Florida State News

Presented by
Florida News Video
Florida News

Florida teen rejects plea deal

8:08 PM, May 24, 2013

(NBC NEWS) -- Kaitlyn Hunt, the 18-year-old Florida cheerleader facing felony charges for a sexual relationship she had with a younger girl, has refused to take a plea deal in the case, her lawyers said Friday.

FCAT results show improvement in writing

4:49 PM, May 24, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- This year's FCAT results are out for reading, math and writing and they show improvements in writing and little change in math and reading.

Third-grade FCAT math and reading scores static

1:42 PM, May 24, 2013

Third-grade math and reading scores on Florida's standardized test have remained static, while writing scores show a significant jump.

Car burglary suspect sought by JSO

9:34 AM, May 24, 2013

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help identifying a vehicle burglary suspect.

Orange County moves to do away with FCAT

8:57 PM, May 23, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. (WESH) -- Orange County students and parents will not have to deal with the FCAT much longer.

Missing 13-year-old Tallahassee girl

8:43 PM, May 23, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Tallahassee Democrat) -- The Tallahassee Police Department Special Victims Unit is searching for a missing 13-year-old girl last seen Wednesday.

State Attorney's Office accused of withholding photos

8:11 PM, May 23, 2013

Several photos recovered from the cell phone of Trayvon Martin show a hand holding a gun and marijuana plants, among other things.

Zimmerman attorneys file six-week trial delay

8:08 PM, May 23, 2013

SANFORD, Fla. - Attorneys for George Zimmerman have filed for a six-week trial delay based on new evidence released by the state last week.

Could new evidence in Zimmerman case tip the scales?

6:51 PM, May 23, 2013

The new evidence filed in the case against George Zimmerman could be a tipping point in the case.

New judge assigned in Michael Dunn case

5:24 PM, May 23, 2013

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A new Circuit Court Judge, Mallory Cooper, has been assigned Thursday to the case of the State of Florida vs. Michael Dunn, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Company urged to stop selling drug look-alike products

5:02 PM, May 23, 2013

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is not happy with a company that makes coasters, mugs and drink holders that look like prescription pill bottles.

Secretary of State praises new election law

4:12 PM, May 23, 2013

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said he believes Florida's new election law will solve the problems that plagued the presidential election last year.

Defense releases photos, texts of Trayvon Martin

1:47 PM, May 23, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- George Zimmerman's defense attorneys have released photos and text messages from 17-year-old Trayvon Martin's cell phone ahead of a hearing that will determine whether they can be used at the neighborhood watch leader's trial.

Universal Orlando raises ticket prices

9:53 AM, May 23, 2013

Universal Orlando has raised the price of a one-day, single-park ticket to $92.

Fugitive from South Carolina arrested in Florida

7:26 AM, May 23, 2013

A South Carolina man was arrested in Cocoa Beach Tuesday morning by the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Pocket-dialing 911 leads to Fla. man's murder charge

6:41 AM, May 23, 2013

Authorities in South Florida say a man is charged with murder because he was overheard discussing the killing when his cellphone pocket-dialed 911.

Deputy crashes patrol car, injures 2 others

10:16 PM, May 22, 2013

MANATEE, Fla. (AP) -- A Tampa Bay area deputy totaled a patrol car and hospitalized two other drivers with minor injuries after authorities say she failed to stop for a red light.

Surgeons remove 4-pound hairball from tiger

9:27 PM, May 22, 2013

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- It's not unusual for a cat to get a hairball, but a 400-pound tiger needed help from Tampa Bay area surgeons when he couldn't hack up a basketball-size hairball by himself.

Red hot Florida tourism industry translates into more cash

2:25 PM, May 22, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida tourism is on a roll right now and state leaders want to keep up the momentum by spending more on marketing.

Florida Lottery prepares for $590 million Powerball winner

2:24 PM, May 22, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The world is still waiting to hear who bought that winning $590 million Powerball ticket in Zephyrhills last Saturday.

Longest serving Florida death row inmate dies

11:06 AM, May 22, 2013

 A man who has been on death row longer than any other inmate in Florida has died in prison.

Skydiving accident kills man in Palatka

PALATKA, Fla. -- A 73-year-old died in a skydiving accident in Palatka Saturday afternoon.

10:39 PM, May 25, 2013

Man who killed longest python gets its snakeskin

PALMETTO BAY, Fla. (AP) - The South Florida man who caught and killed the longest Burmese python ever found in Florida gets to keep the snakeskin.

4:32 PM, May 25, 2013

Jacksonville man arrested for letting 13-year-old drive, resulting in hit-and-run

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An investigation revealed a 13-year-old child was behind the wheel during a hit-and-run near Arlington Middle School Monday. The man who allowed the young girl drive was arrested on Tuesday.

9:46 PM, May 14, 2013

2 killed, 100+ rescued in San Antonio floods

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Officials say about 60 people have been rescued from their San Antonio-area homes as floodwaters continue to rise.


