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BARTHTO, Fla. (WFLA) – Another city in Polk County has taken a step closer to removing fluoride from the water. On March 17th, the City of Barto Commissioners are expected to vote on whether to continue adding fluoride to the water. It was a public meeting Tuesday night with speakers packed into the podium and speakers packed in after they heard their attitude towards fluoride. Fluoride has been added to drinking water for years to prevent tooth decay. State surgeon Dr. Joseph Radapop, who attended the meeting, said he had stopped putting fluoride in the water and warned him of…

This story is part of the weekly Hidden Gems Feature series as USA Today Network. Florida takes readers around the state to highlight some of our most interesting attractions.Silver Springs – Xiaoqian Huang’s recent trip to Florida from Beijing included a visit to Silver Springs State Park outside Ocala.”Beautiful” is a way to explain to friends about 5,000 acres of Florida State Park following a long flight. Xiaoqian Huang and his wife, Ying, were in Florida to visit their daughter, Kelly Arnold and Orlando’s husband, Jacob. All four visited the state park together. “We can’t defeat nature,” said Jacob Arnold,…

Paul WisemanWASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed wealthy financial operator Howard Lutnick as secretary of commerce on Tuesday, introducing solid supporters of President Donald Trump’s tough trade policy.In the commerce division, Lutnick, CEO of investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, oversees 50,000 employees who do everything from collecting economic statistics to running the census. But he could spend a lot of time — along with Trump’s candidate Jamieson Greer, he would become the top US trade negotiator — imposing import taxes on US trading partners, including allies and enemies. He manages the president’s aggressive plan.The Senate vote to confirm Lutnick was 51-45.Trump…

Long-term government secrets are eroding public trust and increasing demand for greater transparency, says Rep. James Comer (R-KY.)The House Committee on Surveillance and Government Reform on February 18th announced the appointment of the Republican new task force to declassify federal secrets and increase government transparency.Committee chairperson Rep. James Kommer (R-KY.) and newly appointed chairman of the Federal Secret Declassification Task Force, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) have released a press release. President Nancy Mace said (Rs.C.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). , and Brandon Gill (R-Texas) are panel members.The establishment of the task…

A new poll shows Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis has the most positive rating among potential Republican candidates of the 2026 Governor race. Continued support for the legalization of recreational marijuana in Mexico.The governor’s 2026 primary is a year and a half away, but for now, Florida’s First Lady has the first advantage, according to the latest poll from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab (Paul).Of the registered Republican respondents, 57% said they had a positive opinion of Casey DeSantis. Overall, numbers show that 30% were positive, 22% were at a disadvantage, and 33% said they had…

Florida Pro Life advocates are cheering on the latest news that abortions have fallen by 28% across Sunshine State.They praise the drop to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the Heartbeat Protection Act in 2023. The law protects children from abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The law came into effect in May 2024.According to the Florida Department of Health Care Administration, there were 60,755 abortions in 2024, from 84,052 in 2023.”This is a stunning victory in life,” said Linda Bell, president and spokesman for Florida, who is a right to life and a co-founder that does not harm Florida. I…

Oscar season is approaching. This is when I look at all 10 best picture candidates traditionally and try to form a brilliant opinion on the nuances of the story. But I’ve seen only four so far and blamed 2025.Most nights these days, there’s less about high-faltin movies, not about “Bridget Jones’ Baby” or anything starring giant CGI spiders. “I’ll watch all ‘brutal’ 35 minutes later,” I declare while melting from the couch like an excess of 8 dollars eggs. “A moment when the mood hits to learn more about post-war Europe.”My data inbox supports many of us longing for mental…

TAMPA – When the father of a Seminole family lost his job in June, his family’s health insurance also disappeared.He didn’t consider the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, to be an option as it takes months for the program’s annual registration window to open. Overwhelmed and unsettled, the family contacted the Family Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps families find insurance solutions.Katie Rodders Turner, executive director of a local nonprofit, remembers that she can find new, low-cost policies. The loss of insurance provided by previous employers qualifies for annual registration in one of the federal market location…

Cumberland, Maryland – The leader of a cult-like group related to the murders of six people in three states was held in Maryland without bail on Tuesday, where she faced trespassing and other charges .Jack Lasota, 34, of Berkeley, California, and two other people arrested alongside her on Sunday, appeared at a video conference for a bail hearing at Alleghany District Court. The judge described them as dangerous flight risks, all three of them being detained without bail.Alleghany County State Attorney James Elliott said Lasota had falsified her own death in the past, “seems to be the leader of an…

Florida law allows individuals over the age of 21 to ride motorcycles without a helmet. It’s covered by medical insurance for motorcycle injuries that cost at least $10,000. It will be held from February 28th to March 9th this year.This weekend may be all about the Daytona 500, but Daytona’s 2025 Bike Week is coming soon.And if you like riding a motorcycle and are planning on attending, there are a few things you need to know outside of the scheduled events for Bike Week. Florida has state laws surrounding wearing helmets on motorcycles, but no one needs to do so.Here’s…