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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Indiana completes undefeated season, wins first title

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    By  EDDIE PELLS

    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza bulldozed his way into the end zone and Indiana bullied its way into the history books Monday night, toppling Miami 27-21 to put the finishing touch on a rags-to-riches story, an undefeated season and the national title.

    The Heisman Trophy winner finished with 186 yards passing, but it was his tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers’ season.

    Indiana would not be denied.

    “I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

    Mendoza’s TD gave turnaround artist Curt Cignetti’s team a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes, who came to life in the second half behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher but never took the lead.

    The College Football Playoff trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — a campus that endured a nation-leading 713 losses over 130-plus years of football before Cignetti arrived two years ago to embark on a revival for the ages.

    “Took some chances, found a way. Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” Cignetti said.

    Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894.

    In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

    That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked era — might not see a team like this again, either.

    “Congratulations to Indiana,” said President Donald Trump, who was in attendance. “Turned out to be a great game. Two great teams, wonderful teams with a lot of talent.”

    Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

    Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes’ deficit to three, put Mendoza in position to shine.

    The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

    Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

    “We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

    Not known as a run-first guy, Mendoza slipped one tackle, then took a hit and spun around. He kept his feet, then left them, going horizontal and stretching the ball out — a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

    Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.” This was a program so bad that a coach once stopped the game early to take a picture of the scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” The Hoosiers lost 47-7.

    This year, though, they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten title game on their way to the top seed in the playoff.

    They won their first two games by a combined score of 94-25 and Mendoza threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).

    This one was nowhere near as easy.

    Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

    His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

    But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and blocked the kick. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7 and Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

    It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

    “Did I think something like this was possible? Probably not,” Cignetti said. “But if you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible.”

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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    Associated Press

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  • Three Saturday lottery hits came from Miami metro, one from the Orlando area

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    Of Saturday’s Powerball, Florida Lotto, Cash4Life and Fantasy 5 games, only one had jackpot winners — four of them, in fact.

    The Fantasy 5 midday draw came up 3, 5, 12, 14 and 29, which matched a Quick Pick ticket bought at a Winter Garden Circle K gas station, 14990 Colonial Dr. That bit of luck was worth $58,732.

    The Fantasy 5 evening draw got split between South Florida Quick Pick tickets. The numbers 4, 23, 24, 32 and 33 were on a free Quick Pick tickets spit out at Hialeah’s La Bodeguita De Chacha, 4995 E. 4th Ave., and Best Value Food Store, 1040 NW 47th Ave., in Plantation. The Price Choice Food Market in North Miami-Dade at 2712 NW 95th St. sold the third winning ticket.

    Each ticket is worth $41,496.

    These tickets must be cashed at the Florida Lottery main office in Tallahassee or one of the nine district offices. The closest one to the Miami-Dade and Broward locations is in Miami Lakes, 14621 Oak Ln., and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be made, but aren’t required. The office can be reached by emailing MIARC@flalottery.com or calling 305-364-3080.

    David J. Neal

    Miami Herald

    Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.

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    David J. Neal

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  • Flying without a REAL ID? TSA warns of delays, fees starting Feb. 1

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Starting Feb. 1, travelers without a REAL ID or acceptable form of identification could face extra screening and a $45 fee at TSA checkpoints.

    A process called ConfirmID may add up to 30 minutes to security screening for some passengers.

    What You Need To Know

    • TSA’s Confirm ID process begins Feb. 1 for travelers without REAL ID or acceptable identification

    • The process can add up to 30 minutes to security screening and includes a $45 fee

    • TSA says 94% of passengers already present acceptable identification

    • For a full list of acceptable forms of identification and more information on REAL ID requirements, click here.


    The TSA’s ConfirmID process is used when a passenger arrives at an airport checkpoint without a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification.

    “You need ID to identify yourself. I don’t want to be on a plane with people they don’t know,” said traveler Tee Hollis.

    Travelers who go through ConfirmID are subject to additional ID verification and enhanced screening, which TSA says can cause significant delays.

    “With all the security we go through. It better be safe,” said traveler G.Q. Renfro.

    TSA warns that the ConfirmID process can take up to 30 minutes and may cause missed flights if passengers don’t arrive early.

    “The good news is that right now across the country, 94% of passengers who are coming through the checkpoint do have some form of acceptable ID. Most are presenting either a REAL ID from their state or a U.S. passport,” said Daniel Velez, TSA spokesperson for Florida.

    TSA emphasizes that passengers with a REAL ID or another approved form of identification do not need to use ConfirmID.

    “We’re trying to ensure that we’re keeping our skies safe from terrorists and any nefarious actors,” Velez said. “So we have to confirm everybody’s identification that gets onto an aircraft. And the majority of the country right now is doing so. As I mentioned, 94% of people are showing us some form of acceptable ID.”

    TSA says travelers can check with their state DMV if they’re unsure whether their ID is REAL ID compliant.

    TSA says the $45 fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs. For a full list of acceptable forms of identification and more information on REAL ID requirements, click here.

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    Ashley Engle

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  • Florida bills aim to stop capture of vulnerable aquatic animals for exhibits

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Endangered species could get some new protections in Florida.

    Bills have been filed in the Florida House and Senate that would block people from taking any endangered, threatened or vulnerable aquatic animal species from state waters for display or education.

    What You Need To Know

    • The MANTA Protection Act would ban people from capturing endangered and threatened aquatic animals for exhibits or education

    • One of the bill’s sponsors said the bill will close a legal loophole where this has been allowed

    • If the bill is passed and signed into law, it would take effect July 1, 2026


    Last summer, video taken by the dolphin tour company, Water Planet, showed people capturing a giant manta ray off of Panama City. The species is listed as federally threatened.

    “This female giant manta ray will live the rest of her life in a tank at SeaWorld in Abu Dhabi and doesn’t get to experience the gift of being a wild animal,” said Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg.

    Cross is sponsoring the MANTA Protection Act, which has bipartisan support.

    “Many of these species are on the brink of extinction, so we need to be doing more for their restoration and their rehabilitation to ensure that these animals thrive,” Cross said.

    The bill sponsor said this legislation will close a legal loophole where people can get a special activity license for education or exhibition from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that allows them to take protected animals.

