Florida

New Florida Lottery promotion could get you a $5 coupon at the register. Here’s how

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

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New Florida Lottery promotion could get you a coupon at the register. Here’s how

Florida Lottery Pick drawing promotion runs through June

The Florida Lottery would like to remind you that along with the big flashy Powerball, Mega Millions and Florida Lotto drawings, they also have Pick drawings twice daily. So they’re giving you money.

Throughout the month of June, anyone buying a Pick 2, Pick 3, Pick 4 or Pick 5 worth $1 or more could possibly get a $5 cash coupon right there at the register that can be redeemed immediately. If you’re in a hurry, you can redeem it later (before August 30, 2024) at any of the Florida Lottery’s 13,500 retailers across the state.

“$1 million in instant-win prizes will be randomly awarded as $5 cash prize coupons,” the Florida Lottery said in a release.

Pick daily games cost either 50 cents or $1 to play. You choose numbers in multiple columns and choose whether to try to match them in the exact order, any combination, both, or just on either number, and payouts and odds change depending on how you play. You can also choose the Fireball addon (which doubles the price of the game) to increase the prize and slightly increase the chances of winning.

Pick drawings happen twice daily, seven days a week, at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. EDT.

What can you win in Pick daily games and what are the odds?

Pick 2: Up to $50. Odds run from 1 in 5 to 1 in 100.
Pick 3: Up to $500. Odds run from 1 in 33 to 1 in 1,000.
Pick 4: Up to $5,000. Odds run from 1 in 25 to 1 in 10,000.
Pick 5: Up to $50,000. Odds run from 1 in 167 to 1 in 100,000.

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Florida

Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2026

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Cruise ship out of Florida hit by norovirus outbreak; 94 affected

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A cruise ship that departed Florida has been hit by a norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 people fell ill on the Holland America Line cruise ship Rotterdam during its voyage between Dec. 28, 2025, and Jan. 9, 2026.

Those affected by the norovirus outbreak showed the typical symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

The virus, which is highly contagious, is the number 1 cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms appear between 12 and 48 hours after exposure and can include other symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, and fevers.

According to the CDC, 85 passengers out of 2,593 reported being sick. Nine of the 1,005 crew members reported being ill as well.

The CDC said Holland America Line and the Rotterdam crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures and quarantined those who fell ill to prevent the disease from spreading further.

CruiseMapper.com showed that the ship departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28. The cruise line’s website also has several future voyages out of Fort Lauderdale as well.

8 On Your Side has reached out to Holland America for more information on the outbreak.

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Florida

See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

Published

24 hours ago

January 12, 2026

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See photos of Monday’s SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

After a push to nearly the end of the launch window, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off on Florida’s third launch of 2026.

The rocket lifted off at 4:08 p.m. Monday, January 12 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It had originally been scheduled for earlier in the afternoon, but the launch time was repeatedly pushed back. SpaceX did not give a reason for the change in timing.

The Falcon 9 carried 29 Starlink internet satellites to orbit on the booster’s 25th mission. No sonic booms were heard in Brevard County, as the booster landed on the Just Read the Instructions drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Next SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral

The next Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida is scheduled for no earlier than 1:01 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The mission is the next batch of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites, titled Starlink 6-98.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

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Florida

Florida lawmakers push religious expression bills for 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

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Florida lawmakers push religious expression bills for 2026

The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.

Florida lawmakers have filed several bills for the 2026 legislative session to strengthen religious expression rights.
One proposed bill would protect employees from being disciplined over religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”
Another measure seeks to amend the state constitution to protect students and staff who express religious beliefs in public schools.

The First Amendment’s freedom of religious expression is appearing among a variety of bills in Florida’s upcoming legislative session, set to begin Jan. 13.

Specifically, lawmakers filed bills for the 2026 session that would create new Florida law or amend the state’s Constitution in efforts to strengthen the right of religious expression.

No doubt some advocates will disagree.

For instance, one bill called the “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” proposed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood, would ban employers from disciplining employees based on deeply held religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”

It was introduced last year and died in committee, and Equality Florida said at the time that the measure doubled down on “anti-transgender rhetoric.”

Some of these measures come in response to a conservative push to counter LGBTQ+ positions seen as in conflict with deeply-held religious beliefs. A notable decision for this cause came from the U.S. Supreme Court, after it said public school parents could exempt their children from discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.

Republicans enter the 60-day session having an advantage of a supermajority in Florida’s House and Senate, since votes along party lines could advance the conservative-led push uplifting religious beliefs.

Religious expression bills filed for 2026 Florida legislative session

Here’s a list of bills and resolutions, as of Jan. 9, filed so far that include religious expression measures:

HJR 583 (filed by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater): A resolution that would amend the state constitution to provide protection from discrimination for students and school personnel who express religious beliefs in public schools.
HB 641 (filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood): Would prohibit employers from disciplining employees or contractors due to “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
HB 835 (filed by Rep. David Borrero, R-Doral): Would prohibit schools from discriminating against students or school personnel based on political, religious or ideological viewpoint expression.
HB 1227 (filed by Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda): Would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, regulations, resolutions or rules that could substantially burden free exercise of religion.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

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