WEATHER ALERT
Civil rights groups ask to extend voter registration deadlines in hurricane-ravaged states
Read full article: Civil rights groups ask to extend voter registration deadlines in hurricane-ravaged statesDemocrats and civil rights groups are asking election officials in the states ravaged by Hurricane Helene to give voters more time to register for the Nov. 5 presidential election.
North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Read full article: North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene floodingNorth Carolina health workers are distributing Benadryl and epinephrine injections to communities after hurricane flooding has caused bees and yellow jackets to swarm from their underground nests.
DeSantis signed Florida education bill that includes book complaint changes
Read full article: DeSantis signed Florida education bill that includes book complaint changesFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping education reform bill that includes, among other things, limits on the number of book challenges a person can make if they are not a parent of a student in a school district.
These are the best places to live in Florida. Which city ranked No. 1?
Read full article: These are the best places to live in Florida. Which city ranked No. 1?The ranking examines factors like crime rates, education quality, affordable housing and weather — among many others — to determine which areas of the state are the most desirable.
What’s Florida Highway Patrol doing at the Mexico border? Here’s what we saw
Read full article: What’s Florida Highway Patrol doing at the Mexico border? Here’s what we sawNews 6 just returned from the Mexico border, where troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol were seen taking part in Operation Lone Star, an initiative launched by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021 to combat illegal immigration.
Federal lawsuit against Florida school district that banned books can move forward, judge rules
Read full article: Federal lawsuit against Florida school district that banned books can move forward, judge rulesA federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit may move forward against a Florida Panhandle school district over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities from library shelves.
Your Florida Daily: Couple accused of throwing man off bridge, state lawmaker sued by anti-Semitic group member
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Couple accused of throwing man off bridge, state lawmaker sued by anti-Semitic group memberA couple in the Florida Panhandle is accused of kidnapping a man, cutting his throat, robbing him and throwing him off a bridge.
Florida deputy and motorist survive being swept through storm drain amid huge rainstorm
Read full article: Florida deputy and motorist survive being swept through storm drain amid huge rainstormA Florida sheriff’s deputy and a motorist are lucky to be alive after they were sucked into a storm drain during a torrential downpour.
Ex-NFL player Hillis recounts rescuing son, niece from rip current off Florida beach
Read full article: Ex-NFL player Hillis recounts rescuing son, niece from rip current off Florida beachFormer NFL running back Peyton Hillis says that when his mother pointed to his son and niece drowning in the ocean, he just ran for the water.
4 airlifted to hospitals after 8 rescued at Florida Panhandle beach
Read full article: 4 airlifted to hospitals after 8 rescued at Florida Panhandle beachOfficials say eight people were rescued at a Florida Panhandle beach as weather forecasters predicted a high chance for rip currents in the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida won’t help with any Trump extradition request, Gov. DeSantis says
Read full article: Florida won’t help with any Trump extradition request, Gov. DeSantis saysShould New York ask Florida for help in bringing former President Trump in after his indictment, the state of Florida will not assist with that extradition request, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday after the news that a grand jury voted to indict the former president.
Reports: Peyton Hillis in ICU after swimming accident off Florida coast
Read full article: Reports: Peyton Hillis in ICU after swimming accident off Florida coastFormer NFL running back Peyton Hillis is doing better Friday after being hospitalized in critical condition from a swimming accident off the coast in Pensacola, according to Hillis’ family and reporters close to the story.
Florida girl, 16, not ‘mature’ enough for abortion, court rules
Read full article: Florida girl, 16, not ‘mature’ enough for abortion, court rulesAn appellate court has upheld a lower court ruling that a parentless 16-year-old girl in the Florida Panhandle is not “sufficiently mature” to end her pregnancy while seeking a waiver from a state law requiring minors to get parental consent for an abortion.
Florida ranks fourth for total reported STD cases nationwide, study shows
Read full article: Florida ranks fourth for total reported STD cases nationwide, study showsFlorida ranked fourth in the country for total reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases in a June study released by Innerbody Research, an organization providing health information and research.
