State Sen. Linda Stewart has announced her candidacy for Orange County Commission District 3.

Florida’s Supreme Court ruled Monday that ballot measures aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana and protecting access to abortion can go to the voters in November.

In Florida, state law requires that people report a body that they come across to the proper authorities.

Two Central Florida lawmakers aim to set a new state standard for the maximum amount of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

Orange County lawmakers Friday backed a longshot proposal that could essentially return to the Walt Disney Co. control of a special taxing district that was revamped after Gov. Ron DeSantis got into a feud with the entertainment giant.

After a News 6 investigation uncovered there are no state regulations for commercially storing lithium-ion batteries, News 6 reached out to every state representative and senator in Central Florida to see if new rules can be created.

Carlos Guillermo Smith joins Justin Warmoth on "The Weekly."

Florida Sen. Linda Stewart is eager to help roll out a year-round school pilot program. The Florida Department of Education will accept five applications from schools statewide.

Gov. DeSantis sign into HB 891 into law, establishing a four-year pilot program for year-round schooling in Florida.

Following its approval in the Florida House of Representatives on Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis officially signed the “Heartbeat Protection Act” into law.

A new study by Carfax data scientists found that 153,000 catalytic converters were stolen across the country in 2022.

A new study by Carfax data scientists found that 153,000 catalytic converters were stolen across the country in 2022.

The Florida Senate is taking up a bill to allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit right now. The bill, HB 543, already passed the Florida House.

The Public Safety Bill passed the Senate Com on Fiscal Policy, but it came with a lot of public comment from people weighing in on both sides of the issue.

A new bill filed in the Florida Senate is set to get results for renters by requiring landlords to disclose information about flood zones.

State Sen. Linda Stewart has announced a bill that would require instruction of Asian American culture and history.

Millions of Floridians have mortgages that require insurance companies to be financially rated.

Her murder sparked mandatory changes for apartment buildings across Florida. News 6 investigator Merris Badcock found that even though Miya’s Law went into effect earlier this month, many of the protections for renters may not be enforceable until next year.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law aimed at increasing physical safety for renters that was named after a 19-year-old woman believed to have been killed by a maintenance worker at her apartment complex.

Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, called for an immediate moratorium on the Florida gas tax Friday, calling for Gov. Ron DeSantis to take action and provide “immediate fuel price relief” for Florida residents.

Democratic state lawmakers are set to hold a news conference Monday morning to address the new Florida law which will dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District which allows Walt Disney World to self-govern.

Central Florida lawmakers are responding to News 6’s investigations into Orlando FreeFall.

Renters in Florida are one step closer to new protections after the Senate unanimously passed Miya's Law on Friday.

The fight to change Florida’s sexual assault law appears to be destined to fade away this legislative session, leaving a potential loophole for anyone accused of raping someone incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.

SB-868, sponsored by State Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), unanimously passed in the Florida Senate vote Tuesday but there is growing concern the vote will end there.

On Monday, the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee took the first step to eliminate language in the current sexual battery statute 794.001 that provides what critics called a loophole for sexual attacks against intoxicated men and women.

More than 1,050 manatees have died in Florida so far this year, a little less than double the number killed in 2020.

Following the death of Miya Mercano, the family and lawmakers said a new piece of legislation has been agreed on, with the goal to protect the physical safety of Florida's tenants.

A new Florida bill seeks harsher penalties against illegal street racing, spectators and anyone filming or recording a race.

The department is working on a timeline of 5 business days to update and reset accounts as information is reviewed and account holders are contacted.

The couple told News 6 there were no problems with their DEO accounts until they “recertified.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs into law a bill requiring day care facilities to install alarms in their transport vans.

Florida lawmakers are responding after two foster children reportedly shot at deputies Tuesday night.

The alarms will alert drivers if something or someone is left in the backseat.

ORLANDO – Some lawmakers want to upgrade daycare vans with alarms that would go off if something or someone is left in the backseat. Florida is second in the nation in hot car deaths, a bill aimed to lower this number is facing hurdles. According to KidsandCars.org, a national nonprofit aimed at ending hot car deaths, Stewart is right. Florida ranks second behind Texas for hot car deaths, and Texas already passed a law requiring daycare vans to have backseat alarms more than eight years ago. The Stewart’s Senate bill is likely to make it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Sources told News 6 DEO Director Dane Eagle had expected to make the presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee to present the anticipated cost of revamping the system. They include retain the already existing system, custom development of a new system, a so called commercial off the shelf system, or another state agency system. One plan presented is spending about $155 million over the next two years to improve and modernize the current system. Stewart predicts the cost of revamping the current system could easily exceed $10 million that would be added to the $119 million the state already invested into the system last year. State Sen. Randolph Bracy plans to be all ears Monday when Florida’s DEO Director presents the findings of a recent audit regarding the state’s aging unemployment system.

Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity website Connect may be weeks away from being tossed and replaced if Florida lawmakers like State Sen. Linda Stewart, (D) of Orlando, and State Rep. David Smith, (R) of Seminole County, have their way. The two are part of a growing number of legislators who want the aging system replaced by new technology that would be capable of handling the anticipated demand for state unemployment benefits. Several lawmakers including State Rep Anthony Sabatini, (R) of Lake County, and State Rep Randy Fine, (R) of Brevard County, said they want to see what is most cost effective first. DEO director Eagle said he hired ISF INC., an IT and strategy firm, to investigate the Connect system. He also plans to ask the legislature for an additional 108 employees to train on the Connect system.