    “Even though these animals are listed either on the federal or the state (as) threatened species, endangered or threatened animals, they’re legally allowed to do this, if they get the special license,” she said.

    But there are aquariums- that Cross said are responsible, like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. That’s because their animals are rescued from injuries and illness.

    “So that’s a responsible way, that’s really based on what’s in the long-term health and survival of those animals,” Cross said.

    If the bill is passed and signed by the governor, it would take effect on July 1, 2026.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • After almost losing her child, local mother supports drowning prevention bills

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    A Florida lawmaker is hoping to save lives with a series of bills aimed at drowning prevention.

    In 2025, 119 children drowned, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. Lawmakers believe these new bills, if passed, could reduce those numbers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shakilya Lewis said her son nearly died in a drowning when he was 3 years old; he suffered a brain injury

    • Florida State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith is the lawmaker behind bills designed to improve pool safety

    • Smith’s proposed bill would bring older pools up to code if the homes are ever sold; but he’s not stopping there

    Shakilya Lewis sure hopes so. Her 7-year-old Brandon Green Jr., also known as BJ, survived a near drowning when he was just 3 years old. Lewis said he was visiting a family member’s home and was left unsupervised. She said a backyard camera captured the incident.

    “He was just throwing toys in and out of the water, running in and out of the house with the toys,” Lewis said. “Eventually he started jumping in after the toys and swimming back to the wall. That last time he may have jumped in too far, and he couldn’t get back to the wall. His uncle came home and found him face down and proceeded to start CPR.”

    Lewis said BJ was in a coma for a week and that when he woke up, they faced a new reality. Her once bubbly, talkative 3-year-old had a serious brain injury, and all she could think of was how this happened and how accidents like this can be prevented.

    “They put him in a medically induced coma because his brain was, he was seizing, and his brain was all over the place. Nothing was normal, and finally he woke up like a week later,” she said. “All of the situations are different. Yes, but the thing that’s not different is that there is an adult around and that maybe their doors don’t have locks on them, or there aren’t alarms on the doors, or maybe the pool doesn’t have a fence, a self-locking fence.”

    Florida State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith noticed those details, too.

    “Current Florida law says that all new residential swimming pool builds need to have one of five pool safety features installed in order to be compliant with the pool safety act passed in the year 2000,” he said.

    Carlos Guillermo Smith, seen here during an interview with Spectrum News Political Connections.

    Those residential pool safety options require backyard pools constructed in the year 2000 or later must meet at least one of these requirements: a fence or gate, an approved pool cover, an exit alarm on doors and windows near pool, a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism on windows and doors near pool or a swimming pool alarm.

    “The current law has a loophole because only those residential swimming pools were built after the law was passed in the year 2000 are required to have one of these pool safety features installed,” Smith said.

    Smith’s proposed bill would bring older pools up to code if the homes are ever sold. But he’s not stopping there. Smith has filed and co-introduced four different bills aimed at drowning prevention.

    One bill would add requirements for pool safety at vacation rentals, another will address drowning prevention education, and the other expands the swimming lesson voucher program.

    Lewis said she kept track of the 119 child drownings in 2025, so she is relieved that these bills were filed and thankful her son’s accident can serve as another reminder of how important this is.

    “A lot of kids don’t make it when it comes to drownings. And I think that we’re blessed because we don’t take it for granted that other parents are holding pictures of their kids, but I still get to hold him every night,” Lewis said.

    The bills still have to move through several committees during this legislative session.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Interview: Roblox updates age verification policy

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    The online game Roblox is facing a lawsuit in Florida. 

    The state attorney general is accusing Roblox of failing to protect children from predators and sexual content.

    OCT. 22, 2025: Uthmeier issues criminal subpoenas to Roblox investigating sexual predators

    He says adults were using the game to talk to and groom young people — and the makers didn’t do enough to stop it.

    In response, Roblox is making changes. 

    Eliza Jacobs, a senior policy director at the company, joined Spectrum News to discuss it.

    Use the video link above to watch.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • NASA rolls out SLS rocket for Artemis II moon mission

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER —  More than 1,000 people came out to see NASA roll out its Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket as it made its slow march to the launch pad during the chilly early morning hours on Saturday.  

    What You Need To Know

    • The SLS is a super-heavy rocket that is 322 feet tall (98.27 meters)
    • The Artemis II mission will see four humans flying by the moon
    • It will begin its slow 4-mile ground journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

    The SLS is a super-heavy rocket that is 322 feet tall (98.27 meters), making it 17 feet (5.18 meters) taller than the Statue of Liberty, according to NASA.

    To put it into perspective for space lovers:

    At 7 a.m. ET., the SLS rocket and Orion capsule took a ride on a crawler transporter as it began its slow 4-mile ground journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    And yes, it was a slow trip, moving at 1 mile per hour or less. Between unscheduled stops and other factors, it could take between six and 12 hours before it arrives at the launch pad — its home until the planned February 2026 launch. 

    Once it arrives at its temporary home, it will have its wet dress rehearsal, which is scheduled to take place either at the end of January or the start of February.

    The purpose of the wet dress rehearsal is to test each phase of the launch countdown, from loading more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel into the rocket to safely standing down from a liftoff attempt.  

    And that fuel isn’t something you can find at your local gas station.

    “The liquid oxygen tank and liquid hydrogen tank hold a combined 733,000 gallons of propellant super cooled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit to power the four RS-25 engines at the bottom of the rocket,” NASA explained.

    Sitting on top of the SLS rocket is the Orion capsule, which will carry its human crew to their 10-day mission to the moon.

    It will send NASA’s Cmdr. Gregory Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut mission specialist Jeremy Hansen to the moon, the first time humans visited the rocky satellite since 1972.

    Glover will be the first Black man and Koch will be the first woman to fly to the moon. 

    During a press conference on Saturday morning, the four shared a stage with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

    Isaacman said that the Artemis II mission will fulfill more than one promise.

    “Why are we doing this? We are doing this to fulfill a promise, promise to the American people that we will return to the moon, a promise to all of the pioneers, the engineers, the scientists, the astronauts, the researchers from the 1960s, which the laid the foundation that we are that we are standing upon right now. We’ll do it inevitably to figure out the orbital and lunar economy for all of the science and discovery possibilities that are out there to inspire my kids, your kids, kids all around the world to want to grow up and contribute to this unbelievable endeavor that we’re on right now,” he said.

