The Florida House on Thursday approved a measure allowing the state to designate domestic terrorist organizations, imposing stricter penalties and restrictions, after concurring with Senate amendments. Lawmakers voted 80-25, largely along party lines, to pass HB 1471, titled “Systems of Law and Terrorist Organizations.” The Senate had previously approved its version 25-11. The bill now…
The Avon Park Chamber of Commerce has named Raquel Embrack-Scott as its new executive director, filling the vacancy left by former director Kamla Long. Embrack-Scott, who had been serving as interim executive director, officially began her permanent role on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The chamber’s mission is to promote the interests of its members by…
The Orange County School Board unanimously voted Tuesday night to close seven under-enrolled schools, citing declining enrollment, state voucher programs, lower birth rates and shifting population patterns that have strained the district’s budget. The closures, finalized after a public hearing at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, affect Union Park Middle School and six elementary…
Miami officials say crowds along Ocean Drive remained strikingly thin over the second peak weekend of spring break 2026, as Miami Beach’s multi-year enforcement strategy of heavy police presence, street barricades, and steep parking fees continued to deter large gatherings of college students and partygoers. As the weekend kicked off this past Saturday, visitors strolling…
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas on Friday held up Lee County school leadership as a statewide model for improving struggling schools, praising Superintendent Denise Carlin as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two major education bills into law. Kamoutsas specifically spotlighted Carlin’s work with the Lee County School Board to secure pay raises for teachers in the…
Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner recently captured a commanding lead in an informal grassroots straw poll of Duval County Republican activists, securing 57.1% support in a survey that highlights early divisions in the crowded 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary. The poll, conducted over 48 hours by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida (RLC-Duval), drew…
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday issued a formal demand to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, ordering the immediate reversal of Tampa Police Department policies he says violate state law by constituting prohibited “sanctuary” practices in immigration enforcement. In a letter dated March 11, 2026, Uthmeier accused TPD of enacting guidelines that restrict officers from…
The Florida Department of State has officially designated Avon Park as a “Florida Main Street of the Month” for March 2026. The distinction places the city among only two programs selected for recognition out of more than 50 active Main Street organizations statewide. “We can’t even begin to explain how excitied we are right now,…
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday an expedited timeline for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a key component of South Florida’s Everglades restoration efforts, with construction now scheduled for completion by 2029 — five years ahead of the original 2034 target.  Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle…