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs ‘Immigration Enforcement’ law
Read full article: Florida Gov. DeSantis signs ‘Immigration Enforcement’ lawGov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill into law at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he said contained a set of continuing steps meant to “keep illegals out of the state of Florida.”
Gov. DeSantis’ office seeking director for renewed Florida State Guard, 400 recruits
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis’ office seeking director for renewed Florida State Guard, 400 recruitsThe office of Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced its search for a part-time director to lead the reestablished Florida State Guard, as well as for the 400 guard members they will oversee
Frontier shares photo of baby delivered mid-flight on plane heading to Orlando
Read full article: Frontier shares photo of baby delivered mid-flight on plane heading to OrlandoFrontier Airlines posted a photo of a baby delivered mid-flight on a plane heading to Orlando in a widely-shared social media post.
Missing 14-year-old Pensacola girl found safe, officials say
Read full article: Missing 14-year-old Pensacola girl found safe, officials sayA missing child alert issued Friday for 14-year-old Naiomi Wicker was cancelled the same day after the case was resolved and the girl was found safe, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Gov. DeSantis seeks to restore Florida State Guard. Here’s why
Read full article: Gov. DeSantis seeks to restore Florida State Guard. Here’s whyFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced over $223 million in new defense-related funding for the upcoming state budget at a press conference in Pensacola on Thursday.
Navy officer accused of fatally shooting husband as he spoke to 911, officials say
Read full article: Navy officer accused of fatally shooting husband as he spoke to 911, officials sayOfficials say a 34-year-old chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy is accused of locking her husband in their garage and fatally shooting him as he spoke to a 911 dispatcher.
TRACK, MODELS, UPDATES: Fred becomes tropical storm again on path toward Florida Panhandle
Read full article: TRACK, MODELS, UPDATES: Fred becomes tropical storm again on path toward Florida PanhandleThe remnants of Fred are expected to regenerate back into a tropical storm over the warm Gulf of Mexico waters Sunday.
New Florida law includes Freedom Week. Here’s what that means
Read full article: New Florida law includes Freedom Week. Here’s what that meansFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a tax relief package into law that includes the state’s first-ever Freedom Week and extends the state’s Back to School tax-free period.
‘She’s a smart cookie:’ Florida girl purposely got blue slime on would-be kidnapper’s arms
Read full article: ‘She’s a smart cookie:’ Florida girl purposely got blue slime on would-be kidnapper’s armsA Florida girl says she purposely got blue slime on the man who tried to kidnap her, thinking it would be good evidence against him.
Hero: Homeless Army veteran pulls man from burning vehicle in Florida
Read full article: Hero: Homeless Army veteran pulls man from burning vehicle in FloridaA homeless Army veteran is being called a hero for pulling the driver of a burning car to safety following a head-on crash in Florida’s Panhandle.
Land, ahoy: Boat falls on Florida interstate
Read full article: Land, ahoy: Boat falls on Florida interstateCRESTVIEW, Fla. – A 38-foot boat fell of its trailer on Thursday, landing in the road and blocking traffic for three hours. The Crestview Fire Department posted pictures on Facebook showing the giant vessel stretched across the travel lanes. A considerably large boat is blocking westbound traffic.... Posted by Crestview Fire Department on Thursday, March 25, 2021“Just getting ready for hurricane season,” another said. “Finally, we would also recommend pre-trip planning, follow the weather and road conditions. AdUse the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com Strange Florida newsletter, sent every Friday.
‘You guys just got a great white shark:’ Fishing charter captain talks about rare catch
Read full article: ‘You guys just got a great white shark:’ Fishing charter captain talks about rare catchIn an interview with News 6, the Pensacola charter fishing captain shared details about the moment he helped reel in an estimated 12 to 13-foot female great white shark to shore. AdUnfortunately, his story changed due to medical reasons and shifted to a new adventure: shark fishing. “I went to captain school, got my captain’s license, and for the last three years I’ve been running shark fishing charters off of Pensacola Beach under Big John Shark Fishing Adventures,” McLean explained. John McLean with Big John Shark Fishing Adventures (John McLean)On March 3, he said he was contacted by a group of seven people from Idaho who were looking for the ultimate fishing trip. “I looked at it and I was like, is that a great white?
