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SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – Governor Ron DeSantis visited Sarasota this week to announce rebates for Progressive auto insurance policyholders. After the press conference, the governor took questions. He was asked about the recent expansion of the Schools of Hope Act. The law was originally designed to help charter operators support underperforming schools. Over the summer, lawmakers gave management companies the ability to use open areas on campuses of public schools with low enrollment. DeSantis calls property tax plan a ‘political game’ “Being able to provide those operators with existing infrastructure that is underutilized makes economic sense, but it also helps…

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new tactic called “ghost tapping.” Be aware of your surroundings, they said, because these conspirators need to be near you to use the tools to obtain your payment information. Dismissals continue amid HCSO’s academic fraud investigation. The second captain lets go “Ghost eavesdropping and its technology existed when consumers had tap-to-pay technology,” said BBB’s Brian Oglesby. The BBB says there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent this from happening. “So if you’re in a large group of people, if you’re in a crowded…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session, which begins in January, all eyes are on the state Capitol to see where the governor and Legislature will stand on the property tax debate. So far, House members have identified eight possible routes, but the governor has remained silent in recent weeks. It lasted late Wednesday night, with DeSantis responding to a social media post about “X” regarding recent proposals released by the House. Dismissals continue amid HCSO’s academic fraud investigation. The second captain lets go “Putting multiple property tax measures on the ballot represents an attempt…

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A recent study by GoBankingRates analyzed the cost of living in all 50 states to determine how much the average American needs to save for 20 years of retirement. To find out how much money each state needs to live comfortably in retirement, GoBankingRates consulted sources such as the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Retirement Consumer Division Consumer Expenditure Survey. An additional 20% “buffer” was then added to the savings requirement to exceed the cost of state-specific necessities and provide a more comfortable…

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A man involved in a “violent” sucker punch incident outside Aldi, Florida, was arrested Wednesday, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office announced. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to an Aldi on Route 7 North in Lauderdale Lakes for a battery case on Oct. 11 around 7:20 p.m. Investigators say a man, later identified as D’Andrea Johnson, was seen on surveillance video arguing with someone inside the store. Florida police drag wayward alligator out of Orlando apartment At some point, officers said, Johnson went outside the store and waited for the victim. The sheriff’s office…

Universal is opening Epic Universe as part of a multi-day deal that includes an option for Florida residents to purchase a three-day ticket to three parks for as low as $303. New three-, four- and five-day packages available at universalorlando.com as of Thursday are for visits in 2026 and allow for trips to each of Universal Orlando’s theme parks. For the first time, travelers can now purchase multi-day tickets that allow daily visits to Epic Universe. Three-day tickets range from $460 to $606 for adults. These tickets allow travelers to travel freely between Epic Universe, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios,…

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Legislature will revisit changing its official state bird in the upcoming session. Senate Bill 150, filed earlier this month by Republican Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, proposes making the American flamingo the state bird and the Florida jay the state songbird. The current state bird is the mockingbird, which was designated nearly 100 years ago in 1927. It is also the state bird of Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. Lawmakers proposed changes in previous legislative sessions, but the bill failed to pass. Flamingos have become an iconic symbol of Florida, with official state agencies such…

In a recent ranking of more than 400 U.S. cities, WalletHub evaluated a variety of factors, including academic, social, and economic, to identify the best college towns and cities in the United States. The research aimed to not only pinpoint great academic environments, but also highlight places where students can enjoy, be engaged and grow during their time at university and after graduation. According to WalletHub research, Orlando achieved a remarkable ranking of #3 among U.S. college cities. The main factor behind this high ranking is affordability. The total cost of tuition (including room and board) for in-state students in…

As the night of Halloween draws nearer, neighborhoods have seen more ghoulish gatherings and creepy characters coming to life to create haunted houses. Perfectly happy suburban homes have been transformed into spooky spectacles that tell tales of zombies, ghosts, ghouls, vampires, witches and plenty more. Some of these Halloween displays incorporate lights that dance to music, animatronics that come to life and graveyards full of tombstones. Others play on nightmares and stir up clinical cases of the heebie jeebies. For our fourth annual Orlando Sentinel Spooky Awards, we’re highlighting 20 haunted homes that stand out during the 2025 Halloween season.…

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) – Orlando police announced Tuesday that they have removed a wayward alligator that was found taking shelter in an apartment complex. Officers say the 6-foot reptile was cornered at the bottom of an apartment staircase on Debra Lake Drive. Body camera footage showed officers covering the alligator with towels to disorient and calm it down in order to safely capture it. In the video, a police officer grabbed the alligator by its tail and dragged it to the backyard of the complex. OPD said officers safely wrapped the gator’s mouth with tape and loaded it into a…