Florida

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2 Men Executed an Hour Apart
2 Men Executed,
One Hour Apart

2 Men Executed, One Hour Apart

Richard Lee Tabler executed in Texas after James Dennis Ford put to death in Florida

(Newser) - Texas and Florida both carried out executions Thursday night, about an hour apart:
  • In Florida, James Dennis Ford was put to death via lethal injection, USA Today reports. In 1997, Ford invited his co-worker Gregory Malnory and Malnory's wife, Kimberly, on a fishing trip to a sod farm. They
...

Teen Who Made Hundreds of Swatting Calls Sentenced

Alan Winston Filion, 18, also threatened bombings, mass shootings

(Newser) - A California teenager behind hundreds of swatting calls and bomb threats has been sentenced to four years in federal prison. According to a plea agreement, Alan Winston Filion, 18, made more than 375 such calls across the US threatening religious institutions, high schools, historically Black colleges, and even the Pentagon...

A Spring Break Destination Tries to Keep Partiers Away

Miami Beach has new PSA out meant to discourage young revelers

(Newser) - Spring break is around the corner, but partygoers headed for Miami Beach won't find much of a party, at least not according to the city's newest PSA, per Axios . The 90-second ad is shot like a commercial for a reality-TV series, showing a group of beautiful college-age youth...

Girl, 7, Dies While Drag Racing at Florida Track

'Funday Sunday' at Orlando Speed World Dragway turned tragic for Elienisse Rodriguez

(Newser) - A first-grader has died "while she fulfilled her dream"—drag racing on a Central Florida racetrack. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers from the Orange County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about the accident on Sunday around 11am at the Orlando Speed World Dragway, during...

After Gov. DeSantis' Term Ends, a New Gov. DeSantis?

Florida governor's wife Casey is reportedly considering gubernatorial run

(Newser) - Who will be the next governor of Florida after term-limited Ron DeSantis leaves office? It could well be the next Gov. DeSantis. Five sources tell NBC News DeSantis' wife, Casey, is considering her own gubernatorial run next year. Speculation about such a run has long swirled, but the sources say...

At Site of 12-Story Condo Collapse, a New 12-Story Condo

New luxe project is already underway at site of former Champlain Towers South, which killed 98 people

(Newser) - A Dubai-based developer plans to build a 12-story luxury condominium project on the South Florida site where a building collapsed in 2021, killing 98 people. DAMAC International said Tuesday that it planned to build The Delmore on the site where the Champlain Towers South partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida, in...

Cop Swapped Kilo of Cocaine With Fake From 3D Printer

Florida officer James Hickox sentenced to 17 years for stealing seized drugs from DEA

(Newser) - A Florida police officer has been sentenced to more than 17 years behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, cash, and firearms from federal investigations and admitting that he once went so far as to swap cocaine seized by the US Drug Enforcement Administration with a fake kilo made...

Florida Lawmakers Pass the TRUMP Act

Republican lawmakers pass sweeping immigration bill

(Newser) - Florida lawmakers passed a sweeping immigration bill Tuesday, setting aside half a billion dollars in public funds to help carry out President Trump's crackdown on those in the country illegally. Following more than four hours of deliberations on Tuesday, Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature passed the measure largely along party...

Cops: 100 Juveniles Were Drinking at Principal's Party

Florida elementary school Principal Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan charged with child neglect

(Newser) - The hot spot for underage drinking in Cocoa Beach, Florida, appears to have been the home of an elementary school principal. Police say they responded to a call about a large house party earlier this month and found a juvenile on the front lawn so "heavily intoxicated" that they...

In Unusual Move, Florida Republicans Defy DeSantis

As his gubernatorial era starts to wind down, his hold over lawmakers may be weakening

(Newser) - In Florida, it's game on between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's Republican lawmakers. In a stunning rebuke to DeSantis, who was once floated as the Republican successor to President Trump, Florida lawmakers on Monday gaveled in a special session called by the governor to help carry out...

