Voters in two Central Florida counties on Tuesday night said they wanted to pay a half-cent sales tax to fund repairs, renovations and maintenance costs for public schools.

A federal judge has continued to block the head of Florida’s health department from taking any more steps to threaten TV stations that air commercials for an abortion rights measure on next week’s ballot.

Voters are heading to the polls in two Central Florida counties to decide whether they want to pay a half-cent sales tax to fund repairs, renovations and maintenance costs for public schools.

Flood waters in Apopka from Hurricane Milton were still paralyzing sections of road and invading people's properties the weekend after the storm.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed an executive order directing state agencies including the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to be ready to “maintain order” at seaports amid potential impacts from the ongoing International Longshoreman’s Association strike.

News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.

All eyes are on the tropics.

With this hurricane season already breaking records, state and and local emergency management leaders are urging Floridians to start preparing now.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Land O’ Lakes.

Using Florida's "Treasure Hunt" website, residents can determine whether they have any unclaimed property reported to the state.

Floridians thinking about college for their kids have through Tuesday to lock in a payment plan through Florida Prepaid.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Wednesday at the Orange County State Attorney’s Office.

The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to take up a challenge to the constitutionality of a congressional redistricting plan, but it appears the case will not be resolved before a candidate-qualifying deadline for the November elections.

The foundation created to build a memorial to honor the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting was insolvent and unable to pay its creditors before dissolving.

Nine months after former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell asked a judge for permission to test fingerprint evidence in a 1975 quadruple murder that landed Tommy Zeigler on Florida’s Death Row, Worrell’s successor as state attorney has withdrawn the request.

News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.

A constitutional amendment requiring any expansion of gambling to be approved by Florida voters in 2018 included many forms of gaming, but not sports betting, according to attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis urging the Florida Supreme Court to reject a lawsuit to stop online sports betting in the state.

A 94-year-old Holocaust survivor who was the only one in his family to escape from a Nazi concentration camp led Florida lawmakers in prayer as a special legislative session got underway.

The Florida Legislature has returned to the Capitol for a special session where lawmakers will express their support for Israel and give Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis more talking points as he campaigns for president.

The Florida Legislature has returned to the Capitol for a special session where lawmakers will express their support for Israel and give Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis more talking points as he campaigns for president.

State lawmakers returning to the capital Monday for a special legislative session will take a up a series of bills related to Israel, security at Jewish schools, damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and school vouchers.

A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop.

A man already facing charges in a double murder in Alaska is now federally indicted on charges of threatening to kill Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

The groups who have been suing to stop the Seminole Tribe from implementing sports betting in Florida have now taken their case to the Florida Supreme Court.

Now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency ahead of Idalia’s arrival, the State of Florida’s Price Gouging law has now taken effect.

Trooper Steve is hitting the road — and taking you along for the ride!

Central Florida was in the firefight of its life 25 years ago today; half a million acres of brush burned, taking with them homes and cars while disrupting life for three months.

Rock Springs reopened in Orange County after being closed a couple days due to alligators.

A federal judge is now mulling over whether to stop a new Florida law from taking effect that some say targets drag performances.

Did you get an early wakeup call?

Ron DeSantis has emerged as a political star early in the 2024 presidential election season even as he ignores many conventions of modern politics.

A judge dismissed the case against an Orange County man who was part of the first high-profile investigation by Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., is asking Florida state legislators to approve millions of dollars to help his office and other state agencies fight lawsuits stemming from new laws and executive orders.

A plan to make questions about menstruation mandatory on forms for Florida student-athletes has officially been rescinded after substantial backlash from parents, students and politicians.

Polk County deputies responding early Saturday to a report of a crying baby near Mulberry found an abandoned newborn who medics estimated to be just an hour old, according to a news release.

Students planning to fight against Florida’s rejection of an AP African American Studies course met in Tallahassee with their attorneys, including Ben Crump, to lay out their intent for a lawsuit.

