ORLANDO, Fla. — A top staffer for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis worked on a proposal that sought to challenge decades-old First Amendment protections for the news media and make it easier for high-profile people to win defamation lawsuits, according to doc…
Hurricane center targets surge in preventable post-storm deaths
ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricanes are terrifying and deadly forces, but experts are growing more concerned by the amount of deaths tallied up after a storm is passed, as they’ve observed indirect death totals increasing in recent years. “Now we’re seeing more…
4 Florida men charged with conspiracy to commit crimes dressed as police officers, DOJ says
ORLANDO, Fla. — Four Florida men face life in prison after authorities arrested them for committing crimes dressed as police officers. Officials charged Reginald Roberts, 22, of Lakeland; Nathaniel Carr, 28, of Lakeland; Daniel Jackson, 29, of Winter H…
Florida will likely take over Disney World’s Reedy Creek, DeSantis says
SANFORD, Fla. — The state will likely assume control of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, rather than local governments absorbing it, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday. DeSantis said he is working on a proposal that likely will be considered…
Fla. scientist probes flesh-eating bacteria for clues to next pandemic
ORLANDO, Fla. — A bout with flesh-eating bacteria can start out with a day at the beach, a hardly worrisome cut and then, in less than 24 hours, a raging infection fought with heavy antibiotics and gruesome scalpel work. It would be reassuring to know…
National Hurricane Center begins daily grind of tropical outlooks
ORLANDO, Fla. — The tropics may be quiet, but forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are listening. The NHC began its daily tropical outlooks on Sunday, two weeks ahead of the official start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from …
SpaceX launches on Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral
ORLANDO, Fla. — SpaceX sent up another set of Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday. The launch came one day after a successful Falcon 9 Starlink liftoff from across the country from Vandenberg Spa…
As USA Games near, some Special Olympics athletes in limbo over COVID-19 vaccination policy
ORLANDO, Fla. — Isabella Valle cried in joy last summer when she learned she’d earned a spot at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, being held in Orlando. But with opening ceremonies less than a month away, the 25-year-old golfer’s tears are now out o…
Disney theme park revenues double even amid scuffle with DeSantis, GOP
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney Co. executives boasted about another blockbuster quarter Wednesday at its theme parks even as they remained mum about the feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. During an earnings call, executives did not mention the widesprea…
Editorial: Don’t let political revenge dictate budget vetoes
Dissent is essential to democracy. Punishing dissent is essential to the Ron DeSantis brand. Just ask Disney, which faces the loss of the special district that allowed it to tax itself for municipal services. Ask state university faculty members who fa…