    Koch also echoed some of what Isaacman said, as well as adding some of the things the mission will focus on.

    “One of the reasons that these missions are so important is the discovery and the knowledge that we bring back to Earth, and that is the entire point. We have both lunar geology science, and we have human research on this mission. Human research is that we’re participating in everything from how we can top perform behavioral health, immune response in space, which is a fascinating physiological response that humans have to microgravity,” she said.

    During the press conference, Hansen said that America’s exploration of space has paved the way for other countries, such as Canada, to develop their own skills.

    “I’ve really applauded the American space leadership because they carved out space for Canada to hone some of our skills, to develop workforce in specific areas, and to bring that knowledge. And the future for Canada kind of looks like where the international collaboration wants to go. We aren’t leading that collaboration. NASA is leading that collaboration, inviting our participation. We have skill sets, and I know Canada will rise to the challenge, just like they did in the Artemis. When we were asked to join Artemis, we started to lean into developing new robotic systems for deep space,” he said.

    While discussing how close they have become, Wiseman also shared that they will have the easiest job on launch day.

    “While we’re up there on launch day, we’ve got the easiest job. We really have the easiest job. We’ve trained for this. We know exactly what to do and it will be good. It’s our families that we think about the most on launch day,” he said.

    This will be a flyby mission, as seen in this NASA graphic for Artemis II.

    NASA is aiming for a Feb. 6 launch, but it can be pushed back to April. The U.S. space agency explained why.

    “While the Artemis II launch window opens as early as Friday, Feb. 6, the mission management team will assess flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal across the spacecraft, launch infrastructure, and the crew and operations teams before selecting a launch date,” NASA stated.

    As John Honeycutt, NASA’s Artemis II mission management team chair, said during a Friday afternoon press conference, “We will fly when we are ready.”

    The U.S. space agency has named the mission to return to Earth’s lunar neighbor Artemis, as a homage to the Apollo moon landing. In Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon.

    NASA plans to send humans (including the first woman and person of color) back to the moon in 2027, more than 50 years after the last time humans stepped on the lunar surface.

    The Artemis I launch took place in 2022 to test out the new systems and how they would handle going to the moon and back.

    Learn about the crew

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    Anthony Leone

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  • NASA to roll out SLS rocket Saturday for Artemis II moon mission

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    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — During the early morning hours of Saturday, NASA will begin the Artemis II’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s slow roll to the launch pad.

    What You Need To Know

    • The SLS is a super-heavy rocket that is 322 feet tall (98.27 meters)
    • The Artemis II mission will see four humans flying by the moon
    • It will begin its slow 4-mile ground journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

    The SLS is a super-heavy rocket that is 322 feet tall (98.27 meters), making it 17 feet (5.18 meters) taller than the Statue of Liberty, according to NASA.

    To put it into perspective for space lovers:

    At 7 a.m. ET., the SLS rocket and Orion capsule will take a ride on a crawler transporter as it begins its slow 4-mile ground journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    And yes, it will be a slow trip, moving at 1 mile per hour or less. Between unscheduled stops and other factors, it could take between six and 12 hours before it arrives at the launch pad — its home until the planned February 2026 launch. 

    Once it arrives at its temporary home, it will have its wet dress rehearsal, which is scheduled to take place at the end of January.

    The purpose of the wet dress rehearsal is to test each phase of the launch countdown, from loading more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel into the rocket to safely standing down from a liftoff attempt.  

    And that fuel isn’t something you can find at your local gas station.

    “The liquid oxygen tank and liquid hydrogen tank hold a combined 733,000 gallons of propellant super cooled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit to power the four RS-25 engines at the bottom of the rocket,” NASA explained.

    Sitting on top of the SLS rocket is the Orion capsule, which will carry its human crew to their 10-day mission to the moon.

    It will send NASA’s Cmdr. Gregory Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut mission specialist Jeremy Hansen to the moon, the first time humans visited the rocky satellite since 1972.

    This will be a flyby mission, as seen in this NASA graphic for Artemis II.

     

    NASA is aiming for a Feb. 6 launch, but it can be pushed back to April. The U.S. space agency explained why.

    “While the Artemis II launch window opens as early as Friday, Feb. 6, the mission management team will assess flight readiness after the wet dress rehearsal across the spacecraft, launch infrastructure, and the crew and operations teams before selecting a launch date,” NASA stated.

    As John Honeycutt, NASA’s Artemis II mission management team chair, said during a Friday afternoon press conference, “We will fly when we are ready.”

    The U.S. space agency has named the mission to return to Earth’s lunar neighbor Artemis, as a homage to the Apollo moon landing. In Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo and the goddess of the moon.

    NASA plans to send humans (including the first woman and person of color) back to the moon in 2027, more than 50 years after the last time humans stepped on the lunar surface.

    The Artemis I launch took place in 2022 to test out the new systems and how they would handle going to the moon and back.

    Learn about the crew

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    Anthony Leone

    Source link

  • Road back to title contention was long for UM, but it has finally broken through

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    CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami safety Jakobe Thomas enjoyed seeing the Hurricanes at their worst.

    He was with Middle Tennessee State in 2022 when the Blue Raiders — four-touchdown underdogs that day — came into Hard Rock Stadium and used big play after big play to beat Miami 45-31, part of the Hurricanes’ spiral to a 5-7 season in Mario Cristobal’s first year back at his alma mater.

    And it wasn’t like that MTSU team was some juggernaut, either. It went 0-3 in its next three games, losing by a combined 60 points. But it had no trouble with Miami.

    That was then.

    Miami’s resurrection from that bad day and a lot of others over the last 20 years — a period during which the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three other interim coaches, 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win, countless headaches and zero Atlantic Coast Conference championships — is just about complete. The Hurricanes (13-2, No. 10 College Football Playoff) play for the national championship on Monday night against Indiana (15-0, No. 1 CFP) at that same Hard Rock Stadium that was practically empty at the end of MTSU’s win four years ago.