An appeals court reversed a prior decision that granted summary judgment to Stetson University after the death of a student athlete back in 2017, according to new court documents.

As crews continue to save homes along the Volusia County coast, government leaders and residents are asking about ways to build back better to withstand another hit by a strong hurricane.

A federal judge in Florida has blocked a law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in colleges.

With the Department of Business and Professional Regulations easing licensing restrictions to help people recover from Hurricane Ian, now more than ever, folks need to be vigilant when it comes to contractor scams.

Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office are set to deploy Wednesday to Lee County, which is still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the sheriff’s office said in a release.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday expanded a previously-signed executive order to declare a statewide state of emergency.

Peter Antonacci, an attorney and lifelong Florida public servant who recently was head of the new statewide election crimes unit, has passed away.

News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Central Florida residents become better drivers by being better educated.

News 6's Louis Bolden reached out to some of the Central Floridians recently charged with election fraud in Florida.

Florida voters approved Amendment 4 in 2018 to restore voting rights to nearly 1.4 million Floridian former felons, according to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

A Longwood man was indicted Wednesday following an incident in July where he killed his 3-year-old daughter and slashed the throat of his 12-year-old daughter, according to court records.

Nearly one day after Palm Island Park temporarily closed due to an “aggressive alligator,” the Mount Dora Police Department said the park reopened Monday morning.

When Julie Meier and her husband Mike left their home in Florida after selling their 7-year-old custom boat canvas and flooring business in 2020, they never imagined they would be caught between two unemployment systems for the next two years.

The man who spearheaded a movement that resulted in convicted felons getting their right to vote returned in Florida is demanding better record keeping from state officials.

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.

Gatorland, the “alligator capital of the world,” says the giant reptiles are becoming a little more active across its theme park.

Republicans in the Florida Senate passed the “parental rights in education” bill Tuesday, despite a day of debate and chants outside the chamber of “We say gay,” sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

One day after Markeith Loyd was sentenced to death, the lead prosecutor on the case announced he is stepping down as a prosecutor and headed into private practice.

Deputies said about 20 demonstrators gathered on public property yelling profanities and anti-Semitic slurs at passing vehicles, with a fight breaking out between someone and several demonstrators.

Two Republican lawmakers file a proposal that seeks to ratchet up immigration enforcement.

For the first time since Dec. 17, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on the state's response to the omicron surge in Florida.

Trooper Steve was asked, “Are gas-powered bicycles legal in Florida?”

As concern grows over whether Florida’s low-income renters are receiving the Emergency Rental Assistance funds they need, changes are happening at the state and local level to expedite some payments.

Four Central Florida counties and the State of Florida are at risk of losing their remaining emergency rental assistance funds, which could amount to millions of dollars not going to help local families who need it.

News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions and shares tips about the rules of the road, helping Central Florida residents become better drivers by being better educated.

Ten months after several clients lodged complaints against him, Orlando attorney Justin Infurna has been permanently disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court.

Florida is suing President Joe Biden’s administration claiming his immigration policy is illegal.

During a four-week period in August, 237 Florida nursing home residents died of COVID-19, according to a new report released by the senior advocacy group AARP.

A new report released by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services breaks down COVID-19 deaths by county in the State of Florida, the first time this data has been released to the public since the Florida Department of Health took down the daily COVID-19 dashboard in early June.

The State of Florida currently has billions of dollars earmarked to help local school districts through the pandemic that has not been dispersed, according to records obtained by News 6.

An appeals court in Tallahassee has granted Florida’s request to reinstate a ban on mask mandates in schools, handing a temporary win to Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration.

The Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Arnold Palmer Hospital says pediatric cases at the hospital have "skyrocketed" over the last few weeks.

A Leon County court ruled against a lawsuit that would have compelled the state ofl Florida to restore federal unemployment benefits.

Outside of the Orange County Public School headquarters, pressure is mounting for the school board to enact mask mandates with no option of opting out as parents, teachers and educators call for a mask mandate.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says flags of the United States and the State of Florida will be flown at half-staff to honor Daytona Beach police officer Jason Raynor after he died on Tuesday.

