CENTRAL FLORIDA

Michael Sasso has resigned from his position as vice chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, News 6 has confirmed.

One of the biggest topics if you live along the coast or in low lying areas is preparing an evacuation plan. But there are some key things to think about before evacuating.

Tornado Watch in effect for multiple Florida counties until 10 PM

Severe hail pummeled portions of Central Florida Tuesday evening, damaging windows, fences and even pool screens and lanais.

An event Friday morning was held to remember Tyre Sampson, the teenager who died last year when he fell off an attraction at Orlando’s ICON Park, News4JAX sister station WKMG ClickOrlando reports.

Dozens of Florida homeowners insured by Citizens Property Insurance are complaining about the abrupt price hike in their property insurance.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office has asked for records from a state attorney regarding a suspect in the fatal shootings last week of a TV reporter, a 9-year-old girl and a woman.

A 19-year-old Florida man is now facing three first-degree-murder charges related to a shooting that killed a television news reporter, a 9-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman.

Visitors from around the world come to the market for the strawberry shortcake.

As the country mourns the deaths of three people killed in a shooting spree near Orlando, including a TV news reporter, the father of another reporter killed on the job years back calls the violence “a gut punch.”

In the wake of a deadly shooting spree that left a woman, a 9-year-old and a television reporter dead in Central Florida, the Biden administration is criticizing Florida lawmakers for working to relax state gun laws.

Journalist Dylan Lyons was one of five people shot Wednesday in the attack that also killed a 9-year-old girl and left her mother and a photojournalist critically injured.

Three people are dead after shootings Wednesday, including a 9-year-old girl, and a television journalist who was in a Central Florida neighborhood reporting on a homicide that had occurred earlier in the day, according to Orange County Sheriff John Mina.

Scientists from the University of Florida are asking people to be on the lookout for the brown basilisk, a nonnative lizard also known as the “Jesus lizard,” because the reptiles have the potential to become invasive in Florida.

A man suspected in a mass shooting in central Florida was fatally shot by a police officer following a long chase and a carjacking.

New rules for Florida landlords and property managers take effect next week as the new year begins.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

It’s been a cloudy but dry start to the week with highs in the 60s. The clouds will remain this evening with temps falling into the upper 50s.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Nicole is expected to bring heavy wind, storm surge and flooding.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday urged voters to show up to the polls on Election Day as a strong storm bears down on the state. DeSantis is facing a challenge from former governor and current Democrat Charlie Crist.

Charlie Crist, the democratic candidate for governor visited a Jacksonville nonprofit, and Governor DeSantis rallied voters in Clay County Friday to campaign for the midterm election.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this weekend.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend.

The Orlando thrill ride where a 14-year-old boy fell to his death earlier this year is being taken down, according to a statement from the attraction’s operator, News4JAX sister station WKMG-TV reported Thursday.

Many Florida homeowners are dealing with flood damage and destruction after Hurricane Ian hit, and many do not have insurance to help them rebuild.

Prices at the pump for Florida motorists should go down Saturday as part of a temporary gas-tax break, as 27 new laws kick in this weekend.

Publix is closing stores in 11 Florida counties and modifying store hours as Hurricane Ian approaches, News4JAX sister station WKMG reported.

Florida, South Carolina and South Florida are taking steps to salvage home football games as Hurricane Ian approaches.

Rulings from several East Coast and Central Florida judicial circuits, including the Seventh Circuit (St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and other counties), are appealed to the Fifth District Court of Appeals.

A coastal shower will again be possible overnight, but the majority of the area will stay dry. Morning lows will be in the low 70s.

Police say a family of five has been found dead at a central Florida home in what appears to be a murder-suicide.

Florida’s Turnpike was shut down Monday in Central Florida as dozens of loose cows were “moo-ved” out of the roadway.

A 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a 430-foot drop-tower ride in central Florida’s tourist district appeared to slip out of his seat at the halfway mark of its plunge to the ground.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed congressional redistricting plan, lambasted by opponents because it likely would reduce the number of seats held by Black Democrats, quickly moved toward approval Tuesday as the Republican-dominated Legislature started a special session.

Hello, Gators fans.

