New College of Florida board eyes Freedom Institute to combat โcancel cultureโ
The New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Thursday moved forward with a plan to request $2 million in funding from the state Legislature to set up a โFreedom Instituteโ aimed at combating โcancel cultureโ in higher education.
New College of Florida conservative board votes to abolish DEI office
Trustees picked by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee New College of Florida have voted to abolish its small office that handles diversity, equity and inclusion programs targeted by conservatives throughout the state university system.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis holds news conference in North Port
Gov. Ron DeSantis held two press conferences today, in Collier and Sarasota counties, where he announced $5.8 million to fund a new technical college location in Collier County and $1.7 million to fund the installation of wastewater infrastructure in the city of North Port.
Video: Florida officer rescues coyote that was floundering in water at Sarasota Bay
SARASOTA, Fla. โ A water-logged coyote that was trying to doggy paddle its way back to land while lost in Sarasota Bay got a helping hand from a police officer. Sarasota Police Department public information officer Genevieve Judge said sheโs grateful for the positive feedback. AdโWeโre so appreciative of our community and social media followers and the kindness they are showing by thanking Officer Dixon. Our officers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect all humans and all animals,โ Judge said. โOfficer Dixon is one of two officers assigned to our Marine Patrol Unit.
Forecasting Change: Less extreme cold in winter
In the last 50 years, our lowest temperature for the winter has risen. Orlando lowest temperatureIn Gainesville, the rise is not as rapid as in Orlando. Gainesville lowest temperatureBut Gainesville, while still up, proves to be a โcoolโ exception in Central Florida. So keep in mind that, even when we have a cool run in the winter, overall our winters are warming. And what some call โglobal warmingโ can actually be reimagined as โglobal weirdnessโ like warming winter lows that sneak up before you notice.
Florida man fatally shoots woman in front of police officer
SARASOTA, Fla. โ A Florida man fatally shot a woman in front of a police officer and then was also fatally shot Saturday, authorities said. While the officer fired at the suspect, it wasn't immediately known if he was killed by the officer or died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sarasota Police Chief Jim Rieser. The officer responded to a report of gunshots and a woman screaming and arrived to find the man with a gun. The suspect then shot the woman, Rieser said. The department didnโt release the names of the officer, the shooter or the woman killed.
High-wire acrobat Nik Wallenda walks the plank at Legoland Florida
WINTER HAVEN, Fla โ Floridaโs famous high-wire acrobat Nik Wallenda walked the plank at the Legoland Florida Resort on Friday. The performer, originally from Sarasota, performed the epic high-wire walk nearly 600 feet cross the skies of the theme park. Legoland Florida also started a new show, Brickbeardโs Watersports Stunt Show and PirateFest Weekends. During the new PirateFest Weekends, guests can meet the famous Lego Pirate characters and participate in all-new shows and activities. Pirate Weekends runs Feb. 12-14, 20-21, 27-28.
Florida city official involved in Christmas Eve fight
SARASOTA, Fla. โ A city official in Florida was involved in a fight outside a bar on Christmas Eve, a newspaper reported Monday. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports Sarasota Commissioner cwas attacked by multiple men after a verbal dispute. A photo later shows him lying on the sidewalk with his arms by his side. In a written statement to police, Battie, said he was walking back into a restaurant when he saw his friend in an argument with one of the suspects. Battie told an officer that was all he remembered of the altercation.
Florida man finds body inside trash can he was storing for friend
SARASOTA, Fla. โ A Florida man who had been storing a trash can for a friend for more than two months, found a badly decomposing body inside when he opened it, authorities said. Manatee County Sheriffโs Office said the unidentified man had been holding the 55-gallon container for a friend who promised to retrieve it later. But that person never returned and after about two months, the man smelled a foul odor and opened the container. Inside were human remains that had been wrapped up. The Herald-Tribune reported Tuesday that the sheriff's office is investigating the identify of the remains and how they died.
Woman fatally shot at Florida bank
VENICE, Fla. โ A woman was fatally shot at a bank in Venice on Monday morning, sheriffโs officials said. The shooting happened just after 9 a.m. at a BB&T bank branch in Venice, which is near Sarasota on Floridaโs Gulf Coast, the Sarasota Sheriffโs Office said in a Facebook post. Arriving deputies found the woman dead at the scene. The Sheriffโs Office hasnโt released many details about the shooting. But officials said โall involved parties are accounted for," the post said,Investigators are working to notify the woman's relatives.
Florida officer on leave after pressing knee into mans neck
SARASOTA, Fla. A bystander video showing a Sarasota police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed black man a week before the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted an investigation and promises of transparency. Two Sarasota officers are seen on video holding down Patrick Carroll, 27, during a domestic violence call on May 18th. Utilizing your knee on someones neck is not something that we train, Sarasota Police Deputy Chief Patrick Robinson said. Its not something that we authorize and its not something that we stand behind.The department told news outlets it wasnt aware the officer placed a knee on Carrolls neck until it was tagged in the video on social media on Monday. The officer who placed his knee on Carroll's neck has been placed on administrative leave, the department said.
Publix looking to hire thousands of employees amid spread of coronavirus
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Publix is looking to hire thousands of employees for the companyโs stores and distribution centers amid the spread of the coronavirus. Various jobs are listed for stores throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Jobs are also listed at the distribution centers in Boynton Beach, Deerfield Beach, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Lawrenceville, and McCalla. The company is offering benefits for full-time employees and part-time employees, according to Publix. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6โฒs coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Gov. DeSantis signs texting and driving bill into law, saving โcountless livesโ
Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Friday morning that will allow law enforcement officers to pull over drivers who are texting and driving. Though the new law allows police officers to proactively make the roads safer, the fines for texting and driving stay the same. 5 things to know about Florida's texting and driving billBefore signing the bill, DeSantis cited some of the statistics about distracted driving crashes. Since 2013, lawmakers have sponsored 31 different pieces of legislation to strengthen Floridaโs texting and driving law. Simpson compared the texting and driving bill to the seat belt bill during the 1980s.
Driving change: You soon can be ticketed for texting and driving in Florida
Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday morning making texting and driving a primary offense in the state of Florida. News 6 has been behind the Driving Change effort ever since anchor Matt Austin was injured in a crash. Since 2013, lawmakers have sponsored 31 different pieces of legislation to strengthen Floridaโs texting and driving law. On Sept. 9, 2016, News 6 anchor Matt Austin was waiting for a traffic light to turn green when a vehicle slammed into his car. [VIDEO BELOW: Florida passes texting and driving bill]