DESANTIS

DeSantis's decision to (gently) hit back at the former president who has (also gently) gone after him sets up an early 2024 game of chicken. Here's what the polling suggests about that game.

However, a different majority decided a narrower rule tailored toward health care workers did pass procedural muster. For Florida companies, the rulings put to rest weeks of uncertainty. DeSantis’ promise to fine companies that implemented vaccine mandates and the federal government’s orders. READ: Supreme Court halts COVID-19 vaccine rule for U.S. businessesHe added that since the case wasn’t decided on merits, there are still questions left unanswered. Thursday night, both AdventHealth and Orlando Health executives said they were studying the court’s rulings.

Omicron is breaking through rhetorical barriers, too.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital Thursday. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Deputies were called to the intersection of Wilmington Drive and Tivoli Drive just after 6:15 p.m. for reports of a person shot. DeSantis suspends 2 Sumter County commissioners accused of lying under oathThe victim was taken to the hospital to be treated. The sheriff’s office didn’t comment on the severity of his injuries. READ: Army veteran shot by police during alleged carjacking denied bondThis story is developing.

Lawmakers and insurrectionists reflect on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, one year later.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — On Wednesday, Gov. DeSantis will be in Kissimmee to make an announcement. The governor is set to speak at 9:30 a.m. at the Center for Neovation. DeSantis will be joined by Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle. Click here to watch it.

Nearly a third of all COVID-19 tests administered in Orange County are coming back positive. That's according to the latest news conference from Orange County...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — AdventHealth Kissimmee announced the opening of its newest expansion at its Osceola County campus Tuesday. The 123,000-square-foot expansion is part of an $84 million investment that adds 80 new rooms and three new floors to the current Kissimmee tower. Sheila Rankin, CEO of AdventHealth Kissimmee, said the investment demonstrates the hospital provider’s commitment to the residents of Osceola County. “We are dedicated to providing whole-person care close to home for the growing population of Osceola County in the years to come, " Rankin said. DeSantis news conference in JacksonvilleHospital officials said from 2020 to 2021 the Kissimmee facility had about 17,100 admissions and more than 83,500 emergency room visits.

Jacksonville activist Ben Frazier was detained and faces a count of trespassing after trying to attend a news conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — After nearly 30 years, Seminole County leaders turned over the first shovelfuls of dirt to commemorate the construction of its new courthouse annex. The Justice James E.C. Perry Courthouse Annex will become part of Seminole County’s plan to bring all county services to one geographic location. Perry, the namesake of Seminole County’s new courthouse annex? Perry Annex Courthouse (WFTV)©2022 Cox Media Group

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials in Orange County are expected to give an update on the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday afternoon. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings; Director, Division of Infectious Diseases at Florida Health Alvina Chu; and Orange County Schools Superintendent Barbara Jenkins are among those expected to speak at today’s briefing. Read: ‘This governor does not care’: Demonstrators delay Gov. DeSantis news conference in JacksonvilleAmong the topics to be discussed are efforts to monitor omicron, COVID-19 testing, and vaccinations. Read: School is back in session as COVID-19 cases continue to climbThe update is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

The state on Wednesday reported 46,923 new cases from Tuesday, as the omicron surge nearly doubled Florida’s previous peak over the summer.

Beverlye C. Neal, a woman who had a heart for civil rights and rose through the ranks of politics in Central Florida, has died at 74.

NASA may need to delay the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission.

As concern grows over whether Florida’s low-income renters are receiving the Emergency Rental Assistance funds they need, changes are happening at the state and local level to expedite some payments.

All northbound lanes of State Road 429 are closed from the Florida Turnpike interchange south to State Road 535, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

A man was shot and killed in northwest Orlando around on Friday, according to police.

A teen who was expelled from an Orange County private school was arrested after making a school shooting threat while on a video chat with other students, according to the sheriff’s office.

Some police departments in Central Florida are rolling out “burglar boxes” as a way to discard of gift wrap and product packaging without letting potential thieves see it first.