Vic Micolucci highlights some of the local cuisines at The Players.

South Carolina is still No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll despite suffering its second loss of the season.

A man is dead after a fight with police during a wedding reception in Central Florida, News4JAX sister station WKMG reported.

The demonstrations have drawn backlash and sparked a larger conversation about the Holocaust and antisemitism in America.

Following his arrest over the weekend, Alexander Acs told investigators he killed someone in an Orlando apartment last week with a piece of asphalt, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Florida reported 1,101 manatee deaths in 2021, marking the highest number of deaths on record in a single year.

Isaiah Bowser ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns, Ryan O’Keefe had 85 yards on seven receptions, and Central Florida earned Sunshine State bragging rights by beating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday night.

First off, happy holidays to all of you Gator fans out there!

Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his fight against “critical race theory” on Wednesday morning with the announcement of new legislation that would keep the controversial teachings out of classrooms.

While many companies are offering bonuses or higher pay as a way to lure and keep workers, a central Florida business is offering a drawing for two brand new and mortgage-free houses.

Three residents of The Villages have recently been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into voter fraud, court records show.

An unprecedented 66 boats are registered to participate in The 2021 Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade on December 18, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Billy Napier arrived in Gainesville as a champion.

Authorities believe Miya Marcano was killed in her own apartment by an infatuated 27-year-old maintenance employee who had access to a master key.

Two Central Florida were arrested last week in Jacksonville after authorities found them with 240 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop.

Recent storms may have pushed a big part of a ship onto a secluded Central Florida beach.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

A state known for its famous cartoon mouse, pristine beaches and wild animal stories also served as the birthplace of some of the more popular restaurant and fast-food chains in the U.S. and beyond.

Carrying with him a Thin Blue Line Flag, a Central Florida boy -- who raises awareness and funds for those fallen in the line of duty -- ran a mile to honor fallen Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Moyers.

The run will take place at around 7:30 p.m. and will be held in Zechariah’s hometown of Central Florida.

Florida lawmakers have begun the once-a-decade process of redrawing their own district boundaries, as well as those of Congress.

Central Florida quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be out indefinitely after suffering a broken clavicle on the final play of the Knights' loss to Louisville.

We’re 1-0!

The Big 12 Conference is moving quickly to add new schools.

Barwick Banking Company will be opening its doors for the first time in St. Augustine, Florida on Monday, July 12, 2021 at 1200 Plantation Island Drive, Suite 110, St. Augustine and in Daytona Beach, Florida during the 1st Quarter of 2022.

Tropical Storm Elsa moved ashore near Horsehoe Beach in Florida’s Big Bend just before 11 a.m. after spreading downpours, strong winds and even tornadoes across North Central Flordia.

Now that News 6 has launched the pilot episode of the new Solutionaries digital newscast, we want to know what viewers thought about the premiere.

Severe weather threat continues to push away from North Florida into Central Florida, we, in Jacksonville, should be on the alert to a spectacular sunset.

Have you seen that historic train locomotive in the parking lot of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center? If not, time’s running out to go get a photo.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday slashed $900,000 in funding for programs that serve LGBTQ people in Central Florida, including a program that provides mental-health services to survivors and family members of victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting.

The storm prediction center has elevated its forecast for severe weather over Georgia. This would take place Saturday afternoon and evening, where Georgia could see two bands of severe storms.

Happy Monday!

Happy Sunday! We are off to a stormy start with widespread heavy rainfall packed with lightning and small hail tracking east across NE FL this morning. This will be very inconvenient for any morning plans and could cause localized flooding on roadways. It’s best to stay in and wait it out through the morning.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s estimate for Florida for the week ending March 27 was down from a revised count of 17,349 for the week ending March 20. Last week marked the lowest total for the state since 74,313 claims were filed during the week ending March 21, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic crashed into the state. Florida had 6,463 claims during the week ending March 14, 2020. The January numbers peaked at 69,140 new claims during the week ending Jan. 30. Florida’s jobless rate went from 4.8% in January to 4.7% in February, according to numbers released Friday by the state Department of Economic Opportunity.

