Floridaโs 6-week abortion ban goes into effect May 1. Hereโs what it means
Florida abortion providers and activists are girding for a law that will take effect Wednesday and prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, severely limiting access to abortion for women in the state and across the Southeast.
Stand your ground? This Florida bill would allow you to shoot bears. Here are the details
People would be allowed to kill bears on their property without permits if they feel threatened but would face more rules about reporting the incidents, under a proposal that received an initial approval Wednesday in the Florida Senate.
Appeals court back Gov. Ron DeSantisโ redistricting map
A state appeals court Friday upheld a congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature, rejecting arguments that it unconstitutionally diminished the rights of Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice.
Fight over Floridaโs redistricting plan to play out in court
When Florida voters in 2010 passed a constitutional amendment setting rules for congressional redistricting, they barred drawing districts that would โdiminishโ the ability of minorities to โelect representatives of their choice.โ
Florida appeals court reinstates DeSantis congressional map
A state appeals court has reinstated a new congressional map drawn by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantisโ staff that could diminish Floridaโs Black representation in Washington, a week after a lower court judge said the map was unconstitutional.
WATCH LIVE: Fireworks forecast, Elsa update
With a system stalled our over North Florida, elevated rain chances will continue. Like Saturday, the best chance for rain will be during the first half of the day, with a drying trend starting Sunday evening. The highest rain and storm chances will reside north of Orlando, closer to the stalled front. All of Central Florida will be under the gun for periods of rain, however.
Majority of Florida voters approve of Ron DeSantisโ performance as governor, poll shows
ORLANDO, Fla. โ A Mason-Dixon poll released Tuesday finds more than half of registered Florida voters support Ron DeSantisโ performance as the stateโs governor, News 6 partner WJXT-TV reported. The poll shows that statewide, 53% of respondents approve of how DeSantis is handling his job, 42% disapprove and 5% were undecided. Of those polled, 51% of Florida voters said between Fried and DeSantis, they would vote for DeSantis. When it comes to Fried, 65% of Florida voters would vote for DeSantis, 32% would vote for Fried and 3% were undecided. Mason-Dixon polled a total of 625 registered Florida voters who were interviewed live by telephone statewide from Feb. 24 through Feb. 28.
Seal spotted bouncing around on North Florida beaches
A seal was spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the last few days. A seal has been spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the last few days, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Southeast tweeted Tuesday. Biologists are monitoring the harbor seal pup, which comes in for a rest every now and then, News 6 partner News4Jax reported. If you spot the seal, give it 50 yards of space and report the sighting to 1-877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343). Biologists are currently monitoring a seal spotted resting along some North Florida beaches over the past few days.
Statewide tornado drill to take place in Florida Feb. 3
At approximately 10 a.m. Feb. 3, all National Weather Service offices serving Florida will issue a practice tornado warning. AdThe practice tornado warning will be canceled at 10:30 a.m. If severe weather threatens Florida Wednesday, the test will be moved to Feb. 5. School districts, private schools, pre-schools and daycare centers are urged to participate in Wednesdayโs drill by enacting their severe weather plan. As a family, come up with a safe meeting place to go to in the event a tornado warning is issued.
Temps to hit low 80s in Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. โ High pressure which has produced a warm week, will give way to a slowly approaching cold front. This feature will cross into North Florida Saturday, keeping Central Florida warm, with a slight chance of a passing shower through the weekend. Highs will run above normal, in the lower 80s with lows in the mid-60s. (WKMG)A few strong storms will be possible on Monday ahead of a strong cold front tracking through the area. With three days left of the official hurricane season, we continue to watch two areas in the middle of the Atlantic with a slight chance for tropical development.
Miami skydiver dies in north Florida after parachute failed
BOCA RATON, Fla. โ Authorities say a Miami skydiver died in North Florida when his parachute didnโt deploy correctly during a jump. The Bradford County Sheriff's Office said Friday that a team of skydivers were practicing a jump when the accident happened on Friday. The group of seven men, all originally from Cuba, were practicing for a weekend event that honors the families of fallen police officers. News4Jax reported that one of the team members โ Nick Perdomo โ identified his deceased teammate as 51-year-old Yuset Hernandez. โAnd the very last jump that they were doing, one of the skydiverโs chutes didnโt deploy fully,โ Smith said.
Tropical Storm Eta brings rain, gusty winds to Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. โ All eyes are on Tropical Storm Eta. In Central Florida, we are seeing rain and strong wind gusts. There is a tropical storm warning in effect for Volusia and Brevard counties. Rain chances will be up to 80% on Monday and 50% on Tuesday and Wednesday in Central Florida. Rain chances will stay at around 50% on Thursday, with tropical storm conditions possible for Central Florida Thursday night into Friday.
Republican Neal Dunn re-elected in US House District 2 race
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Neal Dunn has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 2 race. Incumbent Neal Dunn currently holds the seat for U.S. House District 2 and was facing write-in candidate Kim OโConnor on the November ballot. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the presidential election]Hereโs what you need to know about the candidates:Neal Dunn (R)Congressman Dunn first assumed office in 2017. At the beginning of the 116th Congress, Dunn was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She first graduated from the University of South Florida with a philosophy degree then got her law degree at the University of Florida.
Meet the candidates: Hereโs whoโs running for US House District 2
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Floridaโs 2nd Congressional District is the largest congressional district in Florida by land area and includes a lot of the counties in the Panhandle, as well as Marion County. Incumbent Neal Dunn currently holds the seat for U.S. House District 2 and is facing write-in candidate Kim OโConnor on the November ballot. At the beginning of the 116th Congress, Dunn was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She first graduated from the University of South Florida with a philosophy degree then got her law degree at the University of Florida. Her political experience includes her time as Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, District 2 and Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, District 3.
Watch live beach cameras as Isaias continues to trek toward Florida
Isaias continues to have Florida in its sights after it battered Puerto Rico with high winds and heavy rains Thursday. Will it barely graze the East Coast, or could it reroute and head straight up the middle of the state? Weโre keeping an eye out on all the coasts for what this storm could mean for Florida -- and the rest of the U.S. Here are some live webcams you can watch as the storm heads north. South FloridaWatch live below: Fort Meyers BeachWatch live below: Dania Beach Pier and beachWatch live: Sunny Isles webcamWatch live: Palm BeachWatch live: Naples PierCentral FloridaWatch live below: NaplesWatch live below: Cocoa Beach PierWatch live: Flagler BeachWatch live below: Deerfield BeachWatch live: Daytona BeachWatch live below: St. PetersburgNorth FloridaWatch live below: Fort Walton BeachWatch live: Jacksonville BeachWatch live below: St. Augustine BeachWatch live: Ponte Vedra Beach