More than three years after he shot and killed his own mother in an Orange County home, a man has been sentenced to life in prison.

Thousands of dogs across the country are in Central Florida competing for America’s top dog. It’s all part of the American Kennel Club National Championship

The University of Central Florida vs. Florida State University basketball game has been canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.

A developer wants to build apartments on the land that once housed the iconic Parliament House along North Orange Blossom Trail.

The Orlando Magic will likely be short-handed when they play the Miami Heat.

A Flagler County middle school student was arrested on Friday in connection to creating a TikTok account threatening a school shooting, according to deputies.

The Osceola County sheriff will discuss the arrest of seven people in connection with a woman’s death during a news conference Friday afternoon.

A Palm Bay man was arrested Thursday evening on a charge of child manslaughter, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

It’s not a crystal ball dropping on New Year’s Eve this year, it’s the world’s largest ball of human hair.

Customers are now paying more than ever for beef.

A couple who was reported missing from Indiana has turned up in Volusia County, along with a stolen van and an unidentified baby, according to deputies.

Brevard County officials will be providing a year-end COVID-19 update Friday morning.

Port Orange police responding to a suspicious death call found a man dead in a residential area early Friday morning, according to a news release.

A water main break reported in Casselberry Friday could lead to a boil water notice in the area, officials said.

A school threat hoax circulating on social media across the nation prompted Brevard Public Schools to issue a statement to concerned parents Thursday, according to a BPS spokesman.

A man accused of killing three others via fentanyl overdose after he sold them the drug when they thought they were purchasing cocaine has been arrested, Orlando police said Friday.

LADY LAKE, Fla. — A Lady Lake woman says she’s frustrated after receiving a nearly $800 water bill from her local utility provider. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Donna Heinsinger says her Florida Governmental Utility Authority bill hadn’t reflected any usage for six months before she was suddenly hit with the massive bill. “I had a heart attack…stroke…that was a big bill,” Heinsinger said. Heinsinger says she usually paid her bill right away, and didn’t even notice the bill was registering no water usage from May through October, then in November, she says her usage skyrocketed. They say they have a hard time believing six months of water usage would total nearly $800.

The governor's Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act — which comes months after Florida banned the teaching of critical race theory in public schools — would give parents the “private right of action” to sue if they think their kids were being taught critical race theory

Jay Ketcik, John Rider and Joan Halstead, who all live in The Villages in Sumter County, Fla., face felony charges and up to five years in prison.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Incidents at three separate high schools across Seminole and Orange counties resulted in at least 14 students arrested Thursday, police and family members told Eyewitness News. Videos captured multiple unrelated brawls at Oviedo High School in the school yard, cafeteria and a classroom. Oviedo police said 12 students were arrested and likely faced charges of disrupting school operations. However, school officials nationwide are reporting surges in both gun- and non-gun related events since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. It’s got to be dealt with.”His sentiment was echoed by Oviedo High School’s principal.

ORLANDO, Fla. — University of Central Florida police are looking for a voyeurism suspect who they believe could be a habitual offender. #UCFAlert: Crime Awareness Update from UCFPDFull message below and linked here: https://t.co/VD1BKKc6nt pic.twitter.com/77NnCPybBZ — UCF Police Dept. They’re asking anyone who thinks they may be a potential victim, or who can help identify the suspect to call their non-emergency line at (407) 823-5555. READ: Davenport woman accused of leaving child behind at gas station while drunkUCF has a number of resources for crime victims seeking help. Victim specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (407) 823-1200, or texting (407) 823-6868.

Getting to do what you want while sticking it to the elites.

