Florida News

Florida State University freshman and football athlete Ethan Pritchard was awarded with "The Doc Fauls Rise Above Adversity Award." The award honors those who rise above adversity. In August 2025, a day after FSU's opening win against Alabama, Pritchard was shot in the head while driving to his aunt's house. Officials said Pritchard was shot in a case of mistaken identity. He was in a coma for days. Today, he is walking and talking. Coach Mike Norvell fought back years in honoring Pritchard: "We are so fortunate to be able to be around a true walking miracle." "I just wanna say I appreciate everybody. Keep me in ya'll's prayers. I appreciate my family," Pritchard said, specifically mentioning his dad.

The Florida Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday allowing further DNA testing, continuing the stay of James Duckett's execution. In its ruling, Duckett wants the full results of the DNA testing he requested earlier and to have those results analyzed by a qualified bioinformaticist. Duckett, a former Mascotte Police Officer, was sentenced to death after being convicted in the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. He was set to be executed on March 31, but that was stayed after a last-minute request to conduct DNA testing of a sample found on the girl's jeans. Those results came back inconclusive, records stated. Teresa McAbee was out with a 16-year-old boy on May 11, 1987. Both were approached by Duckett, a Mascotte Police Officer at the time. He allegedly told the girl to get in his patrol vehicle. She was reported missing. The next day, her body was found in Knight Lake. 

More than 40 students from several high schools in Central Florida, including Jones, Boone, Wekiva, and Dr. Phillips, received college scholarships from the Harris Rosen Foundation, named after Harris Rosen, founder of Rosen Hotels & Resorts.

Volusia County Deputy Jose Rivera is back at work, limited to "light duty" as he continues to heal. He sat down with FOX 35 News for his first on-camera interview since the shooting and since returning to work. Deputy Rivera responded to a disturbance call in Deltona in March, when he was shot twice. One bullet hit his body camera, which was on his chest. That bullet than ricocheted to his shoulder. He was also shot in the thigh. "I'm honestly feeling really great," he told FOX 35. "I'm healing good. My emotions are good. Overall, cause of my family, I'm happy."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDOT provided a first look at what the redesigned interchange between I-95 and U.S 1 would look like in Ormond Beach. According to officials, the redesign will include three bridges and extended on-ramps and off-ramps. A one-mile section on U.S. 1 will also be expanded to 6 lanes. Gov. DeSantis said construction on the interchange will happen one year sooner than initially planned -- starting in 2027. He said that was 15-20 years ahead of the originally planned schedule.

Three former Marion County firefighters -- Seth Day, Edward Kenny, and Tate Trauthwein -- pleaded guilty to charges related to the hazing of another rookie firefighter. All three reached a plea deal with prosecutors. Under that plea agreement, all three former firefighters will avoid jail. They were also sentenced to a year of probation, community service, and behavior classes. Before accepting the deal, the judge asked the 19-year-old Kane Stewart, the victim, he was OK with the agreement. He said he was.  FOX 35 does not normally identify victims, but Kane Stewart talked two FOX 35 about the attack previously and was OK being identified.

A Florida man is facing several charges after allegedly carjacked a woman and then led authorities on a pursuit, before eventually being stopped and arrested. James Seth Yawn, 38, was arrested by FHP and booked into the Seminole jail on several charges, including armed carjacking, kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery, aggravated assault, among other charges.  Authorities said the carjacking happened on Aloma Avenue Wednesday night in Winter Park. Yawn then led authorities in pursuit on EB I-4 in Seminole County. FHP used a PIT maneuver to stop Yawn's vehicle near

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference Thursday in Ormond Beach, where a groundbreaking was held for the I-95 interchanged at U.S. 1.  The project was moved up 15-20 years -- and is a year ahead of the accelerated schedule, he said. The new design will add 3 bridges and redesigned loop ramps, and extended the northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp.  The goal is to increase traffic flow and relieve congestion.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was "surprised" to learn about the numerous sloth deaths under the care of Sloth World Orlando.  "So this issue with this Sloth World in Orlando. Like honestly, it was really, really weird to me," he said. "I know FWC got involved and I think they're going to have to rectify whatever was the matter." He said he would like FWC handle the investigation. However, FWC has told FOX 35 that it is not investigating Sloth World nor issued any formal violations after some 50 sloths died under its care, according to FOX 35 reviews of FWC permits, records, and vet notes. Last week, 13 sloths were transferred to Central Florida Zoo for care. All showed signs of dehydration and other issues. Bandit, who was in the most critical condition since he arrived, died on April 29, 2026. 

People on the Supergirl Sky Flight at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio were abruptly stopped for several minutes, leaving riders suspended some 200 feet in the air. Maria Salazar was on the ride and shared video with Storyful of her view, showing all of the riders seated, hanging several feet in the air. “It was scary to have to wait up in the air, unable to move,” she said. A spokesperson for Six Flags told Storyful that the ride was stopped because an operator saw someone pull out their cell phone, which violated the park's safety policy. The ride was lowered and guests "safely exited," officials said. And the ride remained open for the rest of the dat.

Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani calls for the Attorney General's office to launch a criminal investigation into the Orlando attraction 'Sloth World' after it was reported that over 50 sloths died before the attraction opened. Eskamani called the situation a "failure of government."