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The Florida Teachers Union argues that adding tax dollars to pay teachers and administrators will improve students’ standardized test scores. But Open the Books (OTB) surveyed 12,531 school districts nationwide and found the opposite. In other words, spending more money did not improve student performance. OTB looked at its proprietary database of government payrolls across the United States to calculate how much each U.S. state increased total public school salaries. They measured math and reading proficiency among fourth- and eighth-graders and compared each state’s ranking on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). “Schools may hope that increasing salaries will…

“Okay, this is a cocktail,” I observed. There were two plastic stirrers inside. There’s also a little bit of crystal-clear standard machine ice, but it doesn’t seem like enough. But that’s just because the drinks looked like triples. Note: I wasn’t mad about it. There’s nothing to be angry about at Linda’s La Cantina. The location is pretty perfect. There was nothing wrong with the $7 Linda’s House Red I ordered. It seemed like a natural fit for this historic family-owned steakhouse, serving Orlando since 1947. Plenty of pouring too. Chilled Chianti was not my favorite jam. So when a…

Ideas stuck in nature Sometimes the best inventions don’t come from a lab or high-tech workshop, but from something as simple as a walk in the woods. That’s exactly what happened to Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral in the 1940s. After going on a hunting trip with his dog, he noticed that the burrs were stubbornly clinging to the dog’s clothing and fur. Instead of ignoring and forgetting them, he became curious about them. Why do these tiny seeds stick together so well? This moment of curiosity set the stage for what we now know as Velcro. Velcro is a…

PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Two drivers say their vehicles were damaged by wet concrete while driving through a construction zone on Tyrone Boulevard. Carissa Tatum said it happened on Sept. 16 as she was driving home in the rain. She said construction workers directed traffic into the right lane near Amped Fitness. Three women and 9-year-old boy injured as SUV crashes into pool, flies into the air and crashes into vacation home “At the time we thought it was water, but it was actually a puddle. They steered us into the right lane, and the cone was blocking the other…

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A third immigrant detention center is no longer an idea being floated by state leaders. Governor DeSantis confirmed the opening of a third migrant detention center, dubbed the “Panhandle Pokey.” “Isn’t it good to have something like a panhandle? It’s happening. It’s underway,” DeSantis said. Tampa police release body camera footage of man hit by car and killed by gunshot wound It would join other facilities such as Alligator Alcatraz near the Everglades and the so-called deportation center at Baker Correctional Facility near Jacksonville. “People who entered the country illegally are being detained and processed and…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — State lawmakers returned to Tallahassee this week with affordability concerns at the forefront of their minds as they gear up for the next legislative session. Both Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are aiming to tackle what many here in the state are calling the affordability crisis. Hillsboro, Florida Responds to DOGE Expenditure Claims As the governor continues to push for property tax reform, Democrats are wondering why he should tackle property insurance first. This year is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ final term, and as he heads into his final legislative session, passing a property…

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has awarded more than 9,400 hiring bonuses to newly hired law enforcement officers through the state’s Law Enforcement Officer Recruitment Bonus Payment Program. The latest awards went to police officers serving Florida’s Panhandle counties, including Bay, Franklin, Gulf and Walton counties, with an additional 734 awards distributed across the state. Launched in 2022, the program provides newly hired executives with a one-time $5,000 (after-tax) bonus. The initiative aims to recognize new hires and advance Florida’s reputation as one of the most law enforcement-friendly states in the country. “Today in Panama City, we welcomed new…

DAYTONA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Daytona Beach Police Department successfully captured a green iguana that was found wandering around Daytona Beach on Monday. The Daytona Beach Police Department says the officers’ quick teamwork in apprehending the unexpected visitor made a safe resolution possible. Daytona Beach police released a video jokingly stating Iguana’s criminal charges. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says green iguanas can be humanely killed on private property with the permission of the homeowner. “Captive iguanas may not be relocated or released elsewhere in Florida,” the FWC said. “If you are unable to safely remove an iguana…

Fall is here in Florida, and this weekend the 52nd Annual Winter Park Fall Arts Festival will mark the change of seasons and revive an annual community tradition. This weekend, more than 180 Florida-based artists will gather in the Park Avenue area to exhibit ceramics, digital art, drawing, textiles, arts and crafts, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. The festival is sponsored by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. “Park Avenue and Central Park have been completely brought back to life, with artists lining the historic boulevards and beautiful paths dotted beneath the oak trees throughout Central Park,” said…

In a move that will affect millions of park visitors, Walt Disney Company today announced a new series of price increases for tickets, annual passes and add-ons across the US theme park. Disney said many of the price increases will be implemented immediately, with some parks likely to exceed the $200 barrier for peak day tickets. The company cites rising labor costs, maintenance costs, capital costs and ongoing demand as the main factors in the decision. With the new pricing, Disneyland’s most expensive one-day tickets will rise to $224, up 8.7% from previous top tickets. Meanwhile, at Walt Disney World,…