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Facing a 50-Minute drive? How Tampa Bay doctors are fighting Florida’s maternity care deserts

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Facing a 50-Minute drive? How Tampa Bay doctors are fighting Florida’s maternity care deserts


Driving an hour away to the hospital due to lack of access to maternity care is a reality for pregnant women as a new report out shows fewer hospitals are delivering babies.

What we know:

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Expectant mothers know to expect a lot of doctor visits.

“You go to the doctor every four weeks in the beginning, every two weeks in the second or in the third trimester and then every week for that last month,” said Dr. Mary Ashley Cain, an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at TGH/USF Health.

But, those trips are easier said than done for moms-to-be in rural communities, traveling more than 50 minutes on average in Florida.

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“We do have those patients that are in those rural areas that, again, have to travel a distance from Hardee to Hillsborough, from Pasco to North Pinellas, you know, that have to come quite a distance just for their appointments,” said Careen Rush, the maternal telehealth program manager at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg.

By the numbers:

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A January 2026 maternity care report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found less than 33 percent of rural hospitals in Florida provide maternity care. 

More than 120 rural hospitals nationwide closed since 2020, the report said.

“There is always a risk to closing labor and delivery units, especially in a more rural area due to the amount of resources that it does take to care for both mom and baby,” said Dr. Victoria Selley, chief medical officer at AdventHealth Sebring in Highlands County.

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READ: Bay Area health care systems expanding as region continues to see major growth

AdventHealth Sebring is the only hospital in a tri-county area that provides labor and delivery services.

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“Working in a rural community hospital, those are my friends and family that I’m caring for,” said Selley.

Why you should care:

Orlando Health Bayfront in St. Petersburg uses a maternal telehealth program to help reach rural maternity patients. 

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Rush said federal legislation helped designate money at the state level for maternal telehealth coverage throughout the state.

“They started running some pilot programs on how we could reach this population, particularly in the rural areas in those healthcare deserts where a lot of moms do look for delivering hospitals,” said Rush.

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She said Orlando Health Bayfront expanded the program from Pinellas and Pasco counties into Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, and Polk counties.

“There’s lot of options that we’re looking at for future expansion to go out to where they are rather than an outreach, rather than them come to wherever the provider is sitting,” said Rush.

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A new Orlando Health hospital is going up in Wesley Chapel, but it won’t include maternity care.

But in those cases, doctors said guidelines for helping pregnant patients, especially high-risk ones, are critical.

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“They may not be able to take care of all of those steps, but we’re working throughout the state to help other hospitals and other providers in some of these maternity deserts recognize it and know where they can send a patient,” said Cain.

READ: Hillsborough County health care plan sees surge after federal subsidies expire

Maternity deserts may not go away, but Tampa Bay area doctors said they’re committed to keeping the existing care in place.

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“Those of us that are in these communities are holding on to our labor and deliver units as tightly as we can because we know the value of what that provides to the community. It really is about one patient, right, that it makes a difference for,” said Selley.

The Source: The information in this story came from The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform and interviews with Tampa Bay hospital systems, and it was reported by FOX13’s Briona Arradondo.

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Naples man accused of terror threats arrested after daylong standoff

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Naples man accused of terror threats arrested after daylong standoff


Collier County deputies ended a daylong standoff with a Naples man accused of making terrorist threats.

Deputies arrested Peter Hooker, 60, at his home, Lago Apartments complex at the intersection of Livingston and Radio Roads on Friday, April 3, the sheriff’s office social media reported.

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Hooker is charged with written threats to kill, do bodily injury or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, a felony.

Deputies received reports that Hooker had made written threats of violence. When deputies arrived about 9:25 a.m., Hooker refused to come to the door.

Concerned that Hooker may be armed, multiple units, along with fire and EMS, responded.

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Throughout the day Hooker continued to ignore deputies’ commands to come to the door, the reports indicate.

Deputies evacuated areas of the complex and closed sections of Livingston and Radio roads.

“This was a complex and evolving situation, and our deputies addressed it with professionalism from start to finish,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “I also want to thank the public for their cooperation and patience as first responders worked to bring this to a peaceful conclusion.”

Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.

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Central Florida students receive free prom attire from nonprofit

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Central Florida students receive free prom attire from nonprofit