    What You Need To Know

    • Miami will play Indiana in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday

    • Over a 20-year period, the Hurricanes have had six coaches, three interim coaches and 17 seasons that didn’t include a bowl win

    • Under coach Mario Cristobal, Miami has restored its accountability and much success

    • The method was to outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles, hire top people and win some recruiting battles

    “It’s completely different,” said Thomas, who transferred to Tennessee for 2024 before coming to Miami for his final college season. “The Miami team we played back in ’22 was not this team now. I think coach Cristobal changed the culture around this place.”

    Make no mistake: Swagger is still a thing at Miami. These Hurricanes are brash and aggressive and tackle hard and play harder. Cristobal’s intensity is constant. Same goes for his staff. But there’s a balance now as well, a demand for accountability and carrying yourself the right way at all times.

    Some examples — wide receiver Malachi Toney, the best freshman in America this season, gave away turkeys at Thanksgiving; star defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. organized a toy drive at Christmas and made a $5,000 donation to the elementary school he attended years ago; and receiver CJ Daniels conducted an event to raise awareness of epilepsy, something that has touched his family.

    Ever since Cristobal came back to Miami, the team has broken two records each year: one for fall-semester grade-point average, then one for spring-semester GPA.

    “We have good people,” Cristobal said. “No, we have great people. It starts there. Surround yourself with great people, like-minded people and see what happens.”

    Cristobal didn’t use some unheard-of, wacky formula to bring Miami back to the national title picture. It was really quite simple: outwork everyone, make honesty and transparency fundamental principles of the program, hire the best people and fight like hell to win recruiting battles — nationally, of course, but also the ones waged in the Hurricanes’ talent-rich backyard, which sends tons of kids to the highest levels of college football every year.

    Landing Bain — a Miami guy who stayed home for college and who should be a sure-fire first-round NFL draft pick — in 2022 was a huge get. Cristobal was on a plane when Bain called him to commit. He threw his phone across the plane when he heard the words. Luckily, it was a private plane. The phone didn’t hit anyone.

    “We’re used to winning, and that’s what we’re going to bring back to Miami,” Bain said in 2022 when he announced his college choice. “They need help bad. They need help right now, and I’m willing to come in right now and make a change.”

    Changes were made.

    After that 5-7 first season, Miami went 7-6 in 2023. Better, but nowhere near good enough. In 2024, the Hurricanes started 9-0, then lost three of their last four games. Better again, but still not good enough.

    So, Cristobal hired defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman away from Minnesota to shore up that side of the ball. Carson Beck signed and took over for No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward at quarterback. Miami kept landing key pieces in the transfer portal — Thomas, Keionte Scott and Mohamed Toure are some who’ll play big roles on defense Monday night, while Keelan Marion, James Brockermeyer, Marty Brown, Daniels and Beck are just a few of the names who’ll be on the offensive side.

    “It was just getting the brotherhood right,” said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who played for Miami in that loss to MTSU. “I feel like we’re all in there. Every person in that locker room is playing for each other. That’s what it looks like when we’re out there. No one is just playing for themselves. The brotherhood, I feel like it’s one of the most important things in a team’s culture. You’ve got to play for the person beside of you.”

    Miami has put together back-to-back seasons of double-digit win totals. It had four consecutive 10-or-more-win seasons from 2000 through 2003, then exactly one such season from 2004 through 2023. It will have back-to-back season-ending appearances in the AP Top 25 for just the second time since 2005. Win or lose on Monday, Cristobal will inevitably say more work needs to be done.

    But the dark days at Miami, finally, seem to be over.

    “A care factor that’s through the roof and a die-hard belief in the University of Miami, bleeding orange and green through all of us, I think that’s what has really forged our progress forward as we continue to try to get better,” Cristobal said. “And we certainly have a long ways to go.”

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  • Weather a concern for Starlink launch

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — As SpaceX is gearing up for another Starlink launch on Sunday evening, the weather is a bit of a concern. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Falcon 9 rocket will send up the Starlink 6-100 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

    The Falcon 9 rocket will send up the Starlink 6-100 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, stated SpaceX. 

    The launch window will open from 5:04 p.m. ET to 9:04 p.m. ET. That means SpaceX has during that time frame to launch its Falcon 9.

    The 45th Weather Squadron is giving “40→10%” against the launch, with the forecast concerns being the cumulus cloud, thick cloud and liftoff winds rules.

    Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.

    Going up

    This is the 24th mission for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster B1080. It sent up two commercial crewed missions.

    After the stage separation, the first-stage rocket will land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas that will be in the Atlantic Ocean..

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites from the Starlink company, owned by SpaceX, will be heading to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there.

    Once deployed and in their orbit, they will provide internet service to many parts of Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, documents Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell recorded the following:

    • 9,500 are in orbit
    • 8,261 are in operational orbit

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    Anthony Leone

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  • NASA says astronaut suffered ‘serious medical condition’ on ISS

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    JOHNSTON SPACE CENTER — During an early morning press conference, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed on Thursday that a Crew-11 astronaut suffered a “serious medical condition” while onboard the International Space Station last week.

    But he stressed that the unnamed astronaut is in stable condition and is currently getting medical care after a successful splashdown off the coast of San Diego on Thursday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • The unnamed astronaut is in stable condition and in good spirits, stated NASA

    “I think without going … into specifics beyond what was already shared, obviously we took this action because it was a serious medical condition,” Isaacman said of the medical evacuation.

    He started the press conference off by recapping the splashdown and how all of the crew members were safe and in good spirits.

    NASA astronauts Cmdr. Zena Cardman, pilot Michael Fincke, and mission specialists Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov will be flown to a hospital in San Diego from the recovery ship Shannon, said Joel Montalbano, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate.

    Montalbano added that all four of the Crew-11 members will spend the night at the hospital and once given the all clear, will be flown to Houston to be reunited with their loved ones. They may be at the Johnson Space Center on Friday, he said.

    Last week, one of the four astronauts suffered an undisclosed medical episode, but was in stable condition.

    This was the first medical evacuation in the 25 years since the International Space Station has been in full service. The situation prompted NASA to cut the Crew-11 mission short, as it was supposed to end in February. 

    Officials stressed that this was not an emergency de-orbit.

    “If it’s a medical thing and you need to get home, you’d come home anywhere in the world and we’d use the U.S. military to get to them as quickly as we can. And then from that, we’d figure out what the next steps would be,” Montalbano explained if it had been an emergency situation.

