Epstein files fallout continues
Holly Baltz, Investigations Editor for the Palm Beach Post joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer via Zoom to break down her extensive experience reporting on the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases as Maxwell met with the Department of Justice for the second day in a row in Tallahassee. The pair discuss the fallout over the Trump administration not releasing the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files yet, the timeline of the case and why it seems to keep coming up in popular discourse.
Top 4 news stories you need to know: July 24, 2025
FOX 35's John Brown and Garrett Wymer break down the top news stories of the day, from WWE Hall of Famer and pro wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan dying in his Clearwater home at age 71, a 1-year-old falling from a third-story window in Rockledge, a man shooting and killing his grandparents in West Melbourne according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office and the state of the Florida Governor's race after a UNF poll found Congressman Byron Donalds and First Lady Casey DeSantis are neck-and-neck, despite President Donald Trump endorsing Donalds for the position in 2026.
Suprise Pink concert at Sarasota restaurant
Liana Vitorino, owner of the Amore restaurant joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to talk about the impromptu performance by pop star Pink at her Amore restaurant in Sarasota. Vitorino says she knows Pink's mother, and invited the singer to the restaurant which ended up with her performing on the in-house piano.
NASA launching NISAR satellite with India
Dr. Marco Lavalle, NASA JPL Deputy Project Scientist, NISAR joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer via Zoom to break down the launch of NASA's new US-India NISAR satellite later this month. The satellite has the most advanced radar system ever launched and hopes to give decision-makers more information on the earth's surface impacting their infrastructure/
UNF Poll: Donalds & DeSantis neck-and-neck for Fla Gov.
UCF Political Science Lecturer John Hanley joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to break down a new UNF poll which shows the 2026 Florida Governor's race within the margin of error between Congressman Byron Donalds and First Lady Casey DeSantis, with Matt Gaetz a clear third place.
Trump, DeSantis weigh in on Hulk Hogan's death
President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis weigh in on the death of Hulk Hogan and their experiences with the superstar. WWE Hall of Famer and pro wrestling icon died in his Clearwater, Florida home today after suffering a possible "cardiac arrest", according to WWE and Clearwater police. "Clearwater Fire Department and Clearwater Police Department personnel responded to a medical call at 9:51 a.m. today in the 1000 block of Eldorado Avenue on Clearwater Beach," the statement read. "The nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest. A 71-year-old resident, Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, was treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews before being taken by Sunstar to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased."
Florida man calls out, curses at DeSantis during presser
While Gov. Ron DeSantis was hosting a press conference on Thursday afternoon in Bradenton, a Florida man in the crowd stood up and began to yell at the elected official. The man was then escorted out by deputies.
1-year-old falls from 3rd-story apartment window
An investigation is underway after a 1-year-old boy fell from an apartment window on Thursday morning in Rockledge, Florida, police said. The child's current condition is unknown.
'March For Our Lives' attacks Pam Bondi
The group "March For Our Lives" has launched a new campaign against United States Attorney General Pam Bondi. Jaclyn Corin, Parkland mass shooting survivor and "March for Our Lives" executive director, is leading the charge. The group says Bondi exploited the shooting to help advance her political career and that she betrayed her promises to those affected.
State attorney speaks after 3 Florida teens sentenced
All 3 suspects have been sentenced in the 2023 Ocklawaha triple-murder case. Defendants Robinson and Brewton were sentenced to life in prison. Defendant Atkins was sentenced to 40 years in prison. All three defendants were charged as adults. FOX 35's Garrett Wymer shows us what the state attorney had to say after the sentencings.
New state-funded weight loss initiative in Florida
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced a new state-funded weight management program for residents in three Florida counties on Thursday. The program will provide residents in Hillsborough, Leon and Palm Beach counties with a free WW, formerly Weight Watchers, subscription as part of the state?s chronic disease prevention efforts. State officials said the program is available to those who have a BMI of 25 or greater, are at least 18 years old and live in one of the three eligible counties.
