BREAKING NEWS
Madeline Sotoโs accused killer has โconfidential informationโ about case, defense claims
Read full article: Madeline Sotoโs accused killer has โconfidential informationโ about case, defense claimsThe man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto is asking a judge to delay an upcoming court hearing because his attorneys have recently obtained โconfidential informationโ related to the case, court records show.
Beware of fake JOANN websites offering deep discounts
Read full article: Beware of fake JOANN websites offering deep discountsWith a popular retailer going out of business, scammers have quickly set up fake โgoing out of businessโ websites to take advantage of shoppers looking for bargains.
Accused FSU gunman was โkidnappedโ as a child, court records show
Read full article: Accused FSU gunman was โkidnappedโ as a child, court records showWe are learning more about the 20-year-old Florida State University student accused of committing a mass shooting Thursday from court records from his parents' years-long custody battle.
This group tells Florida cities how much growth they need to account for
Read full article: This group tells Florida cities how much growth they need to account forThe Bureau of Economic Business and Research is contracted by the state to tell cities and counties how much growth they need to accommodate in the coming years.
Progress Report: Central Florida homelessness 4 months after new state law
Read full article: Progress Report: Central Florida homelessness 4 months after new state lawIn 2024, Gov. DeSantis signed a bill to force local governments to dismantle homeless camps. Here's how the law has affected the fight against homelessness, and how a group of journalists are trying to raise awareness.
โA problem in Central Florida:โ Concerns mount over illegal dumping in Orlando neighborhood
Read full article: โA problem in Central Florida:โ Concerns mount over illegal dumping in Orlando neighborhoodNews 6 investigated concerns about an illegal dumping site in Orlando, near the Boggy Creek area.
What are non-arrest cases? Examples like these prompted new state attorney policy
Read full article: What are non-arrest cases? Examples like these prompted new state attorney policyCiting a backlog of more than 13,000 non-arrest cases, State Attorney Monique Worrell implemented a new policy this month, limiting the types of non-arrest cases her office would accept from law enforcement.
Former IRS commissioner warns of phishing and smishing schemes as tax deadline nears
Read full article: Former IRS commissioner warns of phishing and smishing schemes as tax deadline nearsWeโve all gotten them: unsolicited text messages and emails, seemingly harmless but secretly after your information. And with the tax filing deadline approaching, you may see an uptick.
โHelp! Iโm shot:โ New video shows gunman wounding 2 Orlando police officers
Read full article: โHelp! Iโm shot:โ New video shows gunman wounding 2 Orlando police officersNearly two years after a wanted fugitive shot and wounded two Orlando police officers, video and documents recently obtained by News 6 reveal how the violent encounter unfolded.
Miami school bus cameraโs blurry license plate photo led to $225 ticket. Volusia man fined says โthatโs not meโ
Read full article: Miami school bus cameraโs blurry license plate photo led to $225 ticket. Volusia man fined says โthatโs not meโA school bus camera program to fine violators is under fire in Miami-Dade County by people claiming they are being accused of "bogus violations" -- including a Volusia County man who got a $225 fine, even though he says he wasn't even in Miami Beach.
Stephan Sterns, accused of killing Madeline Soto, appears as lawyers ask to ban public from court hearings
Read full article: Stephan Sterns, accused of killing Madeline Soto, appears as lawyers ask to ban public from court hearingsThe man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto is asking a judge to ban the public, including members of the press, from attending his pre-trial court hearings.
Future of Social Security: More than half of Americans fear benefit cuts
Read full article: Future of Social Security: More than half of Americans fear benefit cutsWith the Social Security trust fund projected to run out by 2035 and absent any reforms, current payroll taxes will only be able to fund 83 percent of the scheduled benefits.
โI fell for it:โ Central Florida man loses thousands in cryptocurrency scheme
Read full article: โI fell for it:โ Central Florida man loses thousands in cryptocurrency schemeA Central Florida man lost tens of thousands of dollars in a cryptocurrency investment scheme that started with an โaccidentalโ text message.
