Articles by Kelli Kennedy and Terry Spencer

Florida Restaurant Dining Banned by Governor; Casinos Closed

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned all onsite dining at restaurants statewide Friday and the Seminole Tribe closed its casinos, the latest virus -related closures affecting a state that is heavily dependent on tourism to pay its bills. The governor’s order …

Update: Florida Bans Nursing Home Visits as Coronavirus Spreads

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday banned most visits to nursing homes statewide as he acknowledged the coronavirus has likely spread into the general population. Meanwhile, officials closed world-famous South Beach to prevent college spring breakers from congregating. During a news …

New Higher-Speed Florida Train has Highest U.S. Death Rate

After Richard Branson announced his Virgin Group would partner with Brightline, Florida’s new higher-speed passenger rail service, a train whisked the British billionaire, VIPs and journalists from Miami to West Palm Beach in just over an hour and then back, …

Tropical Storm Nestor Spawns Tornadoes in Florida Gulf but Spares Panhandle

Tropical Storm Nestor was downgraded Saturday after it spawned a tornado that damaged homes and a school in central Florida but spared an area of the Panhandle devastated one year ago by Hurricane Michael. The storm, however, spun off at …

Report: Florida Pill Mills Helped Fuel Opioid Crisis

Florida survives on tourism, but a decade ago thousands of visitors made frequent trips to the state not to visit its theme parks or beaches. Instead, they came for cheap and easy prescription painkillers sold at unscrupulous walk-in clinics. For …

Update: 21 Injured in Gas Explosion at Florida Shopping Plaza

A vacant pizza restaurant exploded Saturday in a thundering roar at a South Florida shopping plaza, injuring more than 20 people as large chunks of concrete flew through the air. The blast flung debris widely along a busy road in …

Florida City Pays $600K to Hackers to Save Computer Records

A Florida city agreed to pay $600,000 in ransom to hackers who took over its computer system, the latest in thousands of attacks worldwide aimed at extorting money from governments and businesses. The Riviera Beach City Council voted unanimously this …

Customers of Florida Spa in Kraft Case File Class Action Suit Against Police

Nearly three dozen men and women have filed a federal class-action lawsuit accusing Florida authorities of unlawfully videotaping them as they received legal massages at a parlor where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others allegedly paid for sex. …

5 Children in Church Van Killed in Fiery Crash on Florida Interstate

A church van packed with children was headed to Walt Disney World when it got caught in a fiery pileup involving two 18-wheelers. Seven people, including five of the youngsters, died in the crash. On Friday, investigators tried to determine …

Florida Judge Rules Deputy Had Duty to Protect in Parkland School Shooting Suit

A judge has rejected a deputy’s claim that he had no duty to confront the gunman during the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Refusing to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the parent of a victim, Broward Circuit Judge Patti Englander …