Florida man gets 20 years in prison for fatal drug-related crash
Read full article: Florida man gets 20 years in prison for fatal drug-related crashPENSACOLA, Fla. – A Florida man has been sentenced to 20 years and three months in prison for being high on drugs when he caused a crash that killed two siblings. Hunter Black, 26, was sentenced Tuesday in Escambia County circuit court after pleading no contest to two counts of DUI manslaughter and one count of marijuana possession, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The other vehicle’s driver, Antoinette McCoy, 22, and her brother, Sean Banks, 15, were seriously injured in the crash. The siblings were airlifted to a Pensacola hospital, where they died, officials said. An analysis of his blood sample, taken after the crash, revealed the presence of Xanax and cannabis in his system, prosecutors said.
Explosion destroys 5 garbage trucks in Florida
Read full article: Explosion destroys 5 garbage trucks in FloridaPENSACOLA, Fla. – An explosion and fire destroyed five garbage trucks and damaged two others at a sanitation complex in the Florida Panhandle. The flames erupted Sunday afternoon at the station in Escambia County, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority said in a statement. [TRENDING: 1 dead in Rolls Royce crash | Mom, boyfriend arrested after toddler drowns | How to get the vaccine in Fla.]No injuries were reported but five trucks were destroyed in the fire. Two others were damaged, and the authority was assessing all other vehicles for any further damage. The authority said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Florida county administrator’s office was illegally bugged
Read full article: Florida county administrator’s office was illegally buggedPENSACOLA, Fla. – The office of a Florida county administrator was illegally bugged last year, but investigators don’t yet know who was responsible. Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger told the Pensacola News Journal that the agency was contacted Aug. 1 about a hidden recording device in the office of Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley. The case was closed in late September when investigators couldn't develop additional information, Plessenger said. “I didn’t want to be overreacting, but it was recommended to me that we do a sweep,” Gilley said. Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said Gilley told him about the discovery of a device and that the FDLE was sweeping all of the offices on the fourth floor of the county building for more devices.
President Trump should pardon himself to stop ‘radical left,’ Florida Congressman says
Read full article: President Trump should pardon himself to stop ‘radical left,’ Florida Congressman saysPENSACOLA, Fla. – Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said President Donald Trump should pardon himself and others in his administration before leaving office to prevent the “radical left” from prosecuting them. The Panhandle Republican and close Trump ally said Tuesday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” that the president should protect his staff from what he thinks would be unjust prosecutions. [TRENDING: Puppy pried from gator’s mouth doing OK |15-year-old girl dies after overdosing]Some Democrats have called on the incoming Biden administration to investigate Trump and other members of his administration for possible crimes such as conspiring with the Russians during the 2016 campaign, illegal campaign contributions and obstruction of justice. “President Trump should pardon Michael Flynn,” Gaetz said. “He should pardon the Thanksgiving turkey.
Hurricane Zeta forces Florida Panhandle voting sites to close early
Read full article: Hurricane Zeta forces Florida Panhandle voting sites to close earlyPENSACOLA, Fla. – Early voting locations in several counties in Florida’s Panhandle will be closing as Hurricane Zeta approaches the region. While Hurricane Zeta is expected to make landfall south of New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon, Florida's western Panhandle region is expected to see deteriorating weather conditions throughout day, officials said. The voting locations should return to the normal 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. routine on Friday and Saturday, which is the last day for early voting in Florida. Similar hours have been posted for early voting locations in Santa Rosa County. In neighboring Okaloosa County, Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said all early voting locations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution," as the storm approaches.
Wildfires and hurricanes disrupt final weeks of 2020 census
Read full article: Wildfires and hurricanes disrupt final weeks of 2020 censusThe Census Bureau is contending with several natural disasters as wildfires and hurricanes disrupt the final weeks of the nations once-a-decade headcount. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)ORLANDO, Fla. – Already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic and a tightened deadline, the Census Bureau must now contend with several natural disasters as wildfires and hurricanes disrupt the final weeks of the nation's once-a-decade headcount. A coalition of cities and civil rights groups are suing in federal court in San Jose, seeking an extra month. “This is not usually the time of the year that the Census Bureau is doing the counting." In some places where census takers cannot go out, they are trying to reach households by phone, according to Census Bureau officials.