Waiting for a stimulus check? Better Business Bureau warns of taxpayer scam
Read full article: Waiting for a stimulus check? Better Business Bureau warns of taxpayer scamIn December, the Internal Revenue Service announced it would send payments to eligible taxpayers who didnโt receive one or more stimulus checks during the pandemic. Now, fraudsters are impersonating the IRS to steal info, says the Better Business Bureau.
State shuts down Central Florida hot tub company following News 6 investigation
Read full article: State shuts down Central Florida hot tub company following News 6 investigationThe owner of a company accused of selling defective hot tubs has been barred from operating any business in Florida and must pay thousands of dollars to the state as part of an agreement with Floridaโs Attorney General, court records show.
Bitcoin blackmail scheme targets Central Florida residents
Read full article: Bitcoin blackmail scheme targets Central Florida residentsScammers are sending blackmail emails to people claiming to have embarrassing videos and demanding payment via bitcoin. One of News 6's meteorologists has received several of these messages.
Haines City couple falls victim to wire fraud during home purchase
Read full article: Haines City couple falls victim to wire fraud during home purchaseA Haines City couple found themselves in a financial nightmare after cybercriminals intercepted the money they were sending for a down payment on their new home.
Stephan Sterns, Madeline Sotoโs accused killer, asks judge to ban public from court hearings
Read full article: Stephan Sterns, Madeline Sotoโs accused killer, asks judge to ban public from court hearingsThe man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto is asking a judge to ban the public, including members of the press, from attending his pre-trial court hearings.
โStrike in the buttocks:โ Osceola deputy subject of sexual harassment complaint
Read full article: โStrike in the buttocks:โ Osceola deputy subject of sexual harassment complaintA lieutenant with the Osceola County Sheriffโs Office accused of making a female employee โuncomfortableโ by touching her hair and striking her in the buttocks with his lanyard was cleared of violating the agencyโs sexual harassment policy, records obtained by News 6 show.
Madeline Sotoโs accused killer seeks suppression of cell phone evidence
Read full article: Madeline Sotoโs accused killer seeks suppression of cell phone evidenceThe man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Madeline Soto is asking a judge to throw out evidence investigators found on his cell phone and online Google Drive account.
Is this Florida Man the worldโs most annoying neighbor? You decide
Read full article: Is this Florida Man the worldโs most annoying neighbor? You decideSeminole Countyโs infamous โjunk manโ whoโs frustrated neighbors with his unsightly yard for 25 years is commemorating the anniversary of his very first county code violation.
IRS warns taxpayers about ghost preparers promising big refunds
Read full article: IRS warns taxpayers about ghost preparers promising big refundsAs tax season begins, the IRS is warning taxpayers about ghost preparers - individuals who complete tax returns for others but refuse to sign them or provide an official identification number.
Watch the 6-part series followed by a live Q&A with News 6 Investigator Mike DeForest
Read full article: Watch the 6-part series followed by a live Q&A with News 6 Investigator Mike DeForestThe disappearance and death of 13-year-old Madeline Soto rocked Central Florida and attracted the attention of people from all across the U.S.
Widows of firefighters face uphill battle for benefits promised under Florida law
Read full article: Widows of firefighters face uphill battle for benefits promised under Florida lawIn 2019, Florida lawmakers passed SB 426, a law designed to provide cancer benefits for first responders, including firefighters, diagnosed with 21 specific types of cancer.
Competition to collaboration: Central Florida news outlets join forces on homelessness crisis
Read full article: Competition to collaboration: Central Florida news outlets join forces on homelessness crisisA new state law restricting individuals from sleeping on public property is shaking up communities across Florida but has also inspired an unprecedented journalism collaboration uniting 10 news outlets to tell the complex stories behind the issue.
Port Orange man warns others after falling victim to $100,000 scheme
Read full article: Port Orange man warns others after falling victim to $100,000 schemeBob Hovan, 77, of Port Orange, is sharing a painful lesson after losing more than $100,000 in a complex scheme involving a fraudulent stock buyback.
Florida part of nationwide Direct File expansion by IRS. What does that mean?
