TALLAHASSEE

While the nation is waiting to see what the U.S. Supreme Court's final decision will be in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which could result in an overturning of Roe v. Wade, the state of Florida has taken the proactive move of passing new restrictions on abortion.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law new regulations surrounding protests outside of private homes in Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Rep. Ramon Alexander, the incoming leader of the House Democrats, says he will not seek re-election following allegations that he sexually harassed a former employee of Florida A&M. Alexander made the announcement in social media posts Thursday, days after the Tallahassee Democrat reported details of the sexual harassment complaints made against him. His statement did not mention the allegations, though he has previously apologized and told the paper the interactions were consensual. The employee told the paper Alexander groped him multiple times and sent him unwanted sexually explicit texts and other material over the phone. Earlier in the week, Jenne told the paper it would be irresponsible to comment with specificity given the “sensitive and serious nature” of the claims.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced several new proposals targeting fraud as part of the upcoming special session on insurance reform. Patronis said he plans to put forward five initiatives aimed at cracking down on fraud. Only about $6M has been distributed“We need teams that live and breathe property and casualty fraud, and we need to give state attorneys good cases,” Patronis said. Ron DeSantis has called for a special session to deal with property insurance issues. The special session is scheduled for May 23 through 27.

A judge’s ruling that a new congressional map drawn by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff is unconstitutional has been appealed by the state.

Between January and March 2022, the governor’s office said there were an estimated 36 million visitors to the state, consisting of both domestic travelers and those visiting from abroad.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decided on Rep. Cory Byrd as the newest Secretary of State, following the resignation announcement by the prior secretary earlier this week.

Attorneys for Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a defendant in the lawsuit filed by voting-rights groups and other plaintiffs, filed a notice of taking the case to the Tallahassee-based 1st District Court of Appeal.

Elected officials in Brevard County held a townhall meeting to speak with homeowners and discuss possible solutions for ongoing insurance issues.

Florida Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee is resigning her post as the state's top election official, Gov. Ron DeSantis' office said Thursday. In a resignation letter, Lee, a Republican, said she would step down Monday and thanked the governor, who appointed her in 2019. "I am grateful for your support throughout my tenure, and I am honored to have been part of your vision for our state," she wrote in her resignation letter to DeSantis.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Nurses from across Florida will be in Tallahassee to demand more staffing, better pay and better work conditions. It’s National Nurses Week, a time to celebrate the unsung heroes like Tirado, working tirelessly on the frontlines. Of the nurses surveyed, 44% cited burnout and a high-stress environment as the reason. READ: National Nurses Week: Crocs to give away shoes, scrubs to health care workers“It is kind of scary. One way AdventHealth is filling the gap is with what it calls staff flex nurses, who float around different campuses.

The League of Women Voters was one of the first groups to file a lawsuit against the state of Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on new district maps in April.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — A congressional map approved by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and drawn by his staff is unconstitutional because it breaks up a district where Black voters can choose their representatives, a judge said Wednesday. Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith said he would issue a formal order Thursday or Friday to keep the maps from taking effect in November’s election. He made it clear he would rule in favor of voting rights groups challenging the maps. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Florida regulators have scheduled three hearings next week on proposals by property insurers to raise homeowners’ rates more than 20%, while the state weighs a plan by another insurer that has shed policies amid financial losses.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A judge in Tallahassee will take up the debate over the new plan for Florida’s congressional districts. READ: Groups file lawsuit against DeSantis over new congressional redistricting mapsThey are hoping the judge sees things their way. DeSantis’ new voting map is expected to increase from 16 to 20 the number of congressional seats held by Republicans, based on 2020 election results. READ: ‘Blatant attempt to rig districts’: Black lawmakers condemn DeSantis-approved congressional mapAlso, it is expected to reduce the number of Black Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation by changing a district in Central and North Florida. READ: Governor’s office releases proposed congressional redistricting mapWe will let you know what happens in court on Wednesday.

