Florida

People kayak past an abandon vehicle in the intersection of Boca Ciega Drive and Pasadena Avenue Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 in St. Pete Beach, Fla.

National

Idalia extends its destruction along the southeastern U.S. coastline

5:28am August 31, 2023

Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, Fla., on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm before it was downgraded to a tropical storm. Georgia and South Carolina could see heavy wind and flooding

Jason Weida is the secretary for Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, which has been named in a lawsuit.

Health & Safety

Two families sue Florida for being kicked off Medicaid in 'unwinding' process

7:01pm August 22, 2023

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

Two children and their parents are suing the state of Florida, alleging that their Medicaid coverage was terminated without proper notice or a chance to contest the state agency's decision.

Lawmakers, teachers, school board members and parents gather for a town hall meeting on new Florida curriculum standards for Black history on Thursday in Miami Gardens, Fla.

A lot is happening in Florida education. These are some of the changes kids will see

8:39pm August 14, 2023

by Ayana Archie

The Florida education system has been in the spotlight lately after Gov. Ron DeSantis banned diversity and inclusion programs in public colleges and approved a controversial social studies curriculum.

A copy of the book "And Tango Makes Three" is photographed on a bookstore shelf in Chicago in 2006. Months after access to the popular children's book about a male penguin couple hatching a chick was restricted at school libraries, a central Florida school district says it has reversed that decision.

Shakespeare and penguin book get caught in Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' laws

5:10pm August 08, 2023

by The Associated Press

Students in a Florida school district will be reading only excerpts from William Shakespeare's plays for class rather than the full texts under redesigned curriculum guides.

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, Florida's governor, speaks during a campaign event in Salix, Iowa, on May 31.

AP psychology class may be available to Florida students after all

12:04pm August 05, 2023

by The Associated Press

After saying the state had effectively banned the class because of content on sexual orientation and gender identity, the College Board said it hoped teachers would be able to teach the full course.

Dick DeVos (left) and former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos watch from courtside seats during a game between the Orlando Magic and the Brooklyn Nets on March 26 in Orlando, Fla. The Magic is owned by the DeVos family.

NBA players' union says Orlando Magic donation to a DeSantis super PAC is 'alarming'

4:35pm August 04, 2023

by Ayana Archie

The team donated $50,000 to a super PAC that backs the Florida governor's presidential ambitions, The union said team donations should reflect the diversity of values of the players.

Supporters cheer as Vice President Harris addresses the 20th Quadrennial Convention of the Women's Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday in Orlando.

Harris says she won't debate DeSantis on new Black history standards in Florida

11:53am August 02, 2023

by Deepa Shivaram

In Orlando, Vice President Harris rejected Gov. Ron DeSantis' invitation for a discussion about the state's new curriculum on slavery, calling it an "unnecessary" debate.

Bessy Hernandez, 73, sells fruits and vegetables at the Tropicana Flea Market produce stand. Hernandez's sales have dropped 40 percent in recent months as a result of the new Florida immigration law.

Sales are way down at a Florida flea market. A new immigration law could be to blame.

11:47am August 02, 2023

by Claudia Grisales

Florida's new strict immigration law threatens the state's economy and could hurt political ambitions for some GOP candidates. Vendors at a popular flea market are already seeing the impacts.

In this image provide by NOAA, a fish swims near coral showing signs of bleaching at Cheeca Rocks off the coast of Islamorada, Fla., on July 23.

With Florida ocean temperatures topping 100, experts warn of damage to marine life

4:51pm July 26, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

The startling 101.1 reading was recorded in Manatee Bay, near Everglades National Park. The rising ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, are already endangering nearby coral, experts say.

A row of mailboxes tagged with evacuation notices during the Oak Fire in Mariposa, Calif., in July 2022. Many residents in the area are losing their home insurance because of rising wildfire risk.

How climate change could cause a home insurance meltdown

4:29pm July 24, 2023

It's increasingly expensive and difficult to get home insurance, as losses rise from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. And the solutions aren't always politically popular.