Read full article: Florida part of nationwide Direct File expansion by IRS. What does that mean?The Internal Revenue Service is expanding its Direct File program to all 50 states following a successful pilot in 12 states, including Florida.
Madeline Sotoโs mother feared โWoody Allen situationโ between boyfriend and daughter
Read full article: Madeline Sotoโs mother feared โWoody Allen situationโ between boyfriend and daughterAs detectives were searching for missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto last winter, Sotoโs mother expressed concerns about the close relationship that had formed between her 37-year-old former boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, and her young daughter.
While searching for Madeline Soto, detectives simultaneously questioned key witnesses
Read full article: While searching for Madeline Soto, detectives simultaneously questioned key witnessesTwo days after Madeline Soto failed to show up at school last February, Orange County Sheriff John Mina held a news conference seeking information from the public about the missing 13-year-old.
Beds, laws, lawsuits: The math of homelessness in Central Florida
Read full article: Beds, laws, lawsuits: The math of homelessness in Central FloridaCentral Florida faces a stark โmath problemโ when it comes to addressing homelessness. Available resources simply donโt add up to meet the demand. The challenge has been further complicated by new legislation known as the Florida Homelessness Reduction Act, which went into effect last October.
Drones that fell during Orlando show were supposed to remain over Lake Eola, documents show
Read full article: Drones that fell during Orlando show were supposed to remain over Lake Eola, documents showThe lighted drones that fell from the sky during a holiday show in Downtown Orlando and injured a 7-year-old boy were supposed to fly above Lake Eola at a safe distance away from crowds, documents obtained by News 6 reveal.
Former Disney World district board broke no criminal laws, investigation finds
Read full article: Former Disney World district board broke no criminal laws, investigation findsMembers of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District board of supervisors broke no criminal laws prior to Gov. Ron DeSantis appointing a new board to oversee Walt Disney Worldโs special taxing district, newly-released government records reveal.
New images show state inspection of Disney World monorail
Read full article: New images show state inspection of Disney World monorailNewly-released images from the Florida Department of Transportation show engineers conducting the stateโs first-ever inspection of the Walt Disney World monorail system shortly after FDOT was granted oversight authority last year.
โCustomer service crisisโ at Social Security Administration leaves Florida family in limbo
Read full article: โCustomer service crisisโ at Social Security Administration leaves Florida family in limboThe Social Security Administration is dealing with a customer service crisis, leaving thousands of families waiting for their disability benefits applications to be reviewed.
Lost leadership: How a small Florida town nearly found itself without a mayor for 10 days
Read full article: Lost leadership: How a small Florida town nearly found itself without a mayor for 10 daysA town of just 1,800 residents nearly found itself without a mayor due to a puzzling standoff over election procedures.

Florida troopers helped detain hundreds of illegal migrants in Texas, new records reveal
Read full article: Florida troopers helped detain hundreds of illegal migrants in Texas, new records revealFlorida Highway Patrol troopers, accompanied by Texas law enforcement officers, helped locate and detain more than 1,600 undocumented immigrants near the Mexico border between mid-February and mid-August while assisting with the arrests of alleged human traffickers, drug smugglers and gang members, agency records obtained by News 6 show.

1990 child rape evidence โdisposedโ by Melbourne police, thwarting arrest
Read full article: 1990 child rape evidence โdisposedโ by Melbourne police, thwarting arrestEvidence related to the 1990 rape of an 11-year-old girl was disposed by the Melbourne Police Department sometime over the past three decades, a newly released audit reveals, but the agency cannot determine when or why it was destroyed or who authorized it.
Florida researchers want to stop cows from burping. Hereโs why
Read full article: Florida researchers want to stop cows from burping. Hereโs whyCows produce your milk and beef, but what these big animals belch up is a big contributor to climate change. Researchers at the University of Florida are working to find a solution.
Beware of fake student loan forgiveness offers
Read full article: Beware of fake student loan forgiveness offersIn 2022, President Biden introduced a plan to relieve thousands of dollars in student debt for low to middle-income borrowers. However, the plan faced several challenges, and scammers have exploited this uncertainty.
