A false stabbing report in Lady Lake led police and a sheriff’s helicopter to search a Hammock Oaks neighborhood; investigators say the report was fabricated.

Volcano Bay will close from Oct. 26, 2026 through Mar. 24, 2027 for a major refurbishment, pausing some pass sales and reshaping travel plans for Orlando visitors.

R. Fred Lewis, a former Florida chief justice and civics‑education advocate, has died at 78. The Florida Supreme Court will hold lying‑in‑state and a memorial in June.

A missing 2‑year‑old in Sanford was found in a nearby lake and is hospitalized in life‑threatening condition, police said.

Embry‑Riddle's new analysis finds U.S. commercial flying is statistically safer than many common activities, even as rare 2025 crashes raised global fatalities.

FDLE arrested 26‑year‑old Jordan Castillo after investigators say he traveled to Polk County to meet a juvenile; he faces multiple second‑degree felony counts.

Gov. DeSantis signed HB 925, letting clerks retain more fees and fines; analysts estimate millions will flow to county court offices beginning July 1, 2026.

Researchers argue the strongest storms are getting stronger and have floated a hypothetical Category 6; Florida forecasters say the official scale isn't changing. The debate matters for local preparedness and rebuilding.

A 30,000‑square‑foot Arte Museum is planned at ICON Park, expected to break ground this August with a late‑2027 opening.

Google has filed with the EPA to test Wolbachia‑treated male mosquitoes in Florida, proposing 16M releases per year for two years to cut disease‑carrying populations.

Light rain Saturday morning; scattered storms likely after noon with spotty heavy downpours. Beaches face a moderate rip current risk.

Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon is retiring after about 30 years of state service, the agency said Friday.

An Ocala woman claimed a $1 million Gold Rush Legacy scratch-off bought at a Belleview Publix and accepted a $640,000 lump-sum payout when she collected the prize in Tallahassee.