When Candido Rodriguez received a Notice of Approval from the Department of Economic Opportunity in March, the Tampa construction worker was convinced his year-long wait for benefits was finally over.

A press release, titled, “Florida Rejects Publishers’ Attempts to Indoctrinate Students” remains on the Florida Department of Education’s website.

Gov. Ron DeSantis called the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft decision indicating Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights ruling, would be overturned “a real, significant breach.”

Voting-rights groups late Friday requested approval to revamp a federal lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Florida’s new congressional redistricting plan.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint Republican Sen. Manny Diaz as the state’s first Hispanic education commissioner. Corcoran leaves the position on Monday, but the delay will allow Diaz to take part in a special session DeSantis called to address rising property insurance rates. The Board of Education appointed Senior Chancellor Jacob Oliva to act as interim commissioner during the gap. The South Florida Republican has also been a teacher, coach, assistant principal and school administrator. His dedication to Florida families will endure as he steps into the role of Commissioner of Education,” Corcoran said in a news release.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson will retire at the end of August.

Authorities say three Florida correctional officers have been charged with murder in the fatal beating of a handcuffed prisoner who threw urine at one of the officers.

Florida TaxWatch on Thursday released a list of 166 “turkeys” in a newly passed state budget but suggested that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office should give extra scrutiny to all 1,221 local projects that lawmakers put into the record spending plan.

A federal appeals court Thursday will take up a long-running constitutional dispute about a prayer vigil that was backed by the Ocala police chief amid a spate of shootings in the community.

Deputy Paul Luciano and Sergeant Francesco Celico were among the 85 names added to a memorial wall honoring fallen officers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a second special legislative session, this time with the goal to address Florida's property insurance crisis which has seen many homeowners lose their insurance or see their premiums skyrocket.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday to create a police force dedicated to pursuing voter fraud and other election crimes, embracing a top priority of Republicans after former President Donald Trump's false claims that his reelection was stolen. The new law comes after the Republican governor made voting legislation a focus this year, pushing the Republican-controlled statehouse to create the policing unit as states reevaluate their own election systems in the wake of Trump's unfounded allegations. DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is widely considered to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has both praised the last election as smooth and suggested more rules were needed to deter fraud, underscoring Trump's lingering influence on Republican policymaking.

“We believe in education, not indoctrination,” DeSantis said during Friday's bill signing in South Florida. DeSantis said Florida students will not have oppressive ideologies imposed on them, as the bill provides “substantive protections” for students in grades K to 12. Opponents say DeSantis doesn't have an accurate idea of what critical race theory is, and his motives are to suppress and accurate account of Black history. Critical race theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in U.S. institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. You’re not doing that in the state of Florida,” DeSantis had said.

(AP Photo/Phil Sears) (Phil Sears)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Voting rights groups sued Florida on Friday over a congressional map drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature, saying it will diminish the state's Black representation and benefit Republicans. The League of Women Voters of Florida, the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, Equal Ground Education Fund and others filed the suit in a state court in Tallahassee. Democrats say the map strongly favors the GOP and would dismantles two districts currently held by Black members of congress. Many political observers have said the DeSantis map could give Republicans a 20-8 advantage, though Florida’s vast number of unaffiliated voters can swing elections.

One day after it was passed by the legislature during a special session, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he has signed a new, controversial congressional redistricting map.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill to dissolve Walt Disney World’s private government, after the entertainment giant criticized a measure that critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The law would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, as the 55-year-old Disney government is known, as well as a handful of other similar districts by June 2023. The measure does allow for the districts to be reestablished, leaving an avenue to renegotiate its future. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Voting rights groups have sued Florida over a congressional map drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The decision over whether to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District lies in the hands of the governor. If it passes and actually happens down the line, it would dump Disney’s tax burden on us, the taxpayers. Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said dissolving the district could be a massive financial burden for taxpayers. “The moment that Reedy Creek doesn’t exist is the moment that that those taxes don’t exist,” Randolph said. Read: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers?