Calling it a “fiction,” a Washington, D.C.-based judge late Monday ruled that a deal giving the Seminole Tribe control of online sports betting in Florida...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Millions of people are planning to hit the road for Thanksgiving. If you are one of them, AAA said now is the time to take your car in for an inspection. Before you hit the road, the travel agency recommends you make an appointment for a bumper-to-bumper vehicle checkup. “Now is really important time to take your vehicle in for an inspection,” said Mark Jenkins, an AAA spokesperson. READ: AAA: Highest holiday gas prices since 2013“The last place you want to spend Thanksgiving is on the side of the road and not at the dinner table,” Jenkins said.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Lawmakers from across the state and here in central Florida are making their way to Tallahassee on Monday to take part in a special legislative session. Monday’s session will focus on mask mandates and vaccine requirements. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Florida Democrats have been calling for a special session for months, following the start of the pandemic. Here in Central Florida local firefighters have been standing against the Orange County vaccine mandate since it was first passed. Read: Orange County firefighters give update on lawsuit challenging vaccine mandateDavis refused to follow a direct order by not disciplining firefighters who didn’t get the vaccine.

Governor says special session will be 'striking a blow for freedom' in a state fighting federal vaccine requirements

Sports betting came online in Florida this week, but Sunshine State residents might have missed it if they didn’t check their social media feeds. The...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Starting in January, companies representing a large portion of Orlando’s workforce will be fined if their employees aren’t vaccinated or tested weekly. READ: Governor DeSantis announces lawsuit against Biden administration over vaccine mandatePresident Biden had teased the requirements in an earlier announcement. According to data collected by the Orlando Economic Partnership, approximately 465,000 Orlando metro area employees will be affected by these rules, though many are already vaccinated. They include workers from organizations like Publix, Universal, Lockheed Martin, AdventHealth and Siemens Energy, all which are ranked in the top 10 largest employers in the area. The most common response was that the company was studying the guidelines and implementing policies that comply with them.

The state has a special email address for people to report entities requiring masks or vaccination despite DeSantis’s opposition.

The public university said the political scientists could pose “a conflict of interest to the executive branch” and harm the school’s interests if they testified against the law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Florida's governor is very proud of his state's low case rate (now, anyway).

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — Port Canaveral’s return to cruising is gaining momentum. Port CEO Captain John Murray says the cruise lines are gradually increasing the number of passengers boarding their ships. READ: Port Canaveral celebrates rising economic tide in the cruise ship industry“The industry is strong,” Murray said. For the people who support the cruise industry, it also means a return to work. We’re just thankful to be working again.”The CDC’s conditional sail order extends through January 15th.

The Florida governor’s offer of jobs and bonuses to out-of-state police officers shows there is no outrage too great in service of his political ambition.

Verizon recently announced that 10-digit dialing in multiple states, including Florida, will be required to complete local calls starting Oct. 24.

After nearly two months, the Orlando Utilities Commission is returning to normal water operations following its plea for Orlando customers to limit water use, read an OUC release Tuesday.

At 22-years-old, Chris, born with Down syndrome, was among thousands of runners at this year’s Boston Marathon.

Lake County Public School students now have access to resources from the Lake County Library System.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issues consumer alert of COVID-19 vaccine text-phishing scheme.

More than a month after the death of the Brevard Zoo's two North American river otters, zoo officials have determined the cause of death.

A 52-year-old motorcyclist died on Interstate 4 in a Volusia County crash on Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A man in his 70s died after being found unresponsive in a lazy river at an Orange County resort, officials say.

Initially they were each disappointed that someone else was in the ride-share vehicle. Then they began flirting.

GOP leaders argue that vaccine requirements violate personal freedoms, but experts say mass vaccinations have not worked historically without mandates.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The deadline is approaching for Orange County employees to get vaccinated or risk termination. Another group gathered at Lake Eola on Sunday and threatened a recall effort against the Orange County mayor. READ: Firefighters protest against Orange County vaccine mandateThe protestors said they are getting ready to gather signatures and have already gained support online. READ: Orange County government to stop asking job applicants if they have criminal convictionsThose who don’t get the vaccine could be terminated. Around 80% of Orange County workers have received at least one shot, but hundreds of workers remain unvaccinated.

