Orange County tackles jail improvements amid ICE concerns

The Mayor's Orange County Jail Oversight Commission approved 31 recommendations Monday afternoon as it completed five months of work. Those recommendations now go to the County Commission for approval and implementation. And though the impact on...

New emergency shelter for people with special needs heading to Charlotte County

Charlotte County will soon have a new emergency shelter for people with special needs. County commissioners approved the first phase of the project during Tuesday's meeting, marking the beginning of surveying, design plans, preparation and...

Duval judge denies new trial for Death Row inmate scheduled for execution

Duval County Circuit Judge Jeb Branham on Tuesday refused to grant a new trial or resentencing hearing for a Jacksonville Death Row inmate convicted of the 1993 murder of a husband and wife. Michael Bell, 54, can appeal the decision to the Florida...

Man convicted in 1994 rape and murder of woman is 7th Florida inmate executed this year

Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal, Thomas Gudinas was executed Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison in the May 1994 murder of a woman in downtown Orlando. Gudinas, 51, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. and became the...

Hillsborough County fire crews on scene of 100-acre brush fire in Plant City

Crews say the fire started just before 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Henry George Road after multiple calls to 911. PLANT CITY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews have contained a 100-acre brush fire in Plant City. Crews say the fire...

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Battles 100-Acre Brush Fire In Plant City

PLANT CITY, Fla. – Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) is currently on scene battling a large brush fire estimated at 100 acres near Henry George Road in Plant City. The incident, which began around 1:58 PM today, was sparked by an authorized...

Warehouses proposed on Palm Beach County agricultural site

Very Low Voter Turnout in Orange County Special Elections

There has been very low voter turnout in two Orange County special elections as Democrats look to fill State Senate and State Representative positions. According to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, only about 6% of Democratic voters have...

How the town of Palm Beach brought its feral cat problem under control

Palm Beach has struggled with a large feral cat population for decades. Initial attempts to control the population through euthanasia were met with public backlash. Competition and conflict arose between different cat rescue groups over feeding...

Florida’s HB 683 Ushers in New Era of Code Review: Miami-Dade’s Strive305Hub Leads with Innovation

By Irvans Augustin and Tico Casamayor On June 13th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 683 into law. Among its notable provisions, the bill authorizes private providers to utilize automated or software-based review systems to assess...

Brevard Schools hears from small group on variety of issues

Brevard County School Board is nearing final approval of the 2025-2026 student code of conduct. Revisions were needed due to a new Florida law restricting cell phone use for elementary and middle school students. Brevard is considering banning...

Hillsborough County Property Appraiser proposes property tax credit to offset soaring insurance costs

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Florida homeowners are continuing to face mounting financial pressure as property insurance premiums skyrocket — and for one Hillsborough County family still recovering from Hurricane Milton, the burden is becoming...

Brevard County home listings asked for less money in May - see the current median price here

The median home in Brevard County listed for $389,000 in May, slightly down from the previous month's $389,825, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. Compared to May 2024, the median home list price decreased 2% from $399,000. The statistics...

Florida brother and sister are running against each other in ‘hurtful’ state senate race

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Brother And Sister Running Against Each Other In Florida State Senate Race

In an extreme case of sibling rivalry, a brother and sister are both running for the same Florida state Senate seat. The family duo is part of a longer legacy of politics and activism, but their competition has even their own mother choosing sides...

Miami-Dade School Board approves $50 million for major school upgrades

The Miami-Dade County School Board has greenlit nearly $50 million in renovations and upgrades at three district schools, commissioning two architectural firms and awarding a construction contract under the district’s General Obligation Bond (GOB)...

Special primary election in Orange County for vacant Florida House, Senate seats

MIDNIGHT. TODAY IS SPECIAL PRIMARY DAY IN ORANGE COUNTY. TWO SEATS IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE ARE OPEN, AND ONE OF THEM BELONGING TO THE LATE STATE SENATOR GERALDINE THOMPSON. STATE SENATE DISTRICT 15 COVERS NORTHWEST ORANGE COUNTY AROUND WINTER...

Florida boating accidents up slightly in 2024

The state had 685 “reportable” boating accidents last year, up from 659 in 2023, according to a recently released state report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Accidents and fatalities increased last year and that is a...

Hillsborough School Board to discuss how to deal with population growth Tuesday

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Population growth continues to boom across Tampa Bay. With more people moving here, the Hillsborough County School District has been trying to keep up, especially with the growth in south county. The recently named...

2 Florida men accused of stealing millions from trust fund for people with special needs

2 Florida men accused of stealing millions from trust fund for people with special needs STARTS RIGHT NOW. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M ALAN CAMPBELL AND I’M CHRISTINA WATKINS. HOPE YOUR MORNING IS OFF TO A GREAT START. THOUGH...