ASSIGNED BY FLORIDA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL, CENTRAL FLORIDA STUDENTS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE BIG DANCE. IT IS PROM SEASON, AND MOST FAMILIES WILL SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER STUDENT. BY THE TIME YOU ADD UP THE TICKETS, THE TRANSPORTATION, AND EVEN DRESSES AND TUXES. WESH TWO GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN IS LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM THIS EVENING. GAIL YOU FOUND AN ORGANIZATION THAT’S HELPING STUDENTS WITH SOME FREE STUFF? YES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE. I MEAN, THE AVERAGE PROM DRESS CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM 150 TO $300. WHAT ABOUT TAXES? IF YOU’RE RENTING THEM 200 OR MORE. SO 26 HEALTH IS TRYING TO MAKE PROM FUN. NOT FRUSTRATING BY OFFERING FREE ATTIRE AND ACCESSORIES. ONE YEAR. JOANNE LARCOMBE IS A MOMMY ON A MISSION. SHE’S TRYING TO FIND THAT SPECIAL PROM ATTIRE FOR HER SON AND DAUGHTER AT PROM ON MAGNOLIA AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. IT’S FREE PROM DRESSES AND SUITS BY 26. HEALTH 26. HEALTH IS A NONPROFIT HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT. SUPPORTERS SAY PROM SHOULD BE A CELEBRATION, NOT A FINANCIAL BURDEN. PROM IS SO EXPENSIVE IT’S $111 FOR A TICKET FOR PROM. IMAGINE BUYING A COUPLE $100 SHOE. OR, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR KID LOOKS SNAZZY. THEY DON’T WANT TO GO WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A NICE SUIT. SO IT’S SUCH A BLESSING. I’M SO GRATEFUL FOR IT. SHE FOUND THIS PROM DRESS FOR HER DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH. YOU’RE ON FIRE. SHE FACETIMED HER SON GEORGE TO MAKE SURE HIS SUIT WAS JUST WHAT HE WANTED. WITHOUT THIS, I DON’T THINK I WOULD HAVE HAD A PROM SUIT. OR AT LEAST A NICE ONE FOR OUR PROM. SO I’M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT MY MOM IS ABLE TO GET ME A SUIT AND THAT I’M ABLE TO GO WEAR SOMETHING NICE AT PROM. APRIL 11TH IS GEORGE’S PROM AT LAKE BUENA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL, AND SO IS DARIAN BEVAN’S PROM AT EVANS HIGH. ACTUALLY, IT’S CRAZY BECAUSE I WASN’T GOING TO GO TO PROM BECAUSE I COULDN’T AFFORD A SUIT. SO LIKE AN HOUR OR TWO, IT CAME IN MY EMAIL. I WAS LIKE, OH, MOM, I COULD GO. YOU JUST GOT TO BUY THE TICKET, I COULD GO, I WAS LIKE, YEAH, HE’S HAPPY. THAT’S GREAT BECAUSE THE TICKETS ARE EXPENSIVE, AREN’T THEY? YEAH. IT’S LIKE 132 A PERSON. WOW, ISN’T THIS BEAUTIFUL? SO HOW DID 26 HELP GET ALL OF THESE DRESSES AS WELL AS SUITS? WELL, A SOCIAL MEDIA REQUEST WENT OUT AND 26 HEALTH EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS PARTNERS DONATED 325 ITEMS FOR THIS EFFORT. WE BELIEVE IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THIS WAS A BRAINCHILD OF OUR STAFF, OF OUR STAFF, AND THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE FUNDS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROM. AND THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OTHERS, ALL THE STUDENTS WILL LOOK FABULOUS AT THEIR PROM. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. AND THEY WERE. THEY WERE SO PRETTY AND SO HANDSOME. THIS IS 26. FIRST TIME DOING THIS. AND THE CEO SAYS, OH MY GOODNESS, WH

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Central Florida students receive free prom attire from nonprofit

Updated: 10:49 PM EDT Apr 3, 2026

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Central Florida students are getting ready for prom season, and many families will spend hundreds of dollars per student on tickets, transportation, and attire.However, one organization is helping students with free prom attire and accessories.The average prom dress can cost $150 to $300, and tuxedo rentals can be as much as $200 or more, especially for designer options.26Health, a nonprofit health care organization, aims to make prom fun and not frustrating by offering free attire and accessories.Joanne LaComb is a mother on a mission, searching for special prom attire for her son and daughter at “Operation Prom” on Magnolia Avenue in Orlando.”You know prom suits are so expensive. It’s $111 for a ticket for a prom. Imagine buying a couple hundred suits, you want to make sure your kids look snazzy. They don’t want to go without looking like a nice suit. It’s such a blessing. I’m so grateful for it,” George LaComb, a student at Lake Buena Vista High School, said.She found a prom dress for her daughter, Elizabeth and FaceTimed her son George to ensure his suit was just what he wanted.”Without this, I don’t think I would have had a prom suit, or at least a nice one for our prom. So I’m really grateful that my mom was able to get me a suit and I’m able to go wear something nice to our prom,” LaComb said.April 11 is LaComb’s prom at Lake Buena Vista High School, and it is also Derrion Bivins’ prom at Evans High School.”Actually, it’s crazy, I wasn’t going to go to prom because I couldn’t afford a suit, so like an hour or two, it came in my email, ‘Oh, mom, I can go, you just got to buy the ticket.’ I can go. It’s like, yeah, we was happy,” Bivins said. “That’s great because the tickets are expensive. Yeah, it’s $130 per person.”A social media request went out, and 26Health employees and partners donated 325 items for this effort.”We believe in giving back to the community, so this was a brainchild of our staff, and they wanted to be able to do something for individuals who may not have had the funds to participate in prom,” Latrice Stewart, 26 Health president and CEO, said.Thanks to the generosity of others, all the students will look fabulous at their proms. This is 26Health’s first year doing this, and the CEO said it has been an incredible experience because giving back is what they do.