From the House floor, Florida Rep. Travaris McCurdy of Orlando joined other Democrats Thursday to protest Gov. Ron DeSantis’ redistricting map, which was approved in the Florida House later that day.

(AP Photo/Phil Sears) (Phil Sears)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida’s Legislature approved a congressional map Thursday pushed by Republican Gov. Democratic lawmakers chanted and shouted as the final vote tally was taken in the Florida House during a raucous end to a three-day special session. There was a brief delay in which Black lawmakers staged a sit-in on the chamber floor and sang “We Shall Overcome.” The measure passed 68-38 along party lines. The protest prompted the Republican-led chamber to call a brief recess during which all Republican lawmakers left the floor and the state Florida Channel temporarily stopped broadcasting. Republican Rep. Spencer Roach said the protest quashed debate on another bill that could strip Walt Disney World of its ability to self-govern.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House of Representatives has given final passage to a bill to dissolve a private government that Walt Disney World has been allowed to operate on its properties for more than five decades. What’s next for Reedy CreekThe Disney bill would eliminate the self-governed districts by June 2023. But it does allow the districts to be reestablished in the future, leaving the door open for further negotiations. Read: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers? Read: Disney’s debt is about to be Central Florida taxpayers’ problem©2022 Cox Media Group

A congressional map pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis was passed by the Florida House amid a protest by Black lawmakers who say the map will diminish the state’s Black representation in the U.S. House.

(AP Photo/Phil Sears) (Phil Sears)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — The Florida Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a congressional map pushed by Republican Gov. The DeSantis map would increase Florida’s GOP representation in Florida and dismantles two districts now held by Black members of Congress. The Florida House approved the measure along party lines after a brief delay when Black lawmakers staged a sit-in on the House floor. The Republican-led chamber called a brief recess, all Republican lawmakers left the floor and the state Florida Channel temporarily stopped broadcasting the proceedings. The Legislation was in special session to approve a new congressional map after DeSantis vetoed the maps lawmakers sent him.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House will decide whether to move forward with stripping Disney of its special district status. The state Senate passed the issue on Wednesday. If the House sides with the governor, the question becomes: How will Disney respond? If Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District is dissolved, some lawmakers argue that billions of dollars of debt would be piled on taxpayers. READ: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers?

The Florida Senate already approved the special district bill on a largely party-line vote Wednesday, with one Republican joining all Democrats against the bill.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Some lottery winners use their jackpot money to travel, but a Florida man who cashed in a $1 million scratch-off ticket had a different idea. Musselwhite won the $1 prize from the Florida Lottery’s $5,000,000 Luck Scratch-Off game, lottery officials said in a news release on Tuesday. Musselwhite purchased his winning ticket from Circle A Food Place in Sarasota. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket, lottery officials said. Musselwhite, who was accompanied to Tallahassee to receive his money, chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $760,000, lottery officials said.

Mayor Jerry Demings said leaders in Orange County are closely watching developments in Tallahassee after Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would strip Walt Disney World of its special governing powers.

The Florida Department of Health on Wednesday released guidance that said treatment such as puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy should not be used for transgender youths, clashing with federal officials over the issue.

The staff member who prepared a congressional redistricting map said race and party politics in now way factored into the final product being considered by the Legislature.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday the state legislature would be taking up a bill during their special session that would look to dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District which governs Walt Disney World.

Florida Disney Feud FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses a joint session of a legislative session, Jan. 11, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida Gov. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) (Phelan M. Ebenhack)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida Gov. “I am announcing today that we are expanding the call of what they are going to be considering this week. The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a private government controlled by Disney World and set up by the state Legislature in 1967 that allows it to provide government services such as zoning, fire protection, utilities and infrastructure.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking the Legislature to repeal a law allowing Walt Disney World to operate a private government over its properties in the state.

Hopeful news came Monday for thousands of Florida homeowners who have been dropped by their insurance company or experienced their rates skyrocketing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will call a May special legislative session to address problems in the property-insurance system that have led to homeowners losing coverage and getting hit with large rate increases.