The long-touted vaccine passport ban in Florida takes effect today. That could mean millions of dollars in fines for Orange County. The law passed by...

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced millions in funding for Florida military communities and bases Wednesday morning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold his second news conference of the day in Milton Wednesday afternoon.

My Brother's Keeper director ready to take program to new heights Abraham Morris said he wants to expand the program to more schools and even older groups. (City of Orlando)ORLANDO, Fla. — When Abraham Morris took over as director of the My Brother’s Keeper program in August, he came with a plan. Morris said he wants to expand the program to more schools and even older groups. Currently, the My Brother’s Keeper program is in four Orange County middle schools and last year, it helped 150 young men. More information on My Brother’s Keeper can be found here.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The battle over vaccine mandates for Orange County employees looks to be headed to court. About 500 Orange county firefighters indicated they will not turn in their vaccination cards in support of others who refuse to get vaccinated. Under the mandate from Orange County mayor Jerry Demings, county employees have two weeks to get the COVID-19 vaccine or face termination. Orange County fired back, saying that they are well within their rights to put a mandate in place. Firefighters from across the state have said they plan to hold a rally in Orlando to show support for Orange County firefighters.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who looked to the ground and appeared uncomfortable with the Gainesville city employee’s false claim, did not correct the vaccine misinformation.

DeSantis can already thank the network for his current position.

Shoppers minding their own business at The Apple Store on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach got an earful and eyeful on Wednesday.

Hours after a Leon County circuit judge allowed school districts to continue student mask requirements, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Wednesday night filed an emergency motion asking an appeals court to reinstate a stay.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLA. — Brevard Public Schools’ recently adopted 30-day mask mandate has already sparked protests. Late Friday, the Florida Department of Education sent a letter to Superintendent Mark Mullins and School Board Chair Misty Belford. Read: Dozens gather to protest Brevard County Schools’ mask mandateThe deadline to provide a response on how the district is in compliance is Wednesday. Belford said she believes the Department of Education will find that Brevard Public Schools is in compliance. Read: DeSantis touts monoclonal antibody treatment while visiting health department in VieraShe said the school district has about seven different exemptions in the policy, including medical and mental health exemptions.

Following weeks of opening monoclonal antibody clinics across the state, several Floridians touted the treatment following their bouts with COVID-19 during Gov. Ron DeSantis’ news conference Wednesday.

The Florida Department of Education is launching an investigation on Orange County Public Schools over its latest mask mandate, according to Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County Schools rejected a proposal to mandate masks for all students and staff, opting to retain the status quo for now. Some board members, however, appeared to be influenced by the district’s attorney, who said a judge’s recent ruling declaring mask mandates legal would be stayed when Gov. Last week, a judge ruled that school districts can impose mask mandates -- against the state's wishes. “In the meantime, it will be legal, no questions asked for school districts to mandate masks.”However, the state government is ignoring the ruling. The money was designated for school board members’ salaries only.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Tallahassee judge decided Friday with parents who said that the executive order to not allow school districts to impose mask mandates was unconstitutional. The ruling comes just after the Orange County school district that originally allowed for an opt-out option imposed a mask mandate. DeSantis’ order banning mask mandatesOrange County Public Schools chairperson Treasa Jacobs said they knew they were on solid ground when they took the vote and now feels vindicated. School board member Jennifer Jenkins in Brevard County is asking for an emergency meeting to discuss the ruling, and Orange County could do the same. WATCH: Local school district reports almost 400 new COVID-19 casesThe judge has not yet issued his written ruling.

Flagler County is in the worst public health crisis it has known in its history, yet the debate remains immobilized by a war on masks.

Amid closing arguments of a lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order aimed at preventing local school boards from imposing student mask mandates, the governor vowed Thursday he would continue to fight should they lose the lawsuit.

Florida is now reporting an average of 228 covid-19 deaths each day — a state record and by far the highest count in the nation.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference in Orlando with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Thursday morning.