The situation is threatening a number of species, including manatees, who depend on seagrass for food. AdAn expert who has spent 40 years studying manatees in Central Florida said dead manatees are being found with nearly nothing in their stomachs. Essentially, it’s an emergency.”Rose and others blame the seagrass loss for a spike in manatee deaths this winter. In all of 2020, there were 637 manatee deaths across Florida. The Indian River Lagoon system stretches 165 miles from Volusia County south to Port St. Lucie.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Continuing a trend, Florida last week posted its lowest total of first-time unemployment claims since the coronavirus pandemic exploded nearly a year ago. A similar revision upped the totals for the week ending Feb. 6, increasing the initial projection from 17,621 to 21,710. Nationally, the Department of Labor estimated 730,000 first-time unemployment claims were filed last week. The national estimate was a decrease of 111,000 from a revised estimate for the week ending Feb. 13. The national estimate for the week ending Feb. 13 had initially been 861,000.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A state senator is seeking to expand a scholarship program set up more than 25 years ago because of a massacre in Rosewood to include people whose families were directly affected by the racially motivated 1920 Ocoee Election Day riot in Central Florida. Black residents were killed in the riot, and others fled the community as homes, churches and a fraternal lodge were destroyed. “I’m not under the illusion that people will think this is not enough,” Bracy said. Last year, Bracy led a successful effort to require public-school students learn about the Ocoee riot, similar to a requirement for teaching about the Holocaust. AdWhen he initially proposed the 2020 legislation, Bracy sought $150,000 per Ocoee victim, a funding level modeled, in part, on a 1994 decision by the Legislature to compensate African-American families because of the Rosewood Massacre.

FILE - Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn argues a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Auburn, Ala., in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Central Florida hired Gus Malzahn as its football coach Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, a little more than two months after he was fired by Auburn. “I truly believe that this is a program of the future in college football,” Malzahn said. Arkansas State won a conference title that season before Malzahn returned to Auburn as head coach. Ad“This is one of the top 25 coaching jobs in all of college football,” Malzahn said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Additional help is on the way to assist with COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Sixty additional airmen from Florida’s Air National Guard were activated for duty Monday. Since March, more than 2,300 Florida National Guard members have helped in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty National Guard members have been stationed at the Regency Square Mall testing site since doses of the vaccine started being administered there. According to the 125th Fighter Wing, of the 60 airmen from the 125th Fighter Wing activated Monday, 40 will go out into communities and help with getting people signed up for vaccine appointments while the other 20 will replace the guardsmen currently at the Regency Square Mall.

New Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Josh Heupel, left, shakes hands with University of Tennessee athletics director Danny White after being presented a jersey speaks during an introductory press conference at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (Caitie McLekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)Josh Heupel believes he can win quickly at Tennessee and position the football program for long-term success. Heupel was introduced Wednesday as the program's 27th head coach and fifth, not counting interim or acting coaches, since the end of the 2008 season. New athletic director Danny White said Tennessee ran an “exhaustive nationwide search” led by the same search firm that helped land White. White was hired last week to replace the retiring Phillip Fulmer and hiring a new coach was his first task.

11 Houston used a dominant first half to cruise to a 75-58 win over UCF on Sunday. Houston (11-1, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) won its fourth straight game since its loss to Tulsa. “It was a great game for us,” Houston guard DeJon Jarreau said. “They made a lot of shots to start the first half off and kind of knocked us back,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. Sampson passed former Houston coach Tom Penders.

A cold front moves into north Florida with holes in high clouds over central Florida. Airplanes punched out holes in the central Florida cirrus clouds. Central Florida was treated to an interesting display on weather satellites as gaps opened up in the clouds known as “fallstreak holes” or “hole-punch clouds.”They can be seen quickly moving eastward on the GOES-16 satellite as circular holes in a canopy of cirrus clouds across central Florida. The hole forms from a process where water turns into ice forming a clear void in the cloud deck. Tracks from high altitude planes can also be seen marked by narrow lines pointing into the holes.

Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that nearly 350,000 seniors have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since mid-December. So, last week was really the first full week where everyone was back in the saddle,” DeSantis said. “We are remaining proactive so that when additional doses come, our infrastructure will be able to process it,” DeSantis said. This means of the vaccines Florida has received, only 38% have been given. At his second press conference of the day in Niceville, DeSantis announced that it is expanding its vaccine partnership with Publix supermarkets.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After learning that Florida has almost a million unused vaccine doses, News4Jax reached out to local health departments who are limiting appointments saying they can’t get enough Pfsizer or Moderna vaccine. This means of the vaccines Florida has received, only 38% have been given. In Central Florida, health departments said vaccines on “hold” are put in storage, but are intended to be used. California received the most vaccines with more than 2 million doses available to the state. We are poised to mobilize the operation as soon we receive an additional allotment.”News4Jax will update this story when we health back from other health departments.

A health care worker administers a COVID-19 test at a site sponsored by Community Heath of South Florida in Homestead. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida set yet another record for newly confirmed coronavirus cases in data reported Wednesday by the Florida Department of Health. The 17,783 increase in cases brings the state to 1,409,906 since the pandemic began. Florida has reported more than 10,000 cases each of the last nine days, averaging 14,826 a day over the last week -- the highest week of increases since the pandemic reached Florida in March. As of 4:48 p.m. Wednesday, 7,303 people were hospitalized in Florida with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The coronavirus did its best to knock the Pop Warner football season off track, but two area teams are still going strong in December. The Forestview Outlaws mitey mites are playing in the semifinals for the second time since 2015. The Westside Wildcats junior peewees are looking to bolster a growing national profile with another trip into the final four. The national championship, typically held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports compound, was canceled due to COVID-19, with only the national cheerleading competition going forward. “To these kids, they are champions regardless of COVID-19 [changing things],” said Shawn Fountain, head coach of the Westside Wildcats.

Ron DeSantis wants Congress to approve more unemployment relief and for the federal government to ease coronavirus travel restrictions from Europe and Brazil. Hopefully they’ll do it over the next month or two.”DeSantis also repeated a call from October for the federal government to ease some international travel restrictions. We did some stuff (travel restrictions) with New York because they were spreading it around the country. SeaWorld and Universal Orlando reopened in mid-June, while Disney reopened its Florida parks in July, with each of the parks having capacity limits. When DeSantis first called for easing travel restrictions, he pointed to advances in rapid testing for COVID-19 and airline cleaning protocols.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Some $20,000 in coins that tourists tossed into Walt Disney World’s wishing wells and fountains became a Thanksgiving gift for central Florida’s largest homeless shelter. Disney periodically collects, cleans and sorts the coins before donating the total to a Central Florida charity, the newspaper reported. With the region’s homeless population rising, the company decided to give the money to the Coalition for the Homeless, Walt Disney World’s director of external affairs Tajiana Ancora-Brown told the newspaper. In addition, Disney’s chefs cooked up a Thanksgiving feast for 650 coalition residents and other homeless guests. For James O’Donnell, executive chef of Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the lead chef for the Thanksgiving feast — the effort is a first.

Cincinnati tight end Leonard Taylor (11) is stopped by Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The world’s largest free-standing White Castle opened in Florida on Monday.

Tropical Storm Eta caused severe flooding in South Florida in areas already saturated from previous downpours. The system made landfall in the Florida Keys and posed a serious threat across South Florida, which was already drenched from more than 14 inches of rain last month. The Hurricane Warning for the Florida Keys and Florida Bay have been replaced with a Tropical Storm Warning. The Tropical Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning for the Florida west coast from Englewood to Anna Maria Island. On the forecast track, the center of Eta will gradually pull away from the Florida Keys and south Florida today and be over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight through Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bad weather start to the work week as a strong nor’easter kicks it up from Central Florida to South Georgia. Meanwhile, in South Florida, Eta brushes through the Keys giving them torrential heavy rains and possible hurricane conditions. Inland Tidal Flooding up to 2′ possible as well, especially on Tuesday afternoon. All High Tides from here through Friday Monday and Tuesday High Tides Beach Erosion Moderate but not as bad as the September nor’easter Constant the next 7 days Monday and Tuesday morning Deadly Rip Currents Heavy surf advisory and High Rip Current Risk. Now Sunrise Monday into Sunset Monday Power Outages Possible when bands of heavy rains roll though on Monday Now Monday sunrise to mid-afternoonJacksonville ImpactsMonday Wind GUSTS

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Democratic candidate for a state Senate seat that stretches from Clay County west across North Florida Central Florida to the Gulf Coast died of thyroid cancer on Tuesday night. She was also the first transgender woman running for a Florida Senate seat. Barratt told co-workers that she wanted to take her fight for equity for all women by running for public office and signed up to run in state Senate Dist. Marissa McCool, who featured Barratt in her podcast, said remembers her for being willing to represent those who are voiceless. “Vote for Melina despite the fact that she’s crossed over,” Lakey Love, secretary of Florida National Organization for Women, told WCJB-TV.