8 arrested in multi-million dollar fraud investigation
Eight people are facing charges in a multi-state, $8.8 million bank fraud and racketeering scheme impacting 235 people, mainly those who are elderly, according to Attorney General James Uthmeier and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Uthmeier and Judd made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday at the Polk County Sheriff?s Office in Winter Haven. The suspects have all now been extradited and booked into the Polk County Jail.
Top 4 news stories you need to know: July 22, 2025
FOX 35's LuAnne Sorrell and Garrett Wymer break down the top news stories of the day, from a 15-year-old from Marion County sentenced after pleading guilty to murder, a Eustis babysitter arrested for leaving a 3-month-old outside on hot asphalt alone, Governor DeSantis and the new Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia announcing DOGE audits into Florida cities and municipalities and a new Disney animation experience coming to Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in 2026.
Playbook Tuesday: DeSantis & Uthmeier on the offensive
This Playbook Tuesday, POLITICO reporter and Florida Playbook author Kimberly Leonard joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer via Zoom to break down the latest in Florida Politics, where Governor Ron DeSantis takes the offensive, with Blaise Ingoglia in commencing DOGE audits on Broward County and the city of Gainesville and with Attorney General James Uthmeier in going after the Miami Mayor and City Council who the State Supreme Court blocked from moving forward with delaying their elections a whole calendar year to align with the 2026 midterms.
Maddie Soto's mother absent from Sterns sentencing
Stephan Sterns received 21 life sentences for the murder and sexual abuse of 13-year-old Maddie Soto in Osceola County Court yesterday. He pled no contest to murder and guilty to sexual battery. Lauren Cadilac, an attorney following the case, joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to break down the emotional day in the courtroom where Maddie's father spoke with his wife, and multiple members of Maddie's family gave emotional victim impact statements, often directly addressing and attacking Stephan Sterns. Maddie's mother, Jenn Soto, was not physically in the courtroom for the hearing.
New Disney Animation experience coming in 2026
Walt Disney World is offering a slew of new experiences, just announcing a new Disney animation experience to coming to Hollywood Studios, the grand opening of Test Track 3.0 at EPCOT today, and the new Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away Parade at Magic Kingdom. Tharin White, Lead Publisher at EYNTK.info and Drew Smith, Drew The Disney Dude join FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to break down the latest and greatest at Walt Disney World.
Maddie Soto case: Life in prison for Stephan Sterns
Stephan Sterns was sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole in the sexual assault and murder of Madeline Soto, part of a plea deal that avoided two public trials and removed the death penalty as a potential penalty. Sterns pleaded no contest to first-degree murder in the disappearance and death of 13-year-old Madeline and guilty to several counts of sexual abuse. A Florida judge accepted the plea deal and adjudicated Sterns guilty, before sentencing him to multiple life sentences in prison. Lauren Cadilac, attorney at Cadilac Law, joins FOX 35 News+ to talk about the plea deal.
Microsoft rushes vulnerability fix to halt hackers
Matt Rose, CXO of Tech Rage IT, joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer via Zoom to break down the global Microsoft server hack and the company rushing out a patch to close up the opening hackers were using to exploit the vulnerability in Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration software.
Top 4 news stories you need to know: July 21, 2025
FOX 35's John Brown & Garrett Wymer break down the top news stories of the day, from Stephan Sterns being sentenced to life in prison for the murder and sexual battery of Maddie Soto, Blaise Ingoglia being sworn in as the new Florida Chief Financial Officer, a car slamming into an Orlando ice cream shop on security camera, and a Lake Mary Little Leaguer heading to Taiwan to represent Team USA.
Why did Stephan Sterns wait to plead guilty?
This afternoon, Stephan Sterns, the man accused of raping and murdering 13-year-old Maddie Soto is expected to plead guilty in Osceola County court. His trial for sexual battery was scheduled to begin tomorrow with jury selection and the murder trial was scheduled for later this year. Both of those cases could be resolved this afternoon. Criminal defense attorney Jose Rivas joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer live via Zoom to analyze the potential reasoning behind Sterns' defense team pushing for a guilty plea, what we can expect in court today and why the plea hearing would come less than 24 hours before jury selection was scheduled to begin.