Jorge Diaz-Johnston, the plaintiff in a historic same-sex marriage lawsuit and the brother of a former Miami mayor, was found dead in a landfill in January. Now his roommate has been charged with murder.

Florida lawmakers are returning to the state's Capitol this week for a special session that will be focused on congressional redistricting.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who jumped overboard from a cruise ship early Saturday as it approached Florida. The man jumped from the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Mardi Gras just after midnight about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of Port Canaveral, according to the Coast Guard and Carnival. The Coast Guard responded with two cutters and an airplane to search for the 43-year-old man. The Mardi Gras and the cruise ship Elation also participated in the search, said Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his family.”Lupoli said the Coast Guard released the ship from the search efforts and it continued to Port Canaveral.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who jumped overboard from a cruise ship early Saturday as it approached Florida. The Coast Guard responded with two cutters and an airplane to search for the 43-year-old man. The Mardi Gras and the cruise ship Elation also participated in the search, said Coast Guard spokesman David Micallef.

Florida lawmakers are considering holding a special session to address private property insurance as many homeowners see their rates rise or their policies being dropped.

An appeals court has rejected arguments that bars should receive money from the state and Orange County because they were forced to shut down or significantly scale back early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Republican-favorable congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office released landed quick support from the leader of the Senate’s reapportionment efforts.

The Florida Legislature’s leaders have sent a memo to lawmakers ahead of a special session next week saying legislative staff will not draw new congressional maps.

Insurance companies say the crisis is being fueled by mounting litigation and fraud, but property insurance attorney John Tolley said that's not the full story.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, on Friday formally asked his colleagues to support his call for a special legislative session on property insurance.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s changes to nursing homes, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis Wednesday, are already drawing criticism. “Very simply, what this bill does is reduce the minimum standards for staff at nursing homes by twenty percent,” Florida AARP Director Jeff Johnson said. Thanks to the new state law, they’ll enjoy lower minimum standards. It would also close a loophole in state law that has allowed bad actors to avoid legal responsibility by simply selling problematic nursing homes. He notes that nursing homes have been able to avoid litigation by simply transferring ownership.

Nearly three years after Florida lawmakers approved a plan to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada, Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed frustration Tuesday that the plan remains stalled in Washington, D.C.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State Representative Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) says he plans to introduce a bill that would make it a felony to perform gender reassignment surgery on a minor. Earlier this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbot ordered state authorities to investigate gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth as “child abuse.”Now, Rep. Fine says he wants to take Florida in a similar direction. Next session, I will shepherd legislation to make it illegal to provide drugs or surgery to a minor for “gender assignment." — Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 4, 2022“I want to protect children from making decisions about their bodies that can’t be undone,” Rep. Fine said. “The purpose of childhood is to maintain your innocence and not make mistakes that you can’t undo,” Rep. Fine said.

In a move criticized by advocates of Florida’s open government laws, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff intervened in a public records request related to a former appointee who is reportedly connected to a federal sex trafficking investigation, documents obtained by News 6 show.

Florida homeowners are seeing their premiums jump — sometimes by more than triple — or their policies are getting dropped all together.

With lawmakers heading into a special legislative session this month, Secretary of State Laurel Lee is asking a federal court to put on hold a case that argues judges should set Florida’s new congressional districts.

Florida homeowners are seeing their premiums jump — sometimes by more than triple — or their policies are getting dropped all together.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has joined 43 attorneys general from around the county urging social media sites to allow parents the ability to monitor a child’s online activity. In a letter to TikTok and Snapchat this week, Moody and others asked the social media companies to create parental control applications and features to protect children from harmful content. I am joining a coalition of more than 40 attorneys general in an effort to convince TikTok and SnapChat to improve parental controls to help better protect kids online. As a mother, I worry about what my child may encounter online.” Moody said. Apps can also alert parents of a child’s manifestations of desire for self-harm or suicide.