Federal officials have approved a deal that will allow the Seminole Tribe to operate sports betting and add roulette and craps to its seven Florida casinos.

Major cruise lines are starting to become more active in the United States as many are either returning from a first voyage this weekend or resuming service.

A new study from the Orlando Regional Realtor's Association shows the average cost of a house in Central Florida is $315,000, driven by the booming population growth even though the pandemic.

Friday night played host to the Eustis “Hometown Celebration” at Ferran Park.

The state will receive at least $2.5 billion over the next five years and an estimated $20 billion over the course of the 30-year deal.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has once again extended the state of emergency in Florida due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has reached an agreement with the Seminole Tribe that would greatly expand gambling in state, including the introduction of legalized sports wagering.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has reached an agreement with the Seminole Tribe that would greatly expand gambling in state, including the introduction of legalized sports wagering.

Troopers responded to two crashes over the weekend in Central Florida caused by street racing and arrested three people, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Ahead of Florida’s planned expansion of vaccine eligibility, Publix has already started accepting appointments for anyone who is 50 or older. Ron DeSantis announced he would sign an executive order making anyone 50 and older eligible for the vaccine during a news briefing in Tallahassee. As of 2:40 p.m. on Friday, most appointments throughout the state were fully booked, including locations in every Central Florida county. All 730 Publix pharmacy locations in Florida offer the vaccine by appointment only. AdCVS will accept appointments for any Floridian over the age of 50 on Monday.

[TRENDING: 2 mothers, 3 kids killed in crash | ‘Manatee graveyard’ at Merritt Island Park | When will you get a COVID-19 stimulus check]The school district is hosting the walk-up vaccination sites at Colonial High School, East River High School, Freedom High School, Oak Ridge High School, and Ocoee High School. AdFlorida is providing 9,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which will be administering shots to Floridians living with HIV in eight counties, including Orange County. Leaders said community canvassers will go door-to-door in neighborhoods to help more people get the COVID-19 vaccine. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: President orders all adults eligible for vaccine by May 1 as Florida reports 5,144 new COVID-19 cases]AdFind the state-run COVID-19 dashboard below:Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on March 13. CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 5,244 new cases on Saturday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,973,109 cases since the virus was first detected on March 1, 2020.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new pilot program is launching in Orange County next week. Leaders said community canvassers will go door-to-door in neighborhoods to help more people get the COVID-19 vaccine. County officials said the concern is that some communities don’t have proper access to a vaccination site or may not have enough information. The goal of the program is to have trusted members of the community help get eligible individuals vaccinated inside their homes. AdOrange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe said that the county is actively seeking ways to increase the outreach to neighborhoods where vaccination numbers are low.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Health officials in Seminole County announced new mobile coronavirus vaccine sites that will help reach additional communities across the county. Officials said the mobile unit will be vaccinating over 300 eligible seniors and healthcare workers at the Hindu Society of Central Florida Temple in Casselberry. Another vaccine site in Sanford will open Saturday at Masjid Al Hayy Mosque on Myrtle Street. This will be the first vaccine site at a mosque in Florida, according to county officials. The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County said 52% of seniors 65 and older have received the vaccine so far.