    During a question-and-answer session, Isaacman told Spectrum News that it was premature to speculate on the astronaut’s future in space.

    “I would, I would think it’s incredibly premature to even, you know, consider that right now. The highest priority is, you know, the health and welfare of our crew members. They just executed, I mean, a near-perfect mission on orbit,” he said. “So, I said that during the initial press conference that I think regardless of the phase of flight we were in on the timeline on the expedition, we would arrive at the same conclusion. What Crew-11 did to make this so much easier is, is executing so well on all of their scientific, scientific objectives. So, in that case, the crew did a fantastic job. And I think that would reflect well on future crew selection criteria.”

    The Crew-11 members take a moment to strike a pose. Mission specialist Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, left, NASA pilot Michael Fincke, NASA Cmdr. Zena Cardman, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Kimiya Yui. (NASA pilot Michael Fincke)

    Because all four astronauts had extensive medical training, they were well equipped to care for the crewmember who suffered the medical episode, Isaacman said. He said the level of care the astronaut received would have been the same if a medical doctor was onboard the space station.

    He added that it is unknown what caused the medical episode and did not think it was preparing for a scheduled spacewalk.

    In what was supposed to be a six-hour spacewalk, Fincke and Cardman were going to install a modification kit and cables for a future rollout of a solar array on Thursday, Jan. 08.

    “I mean, this is something that could have happened on Earth, you know, completely outside the microgravity environment, at that point. I don’t think we know that versus just being in microgravity versus potentially interactions, experiments. We, I just think it would be very premature to draw any conclusions or close any doors at this point,” Isaacman said.

    He said that a medical professional may be on future missions like going to Mars.

    NASA will review what happened and whatever lessons are learned will be adopted to future missions, Montalbano said.

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    Anthony Leone

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  • Duke Energy announces early removal of customers’ storm-related charges

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – Duke Energy announced Wednesday it is dropping storm recovery charges for customers a month earlier than originally scheduled.

    The utility company said storm cost recovery charges were results of costs associated with the company’s approximately $1.1 billion response to hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.

    What You Need To Know

    • Duke Energy announces early removal of storm recovery charges for customers
    • Duke said storm cost recovery charges were results of costs associated with the company’s response to hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton

    • Customers can expect a $33 reduction on the monthly bills to start

    Residential customers can expect an approximately $33 reduction on their monthly bills, when compared to January, for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity they use.

    Commercial and industrial customers’ monthly bills will be lowered between 9.6% and 15.8%, also when compared to January, though the specific impact will vary depending on several factors.

    “We understand all of our customers have been affected by the rising costs of living, many may be facing financial challenges, and some are even having to decide which bills they can afford to pay every month,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “It was important to us that our customers get this significant rate relief as soon as possible while we continue to deliver the safe, reliable power they expect and deserve.”

    Duke officials also said additional savings are on the way.

    In March, residential customers will experience another approximately $11 decrease (per 1,000 kWh) on their monthly bills, creating a total $44 decrease.  

    Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across 13,000-square miles in west central Florida, including Orlando, St. Peterburg and Clearwater. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Human will to live shines at “Touching the Void”

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Actor Seth Henley-Beasley is playing a character who loves mountain climbing but is afraid of heights.

    What You Need To Know

    • On The Town at Stageworks Theatre

    • Touching the Void opens January 16 and runs througn February 1

    • The venue is located at 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa

    • Price for entry is $50, with discounts


    “If you are not super experienced with like theatre and you think ‘I’m going to sit around in a stuffy room and watch some people walk around on a set,’ No. That’s not what you are coming to see actually,” said Henley-Beasley.

    Touching the Void is opening at Stageworks Theatre, and it takes place on a mountainside. Two mountaineers survive a climbing accident in the Peruvian Andes. But not before one climber cuts a safety rope and lifeline–thinking the other is dead.

    It underscores the dangers of mountain climbing and the sometimes impossible choices one must face to survive. This is based on a true story of incredible survival.

    “Also, this show kind of has an added bonus, where we do a lot of stunts,” said Henley-Beasley.

    That’s thanks in part to the set. Backstage, builders spent eight hours assembling the pieces of their mountain set.

    Stunt actor Brianna McVaugh portrays a frightened novice climber learning the ropes.

    “It’s fun to sing. It’s fun to dance. My niche and my love in theatre will always be physical. Any kind of physical movement, if it’s rolling on the floor, hanging from the rafters,” said McVaugh.

    McVaugh and Henley-Beasley are joined on set by Luis Rivera and Robert Logan Mays, who portray real life climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates.

    “And there’s always this little risk of danger when it’s live. If you are recording and someone- something happens, you can stop and do another take. We don’t get another take. So I think it’s well worth the jump in heart rate,” said Henley-Beasley.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Despite forecast, SpaceX launches Starlink satellites

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. — Even though the weather did not look promising, SpaceX was able to launch its Starlink mission on Wednesday afternoon. . 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Falcon 9 rocket sent up the Starlink 6-98 mission
    • The rocket’s first-stage booster has an impressive history
    • Get more space coverage here  ▶

    The Falcon 9 rocket sent up Starlink 6-98 mission from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, stated SpaceX. 

    The launch window opened at 1:01 p.m. ET and it was set to close at 5:01 p.m. ET. That means SpaceX had during that time frame to launch its Falcon 9 rocket.

    The liftoff time was at 1:08 p.m. ET.

    The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 40% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only concerns being the thick cloud layers and the cumulus cloud rules. 

    Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.

    Lucky 13?

    This is the 13th mission for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster B1085.

    So far, B1085 has an impressive career, launching one crewed mission to the International Space Station, the first-ever civilian polar orbit and sending up two commercial companies’ lunar landers — with Firefly Aerospace being the first company to successfully land on the moon. 

    1. Crew-9 mission
    2. Starlink 6-77 mission
    3. Starlink 10-5 mission
    4. RRT-1
    5. Blue Ghost and HAKUTO-R
    6. Fram2 mission
    7. Starlink 6-93 mission
    8. SXM-10 mission
    9. Eumetsat MTG-S1 mission
    10. Starlink 10-20 mission
    11. Starlink 10-27 mission
    12. Starlink 6-94 mission

    After the stage separation, the first-stage rocket landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was in the Atlantic Ocean

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites from the Starlink company, owned by SpaceX, will be heading to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there.