Central Florida students are getting ready for prom season, and many families will spend hundreds of dollars per student on tickets, transportation, and attire.

However, one organization is helping students with free prom attire and accessories.

Advertisement

The average prom dress can cost $150 to $300, and tuxedo rentals can be as much as $200 or more, especially for designer options.

26Health, a nonprofit health care organization, aims to make prom fun and not frustrating by offering free attire and accessories.

Joanne LaComb is a mother on a mission, searching for special prom attire for her son and daughter at “Operation Prom” on Magnolia Avenue in Orlando.

Advertisement

“You know prom suits are so expensive. It’s $111 for a ticket for a prom. Imagine buying a couple hundred suits, you want to make sure your kids look snazzy. They don’t want to go without looking like a nice suit. It’s such a blessing. I’m so grateful for it,” George LaComb, a student at Lake Buena Vista High School, said.

She found a prom dress for her daughter, Elizabeth and FaceTimed her son George to ensure his suit was just what he wanted.

“Without this, I don’t think I would have had a prom suit, or at least a nice one for our prom. So I’m really grateful that my mom was able to get me a suit and I’m able to go wear something nice to our prom,” LaComb said.

April 11 is LaComb’s prom at Lake Buena Vista High School, and it is also Derrion Bivins’ prom at Evans High School.

“Actually, it’s crazy, I wasn’t going to go to prom because I couldn’t afford a suit, so like an hour or two, it came in my email, ‘Oh, mom, I can go, you just got to buy the ticket.’ I can go. It’s like, yeah, we was happy,” Bivins said. “That’s great because the tickets are expensive. Yeah, it’s $130 per person.”

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A social media request went out, and 26Health employees and partners donated 325 items for this effort.

“We believe in giving back to the community, so this was a brainchild of our staff, and they wanted to be able to do something for individuals who may not have had the funds to participate in prom,” Latrice Stewart, 26 Health president and CEO, said.

Thanks to the generosity of others, all the students will look fabulous at their proms. This is 26Health’s first year doing this, and the CEO said it has been an incredible experience because giving back is what they do.

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Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home

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Video shows Backstreet Boys star Brian Littrell in heated dispute at Florida home


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More details are emerging on an alleged altercation between Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell and a Florida beachgoer.

The “I Want It That Way” singer, 51, reportedly called 911 following the incident on March 22, and later filed a complaint in Walton County, Florida, according to People and ABC 13.

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Though Littrell sought battery charges against a local man whom he said set up a beach chair on his private property and refused to leave, the prosecutor ultimately declined to pursue the case. Now, a video released by ABC 13 is shedding new light on the incident.

In the video, submitted as evidence, Littrell approached a man, identified by the outlet as Kyle Gallagher. Gallagher was sitting on the beach as Littrell videotaped Gallagher with his phone and came within a few inches of his face. The man pushed Littrell’s phone away, and the two began filming each other and hurling expletives.

The boy band member then turned the camera to his own face, laughing and said, “This is what I deal with, people like this,” to which the man responded, “You came and shoved your phone in my face, bro.” The dispute continued, with both men getting heated, and Littrell at one point saying, “You wanna be gay?”

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Gallagher argued that Littrell’s property is next to public beach access, while the singer responded, “I can’t wait till this gets out, bro.”

In statements to authorities, both men offered a different version of events, with Littrell characterizing Gallagher as violent and a disturbance to the peace, while Gallagher said he only batted away the singer’s phone out of reflex and being startled.

Walton County Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell declined to pursue charges, citing both a lack of criminal intent and the video backing up Gallagher’s version of events, per ABC 13. USA TODAY has reached out to Mitchell’s office as well as the Walton County Sheriff.

In a statement sent to USA TODAY on Friday, April 3, Littrell’s lawyer alleged he is one of several people in the beachfront neighborhood who are frustrated by trespassers.

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“Mr. Littrell enjoys positive relationships with his neighbors. They share a common challenge: repeated trespassing by individuals who deliberately enter private property to provoke confrontation,” the singer’s attorney, Peter Ticktin, wrote in the statement. “These incidents have affected multiple homeowners in the area and predate Mr. Littrell’s purchase of his home.”

The statement continued: “A trespasser placed a personal beach chair on Mr. Littrell’s private property and refused to leave. When Mr. Littrell approached him calmly, the trespasser became aggressive and struck Mr. Littrell in the face without provocation. This was an act of battery against a homeowner attempting to protect his property.”

Ticktin pushed back on “the claim that Mr. Littrell used a homophobic slur,” calling it “false.”

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“The full video of the encounter shows unequivocally that no such language was used. Sexual orientation played no role in this incident, and any suggestion otherwise is knowingly false,” Ticktin said.

“Mr. Littrell and his family purchased what they saw as their dream home, only to discover an ongoing pattern of trespassing and harassment targeting private property owners along their and their neighbors’ stretch of beach. These actions are not about public access, public beaches exist on both sides of the neighborhood and remain open and uncrowded,” Ticktin continued. “Instead, certain individuals appear intent on challenging the very concept of private property rights.”



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