Disney Land, Florida Walt Disney World’s vital influence on Florida’s extensive tourism industry will be put to the test this weekend as the huge Orlando resort re-opens its theme parks for the first time since mid-March. Amid a raft of new procedures, adaptations and health and safety regulations, the House […]

Disney Land, Florida Walt Disney World’s vital influence on Florida’s extensive tourism industry will be put to the test this weekend as the huge Orlando resort re-opens its theme parks for the first time since mid-March. Amid a raft of new procedures, adaptations and health and safety regulations, the House […]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Two North Carolina men on spring break in Florida have been charged with drugging and raping a woman who later died, possibly of a drug overdose in Miami Beach, police said Tuesday. Meanwhile, in Panama City, a man has been charged with fatally shooting a […]

CLOSE Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last SlideNext Slide A controversial proposal dealing with vacation rentals underwent a major overhaul on Thursday, after the bill sponsor stripped out a provision that would have blocked local governments’ ability to license and inspect the properties. The fight about oversight of short-term rentals […]

TALLAHASSEE — A controversial proposal dealing with vacation rentals underwent a major overhaul on Thursday, after the bill sponsor stripped out a provision that would have blocked local governments’ ability to license and inspect the properties. The fight about oversight of short-term rentals has escalated in the Legislature as the […]

This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. Florida’s annual two-month legislative session opens Tuesday. Legislators must eventually pass a budget, but along the way they can consider a legion of potential new laws and tweaks to existing ones. Some have merit, others don’t. Here are […]

TALLAHASSEE – Florida lawmakers’ latest attempt to advance vacation rental legislation narrowly cleared a House panel Wednesday, with critics condemning the move to strip away control from city and county governments. House sponsor Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, said his bill (HB 219) would bring “consistency” to the massive vacation rental industry, which […]

A years-long effort to block local governments from regulating vacation rentals is on the move again, as Florida House and Senate leaders revive a proposal to prevent cities and counties from inspecting and licensing properties offered on platforms such as Airbnb. In a 10-7 vote on Wednesday, the House Regulatory […]

A social studies teacher at an all-girls public school in Queens traveled to Florida to have sex with an underage teen girl he’d spent months chatting up online, authorities alleged Sunday. After cozying up to the teen for months over the internet, Zeshaan Naqvi, who most recently taught at the […]

COVID-19 vaccines are now available in South Florida, and the rules on who can get a shot, where and when can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know: What’s new today? Baptist Health has announced that due to restraints on the COVID-19 vaccine supply, all first-dose vaccinations booked for […]

People 65 and over wait in line at the Department of Health Sarasota COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Sarasota, Fla. (Octavio Jones/Reuters) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is speaking out after reports surfaced of outsiders traveling to the state to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “We’re a transient state,” DeSantis said Monday during […]

In happier times, tourists flocked to Florida for a wide variety of vacation experiences: They might have lounged or surfed at beautiful beaches, wrestled a marlin on the open sea, snorkeled with tropical fish or manatees, or taken the kids to see Mickey. Now the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine has arrived, […]

The following information is related to COVID-19 vaccination distribution in the Central Florida area.This information will be updated as more details are released. ORANGE COUNTY To get additional information on the vaccine, click here.Those who have trouble booking an appointment can call 305-351-9531 or email [email protected] information about when more […]

People queue for COVID-19 vaccinations at a sports complex in Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 29, 2020. (Octavio Jones/The New York Times) MIAMI — Linda Kleindienst Bruns registered for a coronavirus vaccine in late December, on the first day the health department in Tallahassee, Florida, opened for applications for people her […]