    Once deployed and in their orbit, they will provide internet service to many parts of Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell recorded the following:

    • 9,476 are in orbit
    • 8,242 are in operational orbit

     

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    Anthony Leone

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  • DeSantis gives final address; Lawmakers get to work

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    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his final State of the State address, and state lawmakers got to work advancing a bill that will streamline development approvals. 


    Speaking to the Florida Legislature for his last State of the State Address, Gov. Ron DeSantis took the podium to tout his accomplishments and declare that he has fulfilled the promises for action he made when he was elected.

    “Seven years ago, I stood on the steps of the old Capitol building to articulate a new vision, launch a bold agenda and make a promise to produce big results,” he said. “Today, I stand here in this chamber to report that together, we have made good on that agenda.” 

    DeSantis pointed to the state’s fiscal progress during his time as governor, saying that when he took office, Florida had a “weak rainy day fund” and “modest budget reserves.” Since then, he said the state’s rainy day fund has more than tripled, while budget reserves have doubled.

    “Results are what matter the most,” he said. “And we, more than any other state, have delivered those big results.”

    DeSantis said his administration retired almost half of the taxpayer-supported debt held by the state, which saved more than $1 billion in principal and interest costs.

    “We’ve proven that fiscal responsibility and limited government work,” he said.

    DeSantis pointed to the state’s economy, which he said has accounted for almost 14% “of all new jobs produced throughout America” since 2020.

    And he said that people from around the country are flocking to the state because Florida is friendly to taxpayers.

    “We do not, and will never, have an income tax in the Sunshine State,” he said. 

    “I don’t think there’s any question that, working together, we have made the state of Florida the most taxpayer-friendly state government of all 50 states,” he added.

    In education, DeSantis announced that Florida’s graduation rate for the 2024-25 school year was 92.2%, which is the highest in the state’s history.

    He pointed to Florida’s ability to attract quality teachers because it has the highest average minimum salary in the Southeast region, and has put a total of $6 billion toward efforts to better compensate teachers since he was elected.

    DeSantis touted the state’s Hope Florida program, which is led by his wife, first lady Casey DeSantis, saying it has caused significant improvements for residents in the state.

    “By leaning into our faith community, we have seen a historic 47% reduction in the number of children entering our child welfare system, and seen more than 33,000 Floridians reduce their reliance on public assistance,” DeSantis said.

    He said those improvements resulted in a $130 million savings for Florida’s budget.

    Lawmakers advance a bill to adjust how developments are approved

    With just one day left before the start of the legislative session in Tallahassee, Florida lawmakers are gearing up to tackle various issues that have been garnering a lot of attention in past months.

    Proposed elimination of property taxes and congressional redistricting are expected to take center stage, all while Gov. Ron DeSantis gears up for his final year in office. 

    DeSantis has already laid out some of his biggest priorities.

    Top of the list is the conversation surrounding the elimination of non-school property taxes, which includes four proposals that would either cut them out entirely or phase them out over 10 years.

    Another proposal would eliminate non-school property taxes exclusively for homeowners 65 and older.

    The proposals include a police mandate that would require local governments to leave law enforcement budgets untouched.

    But many lawmakers from both parties have voiced concern about this idea, since it could significantly change how local governments fund essential services like police, fire and schools, especially in rural areas.

    Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for local governments.

    The Florida Policy Institute estimates $43 billion would be needed to maintain current services if the House proposals are enacted.

    When it comes to introducing big pieces of legislation like this during his final session, University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett said he looks at it through a policy and political lens.

    In the case of eliminating property taxes, Jewett said it’s a policy issue, especially as it relates to taxing and spending, which could have major impacts for local governments. 

    But he said it is also a political issue. 

    “It’s pretty clear that (DeSantis) still has political aspirations and political ambitions,” Jewett said. “This is his last year as governor. He’s term limited out — he’s a lame duck. But he wants to go out with some big political and policy victories. And so, if he can be considered the architect of the first state to totally eliminate property taxes for primary homeowners, that would be something that he could brag about.”

    By the same token, Jewett said this also applies to mid-decade redistricting, which he believes is being used as a tactic to maintain a strong Republican presence in Congress.

    As the midterm elections inch closer, DeSantis has called a special session in April to address congressional redistricting to potentially redraw the state’s congressional districts.

    This comes months after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw their maps to expand GOP majority in Congress.

    “The Florida Constitution says that when the legislature draws district lines, that they can’t do so with the intent of helping or hurting a political party,” Jewett said. “And so, all the legislative leaders and the governor are sort of winding themselves in circles coming up with all these reasons why they want they want to do mid-decade redistricting.”

    But before he can move forward with this, DeSantis needs the approval from both the Florida House and Senate.

     

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    Ybeth Bruzual, Holly Gregory, Jason Delgado, Spectrum News Staff

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  • Crew-11 to undock from ISS with astronaut who suffered medical issue

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    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — NASA’s Crew-11 will be undocking from the International Space Station in the facility’s first medical evacuation after an astronaut suffered a medical episode.

    What You Need To Know

    • Crew-11 should be splashing down off the coast of California

    The members of Crew-11 — NASA astronauts Cmdr. Zena Cardman and pilot Michael Fincke, along with mission specialists Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — will get into SpaceX’s Dragon capsule named Endeavour and undock from the space station’s Harmony module at 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday.

    Endeavour will be fully autonomous from the moment it undocks to the splashdown, which is expected to happen at 3:40 a.m. ET, Thursday, in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California.

    SpaceX Dragon specs:

    • Height: 26.7 feet tall

    • Diameter: 13 feet fall

    • Number of engines: 8

    • Passengers: It can carry up to 7 people

    • Parachutes: 2 drogue + 4 main = 6 parachutes

    Though, the crew can take control of the capsule if something should come up.

    When the quartet enters Earth’s atmosphere, there will be a series of parachute deployments that will slow the Dragon down from an orbital speed of about 17,500 mph (2,816 kph) to 350 mph (563 kph) to about 16 mph (25 kph) when it should softly land in the ocean.

    While the crew will remain safe inside, the outside of Dragon will face temperatures of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,927 degrees Celsius) once it hits Earth’s atmosphere. The spacecraft’s special shielding and the air conditioning system will keep the crew safe and cool.