ORLANDO, Fla. – State Sen. Linda Stewart (D) of Orlando launched a holiday food drive Monday to collect canned goods for families struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic. 1 in unemployment,” Stewart said. “We are experiencing food insecurity all over central-Florida,” Stewart said from her office Monday. ”They can come anytime day or night to drop off canned foods or non-perishable goods.”Stewart’s staff set up a plastic bin she called “nothing fancy” outside of her Orlando office to make drop off of food donations easy. The office is located at 1726 S. Bumby Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806If you have an unemployment issue you can contact makendsmeet@wkmg.com

“We’re going to continue to have this problem day after day, week after week,” the veteran lawmaker said before her latest drive to the capitol. “This is not going to go away, like COVID-19 it’s not leaving.”Stewart along with State Sen David Simmons, State Sen. Victor Torres and State Rep. Anna Eskamani have worked with News 6 to open channels with the DEO to review dozens of cases that have been delayed for 10 weeks or more. “There’s very few people (in the DEO) who have the ability to make those changes,” a frustrated Stewart said. If you have an unemployment benefits issue fill out the form below and email it to makeendsmeet@wkmg.comWe will get it to the DEO through your state representatives’ office. Application status:Have you received any money, if yes, have you received both state and federal?

The state reported a total of **** resident deaths and **** non-resident deaths Thursday, for a cumulative total of **** deaths. The new method of reporting COVID-19 related deaths across the state comes as Sen. Linda Stewart tweeted Wednesday that the state may take a new approach to reporting hospitalizations as well. The city of New Smyrna Beach approved a face mask mandate Wednesday, following Daytona Beachs lead. While both cities approved the mandate, Volusia as a whole has not approved required face mask use county-wide. Allegiant Air is now requiring travelers to wear a face mask for the duration of their flight, while American Airlines resumed booking flights to capacity Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Florida Department of Health reported a record-breaking 10,109 new cases of COVID-19 since the same time the day before, as well as 67 new Florida-resident deaths, 1 new non-resident death, and 325 new hospitalizations. The state reported a total of 3,617 resident deaths and 101 non-resident deaths Thursday, for a cumulative total of 3,718 deaths. The new method of reporting COVID-19 related deaths across the state comes as Sen. Linda Stewart tweeted Wednesday that the state may take a new approach to reporting hospitalizations as well. The city of New Smyrna Beach approved a face mask mandate Wednesday, following Daytona Beachs lead. While both cities approved the mandate, Volusia as a whole has not approved required face mask use county-wide.

ORLANDO, Fla. Donnas Law, a bill that does away with the statute of limitations for sexual assaults involving victims who are minors, was recently signed into Florida law by Gov. Hedrick kept the painful secret to herself for decades, long past the four years victims between 16 and 17 years old have to report a sexual assault. Somebody is going to come after them someday.Come July 1, the formerly complicated guidelines for youth to report sexual assaults will be done away with. This is a major win for survivors and shows the true power of speaking out and sharing your story. Over the years, time limitations have continued to expand for victims, but the time has finally come for them to be removed altogether for minors.

LAKE EOLA, Fla. – Over a dozen protesters gathered in Lake Eola Park Wednesday to bring attention to delays in jobless benefits from the state's unemployment system. The rally was part of the “Fix It DEO” day, which brought together unemployed workers in Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee. Jennifer Kane drove from Melbourne to attend the protest and said she's been waiting for more than 12 weeks for jobless benefits. "People are struggling and they need the money and they need the money now," she said. State Sen. Linda Stewart of Orlando is meeting with the Governor’s staff Wednesday to talk about the people still waiting for benefits.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Wednesday will be Fix It DEO day in Orlando, Tampa, and Tallahassee for Fix-It Florida, a grassroots group fighting to bring attention to the delays in states jobless benefits for hundreds of unemployed Florida workers. Michelle Geist a furloughed Disney reservation employee told News 6 she founded the Orlando chapter because of so many single moms still waiting for jobless benefits from the Department of Employment Opportunity. Judy Tanzosch of Fix it Florida s Tallahassee chapter said she is still waiting for benefits after she was furloughed from her job in construction services on March 27. Geist said they are hoping 100 or more show up at all three locations to get the word out. She told News 6 she supports the Fix it Florida effort because the Department of Employment Opportunitys log jam is very real.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida agency that handles unemployment benefits said they recently had a “data security incident” that may have compromised information from Floridians seeking unemployment. The incident exposed full names and Social Security numbers of some people who have applied for unemployment benefits, according to the Department of Economic Opportunity. The Department of Economic Opportunity said they had to deal with a data security incident associated with reemployment assistance claims, otherwise known as unemployment benefits, according to the DEO. When people apply for unemployment benefits they must include personal information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers. How did the security incident happen?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nearly 170,000 first-time unemployment claims were filed last week in Florida, as the coronavirus-caused surge continues, according to an estimate from the U.S. Department of Labor. Florida’s number --- part of a second consecutive week of 6.6 million claims being filed nationwide --- was down from the prior week. The total is 58,599 fewer than in the prior week, when Florida was listed as receiving a record 228,484 claims. Over the past three weeks, more than 472,000 claims have been filed. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, which oversees the state’s unemployment system, is set to release March unemployment numbers on April 17.