Children's Author, Husband Beat Kids With 'Whacker'

Florida's Jennifer Wolfthal, Joseph Wolfthal get prison time after guilty plea for child abuse, neglect

(Newser) - A Florida children's book author and her husband, a Lockheed Martin engineer, have pleaded guilty in a child abuse and neglect case involving their three adopted kids. USA Today reports that last week, 45-year-old Jennifer Wolfthal was sentenced to 12 years behind bars, while 43-year-old Joseph Wolfthal received a...

Indicted NYC Mayor Headed to Mar-a-Lago

Eric Adams says trip is for 'New Yorkers' priorities,' but some think he's fishing for a Trump pardon

(Newser) - Everyone's headed down to South Florida these days to pay a visit to President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, and now Eric Adams will join those ranks. A rep for the New York City mayor, Fabien Levy, tells the AP that Adams will be meeting with Trump on Friday...

DeSantis Names Marco Rubio's Successor in the Senate
DeSantis Names
Florida's Next Senator

DeSantis Names Florida's Next Senator

She's state Attorney General Ashley Moody

(Newser) - Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio's seat in the US Senate, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday, making Moody only the second woman to represent Florida in the chamber. Elected as the state's top law-enforcement officer in 2018, Moody campaigned on a pledge to voters that...

For Blue Origin, 'We Did It! Orbital'

After previous delays, New Glenn rocket finally embarks on first test flight

(Newser) - Blue Origin launched its massive new rocket on its first test flight on Thursday, sending up a prototype satellite to orbit thousands of miles above Earth. Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida, soaring from the same pad used...

As Clock Counts Down, Blue Origin Scraps Launch
Blue Origin
Scraps Its
Big Launch

Blue Origin Scraps Its Big Launch

Rocket delayed for unspecified issue in final minutes before it was to blast off from Florida

(Newser) - Blue Origin called off the debut launch of its massive new rocket early Monday because of technical trouble. The 320-foot New Glenn rocket was supposed to blast off before dawn with a prototype satellite from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. But launch controllers had to deal with an...

Florida Cops: Teen Driving at 151mph Killed 6 Adults
TikTokker Who Killed 6
in Crash Takes Plea Deal
UPDATED

TikTokker Who Killed 6 in Crash Takes Plea Deal

Noah Galle, who was 17 at time of Florida crash, avoids possible minimum sentence of 55 years

(Newser) - A 20-year-old Florida man who was driving at 151mph when he killed six farmworkers in a 2022 crash has taken a plea deal, avoiding a possible minimum sentence of 55 years. Noah Galle, who was 17 at the time of the Palm Beach County crash, was sentenced to 12 years...

Matt Gaetz Has His Eye on a New Job

Former rep is considering a gubernatorial run in Florida

(Newser) - With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leaving his post in two years due to term limits, some have speculated controversial former lawmaker Matt Gaetz might run to replace him. Now Gaetz himself is stoking that speculation. "I am starting to think about running for governor" in 2026, Gaetz tells the...

Major Citrus Grower Gives Up on Florida

Alico says it will wind down operations after the current crop is harvested

(Newser) - A major grower said this week it was abandoning its citrus growing operations in Florida, reflecting the headwinds the state's signature crops are facing following a series of hurricanes and tree diseases. Alico Inc. announced Monday that it planned to wind down its citrus operations after the current crop...

Plane Arrives in Florida With 2 Dead

Bodies found in JetBlue landing gear during routine check

(Newser) - JetBlue employees made a grim discovery while checking over a plane that landed in Florida on Monday. Two people were found dead in the landing gear compartment during a "routine post-flight maintenance inspection" at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport around 11:30pm, the airline said, per the Miami Herald . "...

Before Death, Ex-Deputy Admits to 1979 Killings

John Greer identified as killer of Jackie Greer, Adele Easterly in Florida

(Newser) - Florida sheriff's deputy John Greer reported his wife's death on Aug. 27, 1979, telling police he heard a "pop" and saw smoke coming from a closet before finding Jackie Greer dead inside. A little more than two months later, he reported finding the body of 25-year-old Adele...

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