5:47 PM, May 25, 2013

Police: Child left in car in Jacksonville, grandparents charged with neglect

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The grandparents of a nine-month-old child were arrested Friday after the child was pulled out of a car parked at a Winn-Dixie on Argyle Forest Boulevard.

10:37 PM, May 24, 2013

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent to present to state House committee

There are multiple pathways to obtain a high school diploma. That's the idea that Duval County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti wants to present to the Florida House K-12 Education Committee in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

3:55 PM, Feb 18, 2013

St. Augustine woman dies after a fatal crash on I-95 SB

A St. Augustine woman is dead after being involved in a fatal crash that occurred early Saturday morning.

11:14 PM, May 25, 2013

Ken Amaro

Ken Amaro began working at First Coast News (then known as 12 News) in October 1979, where he covered several beats including Education, City Council and the Military.

3:54 PM, Jun 8, 2012

Prayers poured out for Ben Bowersox at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville

 Since First Coast News first aired the story of 5-year-old Ben Bowersox, prayers for him and his family have poured in.

4:30 PM, May 12, 2013

Check It Out

Jacksonville 2013 Jazz Festival

Dash cam images of woman's tasing

Full moon over Ponte Vedra Beach (Diana Fox/First Coast News)

Moon over the First Coast

Musician Bob Dylan is seen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after he was presented with the medal by US President Barack Obama during a ceremony May 29, 2012 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The award is the countrys highest civilian honor. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages)

Happy 72nd birthday, Bob Dylan

FCN weather team behind the scenes

JT Townsend graduates from UNF

Great Grads

Text Messaging Thermometer

Motorcycle driver clipped in crash on JTB

Photo sent in by Gilbert Yrigollen.

NASA Parts traveling to Clay County

Graduates applaud as US President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address during the US Naval Academy graduation ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on May 24, 2013 in Annapolis, Maryland. Obama spoke about sexual abuse cases in the armed forces. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

President Obama addresses graduates at the U.S. Naval Academy

Willie Ray Heath - Charged with selling  methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substance, possession of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, maintaining a drug dwelling, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond: $29528.00

9 arrested in Putnam County meth lab bust

A man reflects May 23 at a makeshift memorial dedicated to a British soldier murdered a day earlier outside Woolwich Barracks in London.  Dan Kitwood, Getty Images

May 2013 in pictures

Amanda Bynes (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Amanda Bynes, then and now in pictures

MT. VERNON, WASHINGTON - MAY 23: A boat cruises past the scene of a bridge collapse on Interstate 5 on May 23, 2013 near Mt. Vernon, Washington. 1-5 connects Seattle, Washington to Vancouver, B.C., Canada. No deaths have been reported, and three people were taken to hospitals with injuries. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Photos from the I-5 bridge in Washington collapse

Woman has life-threatening injuries in 1-car crash

Your Pictures of our Heroes - A Memorial Day Tribute

Past Zimmerman Discovery Photos

Ben Bowersox update, 5/22/13

Storm moving in Nassau County on Saturday (Submitted by Alison McGrath)

First Coast severe weather

Photo courteous of Linda Denney

Dancing with the Stars Winner

Our 'HERO NEXT DOOR STUDENTS' $5,000 scholarship winner

Jessica Clark/First Coast News

El Galeon arrives in St. Augustine

People walk through a damaged area near the Moore Warren Theater after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

Photos of the Oklahoma tornado damage

Musician Ray Manzarek performs at the Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, Tribute to Motley Crue at the House of Blues Sunset Blvd on August 18, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. Manzarek died May 20, 2013 (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Celebrities who have died in 2013

JAIME RENEE KENNEDY, 27 - Charged with Driving while License Suspended/Revoked

Putnam County Sheriff's Office street crimes bust nets 12

Jim Lehrer, of the PBS Newshour, speaks to the audience before moderating the first presidential debate between US President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Denver ,Colorado on October 3, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GettyImages)

Celebrity birthdays for May 19, 2013

First Coast players hoping to win Powerball's $600 million

1. (1) Taylor Swift; $1,766,850; $81.34. (Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images)

Top 20 Concert Tours by avg. box office gross

Polk County Sheriff's Department arrests 92

Flagler Hospital given 'all clear' by bomb squad

RICHARD BROOKS ADAMS - Charged with possession of marijuana

Putnam County probation compliance checks bust 14

Photo courteous of Jessica Clark

St. Johns County Law Enforcement Memorial

Photo courtesy of Michael Heeder

Fire at a Bradford County Corrections Facility

Behind the scenes with FCN at THE PLAYERS

Plenty of pink at THE PLAYERS final round

Cush getting ready for a live shot with Chris Porter. 5/7/13

Behind the scenes with FCN at THE PLAYERS

Marching to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis

Ben Bowersox in hyperbaric chamber

Enormous fire destroys potato plant in Hastings

Reporter Kaitlyn Ross (right) and her mom (center) and sister.

FCN moms photo gallery

More Photo Galleries | Submit Photos

right left