    It is not known exactly where Endeavour’s splashdown will be, but it will be off California’s coast.

    Depending on where the Dragon will be flying over, some people may hear a sonic boom.

    Learn all about sonic booms here.

    Why Crew-11’s mission was cut short

    Not much is known about the situation, except that last week, one of the Crew-11 members suffered a medical episode, but has since been stable, said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during a press conference.

    During the press conference, NASA officials said that while this is the first time the International Space Station has had a medical evacuation, they would not call this an emergency de-orbit, which would have taken hours to return to Earth.

    The medical issue was serious enough to cancel a planned spacewalk that was set for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 8.

    During a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk, Fincke and Cardman were supposed to install a modification kit and cables for a future rollout of a solar array.

    The Crew-11 team was supposed to stay on board the International Space Station until February, when they would be relieved of duty by Crew-12.

    Crew-12’s launch might be moved up weeks earlier, but no official date has been given. Originally, that mission’s launch was set for February.

    All four members of Crew-11 spent about five months on the space station. They were launched on a Falcon 9 rocket in August 2025.

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    Anthony Leone

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  • DeSantis to outline key goals in State of the State Address

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to give his final annual State of the State address in the Florida House Chamber Tuesday around 11 a.m.

    In that address, the governor is expected to outline his goals for the 2026 legislative session, including his plans for two proposed special sessions.

    The governor, like the duties of the president, is tasked with providing a message at the start of each regular legislative session. This message should include information about the condition of the state, any proposals to reorganize the executive branch, and to recommend measures in the public interest, according to Article IV, Section 1, Subsection e in the Florida Constitution.

    In last year’s address, the governor touted the state’s economic performance, but he also took care to highlight his desire for lawmakers to act on insurance reform in the state. 

    So far, he has outlined a few things he would like lawmakers to tackle in this year’s legislative sessions. 

    AI Bill of Rights

    DeSantis announced in December he wanted to establish an artificial intelligence bill of rights for Floridians.

    The governor says there could be benefits to AI, but also warned about the potential dangers of the technology.

    “I think there is a technology that can enhance a worker’s productivity, enhance a business’s efficiency in ways that would be valuable, but I also think there are some who view it as a way to simply be able to have less people employed,” DeSantis said in December.

    The governor said Florida needs to protect young people from what AI can do to them, including so-called deepfake images and videos.

    DeSantis said he also wants to limit where AI data centers can be built in the state, and limit utility companies from raising rates to pay to power those data centers.

    The State Budget

    DeSantis announced the details of his last budget proposal last month. The proposal calls for $117 billion in spending, an increase of $2.2 billion from last year’s $115.6 billion in proposals.

    The governor highlighted expenditures for education, including $1.56 billion for teacher pay increases across the state, which is up slightly from the $1.5 billion DeSantis proposal for the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget.

    Other educational line items included $30.6 billion for the overall K-12 budget — up from $29.7 billion in the previous budget proposal — with an additional $1.7 billion earmarked for early childhood education, which is down slightly from the 2025-2026 proposal of $1.76 billion.

    DeSantis also announced a plan to spend $4 billion on the state’s university system, which is up slightly from his $3.9 billion proposal for 2025-2026.

    Additionally, he highlighted planned pay increases for state law enforcement, and said he hopes to extend the current recruitment bonus program, which pays out $5,000 for new recruits.

    DeSantis is proposing $118 million for pay increases for law enforcement and firefighters, which is slightly less than the $118.3 he proposed last year.

    For transportation, DeSantis outlined $15.4 billion for the Department of Transportation, as well as $14.3 billion for the state transportation work program. 

    DeSantis also outlined spending for health care across the state. The governor is seeking to spend $8.6 million for improvements to the State Veteran’s Nursing Homes, and $36.6 million for child welfare system funding that will help foster parents, caregivers, and community-based services. 

    Additionally, DeSantis is seeking to provide $159 million for behavioral health services, including preadmission diversion and discharge services. 

    DeSantis’ first budget proposal in 2019 was $90.98 billion. 

    Property Tax Reform

    The Florida House advanced a series of proposals designed to cut non-school property taxes through its first committees this past fall, a move that could change how local governments fund services and manage local finances.

    The proposals include a measure to eliminate the taxes immediately, and another to phase them out over 10 years.

    “This is about returning money to hard-working Floridians,” said Coral Gables Republican Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera.

    Another proposal would eliminate non-school property taxes exclusively for homeowners 65 and older.

    “This is a targeted approach to help those who need it the most,” said Miami Republican Rep. Juan Porras. “Our most vulnerable communities, those who have built the cities and counties, the areas that we all represent.”

    The proposals include a police mandate that would require local governments to leave law enforcement budgets untouched.

    “I did not support defunding the police in 2020, and I am not going to support it today,” said Coconut Creek Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky.

    It would require a constitutional amendment to alter the state’s property taxes. If passed by the Legislature, the proposal will go to voters in 2026 and would require at least 60% approval.

    “We should not be afraid to let the voters of this state, the same voters who elected each and every one of us, make the decisions for themselves, for their communities and for the state,” said Stuart Republican Rep. Toby Overdorf.

    Democratic lawmakers on Thursday voiced concern over the effort to slash property taxes, which are the primary revenue source for local governments. The Florida Policy Institute estimates $43 billion would be needed to maintain current services if the House proposals are enacted.

    “We should not be putting our local governments in a situation where we’re taking away tools, only to have them shift that burden in some other way. That is actually going to have the most adverse impacts on the people who need our help the most,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, a Tampa lawmaker.

    The Senate has not filed any companion legislation, leaving the House to move forward alone.

    DeSantis has criticized the idea of putting multiple tax proposals on the 2026 ballot, calling it a poor approach.

    Congressional Redistricting

    The Florida House Committee on Congressional Redistricting met in December for the first time to consider redrawing congressional maps before the next census. 

    On the board is Orlando Democratic Rep. Johanna Lopez, who represents District 43.

    There have been mixed reactions after DeSantis announced his plan to call a special session next year, as early as March, so lawmakers can redraw Florida’s map.

