Florida

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

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10 Most, Least Diverse States in America

West Virginia comes in last on WalletHub's list, while California takes the No. 1 spot

(Newser) - In the next two decades or so, the US Census Bureau expects that non-Hispanic whites will no longer rank as the lone ethnic majority in America—in fact, the agency predicts there won't be any group that will be able to claim that by then, per WalletHub . That translates...

Irked Sheriff Posts 11-Year-Old's Mugshot

Florida's Mike Chitwood is sick of false school-shooting threats

(Newser) - A Florida sheriff fed up with a spate of false school-shooting threats is trying a new tactic to get through to students and their parents: He's posting the mugshot of any offender on social media. Law enforcement officials across the country have seen a wave of school shooting hoaxes...

Trump Is Safe After Apparent Assassination Attempt: FBI

Candidate was playing golf in Florida when a gunman was spotted and agents opened fire

(Newser) - Donald Trump was unharmed Sunday when a man pushed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle through the perimeter of a Florida golf course while the former president played and Secret Service agents opened fire in response. The FBI said Trump was the subject of "what appears to be an...

Florida Zoo Loses 3 Apes to Intestinal Illness
At Florida Zoo,
'Profound
Heartbreak'
for 4 Apes
UPDATED
Sep 13, 2024 12:00 AM CDT

At Florida Zoo, 'Profound Heartbreak' for 4 Apes

A 4th ape dies of shigella at Jacksonville Zoo

(Newser) - The devastating shigella outbreak at a Florida zoo has claimed a fourth victim. A 3-year-old gorilla, Kevin, has died from the bacterial ailment that first claimed his grandmother, a 35-year-old gorilla, and then a pair of bonobo brothers at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the zoo announced Tuesday. Kevin was...

Cops: 17-Year-Old Killed Mom, 2 Years After Killing Dad

Teen is taken into custody in Polk County, Florida

(Newser) - A 17-year-old in Polk County, Florida, is accused of stabbing his mother to death during an argument, reports WFLA . But what makes the case more chilling is that the same teen shot and killed his father a little less than two years ago, per ClickOrlando.com . "It's important...

DeSantis Has Officers Question People Who Signed Petitions

The signatures already have been verified and the abortion rights measure put on the ballot

(Newser) - Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is sending law enforcement officers to homes to question Floridians who signed petitions to place an abortion amendment on the November ballot. The questioning appears to be part of an effort to inspect thousands of petitions concerning a measure to overturn the state's six-week abortion...

Teen Dies After Collapsing in High School Football Game

Chance Gainer, 18-year-old honors student from Florida's Panhandle, 'had world-class speed'

(Newser) - A Florida Panhandle high school football player has died after collapsing during a game, officials said. Port St. Joe High School wide receiver Chance Gainer collapsed during Friday night's game at Liberty High School, per the AP . The 18-year-old senior was rushed to the hospital, but died, Gulf District...

She's Within Striking Distance of Rick Scott's Senate Seat

1 point separates Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell from Florida incumbent in new poll

(Newser) - Rick Scott hasn't seemed particularly worried, at least not publicly, about the Democratic challenger for his US Senate seat out of Florida. But a new poll shows Debbie Mucarsel-Powell—an Ecuadorian who came to the US as a teen and was the first South American immigrant elected to Congress—...

Widow: Husband Died After Doc Accidentally Removed His Liver

William Bryan was meant to have his spleen removed at Florida hospital, per wife's attorney

(Newser) - The widow of an Alabama man who died after an organ removal procedure now says that the surgeon who was supposed to take out his spleen took out his liver by mistake instead, leading to his death in August. In a Facebook post , Joe Zarzaur, an attorney representing Beverly Bryan...

Duped Into Buying $6M in Fake Warhols, Family Sues

Florida family accuses Miami Fine Art Gallery, director Les Roberts of fraud

(Newser) - A family claims to have been duped by a Miami art gallery into paying more than $6 million for forged Andy Warhol works. "Les Roberts and Miami Fine Art Gallery are fraudsters," reads the lawsuit filed Thursday in state court in Miami, per the New York Times . Matthew,...

