Florida
Convictions of people caught by illegal Florida police drug sting to be vacated
Between 1988 and 1990, the Broward county sheriff’s office (BSO) in Florida manufactured and sold crack cocaine as part of a controversial sting operation to arrest people for purchasing the illegal drug. Many of those who are arrested for purchasing the BSO-made drugs were given lengthy prison sentences. The Florida supreme court declared the operation unlawful in 1993, but many people still have criminal charges or convictions on their records.
Now, the Broward county state attorney, Harold F Pryor, seeks to bring justice to those affected by the operation. Last week Pryor, the first Black state attorney in Broward and the first Black man to be elected state attorney in Florida, announced plans to vacate as many as 2,600 convictions linked to the drug sting operation.
“The methods used by law enforcement and society to combat drug dealing in our community have evolved since that era,” Pryor said in a statement. “These records may be a dim memory or an unfortunate part of history to many, but they have had a long-lasting and severe impact on the lives of the people who were arrested – as well as their families and the wider community.”
Before the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 Act, which reduced the statutory penalties for crack cocaine offenses, five grams of crack cocaine possession resulted in a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years, and 28 grams of the drug resulted in a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years.
Some buyers, who were disproportionately from vulnerable communities, faced enhanced charges for purchasing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school – receiving mandatory prison sentences of at least three years.
“They had detention deputies posing as dealers … These poor people who were addicts were buying it,” the defense lawyer Ed Hoeg, who represented Leon Williams, the man whose appeal led to the supreme court ruling, said to the Sun Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale.
There is no indication, the Broward county state attorneys office said in a statement, that many of the cases were ever formally vacated, which means that people who were swept up in the scheme may still be living with repercussions for the charges.
Pryor sent a letter to the current Broward county sheriff, Gregory Tony, notifying him of his intentions. “These matters were well before our tenures,” Pryor wrote. “However, I am of the opinion that the State has an ethical duty and obligation to correct this injustice before destruction [of old records] is initiated.” Pryor has said that Tony supports the plan.
Due to the number of people affected by the sting, the state attorney’s office is estimating it will take a considerable amount of time to review the paper files and determine people’s eligibility to seal or expunge their records.
In the statement announcing his plan, Pryor said, “It is never too late to do the right thing.”
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.
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.
The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.
Report: Florida No. 1for religious freedom
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Florida is ranked No. 1 for protecting religious liberty by the First Liberty Institute. Kimberly Kuizon reports.
Fox – 13 News
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.
Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Jan. 13, 2026
Mild temperatures and clouds on tap for Maine on Wednesday ahead of major cool down
Between Baltimore And Annapolis Is A Friendly Maryland Village With Lovely Streets And Suburban Ease – Islands
Detroit Forecast: Winter Storm Watch issued for part of Southeast Michigan
At Massachusetts stores, the demise of the penny is adding up to one big headache – The Boston Globe
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Video: Clashes With Federal Agents in Minneapolis Escalate
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
The Take: Iran, Trump, and the deadliest crackdown on protests yet
Lindsey Halligan argues she should still be U.S. attorney, accuses judge of abuse of power
Playing catchup to Republicans, Democrats launch ‘largest-ever’ partisan national voter registration campaign
-
Montana4 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Delaware5 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Iowa1 week agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Education1 week agoVideo: This Organizer Reclaims Counter Space