Gov. Ron DeSantis this week called a special session that will be held from April 19 to April 22 to redraw congressional districts.

The judge says the state's Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters. An appeal of the ruling is expected.

A federal judge has struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, citing what he said were subtle tactics by the Republican-led government to suppress Black voters.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s sweeping overhaul of its election system, which was passed following the 2020 election, has been mostly struck down. In a lengthy federal court ruling, Judge Mark Walker struck down several provisions in the law while also ruling that Florida must obtain preclearance from the federal court before any new election laws in key areas. In his ruling the judge said, “Florida has repeatedly sought to make voting tougher for Black voters because of their propensity to favor Democratic candidates.”The case centered around the state’s crackdown on ballot drop boxes and requirements for third-party election groups. READ: Florida governor signs sweeping election changes into law, spurring legal challengesThe state is expected to appeal. 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.

Gay rights advocates are suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to block a new law forbidding classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are headed back to Tallahassee to redraw the state’s congressional maps. READ: DeSantis, Florida lawmakers sued by groups over congressional mapsDeSantis promised to veto the maps weeks ago and followed up on that promise Tuesday. DeSantis wants the maps drawn in a specific way, something he made clear when he took the unprecedented step of drawing his own. A statement issued by Florida Senate President and Speaker of the House Wilton Simpson (R-Spring Hill) outlined a post-Easter special session to redraw the maps. DeSantis’ veto of the congressional map is a continuation of his legacy to disenfranchise minority communities.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he has formally vetoed the redistricting maps approved by the Florida legislature, prompting him to call for a special session to redraw the maps again.

In a rare disagreement with the Republican-dominated Legislature, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the state's newly drawn congressional maps Tuesday, and lawmakers will hold a special session in April to redraw them. The veto puts more pressure on the Republican-dominated Legislature to approve a map and resolve any resulting lawsuits before the June 13 to 17 qualifying period for federal candidates. Florida is also creating a new 28th district because of population growth.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Tuesday morning in Tallahassee.

Pretexting scam calls are on the rise, consumer experts sayTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Get a text from an unknown number asking to meet up? READ: Florida attorney general, FTC shut down telemarketing scam targeting credit cardholdersFor more information about romance scams, similar to the wrong number text scam, view Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Swindling Sweethearts resource by clicking here. The Better Business Bureau provides further tips on how to spot red flags of fake text messages. For more information, click here. READ: Consumers lost nearly $6 billion to fraud in 2021, imposter scams top the listTo report wrong number text scams, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center here, or visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Report Fraud website here.

Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ people. DeSantis and Republicans have repeatedly said the measure is reasonable and that parents, not teachers, should be broaching subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity with their children. “We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination,” DeSantis said before he signed the bill into law. Critics say the bill is so vaguely worded that speech could be muzzled throughout public schools. DeSantis signed the bill after a news conference held at the Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, about 46 miles (74 kilometers) north of Tampa.

“You forgot to call last night after the bar. I really hoped we would have a spicy night.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — If you’re a nature lover who has been waiting to outfit your car with the new Florida State Parks license plate, you’re in luck. The Florida State Parks Specialty License Plate is now available for preorder! READ: Wreckage of whaling ship that likely sank 186 years ago found in GulfThe Florida State Parks specialty plates were authorized during the state’s 2021 legislative session. The revenue collected annually from sales will be distributed to the Florida State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit, for its “efforts to preserve, protect, sustain, and grow Florida state parks,” according to FLHSMV. For more information about Florida’s specialty license plates, click here.

With Florida's legislative session behind us, lawmakers could soon return to Tallahassee to hammer out some key items that still need to be addressed.

