Florida

Osceola County officials have broken ground on a permanent memorial honoring the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting, creating a space for remembrance and healing a decade after the tragedy.

Brightline says safety improvements along its Florida rail corridor have helped reduce incidents by 30% this year, marking progress for a rail system that has faced scrutiny following a series of deadly crashes.

A 36-year-old man is facing charges after police say he struck a woman and an 8-year-old child with his vehicle and then left the scene in New Smyrna Beach.

A 7-year-old dog is expected to make a full recovery after veterinarians discovered he had been shot in the head, prompting an animal cruelty investigation in Brevard County.

A family-owned boutique that has operated on Park Avenue for four decades is searching for a new location after its landlord declined to renew its lease.

A Central Florida businessman accused of attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

Investigators are expanding their search for Nicole Baldwin, a Mount Dora mother of three who disappeared in November 2023, by draining and examining a retention pond in Deltona as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.

A 7-year-old girl who was reported missing in Osceola County was rescued after deputies located her struggling in a neighbor’s swimming pool, authorities said.

City officials in Melbourne have demolished a long-vacant home that neighbors and code enforcement officers said had been a source of complaints and safety concerns for years.

Orange County Public Schools is facing growing financial pressure as declining enrollment and rising operating costs strain the district's budget, school officials said.

DeLand police are increasing enforcement of e-bike regulations following a rise in crashes, safety concerns and public complaints, particularly in the city's downtown area.

Space Coast Habitat for Humanity has handed over the keys to its first 3D-printed home, marking a milestone in affordable housing efforts on Florida's Space Coast.

A Florida judge has ordered an evidentiary hearing in a long-running death penalty case after conflicting interpretations of DNA evidence raised new questions ahead of a possible execution.

Another sloth connected to the now-defunct Sloth World attraction has died, bringing the total number of sloth deaths linked to the operation to 57, officials said.

A Brevard County man accused of abandoning three dogs that were later found dead inside an RV camper has been released from jail on bond, authorities said.

Red light cameras will continue to capture and ticket drivers breaking the rules across Orange County for at least the next decade, following a unanimous vote by local leaders Tuesday.  During a June 16 commission meeting, county leaders approved a 10-year contract extension, citing both traffic safety improvements and a substantial boost to the county's bottom line.