TIMELINE: News 6 investigation changes Florida law on safe lithium-ion battery storage
Read full article: TIMELINE: News 6 investigation changes Florida law on safe lithium-ion battery storageA News 6 investigation resulted in a new law that allows the State Fire Marshal to establish new safety rules for storing and charging lithium-ion batteries. Here is the timeline of how our investigation progressed.
Solar panels at Orlando apartment complex mean lower bills for tenants
Read full article: Solar panels at Orlando apartment complex mean lower bills for tenantsRenters at an Orlando apartment complex are among the first in the nation to start using solar energy to reduce their individual electric bills.
Voters in Marion, Orange counties to fund school construction with sales taxes
Read full article: Voters in Marion, Orange counties to fund school construction with sales taxesVoters 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.
AARP issues election scam warning to protect voters from last-minute schemes
Read full article: AARP issues election scam warning to protect voters from last-minute schemesWith Election Day just around the corner, AARP is urging voters to remain vigilant against potential scams and misinformation campaigns that often target voters as they head to the polls.
โThey got me:โ Popular podcast invitation schemes target social media, credit card info
Read full article: โThey got me:โ Popular podcast invitation schemes target social media, credit card infoAs podcasts gain popularity, many individuals are receiving enticing invitations to appear as guests on well-known shows.
Central Florida tax preparers plead guilty to fraud charges
Read full article: Central Florida tax preparers plead guilty to fraud chargesThree tax preparers accused of fraudulently helping Central Florida customers obtain large income tax refunds have pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
โWe have a crisis situation:โ Voters in Marion, Orange counties to decide whether to fund school renovations
Read full article: โWe have a crisis situation:โ Voters in Marion, Orange counties to decide whether to fund school renovationsVoters 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.
Fake podcast invites promise money, but steal your social media
Read full article: Fake podcast invites promise money, but steal your social mediaNames like Fearne Cotton, Rachel Hollis and even Tony Robbins can catch your attention, offering to feature you as a guest on their podcasts. They may even promise as much as $3,000 for a 45-minute interview. But, as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it often is.
4 times in 7 years: How much will FEMA pay to purchase this flooded Ormond Beach home?
Read full article: 4 times in 7 years: How much will FEMA pay to purchase this flooded Ormond Beach home?An Ormond Beach couple hopes the federal government will approve their application to purchase their flooded home, but they fear they could be shortchanged in the process.
Floridaโs election supervisors discuss handcounting ballots, polling place challenges ahead of Nov. 5
Read full article: Floridaโs election supervisors discuss handcounting ballots, polling place challenges ahead of Nov. 5In a recent discussion, Central Florida election supervisors addressed a range of concerns about the upcoming election, including polling place accessibility and the potential impact of hand-counting ballots.
How Floridaโs election supervisors try to build and maintain trust in the voting process
Read full article: How Floridaโs election supervisors try to build and maintain trust in the voting processAs election season approaches, Central Florida's election supervisors are confronting not only logistical challenges but also ongoing skepticism from election deniers.
Millions of dollars intended for surrogates vanished, families claim
Read full article: Millions of dollars intended for surrogates vanished, families claimA Central Florida couple who recently became parents through surrogacy is among hundreds of families worldwide who claim theyโve been defrauded by an escrow company that was supposed to handle payments to surrogates.
Intimidation, apathy worry Central Floridaโs election supervisors ahead of November vote
Read full article: Intimidation, apathy worry Central Floridaโs election supervisors ahead of November voteIn a recent interview with News 6, election supervisors from five Central Florida counties shared their thoughts on the upcoming November election, highlighting both optimism and concern.
โUS Marshals had a warrant for my arrest:โ Orlando man exonerated after spending 2 years in prison
Read full article: โUS Marshals had a warrant for my arrest:โ Orlando man exonerated after spending 2 years in prisonAn Orlando man has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Orlando and several Orlando police officers after spending two years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Researcher: Orlando homeless arrests up significantly ahead of new law banning sleeping in public
Read full article: Researcher: Orlando homeless arrests up significantly ahead of new law banning sleeping in publicA University of Central Florida researcher claims the homeless population in downtown Orlando already faced a rising number of arrests ahead of a new state law that will ban sleeping on public property.