The number of first responders committing suicide continues to rise, according to leaders of the first comprehensive statewide task force representing firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, training and behavioral health services across Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Robotexts are now outpacing robocalls in the United States, according to data from Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office. Spam robotexts outnumbered spam robocalls last year, with Americans receiving more than 87 billion texts compared to 72 billion calls, Moody’s office said. As a result, Moody’s office has announced they are releasing “Scams at a Glance: Robotexts and Robocalls,” a resource full of information about how to spot scam messages and avoid being hacked. To help Floridians avoid fraudulent schemes related to these automated messages, I am releasing Scams at a Glance: Robotexts and Robocalls. This resource is full of information about how to spot scam messages to avoid being hacked.”READ: Why are some local street lights purple?

White House's Jen Psaki says President Joe Biden was speaking "from his heart" when he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. Biden called Putin a war criminal as the atrocities in Ukraine mount. (March 16)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — More than $37 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in February, chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis said. The Division of Unclaimed Property has returned more than $269 million to Floridians this fiscal year. Since 2017, more than $1.6 billion has been returned to Floridians in unclaimed property. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds, the Florida Department of Financial Services said. To check if you have unclaimed property, click here.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Mental health advocates are celebrating what they’re calling a big year in Tallahassee. Florida consistently ranks among the lowest for mental health funding and services, but this year’s state budget included a new line item of $126 million in recurring funds for mental health issues. “Mental health services across the board, things like mobile crisis teams, and family teams, as well as the new implementation of the three digit phone number, 988,” Eric Welch said. Lawmakers also passed three key bills to address mental health issues: SB 282 bolsters Florida’s peer specialist program, SB 1262 will make it easier for families to access emergency behavioral services, and SB 1844 aims to destigmatize mental health care for children by eliminating the court process. READ: Orange County Sheriff’s Office releases final report about Bob Saget’s death“There have been more bills with mental health around them than I have ever seen,” Welch said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Officials are warning residents of potential charity scams claiming to be raising money for an injured Florida Highway Patrol trooper. According to Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office, two fake GoFundMe campaigns are “attempting to exploit the heroic actions of Florida Highway Patrol Master Trooper Toni Schuck.”🚨CONSUMER ALERT🚨@FHPTampa Trooper Schuck risked her life to protect 10k runners & is a true hero. Trooper Schuck, in an effort to stop the driver, drove her patrol vehicle in front of the suspected drunk driver to protect the runners. WATCH: FHP trooper drives car into path of drunk driver heading toward Tampa 10KFHP said there are no authorized online fundraisers connected to the incident or to Schuck, and both campaigns have been removed. Read: State trooper saves runners’ lives after accused drunken driver ignores traffic cones, detourThe attorney general’s office warns residents to do their homework before making any donation and to report any suspicious charity to the attorney general’s office by calling 866-9NO-SCAM (866-966-7226) or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida is one step away from getting a Down syndrome specialty license plate. A bill proposing the creation of the plate unanimously passed the Florida Senate on Thursday. To become a reality, the bill just needs to be signed off on by the governor. The Down syndrome section of the bill directs the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to develop a Down syndrome awareness license plate, providing for distribution and use of fees collected from the sale of the plate. “Having this specialty plate created will support people with Down syndrome by funding programs designed for them like housing, education, and health that are otherwise underfunded or do not exist,” she said in a statement.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced he will be stepping down from his position at the end of April. Ron DeSantis praised Corcoran as a “champion for Florida students.”“He is driven by his principles and has never shied away from making the difficult decisions needed to improve the quality of education in Florida,” DeSantis said. Video: Florida Senate passes controversial Parental Rights in Education billCorcoran has served as Commissioner of Education since his appointment in 2018. Corcoran said that he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Anne and their six children. 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.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday night to use $200 million in federal stimulus money to give Gov. Ron DeSantis part of his request for a gas-tax break, as they wrapped up more of a budget that will send the annual legislative session into overtime. House Appropriations Chairman Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, and Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, approved a wide range of uses for $3.46 billion in stimulus money. That included funding the gas-tax break, which would occur in October, just ahead of the November elections. The state is flush with cash from the stimulus money and higher-than-expected tax revenues.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a consumer alert Wednesday warning residents to be on the lookout for so-called “smishing” scams. “Smishing scams are designed to entice and deceive cell phone users with urgent messages,” Moody said in a statement. It can be easy to be tricked when these alarming messages are received.”Moody’s office offered several tips on avoiding smishing scams. READ: ‘This is a sick man’: Apartment maintenance worker arrested after allegedly raping elderly womanFor more tips on how to avoid text cams, click here. To see other consumer alerts from the Attorney General’s office, click here.

