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A young pup was found alone, abandoned, and curled up in a ditch at a Flagler County park last week. Named Shelly, she was rescued and rushed to the hospital. Staff said she was covered in bugs, had opened sores and cuts. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office has opened an animal abuse investigation. Officials suspect Shelly may have been used as a "bait dog" in dog fighting. She's receiving around-the-clock care at the hospital. 

It was a tough loss for the Orlando Magic, falling to the Philadelphia 76ers. Though, the Magic have one more chance to make the playoffs -- a win against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Despite the loss, Magic fans had a blast cheering the team on. FOX 35's Jonah Karp reports.

Orange County Public Schools is cutting its workforce by 3%, or 200 positions, due to continued declines in enrollment and funding. "Over the past several years, our district has experienced sustained enrollment decline, a trend that is expected to continue. This has resulted in significantly reduced funding. In response, we have had to make decisions that reflect our current reality, not the one we wish we were still in," wrote Deputy Superintendent Jose Martinez in a letter send last Sunday, April 12. The reduction will impact the district's SAFE Coordinators, though mental health professionals will still remain at schools. A spokesperson for OCPS said most of the positions were funded positions that had not yet been filled. Others were filled that moved an employee to an unassigned list. In March, OCPS approved the closure of 7 schools: Bonneville Elementary, Chickasaw Elementary, Eccleston Elementary, McCoy Elementary, Meadow Woods Elementary, Orlo Vista Elementary, and Union Park Middle.

A canal that once drew Port Orange residents for its peaceful views and wildlife, is now at the center of growing concern. Residents who live near the Halifax Canal believe the canal's water quality and conditions have declined over the years. They describe murky water, a decline in wildlife and fish, and collections of trash and debris. They said the quality is so bad that they no longer feel safe swimming or boating in the canal. One resident said he's called the county, but has not been able to get a response. A spokesperson for Volusia County told FOX 35's Chris Lindsay that someone with the Public Works Department plans to visit the canal to access what may be going on.

Family and friends of Timotheus Reed, 38, who was shot and killed by Lake County deputies last weekend, demanded answers from the Lake County Sheriff's Office about his death.  Family and friends protested outside the sheriff's office -- and inside it on Wednesday. They've retained attorney Ben Crump. The Lake County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to FOX 35 that the deputy's body camera was not on when the shooting happened because the deputy did not activate his blue lights when responding to the call. The sheriff's office said that was because the deputy was already in the area when the 911 call was made.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman visited the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo at the Lakeland Linder International Airport, where he talked about the recent Artemis II mission, as well as the future Artemis III, and Artemis IV missions to the moon.

Crystal Ballroom abruptly closed its Daytona Beach wedding venue, announcing the news to its clients in an email, leaving them scrambling to find new venues. In that email, which was shared with FOX 35, Crystal Ballroom said refunds would not be an option. Court records show that Crystal Ballroom's Daytona Beach venue was evicted in March after failing to pay more than $240,000 in rent. FOX 35 reached out to the venue's owner. We have yet to receive a response.

Two adults were killed in a flash rip current in Cocoa Beach on Tuesday, and two others, including a child, were safely rescued, officials said. It comes during the busy Spring Break season in Florida.  The four people were swimming in an area that was not staffed by a lifeguard. The nearest staffed lifeguard tower was nearly a mile away, officials said. Brevard County said it is short 45 lifeguards, which is requiring some lifeguard towers to remain closed. Some of those lifeguards decided to move to other roles within the county, including joining Brevard County Fire Rescue.

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE | In an April 15 press conference, Brevard County officials updated the public on two people who drowned in Cocoa Beach while saving a child caught in a rip current. Officials said the people who died were from out of town. It's not confirmed if they're related to the child. 

A 55-year-old woman was arrested after authorities said she crashed into a family’s property and left her damaged car in a backyard. Investigators said the driver ran over plants and struck a parked truck before driving into a backyard, where the vehicle was found with significant damage.

A heated debate is unfolding in Seminole County over whether students should be allowed to take out-of-state school trips despite fundraising efforts covering costs.

Two people drowned after entering the water to rescue a child caught in a rip current at Cocoa Beach, officials said. Authorities said a 34-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man were pulled under while attempting the rescue, and both were later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Montverde Academy, long known as a national powerhouse in high school basketball, continues its tradition of producing elite talent. Still, one of its newest standouts says his journey is rooted as much in family and personal history as in the game.

Montverde Academy, long known as a national powerhouse in high school basketball, continues its tradition of producing elite talent. Still, one of its newest standouts says his journey is rooted as much in family and personal history as in the game.

A Central Florida teen will spend several years in prison after pleading no contest in a fatal crash involving a stolen vehicle, running a red light and a collision that killed a young driver. LeBron Flores, now 18, was sentenced to six years in prison after accepting a plea deal and receiving youthful offender status for the crash that killed Christian Romero, when Flores was 15.

Port Orange police are investigating a series of incidents involving vehicles driven off-road through residential neighborhoods, leaving widespread property damage and prompting multiple arrests.

A young mother was killed early Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle while walking along a highway in Central Florida, authorities said. Destiny Gonzalez, 24, was hit by a pickup truck around 3 a.m. on State Road 46, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.