Fresh Take Florida is a news service producing top-caliber investigative and political content. Hard-hitting coverage focuses on Florida’s state government, including the Legislature, or other issues of statewide, regional or national interest.
T-5 days until Election Day in the Florida House 118 special election in Miami-Dade County.
Voter Turnout Update (Nov. 30)
6,855 votes cast.
GOP: 2,979 / DEM: 2,373 / Other: 1,503
GOP leads by 606 ballots.
@FloridaGOP @FlaDems
Sheriff who can’t carry a gun? Felon runs for Alachua County’s top cop. From: @alexakherrera
Sheriff who can’t carry a gun? Felon runs for Alachua County’s top cop
GAINESVILLE — A long shot candidate for sheriff in this college town who couldn’t legally carry a gun and wo...
www.orlandosentinel.com
Our turnout dashboard returns for the Florida House District 118 special election. Dashboard for House 35 coming soon. https://www.freshtake.vote/118/
A GOP congressional nominee in South Florida who ran despite having a felony record died of cocaine, fentanyl overdose, according to newly released police, autopsy records. From @alexakherrera
Autopsy: Felon who was GOP congressional nominee in South Florida died from overdose - WUFT News
Family members of a Republican congressional nominee in South Florida are mourning the death of a man they describ...
www.wuft.org
University of Florida's new ban on TikTok on campus is happening amid broader social media crackdown in Florida's Capitol @alexakherrera @FreshTakeFla
UF bans TikTok on campus amid broader social media crackdown in Florida’s Capitol - WUFT News
The University of Florida’s decision this week to ban TikTok effective immediately from its campus networks and co...
www.wuft.org
The Florida Senate voted 23-17 on Wednesday to pass a measure that would increase the required percentage of union members who pay dues from 50% to 60% for most public sector employees. From @emmabehrmann @FreshTakeFla
Florida Senate passes bill that would undermine most of state’s teacher unions - WUFT News
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Nancy Velardi has negotiated with Pinellas County Schools, one of the largest school districts ...
www.wuft.org
Efforts in Florida Legislature to repair, preserve abandoned, historic cemeteries – including lost Black burial grounds – making strides after similar measures stalled last year. From @LucilleLannigan @FreshTakeFla
Effort to protect abandoned African American cemeteries stalled last year; things are different now...
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. – An effort in Florida’s Legislature to repair and preserve abandoned and historic cemeteries...
www.wuft.org
Former backup @GatorsFB quarterback would face years in prison, fines, register as sex offender if convicted on child pornography charges he is facing, according to review of over 1,000 similar cases. @Troy_Myers1 @FreshTakeFla
Former UF quarterback faces years in prison, sex offender status if convicted - WUFT News
Jalen Kitna, the former backup quarterback for the University of Florida, would face years in prison and hundreds ...
www.wuft.org
Under new federal rules, YouTubers, Instagrammers, TikTokers must obtain costly permits to record content in America’s national parks that generate money @Troy_Myers1 @FreshTakeFla @theparkjunkie @AliceLFord @thehikingguy
Land of the fee? Costly permits now required to film some YouTube, TikTok videos in national parks...
The National Park Service is requiring permits that could cost hundreds of dollars for filming in national parks if there's intent to make money.
www.wuft.org
In his first State of the State speech since his re-election, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday touted his policies as making Florida an attractive destination with a booming economy. From @Makseminera @FreshTakeFla
‘Ain’t seen nothing yet’: DeSantis touts making Florida attractive destination, largely tempers...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In his first State of the State speech since his re-election, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday ...
www.wuft.org
Mystery solved? US prosecutors in Florida say they know real story of man who lived under another’s identity for 3 decades, including serving 25 years in prison for murder in New York. He's now back behind bars in Tampa @alexakherrera @FreshTakeFla
Mystery solved? Feds name man they say lived under another's identity for 3 decades - WUFT News
TAMPA, Fla. – Who was pretending to be Kelvin Johnson, for more than three decades? Even serving 25 years in ...
www.wuft.org
Retired cop in Florida couldn’t let go of his unsolved cases even decades later, now being lauded by judges for his tenacity on behalf of traumatized rape victim who had been denied justice for so long @alexakherrera @FreshTakeFla
Decades later, retired cop helps convict Atlantic Beach rapist - Jacksonville Today
Twenty-three years after he retired from the police department in Atlantic Beach, Nick VanderWal is being lauded for his diligence and tenacity.
jaxtoday.org
The swimming pool in the backyard of Louis Minardi’s home near Tampa may be distinctive to #Florida: The custom-built pool is shaped like a six-shooter. Neighbors come by and ask, "Is this guy a whack job?" via @FreshTakeFla
Pasco family‘s pool shaped like six-shooter gun
The idea was proposed by a friend and contractor bored with building more traditional pool shapes.
www.tampabay.com
“You swim your lap down the barrel.”
Meet the Tampa-area owners of a custom-built pool shaped like a six-shooter revolver. From @zjcarnell @FreshTakeFla
Only in Florida? Family’s pool shaped like six-shooter gun - WUFT News
ODESSA, Fla. – The swimming pool in the backyard of Louis Minardi’s home near Tampa may be distinctive to Fl...
www.wuft.org
Kaleb Boateng, a walk-on player for the University of Florida football team until last year, died of a self-inflicted gunshot at his off-campus apartment, authorities said Friday. From @zjcarnell @FreshTakeFla
Former UF football player dies from self-inflicted gunshot near campus - WUFT News
Editor’s note: If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention ...
www.wuft.org
In the wake of Parkland shooter's life sentence, Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee are proposing legislation that would make it easier to send convicts to death row. From @carissaallenn @FreshTakeFla
Lawmakers propose making it easier to impose death penalty in Florida - WUFT News
After a jury couldn’t agree on the death penalty in Florida’s deadliest school shooting, Republican lawmakers in ...
www.wuft.org
State officials on Wednesday reported 56 manatees dead so far this year, outpacing the 39 deaths recorded during the same period last year. 2022 was the second-deadliest year on record. From @emmabehrmann @FreshTakeFla
Year starts with high numbers of manatee deaths across Florida - WUFT News
TAMPA, Fla. – Lluvia and her calf Morado glide to the bottom of their habitat to munch on romaine lettuce; t...
www.wuft.org
The University of Florida is warning there is a “strong possibility” it will ban TikTok from its wired and wireless computer networks on campus. Other may follow suit. From @makseminera @FreshTakeFla
Stop the scroll: Pressure builds to ban TikTok on Florida campuses - WUFT News
...
www.wuft.org
The University of Florida is making sure its newly hired president, former Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, can dive into the job: It is spending $300,000 to build a new swimming pool in his new backyard. From @emmabehrmann @FreshTakeFla
UF to spend $300,000 on new pool for incoming university president - WUFT News
The University of Florida is making sure its newly hired president, former Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, can dive ...
www.wuft.org
Like many people, Jenkins had never heard of a town called Rosewood. But when she was five years old, her mother entrusted her with a lifelong mission: Keep Rosewood alive.
Check out my first story for @FreshTakeFla co-written with @zjcarnell with photos by @LAURENWHID