'Damage Control'? Trump's Mixed Messaging on Abortion
'Damage Control'? Trump's
Mixed Messaging on Abortion
THE RUNDOWN
Aug 31, 2024 11:00 AM CDT

'Damage Control'? Trump's Mixed Messaging on Abortion

Day after he hinted he'd vote for abortion access amendment in Florida, ex-president makes a shift

(Newser) - With the election now just weeks away, Donald Trump is offering some mixed messages on his abortion stance, especially over the last "whirlwind" day or two, per NBC News . When asked on Thursday during an interview with the network what he thought about Florida's six-week abortion ban , and...

Election Workers Push Back on 'Brazen" Giuliani Move

Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss file suit over ex-NYC mayor's attempt to protect his luxury Florida condo

(Newser) - Rudy Giuliani hasn't been having a great year , and things just got a bit worse. Right after a judge dismissed his bankruptcy case last month, the Trump ally and former New York City mayor filed a declaration that said his luxury condo in Palm Beach, Florida, was his new...

Publishers, Authors Sue Florida Over Book Bans

State law has led to classics 'being unlawfully labeled obscene and removed from shelves'

(Newser) - Book publishers including Penguin Random House, the nation's biggest, are suing Florida over what they say is "unconstitutional legislation" that has caused thousands of books to be banned. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Orlando Thursday says book bans have surged since the state's controversial HB...

New Harris Ad Specifically Trolls Mar-a-Lago

VP's campaign is paying for spot on Project 2025 to appear on Trump's home turf in Florida

(Newser) - "Donald Trump's back, and he's out for control—complete control. And he has a plan to get it." That's the gist of the latest political ad from the Kamala Harris campaign on her opponent for the Oval Office. Trump, whom she ties to Project 2025...

Florida Executes Student's Killer
Florida Executes Student's Killer
Aug 29, 2024 5:45 PM CDT

Florida Executes Student's Killer

John Edwards, 18, was killed while camping with his sister, who was raped in the attack

(Newser) - A Florida man convicted of killing a college freshman and raping the murder victim's older sister while the siblings camped in a national forest 30 years ago was executed Thursday. Loran Cole, 57, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:15pm at Florida State Prison, the...

Man Charged With Girl's Murder Made Chilling Search

Stephan Sterns, charged with killing girlfriend's daughter, searched for powerful anesthetic

(Newser) - A Florida man accused of sexually abusing and murdering his girlfriend's daughter made some chilling online searches before the death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, according to a newly released case report. The Kissimmee Police Department said Stephan Sterns searched for Sevoflurane, a powerful anesthetic used in surgeries, WESH reports....

Ex-Deputy Turns Himself in Over Airman's Fatal Shooting

Eddie Duran accused of manslaughter in shooting of Roger Fortson inside his Florida home

(Newser) - A former Florida sheriff's deputy charged with killing a Black US Air Force senior airman who answered his apartment door while holding a gun pointed toward the ground was arrested Monday, officials said. Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the...

Hangover Actor Is the New Recipient of a Restraining Order

Nathalie Fay is charged with domestic battery after allegedly punching her beau

(Newser) - An actor who appeared in films The Hangover and Old School has been arrested for allegedly punching her boyfriend, who's taken out a restraining order against her. Nathalie Fay, a Canadian-born actor whose real name is Nathalie Tordion, was arrested Saturday in Miami and now faces a charge of...

Woman Takes Plea Deal in Death of Man Shaken as Baby

Terry McKirchy sentenced to 3 years in 2019 death of 35-year-old Benjamin Dowling

(Newser) - A former babysitter pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for the 2019 death of a man she was accused of disabling as an infant 40 years ago. Terry McKirchy, 62, accepted a plea deal for the death of Benjamin Dowling, who died at 35 after a life of severe disabilities caused...

Man's Free Disney+ Trial Now a Headache After Wife's Death

Company says man whose wife died after eating at restaurant agreed in streaming contract not to sue

(Newser) - A widower suing the Walt Disney Co. over his wife's death in a restaurant at one of the company's Florida entertainment complexes has discovered there's a wrench in his complaint—all because he took advantage years earlier of a free trial of the Disney+ streaming service.
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