A new report released by WalletHub ranks several Florida cities among the best and worst-run in the United States based on how effectively local governments manage their budgets while delivering public services. Tallahassee ranked as the best-run city in Florida and 18th overall out of 148 major U.S. cities evaluated in the 2025 report. Jacksonville…
It has been 20 years since citrus greening—also known as Huanglongbing (HLB)—was first detected in Florida. In that time, the bacterial disease has reshaped the state’s iconic citrus industry, slashing orange production considerably, decimating family-run groves, and turning the future of Florida orange juice into a multimillion-dollar question. First confirmed in south Miami-Dade County in…
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a new initiative aimed at supporting federal immigration enforcement officers stationed in Florida, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents. According to the official press release, in response to recent demonstrations in California that involved incidents of violence and property damage, Uthmeier stated…
Sheldon James Biddle, 25, of Ormond Beach, is being charged with threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted, Biddle faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on April 2, 2025, Biddle made a threat to take the life of the President of the United…
Florida posted one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country last month, according to a newly released report from property data analytics firm ATTOM. The state ranked second nationally for foreclosure filings in May 2025, with one in every 2,536 housing units impacted. The report, released Tuesday, highlights a troubling trend for several Florida…
Florida is no stranger to murky waters, but new research out of Georgia is raising fresh concerns about what might be hiding beneath the surface—and it’s not just alligators. A recent study by the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology has uncovered dangerously high levels of mercury in the blood of alligators from the…
Will robots soon be taking care of us when we get sick? It might not be too far from reality. A Clearwater-based healthcare technology company is teaming up with Mayo Clinic in Florida to explore how artificial intelligence can reshape hospital care. hellocare.ai, which develops AI-driven tools for inpatient environments, announced Tuesday it has entered…
Last night the Florida State Parks announced the passing of Lu the hippopotamus, a cherished resident of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for more than six decades. The post stated that Lu, who recently celebrated his 65th birthday, was more than just a longtime inhabitant of the park — he was a living…
Can we save the Florida manatee before it’s too late? Well, according to the most current data from 2023, the Florida manatee population numbers around 8,800, but hundreds of them die off of Florida’s coasts every year with around another hundred ending up at rescues like Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership. Despite a gradual decrease in annual…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially removed COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from its recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, following an announcement by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The change marks a significant shift in national vaccination guidance, coming after years of evolving…
Bay County health officials have issued a 60-day rabies alert after two foxes in the Bayou George area tested positive for the deadly virus. The infected animals were killed near the east end of John Pitts Road on May 20 and May 26, prompting the Florida Department of Health in Bay County (DOH-Bay) to take…
John P. “Jack” Heekin, once responsible for advising on death penalty cases in Florida, now holds the reins as the top federal prosecutor for the state’s northern region. Sworn in this morning by Chief District Judge Mark E. Walker, Heekin becomes the 42nd U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida—a post that puts him…
As Florida heats up this summer, there’s no better way to cool down than by dipping into the Sunshine State’s famous clear blue springs. With year-round temperatures averaging a refreshing 72°F, these natural swimming holes are a go-to for locals and tourists looking to beat the heat — and they’re especially perfect for summer 2025….
Legislation aimed at protecting animals during emergencies is now in the hands of Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill, known as “Trooper’s Law” (CS/SB 150), passed unanimously in both chambers of the Florida Legislature and was officially presented to the Governor on May 23, 2025. If signed into law — or allowed to pass without the…
When the television series Yellowstone first aired, it captivated viewers with its drama, scenery, and cowboy grit—but for those paying attention, it was more than just a hit show. It was a warning. A warning that Floridians—especially as car washes quietly popped up on every street corner—should have taken to heart. (Seriously, who is approving…
The Florida Supreme Court is expediting legal proceedings in the case of death row inmate Anthony Floyd Wainwright, following the signing of a death warrant by Governor Ron DeSantis. Wainwright is scheduled to be executed at 6:00 p.m. on June 10, 2025, for the 1994 murder of a Florida woman. The case, Anthony Floyd Wainwright…
In a scandal that reads more like a reality TV plot than a federal indictment, the former Chief Operating Officer of Jackson Health Foundation has been charged with masterminding a million-dollar kickback scheme — allegedly using stolen nonprofit funds to bankroll a lifestyle of designer handbags, luxury gadgets, and even a rose gold-colored golf cart…
Flooding for coastal areas in Florida is likely to get worse, according to data from the past year. The data, provided by the National Sea Level Explorer, a government website, reveals that Florida’s sea levels have increased by 7 inches from the 1970s to the present day, highlighting the ongoing impact of climate change on…
Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc., a Florida farm located in Boynton Beach, after a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections sickened at least 26 people across 15 states. The cucumbers, distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. of Delray Beach, Florida, were shipped to retailers,…
Residents who think they can legally harvest berries from their own backyards may want to think again. Under Florida law, picking the olive-shaped fruit known as saw palmetto berries without proper authorization can result in significant fines and even criminal charges. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), officers respond to numerous…
When most people think of Florida, the images that come to mind usually include swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches, and endless sunshine. And while those visions are certainly part of the picture, they don’t tell the whole story. Beyond the paradise-like Instagram photos, there’s another side to the Sunshine State that most tourists —…
NatureMills US Inc. has issued a nationwide recall of multiple food products—including rice mixes, soups, spice blends, porridge mix, papads, and vadam—due to the presence of undeclared wheat, milk, and sesame. Individuals with allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients risk serious or potentially life-threatening reactions if these products are consumed. The recalled items were distributed…
Following a recent fatal alligator attack in the Tiger Creek area of eastern Polk County, local law enforcement and wildlife officials are urging residents and visitors to exercise caution near the water. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Sergeant Michael Hill were recently photographed holding a newly installed warning sign intended to alert the public…
A proposed rule change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is stirring controversy as it seeks to narrow the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)—a move that could significantly weaken protections for threatened wildlife, including many species found across Florida. The federal government aims to overturn a 1981 regulation that…
A licensed Orlando physician has admitted to illegally injecting silicone oil into patients’ buttocks during cosmetic procedures performed at his office and home, despite the practice being banned due to serious health risks. Nhan Pham, 54, of Orlando, pleaded guilty to receiving and offering to deliver an adulterated medical device, a violation of the Federal…
While parts of the central U.S. were inundated with record-setting rainfall and deadly storms last month, Florida baked under hot, dry skies, according to the latest April 2025 U.S. Climate Report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today. April brought unseasonably high temperatures and drier-than-average conditions to much of the Sunshine State,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers, tattoo artists, and retailers to immediately stop using or selling specific Sacred Tattoo Ink products after laboratory testing revealed contamination with potentially harmful bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The affected products include: Use of contaminated tattoo inks can result in serious infections, particularly because the tattooing…
A man and woman from Florida died after falling roughly 380 feet from Inspiration Point, a scenic overlook known for its sweeping views at Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. The victims, identified as 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, were discovered by fellow park visitors on Tuesday, April 29. According to the Garfield County…
With year-round sunshine, a booming tourism industry, and a growing network of indie creatives, Florida is quietly becoming a haven for actors and filmmakers looking to break into the industry — without the sky-high costs and competition of Hollywood. Orlando native Dalton Burdette, 28, is part of that movement. A filmmaker who writes, directs, and produces…
According to a report released on March 7 by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the total cost of health care provided to illegal immigrants in Florida was about $659.88 million in 2024. This release is the most recent update to the Hospital Patient Immigration Status Dashboard. This dashboard details the total number of emergency department visits and…