COVID-19 vaccine may be available to general public sooner than expectedFLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – If you have an upcoming vaccination appointment in Flagler County, officials want to make sure you know what to expect before heading to the Fairgrounds. While the State of Florida – through its Department of Health-Flagler – is responsible for vaccination appointments and administration, the county continues to provide logistical and public information support. According to officials, the entire process can typically take under one hour from the scheduled appointment time. For those in Flager County who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but have not yet registered, please visit www.FlaglerCounty.org/covid for details or call the state appointment hotline at 866-201-1541. If you’re outside Flagler County and interested in registering for a COVID-19 vaccine but don’t know where to start, click or tap here for a breakdown of the process in each Central Florida county.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla – CEO of CDR Health Tina Vidal-Duart says they will be finished with vaccinating all leftover assisted living facilities in the state of Florida by the end of this week. [TRENDING: Video shows officer slamming student | Man shoots at ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend 94 times | These men are paying $55M to go to space station]“We started the process with only 10% of assisted living facilities had been vaccinated and as of this morning about 75% of assisted living facilities have been vaccinated,” Vidal-Duart said. However, the company moved so fast that it caused chaos and confusion for some assisted living facilities like Golden Pond in Winter Garden. As for assisted living facilities, we’ve completed all first doses of the vaccine. We are still administering vaccinations in the vast majority of these long-term care facilities, including 189 skilled nursing facilities and over 1,100 assisted living facilities that scheduled their clinics by Jan. 23.

“The growth in Central Florida, especially in this area, has been very significant. Any regular driver of SR-429 knows exactly what I’m talking about,” said Will Hawthorne, director of engineering for the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). Hawthorne was one of several officials who spoke recently at a virtual public forum aimed at educating the public on a planned expansion. Growth like that has not only outperformed our projections, but most of those used throughout the State of Florida,” said Hawthorne. “We have always planned to turn it into ten lanes,” Hawthorne said during the virtual meeting.

With a significantly smaller crowd for Wednesday’s presidential inauguration, lawmakers from the Sunshine State will still represent Florida at the historic event. I will be attending the inauguration of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris today. 3:15 p.m. | Biden, Dr. Biden, Harris and Emhoff receive a presidential escort to the White House. 8:48 p.m. | Biden, Dr. Biden, Harris and Emhoff attend “Celebrating America” program. 9:55 p.m. | President Biden and Dr. Biden appear on the Blue Room Balcony.

[TRENDING: How to get vaccine in Florida | Could $600 checks grow into $2,000 payments? Ron DeSantis has been asked about seasonal Florida residents and weighed in on the matter. After some conflicting answers, a press secretary from the Florida Division of Emergency Management said this applies to seasonal residents from out of the country as well. Marion County“People receiving the vaccine are not required to be full-time Florida residents. The Florida Department of Health indicated to our Emergency Management Director that they are sharing this guidance with the local health departments this afternoon.”Volusia County“There is no residency requirement.”

Florida accounts for about a fifth of the country’s wetlands and includes the Everglades, among the state’s most important environmental jewels. “The fact is that Florida’s proposed program to take over wetlands permitting doesn’t comply with federal environmental laws,” she said. Florida becomes the third state to gain broader permitting authority of wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act. Florida's request to gain sole permitting authority was launched under the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, took on that mantle and earlier this year formally petitioned the federal government to transfer that authority.

OCALA, Fla. – Late Ocala police Chief Greg Graham will be honored Friday with a celebration of life at First Baptist Church in Ocala and due to the number of people who would like to attend the event will be livestreamed online, according to Marion County Commission Chair Kathy Bryant. Graham died Sunday in a small plane crash near Dunnellon not far from the Marion County Airport. Graham’s family will be having a celebration of life at 10 a.m. Friday. The service may be viewed online here. Graham’s body was moved from the medical examiner’s office in Leesburg to an Ocala funeral home on Tuesday.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – After a recent spike in coronavirus cases on campus, Behtune-Cookman University has cancelled the remaining 2020-21 athletic season, the historically Black university announced this week. According to the university, B-CU is one of the first NCAA Division I institutions to end athletics for the remainder of the year. University officials said the decision was made after a series of meetings with athletic staff, medical and public health experts as well as state and local officials. “The risk premium is simply too high and our priority remains the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff,” Chrite said. Over the past eight days, however, we’ve noted a sudden spike in cases on campus, hence this decision.” Thompson said.

