This past year was filled with news stories centered around things like crime, weather and strange features across Florida.
Below are the top 10 headlines from 2023. These stories saw the largest viewership across all of News 6′s online coverage.
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1. This ‘Ginger Ale Spring’ is hidden in the trees near I-4. Here’s why you should stay away
Back in November, News 6 spoke with local historian Jason Byrne about an odd landmark found in the woods off Interstate 4 in Longwood.
This “Ginger Ale Spring” has a storied history involving the Beeman family and a failed attempt at creating a hit beverage to beat the likes of Coca-Cola.
While the factory has long since been taken down, the spring used to create those drinks still sits in the trees, with trespassers coming out every now and then to place decorations nearby.
However, county officials warn the public not to go out there due to safety reasons and other liabilities — so it’s probably for the best that you stay away.
2. Here’s a list of books banned, under review in Central Florida schools
Most parents are likely familiar with the battle going on in school districts across the country during recent years.
Parents rights groups have pushed to limit certain materials made available to students in public schools, voicing concerns over potentially obscene content being seen by younger teens and children.
However, other groups have argued that such restrictions go too far, preventing students from getting ahold of specific literature they might otherwise enjoy.
News 6 began compiling an updated list of these books in February, along with their status and which districts they’re limited in.
Despite being dubbed “banned,” though, students may still bring these titles with them to school. Restrictions only apply to whether these titles are offered to students in school libraries and classrooms.
3. 37 Florida Lottery winners lost money to DEO overpayments
Back in January, News 6 reported on a Florida couple who won nearly $3,000 in prize money from the Florida Lottery.
However, when they went to collect the money, they were told they owed over $11,000 in unemployment overpayments to the Department of Economic Opportunity.
In all, News 6 received 37 messages in the Make Ends Meet inbox from people with similar stories to tell.
Floridians can click this link for guidance on how to resolve their overpayment, which includes a Federal Overpayment Waiver Request guide and an example of the form, as well as an example of the Overpayment Waiver Request Form.
If you have a financial issue, email makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or simply text the words “Make Ends Meet” to 407-676-7428. Please include the financial issue you’re dealing with and any documentation you may have.
4. Where did all the lovebugs go?
Few people enjoy lovebugs, though they’re a common sight for residents of the Sunshine State. However, there have been noticeably fewer of these critters lately.
In an episode of Talk to Tom from October, News 6 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sorrells spoke with a university professor about what could have caused this.
“Their development is subject to temperature, humidity,” said University of Florida Professor Norman Leppla. “Lovebugs are particularly vulnerable to drying out or to drowning, so they have to find just the right place, and maybe this year and in past years, that hasn’t been happening.”
He pointed out lovebugs are not the only insects experiencing a decrease in their population. He said the number of pollinators has decreased — as well as of lightning bugs — and the cause is not clear.
But, unlike bees and other pollinators, Dr. Leppla said lovebugs likely will not be missed if they disappear from Florida, as they are not native and instead migrated from the Yucatán.
5. 1st newborn surrendered to Florida Safe Haven Baby Box
At the start of this year, Ocala fire officials reported that a baby had been left in a Safe Haven drop-off box — the first of its kind in the state.
The box is located at the Ocala Fire Rescue headquarters, being one of 134 across the country.
It costs $10,000 and is leased for $200 per month, with the idea arising after Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey kept noticing stories about dead, abandoned babies.
“My biological father is a rapist and I was abandoned at birth and my life still has value. I wish that today, my birth mom would have had those resources all those years ago,” Kelsey said.
Once the baby is inside, the outer door locks and only safety or medical personnel can access it. Afterward, the newborn is attended to within five minutes, medically evaluated at a local hospital and adopted within 30-45 days, Safe Haven officials said.
6. Massive 5,000-mile-wide seaweed blob heading toward Florida
A 5,000-mile-wide sargassum bloom — possibly one of the largest in history — washed up along Florida’s beaches earlier this year.
News 6 reported the bloom in March amid concerns about the impact on beachgoers.
The seaweed blob makes up an important habitat for creatures like crabs, shrimp, sea turtles and various types of fish.
While the bloom isn’t directly harmful to humans, the tiny creatures that live in the seaweed can cause skin rashes and blisters.
Beyond that, the decomposing sargassum that washes ashore creates a foul odor that smells similar to rotten eggs — far from a pleasant scent.
7. Disney made last-minute deal with former Reedy Creek board giving company wide powers, new board says
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed legislation bringing Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District — now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — under the state’s jurisdiction.
A new board was instated, but it was eventually discovered that Disney and Reedy Creek had made an agreement prior to the law’s signing, which handed over direct control of the district’s development rights and privileges to the company.
“I cannot tell you the level of my disappointment in Disney. I thought so much better of them,” said board member Ron Peri. “This essentially makes Disney the government. This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintain the roads and maintain basic infrastructure.”
The special counsel reported that the development agreement will last for decades and bars the new tourism board from making changes to properties without Disney’s approval.
The board sought to hire legal counsel to potentially challenge Disney in court, members said. According to board member Brian Aungst, Jr., the new board was stripped of most of its power before it ever convened.
8. First fall front to usher in coolest air of the season for Central Florida. Here’s when
Central Florida residents flocked to ClickOrlando in early October after the weather team announced upcoming cool weather to kick off the cold season.
The cold front closed in on Central Florida, bringing temperatures down to the 50s and 60s.
While that trend didn’t last forever, Central Florida is still enduring colder weather, with lows potentially hitting the upper 30s at the end of the year.
9. ‘Everyone wants to move here:’ The Coop shuts its doors as Florida’s housing costs rise
After nearly a decade, The Coop in Winter Park — a restaurant known for its fried chicken and southern comfort food — shut its doors for good over the summer.
Owner John Rivers explained that high market rates pushed the store to close, rising to a rate “beyond what our little business can justify in renewing the lease.”
One of the reasons for the high rates in the region is because of Florida’s higher level of inflation.
While the “core inflation” that many people have suffered from is largely caused by federal government spending, the “demand-pull” inflation seen in Florida is due to the state’s popularity. In 2022, the state saw higher-than-average inbound migration.
With limited housing, this huge influx of people causes rent to go up high — too high, in The Coop’s case.
10. EXPANDED: State of emergency declared for 49 Florida counties ahead of Idalia
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in August as a Category 3 hurricane along the Big Bend of Florida, leaving massive amounts of damage in its wake.
Prior to its arrival, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order, which was later expanded to declare a state of emergency in 49 Florida counties.
Most of Central Florida made it onto the list, including coastal counties like Flagler, Brevard and Volusia that were at greater risk of flooding and storm surge.
The declaration allowed the state to mobilize crews to prepare for Idalia’s eventual arrival, making it easier to help those in need after the storm passed through.