Trump will address the group, expected to be at least several hundred supporters, from the White House balcony, according to an official. Announcement of the event came as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, cautioned the White House again to avoid large-scale gatherings of people without masks. The president’s White House doctor, Navy Cmdr. Sean Conley, said that means Trump, who has been surrounded by minimal staffing as he works out of the White House residence and the Oval Office, could return to holding events on Saturday. In the interview with Limbaugh, Trump again credited the experimental antibody drug he received last week with speeding his recovery.

Tulsa players pose on the middle of the field after a win over Central Florida during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Tulsa's win snapped UCF's 21-game home winning streak. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Tulsa players pose on the middle of the field after a win over Central Florida during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Tulsa's win snapped UCF's 21-game home winning streak. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)ORLANDO, Fla. – There is something about UCF that brings that best out of Tulsa. Zach Smith threw three touchdown passes and Tulsa erased an 18-point first-half deficit to beat No. 11 UCF 34-26, snapping the Knights' 21-game home winning streak Saturday night. “Turnovers were huge in the football game,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said.

Ron DeSantis on Monday named Jamie Grosshans, a judge on the 5th District Court of Appeal, to the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis missed a noon request to appoint a justice to the Florida Supreme Court Court. He announced Grosshans just after 5 p.m.At 11:38 a.m., an email titled the ‘Governor’s Daily Digest’ promised an announcement about the future of the Supreme Court. “I told him that we have a great judge down here in Florida who was going to be on the Supreme Court. “Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we planned, but who am I to complain, you know.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Massive autumn high pressure to dominate the eastern United States this weekend, sounds great, except if you live along the coastline of Georgia into Central Florida. With a super-sized high pressure to our north and general lower than normal air pressure all around Jacksonville. So, that’s high pressure north and low pressure to the south, the greater the difference, the greater the coastal winds. There will be also be a possibility of another coastal tropical low pressure that could form within the battle field of high and low pressure. Wilfred will likely develop from TD #21 in the far, far, far eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Those guests could then enter the so-called bubble at Walt Disney World on Sept. 21, about a week before the scheduled start of the NBA Finals. Some players were able to bring family into the bubble following quarantines and other health certifications starting on Aug. 31. Other coaches, such as Denvers Michael Malone and Miamis Erik Spoelstra, have spoken out publicly about their hope that the league would allow team staff to have the opportunity to bring family into the bubble. The cost, $550 each day for each guest, would have to be covered by the team or individual staff member. And as is the case with player guests, including children, none of the staff guests will be able to leave the NBAs bubble.

All rights reserved)ORLANDO, Fla. SeaWorld is offering free admission to Florida certified teachers for the next year, the theme park announced Thursday. The teaching community deserves our thanks now more than ever, SeaWorld said in a press release. Teachers can pre-register online using the ID.me process to receive the SeaWorld Florida Teacher Card eVoucher. Eligible private school teachers can also provide a letter from the principal on school letterhead confirming employment as a K-12 teacher along with a Florida photo ID and most recent (30 days) paystub to SeaWorld front gate entrance. The Teacher Card provides Florida teachers with unlimited admission to SeaWorld Orlando through Aug. 31, 2021.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – As of Monday morning, every school district in Florida has started its school year. But one Central Florida school was open Monday after it became the first school in the state to have closed due to COVID-19 after reopening for the year. According to sister station WKMG, Harmony Middle School in Osceola County shut its campus down for in-person learning for the next two weeks after 10 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran addressed the school closure during a news conference on Monday. So we need our adults in the school system to be very safe,” Corcoran said.