Unemployment woes: Salespersonโs story triggers wave of requests as Floridians face delays
Read full article: Unemployment woes: Salespersonโs story triggers wave of requests as Floridians face delaysEver since News 6 featured an Orlando salesperson who waited more than three months for Florida unemployment benefits, Make Ends Meet has received an additional 17 requests from viewers with the same issue.
Orlando family evicted from affordable housing complex despite overpaying rent
Read full article: Orlando family evicted from affordable housing complex despite overpaying rentA mother and her children faced eviction from their affordable housing unit in Orlando last month despite overpaying her rent by more than $1,000.
โWe have a homeless problem:โ What is Melbourne doing about it?
Read full article: โWe have a homeless problem:โ What is Melbourne doing about it?News 6 viewers said the number of homeless people on the streets of Melbourne has risen over the last few years, and they are concerned about what is being done about it.
โI just found out I have prostate cancer:โ News 6 reporter shares unexpected journey
Read full article: โI just found out I have prostate cancer:โ News 6 reporter shares unexpected journeyNews 6 investigator Erik Sandoval was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024. His investigation uncovers the push to get more younger men screened.
Florida prosecutors: No convictions of bringing a weapon on school property in last 5 years
Read full article: Florida prosecutors: No convictions of bringing a weapon on school property in last 5 yearsA News 6 investigation has uncovered Florida prosecutors have not reported one conviction for bringing a weapon on a school campus over the last five years, despite law enforcement making 40 arrests.
A look at the evidence against Madeline Sotoโs accused killer
Read full article: A look at the evidence against Madeline Sotoโs accused killerA police dog trained to identify the scent of dead bodies โalertedโ on a car belonging to missing 13-year-old Madeline Sotoโs mother, while traffic cameras captured videos of the motherโs boyfriend driving around Central Florida with the teenโs lifeless body in the front seat of his car, according to investigators.
Why did Stephan Sterns make a 300-mile trip while investigators searched for Madeline Soto?
Read full article: Why did Stephan Sterns make a 300-mile trip while investigators searched for Madeline Soto?While police were still searching for missing 13-year-old Madeline Soto in February, the man now accused of murdering the teen allegedly took a mysterious, early-morning road trip to Southwest Florida.
โWe want it stopped:โ Neighbors turn to News 6 for help shutting down Marion County drug house
Read full article: โWe want it stopped:โ Neighbors turn to News 6 for help shutting down Marion County drug houseResidents say there is a drug house in their community that law enforcement cannot control.
A closer look at Madeline Sotoโs home and what investigators found there
Read full article: A closer look at Madeline Sotoโs home and what investigators found thereNewly released crime scene photos reveal what detectives found inside the condominium where 13-year-old Madeline Soto lived with her mother Jennifer and Jenniferโs boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, just before the teen disappeared in February.
Hereโs how the search for Madeline Soto began after she was reported missing
Read full article: Hereโs how the search for Madeline Soto began after she was reported missingNew details are emerging about law enforcementโs efforts to locate 13-year-old Madeline Soto after she failed to show up for class at Hunterโs Creek Middle School in February and was reported missing.
Draft of new Florida safety rules outline ways to prevent lithium-ion battery fires
Read full article: Draft of new Florida safety rules outline ways to prevent lithium-ion battery firesThe Florida Department of Financial Services held its first hearing in Tallahassee on Thursday designed to help craft new safety rules on the storage of lithium-ion batteries.
Draft of new Florida safety rules outlines ways to prevent lithium-ion battery fires
Read full article: Draft of new Florida safety rules outlines ways to prevent lithium-ion battery firesThe Florida Department of Financial Services held its first hearing in Tallahassee on Thursday designed to help craft new safety rules on the storage of lithium-ion batteries.
