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Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced that his office has identified more than $470 million in what he calls “excessive and wasteful spending” in Miami-Dade County’s 2025-2026 budget. The announcement follows an investigation last year in which Ingoglia’s office said it found more than $302 million in overspending in Miami-Dade County’s general fund budget. Ingoglia is asking county officials to remove spending from the budget and provide tax relief to residents. “In the 2025-2026 fiscal year alone, Miami-Dade County overspent and wastefully spent more than $470 million in taxpayer funds, and over the past three years over and over…
Sunrise, Fla. – The Florida Panthers announced today that they will hold a 2026 NHL Draft Watch Party on Friday, June 26th at the Baptist Health Iceplex. The Panthers have the ninth overall pick in the first round. Panthers fans are invited to the Baptist Health IcePlex starting at 5 p.m. ET for activities featuring inflatables, interactive games, vendors, food and drinks, and more. Fans can watch the NHL Draft coverage live from the stands inside Baptist Rink starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, or from the ice by participating in a public skate. Panthers radio play-by-play…
What happens when apex predators are injured or in need of help in the wild? Some of them end up in the care of the team at the Audubon Raptor Center. The Maitland nonprofit cares for approximately 800 sick, injured and orphaned birds each year, while inviting the public to attend educational programs and visit the center’s 30 birds of prey. One of 55 Audubon centers and sanctuaries nationwide, visitors to the 3-acre property on the shores of Lake Siberia can see a full range of birds of prey, including bald eagles, owls, hawks, peregrine falcons and bald eagles. The…
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida provided an update on the case involving an Arcadia, Florida, man on trial for drug trafficking charges. Below is the official statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. FORT MYERS, Fla. – Donald Carl Woods, 42, of Arcadia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Mr. Woods pled…
A pair of baby cougars has added to the diverse animal lineup at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden in Sanford. The 10-week-old male and female siblings arrived at the zoo from South Dakota after being found without their mother at just a few weeks old. They were determined to be too young to be released back into the wild, so a zoo was contacted to care for them and provide them with a permanent home. They have already “won the hearts and minds” of the zoo’s animal care team, according to a news release. “Our animal care team…
A new statewide poll of 973 registered Republican primary voters by the Political Matrix/Listeners group finds that voters are still largely undecided about Florida’s gubernatorial race, conveying apathy among the Republican base that benefits the front-runner, the Donald, who clearly has more name recognition thanks to a relentless barrage of TV ads including endorsements for President Trump.But in the first uninformed vote, Donalds came out on top with 29%, a number that reveals his vulnerability to delay claims by challengers. Of these challengers, Paul Renner appears to be in the best position. He remains in second place, with 14% of…
The University of Florida Board of Trustees unanimously voted to elect Dr. Stuart R. Bell as the next president. Bell will become the University of Florida’s 14th president, pending approval by the Florida Board of Regents, which oversees the Florida State University System. The board is scheduled to vote on Bell’s ratification at its next meeting on June 25th. “Today’s unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees is an undeniable demonstration of support for Dr. Stuart Bell, who is the right leader at the right time for the University of Florida,” said Mori Hosseini, Chair of the University of Florida…
I saw an amusing meme recently about how on Mother’s Day, restaurants are wall-to-wall with families brunching it up for all the special women in their lives, while on Father’s Day, dad is often expected to man his own barbecue for the celebration. This was never the case in my family, which always spent both days together without fail … because we *had* a restaurant and always worked on Father’s Day! That said, if there’s any truth to this humor, let this be the year you break the pattern, freeing dad from his own grill so someone else can handle…
Ten years ago, the Orlando community came together in grief and tragedy when a gunman burst into the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring dozens more. Ten years after the mass shooting, Central Florida unites to remember the fallen angels who died that night, showing that love is stronger than hate. This week marks the 10th anniversary, starting June 12, 2016, with art exhibitions, community events, and commemorations. 2026 Pulse Memorial Ceremony Join our community at First United Methodist Church as we remember the 49 lives lost on June 12, 2016. The ceremony will include musical performances by local…
Sunrise, Fla. – The Florida Panthers announced today that they have renewed their long-standing partnership with JetBlue as the official airline of the Panthers. Starting with the 2026-27 NHL season, JetBlue will be the presenting partner of the newly reimagined Champions Club at Amerant Bank Arena and will debut JetBlue Landing, a new fan gathering space designed to create memorable experiences for Panthers fans and JetBlue customers throughout the season. “We are proud to continue this storied partnership with a premier organization like JetBlue. They are the epitome of the kind of partners we are honored to stand alongside, as…