Florida Coverage

Florida abortion ban could make things more difficult for NC patients, providers

When Florida's new law takes effect May 1st, North Carolina will be the last southeastern state to allow abortion until 12 weeks, likely leading to even longer waiting lists at already overloaded providers.

Two dead in Naples, Florida plane crash

Two passengers are dead after a plane crashed in Naples, Florida on Friday. The plane was in communication with the radio control tower when they lost one of the engines on the plane.

2 people dead after small plane attempts emergency landing on southwest Florida interstate

Two people have died after a small plane attempted to make an emergency landing on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida on Friday afternoon, colliding with a vehicle and bringing traffic to a halt as a massive plume of black smoke rose into the air.

Fact check: Biden says Obama spent 'hundreds of millions' to bury Florida power lines

After Hurricane Idalia knocked out power to about a half million northern Florida homes and businesses in late August, President Joe Biden said it would have been worse if the federal government hadn't improved the state's electrical grid.

Amy Sherman, PolitiFact reporter

Newly discovered snail in Florida Keys is named after Jimmy Buffett song

(CNN) -- The late singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has an unsuspecting figure to add to his legacy -- a newly discovered species of sea snail found in the Florida Reef.

By Taylor Nicioli, CNN

Two Florida children steal mom's car, drive 200 miles away

Police in Florida get quite a surprise when they pull over a stolen vehicle and find out a 10 year old was behind the wheel.

Fla. Sheriff: Teen shot, killed mother, wounded another man

A 14-year-old shot and killed his mother and critically wounded her boyfriend, according to authorities Hillsborough County, Florida.

Florida Sheriff: Teen killed mom, shot her boyfriend

A Florida teenager is facing charges after he allegedly shot and killed his mother, and wounded her boyfriend.

3 people, gunman killed in hate-motivated attack in Jacksonville, Florida

Manifestos sent by the gunman to authorities and the media suggested the crime was racially motivated.

Fact check: Harris says states have tried to 'ban teaching Latino and Hispanic history'

During a speech at a historically Black neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida, Vice President Kamala Harris said some states have tried "to ban teaching Latino and Hispanic history."

Marta Campabadal Graus, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Does a new Florida curriculum teach that enslaved people 'benefited from slavery?'

Vice President Kamala Harris drew wide attention when she called a section about slavery in Florida's new middle school social studies standards an "insult."

Sofia Bliss-Carrascosa, Louis Jacobson, and Amy Sherman, PolitiFact reporters

Florida Confirms Arranging Migrant Flights to California

MIAMI -- After days of silence, officials in Florida confirmed Tuesday that the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis had orchestrated two recent charter flights that carried groups of migrants from New Mexico to Sacramento, California.

Nicholas Nehamas and Shawn Hubler, New York Times

Shark bites Florida angler on dock, in second incident of the week

A shark bit a Florida angler on the foot Friday, in the second shark bite incident of the week, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

CNN

Fact check: Trump says DeSantis sealed 'all beaches' during COVID-19 lockdown

"Surprise, Ron (DeSantis) was a big lockdown governor on the China virus, sealing all beaches and everything else for an extended period of time," former President Donald Trump said in a March 22 statement.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Newsom says 'DeSantis' bill' would remove Florida's concealed carry rules

As California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, promoted a new bill restricting who can carry a concealed firearm in his state, he said Florida was moving in the "exact opposite direction." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

Student attacks school employee after Nintendo Switch taken away

The Matanzas High School student has been charged with felony aggravated battery with bodily harm, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

By Paradise Afshar and Rebekah Riess, CNN

Fact check: Trump says he sent agents to stop Florida 'steal' and help DeSantis win

Former President Donald Trump said that, in the 2018 Florida governor's race, "votes were being stolen" and that he "sent in the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys" and "stopped his Election from being stolen." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Yacob Reyes and Amy Sherman, PolitiFact reporter

Baby boy was born as hurricane arrived in Florida. He won't be named Ian.

With the hurricane barreling toward their stretch of the Florida coast on Tuesday afternoon, Amanda Mahr and her husband, Matthew Mahr, got an urgent call from their doctor: They had to schedule an emergency C-section.

Victoria Kim, New York Times

Fact check: Does DeSantis oppose background checks for criminals?

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist warned in a new TV ad that another term for Gov. Ron DeSantis "opposes any background checks on guns, even for violent criminals." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

Fact check: Does Florida require college professors to 'register political views' with the state?

On July 6, author and "King of Horror" Stephen King warned his Twitter followers that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill "requiring Florida students, professors to register political views with (the) state." PolitiFact checks the tweet.

Grace Abels, PolitiFact reporter

Air guitar concert takes place in Florida Keys

Participants dressed as mermaids and other marine creatures for the annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival.

Tropical Weather Threatens Florida With Heavy Rain and Floods

KEY WEST, Fla. -- Three days into hurricane season, and South Floridians were already being warned to rehearse a familiar drill: Clear storm drains, get sandbags if your neighborhood tends to flood and watch out for standing water.

Frances Robles, Derrick Bryson Taylor and Nick Madigan, New York Times

2 rescued after minivan crashed into Florida alligator-infested retention pond

According to Florida authorities, a driver lost control of their minivan and drove into a retention pond. Rescue crews had to be called because the pond was infested with massive alligators.

Fact check: How does new Florida law affect Disney's tax status?

A popular Facebook post says that Florida lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis recently passed a new law that "erases" the Walt Disney World Resort's "tax exempt law," potentially costing the company $200 million a year. PolitiFact checks the claim.

Yacob Reyes, PolitiFact reporter

Key West Bed Race celebrates island's quirky side

It's billed as the most fun you can have in bed with your clothes on, and teams had plenty of fun Saturday afternoon, when the Conch Republic Blue Ribbon Bed Race took place in Key West.