Florida

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Florida Carries Out Record 11th Execution of the Year

Curtis Windom killed 3 people in 1992

(Newser) - A man convicted of killing his girlfriend, her mother, and a man he claimed owed him $2,000 was put to death Thursday in a record 11th execution this year by the state of Florida, the AP reports. Curtis Windom, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:17pm following a lethal...

This $500K Robot Army Only Needs to Look, Smell Good

Florida officials optimistic about ongoing effort to attract the invasive Burmese python

(Newser) - They look, move and even smell like the kind of furry Everglades marsh rabbit a Burmese python would love to eat. But these bunnies are robots meant to lure the giant invasive snakes out of their hiding spots. It's the latest effort by the South Florida Water Management District...

In Florida, a &#39;Hostile Act&#39; at Memorial for Pulse Victims
Orlando Once Again Loses
Its Rainbow Crosswalk
UPDATED
Aug 26, 2025 1:00 AM CDT

Orlando Once Again Loses Its Rainbow Crosswalk

State DOT once again paints crosswalk black and white

(Newser) - Orlando's once-rainbow crosswalk is now black and white again. The Florida Department of Transportation on Sunday painted over the rainbow colors again, NBC News reports. The rainbow crosswalk was originally created in 2017 as part of a tribute to the 49 people killed in the 2016 shooting at LGBTQ...

States That Are the Most Fun
States That Are the Most Fun
Aug 24, 2025 1:10 PM CDT

States That Are the Most Fun

California tops WalletHub's rankings, while West Virginia needs to lighten up

(Newser) - Every day of your existence "should be sprinkled with at least a little bit of fun," not just your vacations. That's Travel + Leisure's take , and why the magazine is promoting WalletHub's latest rankings to find the state that has the most of it. The...

Hurricanes Strike a New Fear Into America's Migrants

Those without permanent legal status fear they'll need to avoid shelters due to ICE detentions

(Newser) - If a major hurricane approaches Central Florida this season, Maria knows it's dangerous to stay inside her wooden, trailerlike home. In past storms, she evacuated to her sister's sturdier house. If she couldn't get there, a shelter set up at the local high school served as a...

Florida Executes Woman&#39;s Killer
Florida Executes Woman's Killer
Aug 19, 2025 6:20 PM CDT

Florida Executes Woman's Killer

Janet White's husband witnesses death of Kayle Bates

(Newser) - A man convicted of abducting a woman from a Florida Panhandle insurance office and killing her received a lethal injection Tuesday evening in the state's 10th execution this year. Kayle Bates, 67, was pronounced dead at 6:17pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke under...

'Deport Depot' Merch Doesn't Sit Well With Home Depot

Pulled merchandise mimicked retailer's stenciled letter logo

(Newser) - The Florida GOP's attempt to cash in with "Deport Depot" merchandise quickly fizzled after the Home Depot objected to its branding being used without permission—underscoring the tensions brewing over Florida's new migrant detention plans. The Republican Party of Florida on Friday began promoting a new...

Last Text From NC Teen Who Vanished in Florida: 'Help Me'

Body of Giovanni Pelletier, 18, found in Florida after he vacationed there with family

(Newser) - An 18-year-old from North Carolina whose family says he vanished under "deeply troubling and suspicious circumstances" has been found dead in Florida after vacationing there. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Thursday that a body found Aug. 8 in a retention pond in Bradenton is indeed that...

Authors, Publishers Win Ruling on Book Banning in Florida

State says it will appeal after judge finds school library statute too broad

(Newser) - A federal judge has struck down key parts of a Florida law that helped parents get books they found objectionable removed from public school libraries and classrooms. It is a victory for publishers and authors who had sued after their books were removed, the AP reports. US District Judge Carlos...

Teen Girl Killed on Surprise Grad Trip

Jet ski crash in Florida leaves 13-year-old dead, 16-year-old sister in critical condition

(Newser) - A New York family's vacation in Florida became a nightmare from which they could not awake Tuesday when two sisters crashed a jet ski, leaving a 13-year-old dead and a 16-year-old fighting for her life. The sisters were taking part in a guided tour when they collided with a...