Melbourne family faces $12K electric bill after meter tampering
Read full article: Melbourne family faces $12K electric bill after meter tamperingA Melbourne family has been stuck with a $12,000 electric bill after their power company discovered someone had tampered with their meter limiting how much usage was being reported.
Florida lawmakers struggle to curb roofing fraud in insurance market
Read full article: Florida lawmakers struggle to curb roofing fraud in insurance marketCora Hayes and her husband had just replaced the roof on their Ocala home when she says they were approached by an employee from another roofing company.
Orlando man waited more than 3 months for unemployment benefits
Read full article: Orlando man waited more than 3 months for unemployment benefitsAfter reviewing his records, Make Ends Meet confirmed salesperson David Catalanoโs account is active and eligible for $3,300, but is on hold due to a โpending issue awaiting adjudication determination.โ
Lawmakers: New Florida law cuts down on teacher โindoctrination.โ Critics disagree
Read full article: Lawmakers: New Florida law cuts down on teacher โindoctrination.โ Critics disagreeAs Central Florida students head back to school, a new law has taken effect, impacting what teachers can be taught.
Are those online 5-star reviews too good to be true? Hereโs what to look for
Read full article: Are those online 5-star reviews too good to be true? Hereโs what to look forA former federal investigator has uncovered a pattern of positive reviews that she is convinced are the product of 5-star fakes for sale.
Florida Highway Patrol spent millions sending troopers to Texas-Mexico border
Read full article: Florida Highway Patrol spent millions sending troopers to Texas-Mexico borderThe Florida Highway Patrol spent at least $13.5 million over 10 months deploying troopers to the U.S.-Mexico border, records show. Thatโs about the same cost as hiring 48 new troopers with vehicles.
Property insurance market shows โsigns of stabilization,โ Florida says
Read full article: Property insurance market shows โsigns of stabilization,โ Florida saysIn crisis for years, Florida's troubled property insurance market is showing small signs of improvement, according to the state Office of Insurance Regulation.
โSomething illegal is going on:โ Homeowner receives more than 600 traffic citations, toll bills addressed to strangers
Read full article: โSomething illegal is going on:โ Homeowner receives more than 600 traffic citations, toll bills addressed to strangersSeveral times a week, Pattie Malone stops by her neighborhood mailbox and pulls out a large stack of envelopes that often includes traffic citations, parking tickets, and tollway invoices.
Osceola sheriff accused of sharing Madeline Soto crime scene photo. Hereโs his response
Read full article: Osceola sheriff accused of sharing Madeline Soto crime scene photo. Hereโs his responseAfter the state attorney threatened to place him on a database dedicated to law enforcement officers accused of misconduct, the Osceola County Sheriff is trying to clear up what he says is a โmisinterpretation of a quoteโ surrounding a controversial crime scene photo posted on social media.
โWeโre hiring!โ A tech companyโs search for โcyber heroesโ
Read full article: โWeโre hiring!โ A tech companyโs search for โcyber heroesโThreatLocker, a cybersecurity firm based in Orlando, is significantly expanding its workforce in response to a growing wave of cyber-attacks targeting businesses across the United States.
How โBradyโ lists help prosecutors track police misconduct
Read full article: How โBradyโ lists help prosecutors track police misconductWhen a law enforcement officer who has been accused of untruthfulness or other misconduct is preparing to testify at a criminal trial, prosecutors have a constitutional duty to notify the defendant about the officer's background.
State attorney questions Osceola sheriffโs truthfulness over Madeline Soto crime scene photo
Read full article: State attorney questions Osceola sheriffโs truthfulness over Madeline Soto crime scene photoFour months after Osceola County Sheriff Lopez posted a crime scene photo on Instagram that allegedly showed the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, the state attorney is raising questions about inconsistent statements made by the sheriff during an investigation into the confidential image.
โThe hotel burned down,โ but a Florida womanโs reservation refund was denied
Read full article: โThe hotel burned down,โ but a Florida womanโs reservation refund was deniedA Maitland woman, who spent hundreds of dollars to secure a hotel room for a trip to Mississippi, was denied a refund after the hotel caught fire and shut down.