Florida House Rep. Anthony Sabatini wrote a letter to Flagler Superintendent Mittelstadt thick with falsehoods and fabrications.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the opening of another monoclonal antibody treatment center.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools leaders will implement a universal masking policy in schools for all students and staff, with exceptions for medical exemptions, beginning next week. The decision came after a lengthy and often confusing discussion over legalities, district policies and what type of mandate to implement. READ: Celebration K-8 shutting down for the rest of the week due to COVID-19The universal mandate had near unanimous support from the board, citing new research showing the effectiveness of masks at controlling COVID-19 cases in schools. READ: Herd immunity ‘practically impossible’ in Orange County at this point, health experts sayChairwoman Teresa Jacobs said, since the district planned to join Broward County schools and challenge Gov. DeSantis’ anti-mask mandate rule as an illegitimate law, the district would not be breaking any valid state laws by moving quickly.

Now that Disney Cruise Line has joined Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian in planning to require COVID vaccines for passengers 12 and older, it’s time for Florida’s governor to drop his nonsensical court fight — using our money — to defend the state’s dangerous ban on vaccine passports.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A homeless man is behind bars and charged with second-degree murder in the death of another homeless man in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach Police responded to a 911 call at Magnolia Avenue and Beach Street around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday. First responders found the victim, a 56-year-old white male, with facial injuries and a belt around his neck. DeSantis opens monoclonal antibody treatment site in Polk CountyThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect was booked into the Volusia County Jail.

A member of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s transition team who has advised Republicans on health-related issues is warning parents that unmasked children are spreading COVID-19 in schools, putting those students at risk for a rare but potentially fatal medical condition.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando is rolling out incentives for employees and residents who get the COVID-19 vaccine. People who get vaccinated at the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center mobile vaccine site can enter a raffle for prizes. The city is also offering cash and other perks to employees who prove they are vaccinated. R. Smith Neighborhood Center mobile vaccine center to spread his message. DeSantis opens monoclonal antibody treatment site in OrlandoThe city of Orlando said full-time employees who prove that they are fully vaccinated by the end of October will receive $150.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will be hosting a news conference in South Florida Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The mask mandate debate playing out across Florida entered a new phase Tuesday, with the Florida Board of Education meeting to decide how to crack down on defiant districts that imposed mandates. Under state law, a mandate is only permissible in schools if parents can opt-out. Leaders of school districts across Florida say they’re doing everything they can to keep the doors open in spite of the state’s attempt to limit their power. Central Florida districts are averaging about a 1% quarantine rate among their student bodies. Masks in Osceola County High Schools will continue to be optional with no need to opt out.

Osceola health officials offer COVID-19 vaccine events ahead of upcoming school year Some Central Florida health departments said they are ramping up COVID-19 vaccine efforts before school is back in session. SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — While health leaders work to get more people on board with the COVID-19 vaccine, it may be time for those who’ve already had two shots to line up for a third. Seminole County officials said they are prepared. “We just didn’t know when that would be able to be launched.”READ: Walgreens, CVS to offer booster shots for immunocompromised peopleIf approved, the general public would not be able to start getting boosters until mid-September. A spokesperson for the governor’s office said she believes the infrastructure in Florida is already in place to give out the booster shots because of the initial vaccine rollout.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools leaders will need to do a lot of mental and political gymnastics to justify anything other than a mask mandate after spending almost two and a half hours listening to medical advice Monday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Thursday morning in Jacksonville.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is sticking with his ban on mask mandates inside Florida public schools.

As many Florida educators have received or will receive their $1,000 bonuses, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop at a St. Petersburg school to hand-deliver checks to teachers.

A Brevard County school bus driver finds a toddler wandering around.

Norma Lewis wants people to remember her son for helping Central Florida's less fortunate.

Afternoon storms will pop again in Central Florida.

A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead inside a residence in Orange County Sunday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.

Two men were injured in a wrong-way crash on State Road 417 in Seminole County overnight Sunday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.