DeSantis Unveils Plans for 'Deportation Depot'

Florida's second immigration detention facility will be in a 'ready-made' facility, a prison

(Newser) - Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is preparing to open a second immigration detention facility dubbed "Deportation Depot" at a state prison in north Florida, as a federal judge decides the fate of the state's holding center for immigrants at an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades known...

After Fatal Attack, Florida Revives Its Black Bear Hunt

Up to 187 permits will be issued for hunt in December, which excludes cubs

(Newser) - The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade will take place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs and targeting the animals in baited locations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in...

DeSantis Taps a Potential Successor
DeSantis Taps a
Potential Successor
Aug 12, 2025 12:25 PM CDT

DeSantis Taps a Potential Successor

Florida governor appoints state Sen. Jay Collins as lieutenant governor, potentially setting up a proxy war

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can't run for reelection in the 2026 race, but on Tuesday he gave a broad hint at who he might like to see take his place in the governor's mansion. The term-limited DeSantis appointed GOP state Sen. Jay Collins as the state's next...

Robot Rabbits Join Florida&#39;s Fight Against Invasive Snakes
In Fight Against Pythons,
Florida Stuffs 40 Toy Bunnies
in case you missed it
Aug 9, 2025 1:00 PM CDT

In Fight Against Pythons, Florida Stuffs 40 Toy Bunnies

Robotic rabbits join state's battle against invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades

(Newser) - Florida's ongoing battle with invasive Burmese pythons has gone high tech, with wildlife teams now deploying robotic rabbits to help find and capture the elusive snakes. The solar-powered, remote-controlled decoys look and smell like marsh rabbits—favored python prey—and even emit heat signatures to lure the snakes...

Well, Now There's a Debate About Orange Juice

Health concerns and industry struggles are prompting proposed changes

(Newser) - Orange juice is having an identity crisis. Once the poster child of a healthy breakfast, it's now caught in a tug-of-war between nutrition science, government regulation, and a struggling citrus industry. The Washington Post reports the citrus drink could be made with slightly less sugary oranges under a regulation...

'Something Is Off' Regarding Flesh-Eating Pathogen in US

Warm coastal waters fuel rise in deadly Vibrio vulnificus infections across the Southeast

(Newser) - Cases of deadly "flesh-eating" bacteria are climbing along the southeastern US coastline, with at least 10 deaths reported in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina so far this year. The culprit: Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria that thrives in warm, salty water and can slip into the body through even...

Florida May Soon See Biggest Utility Rate Hike Ever in US

Florida Power & Light proposes $10B increase over 4 years, sparking a debate over profits

(Newser) - Florida Power & Light (FPL), the state's largest utility, is seeking approval for a $10 billion hike in electricity rates over the next four years—a move environmental advocates say would mark the largest utility increase ever seen in the US. The proposal, filed in February with state...

Cops: Woman Impersonated Nurse, Treated Thousands

Anyone treated by Florida woman Autumn Bardisa is asked to contact authorities

(Newser) - A Florida woman is facing charges after authorities say she treated more than 4,000 patients at a hospital while posing as a registered nurse. According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, 29-year-old Autumn Bardisa was arrested Tuesday—in her scrubs, per the BBC — following an investigation...

Florida Gambler Hits 389 Jackpots—in 1 Day

Maher O. scores big on slots at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, nabbing $1.8M

(Newser) - A Florida gambler stunned the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa by hitting an extraordinary 389 jackpots in a single day, walking away with more than $1.8 million. The lucky player, identified only as Maher O., apparently found the right slot machines at the right time,...

Florida Issues Warning After Raw Milk Sickens 21

'We invented pasteurization for a reason'

(Newser) - Florida health officials are sounding the alarm after an outbreak of illness traced to raw milk landed seven people in the hospital, with 21 total falling ill—all after drinking unpasteurized milk from the same farm. Six of the cases involved kids under 10, and at least two people...

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