The same night, Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri publicly released the body camera footage showing the prospective from the officer who was shot. The body camera video calmed the community and the outcry from the suspects family in the latest example of body camera video exhonerating and justifying police officers actions, according to Capri. Weve had people making false complaints, the officer harassed me or said this, well lets look at the body camera video, Capri said. Body cameras make a difference, theyre a game-changer.Most large law enforcement agencies across Central Florida do have body cameras as do many of the smaller ones. The Brevard County Sheriffs Office does not have body cameras.

Monique Worrell beat out three democratic candidates to win the Aug. 18 primary election for state attorney in what was considered a crowded field with 42% of the vote. Asked if that handed her the primary election win, she said the momentum began well before those commercials aired. “I was sworn in as an Assistant State Attorney. I carried a badge in the same way that all other Assistant State Attorney’s did.”AdWorrell also had the endorsement of the current 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala. After the primary election Ayala eliminated the position of Chief Assistant State Attorney which Barra held.

On Thursday, the State of Florida reported 3,571 new coronavirus cases following a day when the state saw a record low of new cases. Floridas positivity rate, the number of people who tested positive for the first time compared to overall tests, remained below 10% on Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health has not released the positivity data for Thursday as of this publication. The World Health Organization said that a regions test positivity rate needs to be below 5% for at least 14 days to relax restrictions. The State reported 270 new hospitalized patients on Thursday, bringing the number of people who stayed in hospitals due to the virus since March to 39,428.

ORLANDO, Fla. Central Florida reported a low number of deaths and hospitalizations Sunday when the Florida Department of Health released their daily report. According to health officials, the State of Florida reported 2,583 new COVID-19 cases Saturday bringing the states running total since March to 621,586 cases. [MORE COVERAGE: Seminole County schools asks more than 100 people to quarantine after exposure to COVID-19]Thousands of Volusia County students are getting ready for the first day of school on Monday. According to Volusia County Schools, 61% of students are returning to the classroom for in-person learning. Volusia schools said almost 15% of students are using Enhanced Volusia Learning Online, which is virtual learning, but at the students own pace.

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. Flagler County wont be accepting new applications for its small business CARES Act grants, for now. The county was offering Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. After receiving nearly 1,000 applications the county closed the portal and its unclear when it will open again. The concern is that we have already accepted applications that could possibly cover the remainder of the funds allocated by the State of Florida.The county had been accepting applications until Monday afternoon. Flagler County is currently waiting for more CARES Act funds to be made available.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. A grassroots lawsuit filed by an Orange County teacher and another concerned mom has now been consolidated with the states largest teachers union, The Florida Education Association, in the battle to stop brick-and-mortar schools from reopening as ordered by Education Commissioner Richard Corcorans emergency order. Jacob Stuart, Jr. and Billy Wieland are both attorneys representing Southwest Middle School teacher Kathryn Hammond and concerned mom and nurse Monique Bellefleur. They, along with the FEA, have filed for an emergency injunction that would prevent schools from physically reopening while case continues on in court. "The injunctive relief would mean the judge would enter an order prohibiting all schools in the State of Florida from opening," Stuart said. That injunction hearing is set for Tuesday but before that happens, the attorneys representing all of the defendants, including Gov.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Starting Friday, the Volusia County Fairgrounds will operate as a state-run coronavirus testing site offering both viral and antibody testing for the next several weeks. Viral tests will be conducted using a self-administered nasal swab while antibody tests will be done using a blood draw and will offer results within 30 minutes. We are appreciative that the State of Florida responded to our request for an expedited testing site in Volusia County, said Volusia County Chair and Volusia League of Cities member Ed Kelley. Accurate and timely test results are imperative to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The testing site is expected to operate for up to four weeks, demanding on the level of demand.

[ASK TROOPER STEVE: Send safety question to Trooper Steve]The most recent question asks: Is there a grace period for when your license plate expires? Trooper Steves answer:When it comes to the date that your vehicle license plate expires it differs for every registered owner. Technically the very next day past that specific date your license plate is considered expired. But remember it is always your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle registration is current and displayed properly. [Click or tap here for more Ask Trooper Steve content]If you have a traffic question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.