All Florida government agencies would be barred from doing business with transportation companies that bring immigrants to the state who are in the country illegally under a bill sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday. The bill is a priority for the Republican governor and an effort to to keep the federal government from sending people crossing the Mexican border illegally to Florida. DeSantis, who is running for reelection this year and is a potential 2024 presidential contender, has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida Republicans on Tuesday passed a bill to forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, rejecting a wave of criticism from Democrats that it marginalizes LGBTQ people. The proposal, which opponents have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, now moves to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. Republican Rep. Joe Harding, who sponsored the measure, and other GOP lawmakers in Florida have argued that parents should be broaching these subjects with their children, rather than educators. It would not bar spontaneous discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools but instead is intended to prevent districts from integrating the subjects into official curriculum, Harding and supporters have said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The controversial “Parental Rights in Education” bill is set to face its final hurdle — a vote in Florida’s Republican-controlled Senate. If the legislation passes the Senate, it goes to the governor’s desk for his signature. READ: Florida Senate passes 15-week abortion banGov. “We don’t want the social engineering of trying to guide children in a direction, which is very tempting when you are responsible for their growth and development,” said State Sen. Dennis Baxley. These are not issues that Floridians are telling us to come to Tallahassee to fight for,” said State Sen. Lauren Book.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Monday that the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. “The Florida Department of Health is going to be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children,” Ladapo said at the end of the roundtable discussion. Late last month, Ladapo and DeSantis announced new virus policy recommendations that discouraged mask-wearing and directed physicians to exercise their own judgment when treating virus patients, including the use of emerging treatments and off-label medications. The Florida state Senate confirmed Ladapo as surgeon general despite criticism that his virus health policy is too aligned with the anti-lockdown and mandate politics of DeSantis.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Monday that the state will formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that featured a group of doctors who criticized coronavirus lockdowns and mandate policies. “The Florida Department of Health is going to be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children,” Ladapo said at the end of the roundtable discussion.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate is scheduled to vote on the “Parental Rights in Education” bill. The bill would ban teachers from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. READ: Florida lawmakers to consider change to controversial ‘Parental Rights in Education’ bill“I believe an idea that creating boundaries at an early age at what is appropriate in our schools, when we are funding our schools, is not hate. It’s actually providing boundaries and it’s fair to our teachers and our school districts to know what we expect,” he said. READ: Florida Senate passes 15-week abortion banThe Associated Press contributed to this report.

Abortion Florida FILE - Democratic Sen. Lauren Book speaks in favor of her amendment to SB 146, a proposed abortion bill in the Florida Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Abortions after 15 weeks would be banned in Florida under a proposal Republicans senators sent to Gov. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP, File) (Alicia Devine)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Abortions after 15 weeks would be banned in Florida under a bill Republican senators sent to Gov. The Florida bill contains exceptions if the abortion is necessary to save a mother’s life, prevent serious injury to the mother or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. “The only thing that we’re asking in this bill is that whatever decision you make, you do it before the 15 weeks,” said Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia. Republicans in other states have modeled legislation after a law in Texas which effectively banned abortions after six weeks.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Abortions after 15 weeks would be banned in Florida under a Republican bill scheduled for final consideration in the GOP-controlled Senate later Thursday. Republicans across the country have moved to tighten access to the procedure after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban and potentially overturn Roe v. Wade. The Florida bill contains exceptions if the abortion is necessary to save a mother’s life, prevent serious injury to the mother or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. “This bill does not ban abortion. You have the opportunity, if you so choose, to have an abortion, to have that choice.