State News
Sunday, April 19, 2026 · Florida
Florida-Breds Take Center Stage on Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs will host Florida Cup Day this Saturday, April 17, 2026, featuring six $110,000 stakes races exclusively for Florida-bred horses.
Older Home, Older Pipes: Common Drainage Issues in Historic Orlando Neighborhoods
Oviedo residents in older homes are increasingly facing drainage issues due to aging pipes, with root intrusion and corrosion being common problems.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Understanding Bail in Florida: A West Palm Beach Resident's Guide
West Palm Beach residents can learn how bail works in Florida, including the factors judges consider, different ways to post bail, and the role of bail bondsmen in the local community.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Understanding Bail in Florida: What West Palm Beach Residents Need to Know
West Palm Beach residents need to understand how bail works in Florida, from cash bonds to surety bonds, to navigate the legal system effectively.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Davie, Neighbors Unite in Plantation for Relay for Life Cancer Fight
Thousands gathered Saturday in Plantation Central Park as Davie, Weston, Cooper City and Plantation rallied against cancer in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Under a Western theme, survivors walked laps, luminarias glowed in remembrance, and communities pushed toward a $10,000 goal. The event fused fun, food and fierce fundraising for Florida's cancer battle.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Orlando's Construction Boom Fuels Central Florida Real Estate Surge
Central Florida's real estate market is booming amid a wave of new residential and commercial projects, powered by record job growth and population influx. Orlando added 37,500 jobs in 2024 and welcomes 1,500 new residents weekly, absorbing new construction inventory at a blistering pace. Yet rising supply signals a market pivot, offering buyers rare leverage in 2026.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Florida Tourism Hits New Peak as 2025 Shatters All Records
Florida's tourism machine reached unprecedented heights in 2025, welcoming 143.3 million visitors and generating over $142.9 billion in economic activity. The surge reflects the state's continued dominance as America's premier vacation destination, even as tourism competition intensifies nationwide.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Gators Baseball Sweeps No. 4 Arkansas in Historic Road Triumph
The Florida Gators baseball team etched history in Fayetteville, sweeping No. 4 Arkansas for the first time since 2016 and the highest-ranked road sweep this century. With a season-high 17 hits in a 7-6 thriller on March 29, UF improved to 23-6 overall and 6-3 in the SEC. Gainesville fans are buzzing over the program's road dominance against top foes.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Heat Battle for Playoff Survival in Florida's NBA Stakes
The Miami Heat find themselves in a critical stretch of the 2025-26 season, sitting just a half-game behind the Orlando Magic in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. With a 34-29 record and momentum on their side, Miami must navigate a treacherous upcoming schedule to avoid the play-in tournament and secure one of the league's coveted playoff berths.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Florida Panthers Claim Back-to-Back Stanley Cups in Sunrise Thriller
The Florida Panthers hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second straight season, dominating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena. Sam Reinhart's four-goal explosion and Sam Bennett's Conn Smythe heroics sealed another championship for South Florida's hockey dynasty. Fans in Sunrise erupted as the Cats cemented their legacy.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Miami's Bay of Pigs Veterans Unveil New Museum for 65th Anniversary
In Miami's Little Havana, Bay of Pigs veterans have opened a sprawling new museum to honor the failed 1961 invasion that claimed over 100 lives. Marking the 65th anniversary, the facility preserves the legacy of Brigade 2506 amid a shrinking cadre of survivors. Funded by Florida taxpayers and donors, it aims to teach new generations the cost of freedom.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Tampa Airport Wins National Cleanliness Championship
Tampa International Airport has claimed the top honor in the second annual Spotless Spaces Competition, earning recognition as the U.S. Spotless Space of the Year from the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions. The award recognizes the airport's exceptional commitment to maintaining a clean, safe environment for millions of annual travelers.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Florida Bill Expands 'Gang Member' Label After Just 2 Sightings
A Florida Senate bill slashing the threshold to label someone a gang member from multiple to just two associations has cleared its final committee. Sponsored by Ft. Myers Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin, SB 536 adds online posts and spouse testimony to the mix. If passed, it takes effect Oct. 1 amid rising gang concerns statewide.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
DeSantis Signs Law Giving Florida Power to Designate Terrorist Groups
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation Monday in Tampa that grants Florida unprecedented authority to designate domestic and foreign terrorist organizations, with sweeping consequences for funding, education and student expulsion. The measure, which takes effect July 1, immediately drew constitutional challenges from civil rights groups who argue it threatens free speech and due process.
Sunday, April 19, 2026