    In order for a redistricting to happen, though, he still needs approval from the House and Senate, as the timing of his announcement would allow the Sunshine State to watch the U.S. Supreme Court, which is reconsidering parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

    Voting rights advocates from the American Civil Liberties Union worry that this move could unlawfully benefit one party over another. Civil‑rights groups and voting‑rights advocates warn that a new round of redistricting could collide with Florida’s own constitutional limits.

    “To be perfectly clear, in Florida, it’s illegal and unconstitutional to draw districts to benefit one party over another,” said Abdelilah Skhir of the ACLU during a press conference at the Florida Capitol in early December.

    Meanwhile, some Republican leaders frame the push as part of a broader national battle over the congressional map. At least six other states are already revisiting their lines, and allies of President Donald Trump are urging Republican‑controlled legislatures to follow suit. Trump first made the call over the summer.

    “It will end in two very partisan draws in red and blue states, I would imagine,” said Florida GOP Chair Evan Power. “But that’s what they’re trying to do in California. That’s what they’ve done in Massachusetts. That’s what they’ve done in New York. That’s what they’ve done in Illinois.”

    Critics in Florida describe the governor’s plan as political, discriminatory, and potentially unlawful. They point to the state’s “Fair Districts” amendments, which ban maps that favor a party or an incumbent.

    “To the Legislature: Your constitutional duty could not be more clear,” said Jonathan Webber of Southern Poverty Law Center. “You can obey the Constitution or bow to political pressure, but you cannot do both.”

    Meanwhile, the Florida Senate has yet to formally publish an opinion, and unlike the House, Senate President Ben Albritton has not assembled a panel to brainstorm redistricting.

    DeSantis and Albritton met to discuss the plan, according to Florida Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta.

    “The Governor reiterated to the President what he has stated publicly — that the timeline for addressing redistricting should be next Spring,” Betta wrote. 

    State of the State History

    DeSantis has a history of using the speech to outline the successes of his administration in the state of Florida. During his State of the State speech last March, the governor outlined several statistics in the beginning moments of his address.

    In prior years, he used the power of the podium to advocate for his top issues, including improving education in the state, as well as tackling the high level of state spending, something that Florida House Speaker Danny Perez said he also wished to tackle in his acceptance speech in November.

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    Phillip Stucky

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  • Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announces bid for Florida governor

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins announced he has joined the crowded Republican field to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    “I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites. I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust,” he wrote in a post on X. 

    He now joins a crowded Republican field that includes Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, investor James Fishback and Congressman Byron Donalds. There are two Democrats currently in the race as well, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and former Republican congressman David Jolly.

    Although he recently announced his entry into the race, the campaign for Donalds was quick to react. 

    “Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is the only proven conservative fighter who can unite Republicans, deliver on the President’s America First agenda, crush the Democrats, and make Florida more affordable. Anyone running against Byron is an anti-Trump RINO and will be soundly defeated in the Republican primary,” Chief Strategist for the Byron Donalds for Governor Campaign Ryan Smith said.

    Collins was appointed as lieutenant governor in August 2025. | Read story

    He replaced Jeanette Nunez, who left office to become president of Florida International University.

    Collins was first elected to office in November 2022 to represent Tampa and East Hillsborough County, defeating incumbent Democrat Janet Cruz.

    In August, DeSantis called him the “Chuck Norris of Florida politics,” drawing a round of applause. He was referencing the action film star who is also famous for his work in martial arts.

    In the Florida Legislature, Collins was chairman of the Senate’s transportation committee, vice chair of the military and veterans affairs, space, and domestic security committee, has served on multiple appropriations committee and was on the pre-K education and ethics and elections committees.

    Collins served in the Army Special Forces, earning the Purple Heart for his service in combat during his 23-year military career. He is a former Green Beret and had a leg amputated years after sustaining a serious injury but re-qualified to return to active duty.

    After retiring from the military, Collins founded a nonprofit organization supporting veterans, first responders and Floridians in need.

    DeSantis cannot seek reelection because of term limits.

    This is a breaking news story. Stay with Spectrum News on-air, online and on the Spectrum News app for updates.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Winter Haven responds to AG’s claims over public camping law violations

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    WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — In response to a violation notice sent by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office last week, Winter Haven city leaders said in a formal response that they have been following the rules when it comes to enforcing homeless encampments.

    Uthmeier’s violation notice accused the city of not enforcing public camping and sleeping laws. The letter included photos of individuals sleeping on picnic tables, by trees, in tents, and at the bottom of playground slide.

    What You Need To Know

    • The city of Winter Haven has formally responded to a violation notice sent by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office last week

    • Uthmeier’s notice accused the city of not enforcing public camping and sleeping laws
    • City officials, though, say police have been following the law, which includes prohibiting people from setting up tents or shacks for overnight camping
    • PREVIOUS STORY: Florida AG accuses Winter Haven of not enforcing public sleeping law

    The letter alleges that encampments and people sleeping on sidewalks and in parks are making public spaces unusable. The AG’s office asked the city to respond to his letter within five business days.

    On Friday just before close of business, the city’s attorney sent the AG’s office a formal response.

    The letter from the city states homelessness in Polk County was reduced by almost 39% in 2025, according to the 2025 Council on Homelessness annual report. The letter states that over the last eight months, the Winter Haven Police Department has cleared 25 unlawful campsites.

    At the local level, they say police have been following the law in Winter Haven, which includes prohibiting people from setting up tents or shacks for overnight camping. Local laws also ban people from lying on publicly owned sidewalks during daylight hours, or in entryways of public buildings.

    “Winter Haven accepts this responsibility and is pleased to report to you and the Attorney General that when City police observe, or receive notification of, a potential or an alleged public camping situation, police officers take immediate action to address the issue, including removing the person or the persons from the property and scene, clearing any litter that may be left behind, and sanitizing the site for the safety and health of the general public,” the letter stated.

    The 2024 Florida law regarding public sleeping states that public sleeping and camping sites should be designed in each county, but include rigid requirements, like 24-hour security, access to mental health and medical care, running water, bathrooms and moving the site every year.

    In its formal response, the city said it is not aware of applications to DCF to designate public spaces in Polk County for public camping or sleeping. The letter states that only county commissions have the capability to do that.

    “The 2024 public camping and sleeping law does not allow cities, like Winter Haven, to file applications with DCF for public camping and public sleeping,” the letter states.

    The formal response also states that homeless itself is not a crime.

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    Angie Angers

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