Hundreds of thousands still without power in Sally cleanup
Read full article: Hundreds of thousands still without power in Sally cleanupWhile the cleanup pressed on, the record-shattering hurricane season notched another milestone: Forecasters ran out of traditional names for storms after three new systems formed in about six hours. In Loxley, Alabama, Catherine Williams lost power and some of her roof to Sally. The same practice will govern storm names for the rest of hurricane season, which lasts until the end of November. The only other time the hurricane center dipped into the Greek alphabet was the deadly 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Katrina's strike on New Orleans. She was concerned because more than two months are left in hurricane season.
Rescuers reach people cut off by Gulf Coast hurricane
Read full article: Rescuers reach people cut off by Gulf Coast hurricane(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)PENSACOLA, Fla. – Rescuers on the Gulf Coast used boats and high-water vehicles Thursday to reach people cut off by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, even as a second round of flooding took shape along rivers and creeks swollen by the storm’s heavy rains. Crews carried out at least 400 rescues in Escambia County, Florida, by such means as high-water vehicles, boats and water scooters, authorities said. Also on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said a new tropical depression formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters said the depression could become a tropical storm as it moves slowly over the western Gulf during the next few days. Meanwhile, Hurricane Teddy strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm in the Atlantic.
The Latest on Sally: Florida governor warns of major river flooding
Read full article: The Latest on Sally: Florida governor warns of major river floodingHurricane Sally caused the tide to rise about four feet (1.2 meters) in Pascagoula on Missisippi’s Gulf Coast. It’s chaotic.”------MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Sally has begun to spread heavy rains into the U.S. Southeast as it moves inland at a faster-than-expected pace. --PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Several boats docked at a pier in Pensacola, Florida, have sunk as Sally moved over the Gulf Coast. Kay Ivey says some areas of the state are seeing historic flood levels from slow-moving Hurricane Sally and more flooding is expected throughout the day. --MIAMI -- Hurricane Sally has decreased to a Category 1 storm as it pounds the Gulf Coast, but remains a dangerous rainmaker.
Inmate, 79, killed in attack at Florida prison
Read full article: Inmate, 79, killed in attack at Florida prisonPENSACOLA, Fla. – A 79-year-old man was killed by another inmate last week at a Florida prison, officials said. Nelson Sanderson was pronounced dead Aug. 17 following an attack at the Century Correctional Institute in Escambia County, the Pensacola News Journal reported. He was serving two life sentences for sex offenses involving a juvenile, according to Florida Department of Corrections records. Officials declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the attack or to name the attacker. The homicide investigation is being conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with assistance from the Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General.
Hero: 9-year-old Florida boy pulls dad to shore after man fractures his neck in dive
Read full article: Hero: 9-year-old Florida boy pulls dad to shore after man fractures his neck in divePENSACOLA, Fla. A 9-year-old Florida boy is being hailed a hero for pulling his father from the water after the man fractured his neck in a diving accident. Young Asaih Williams said he always plays a game in his head when he's diving with someone. If the other person doesn't emerge from the water in a set amount of time, then the boy goes in after him. Shortly after sunset, the boy convinced his dad Josh to take one last dip in the water. Despite a 100-pound weight difference between the two, Asaih channeled superhuman strength, and turned his dad over to prevent him from drowning.
Wildfires rage in Florida Panhandle; 500 evacuated
Read full article: Wildfires rage in Florida Panhandle; 500 evacuatedThe 2,000-acre (809-hectare) fire in Santa Rosa County, located just east of Pensacola, prompted the evacuation of 1,100 homes Wednesday. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that fire officials are working around the clock to contain the wildfires. Rich Aloy, with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, was patrolling Wednesday when he and other deputies rescued an older couple trapped by a burning power line. The Santa Rosa County fire began Monday when a prescribed burn by a private contractor got out of control, Fried said. In neighboring Walton County, a 575-acre (233-hectare) fire in Walton County prompted about 500 people to evacuate.