on COVID Vaccines for Kids

State will recommend against vaccinating healthy children

(Newser) - Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Monday that the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that featured a group of doctors who criticized coronavirus lockdowns and mandate policies, the AP reports....

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