Florida

Florida’s legislative session begins today. Are education fixes coming?

Published

1 year ago

March 4, 2025

Florida’s legislative session begins today. Are education fixes coming?

The big story: Florida lawmakers officially kick off their 2025 legislative session today with chamber leaders and the governor making speeches about their priorities over the next two months.

While education remains important to officials in both parties, the topic isn’t expected to be the hot-button issue that it has been in many past years. Gov. Ron DeSantis’s agenda faces headwinds that it hasn’t experienced previously, as the political dynamic in Tallahassee shifts.

Still, some school-related priorities have begun to bubble to the top. Those seen as most likely to move are efforts to roll back or refine measures that lawmakers approved in the past, only to hear from school officials that implementation wasn’t working as hoped.

The Senate Education PreK-12 Committee highlighted two such bills on Monday. Read more here.

Today in Tallahassee … The House Education Administration subcommittee will take up three bills when it meets at 1:30 p.m. • The House PreK-12 Budget subcommittee continues to discuss student funding formulas when it meets at 4 p.m. • The House Higher Education Budget subcommittee will hear audit reports on four state universities when it meets at 4 p.m.

Hot topics

Block scheduling: Pinellas County high school students voiced displeasure with plans to dump their eight-period rotating block schedule. School board members say they’re seeking solutions.

Book challenges: A federal judge has refused to dismiss a case against the Florida State Board of Education regarding its library book challenge rules, News Service of Florida reports. • A state lawmaker has filed legislation that would end protection of school books that include sexual content but are deemed to have artistic or literary merit, Florida’s Voice reports.

Cellphones: The Lee County school board is poised to implement a ban on student cellphone use during the school day, WGCU reports.

Crowding: The Duval County school board is contemplating new attendance zones for three middle schools to balance enrollment among them, the Florida Times-Union reports. • Manatee County school district officials plan to redraw school boundaries amid rising enrollment, campus crowding and booming growth, the Bradenton Herald reports.

Homelessness: Unaccompanied homeless students and youth in Sarasota County have a new source of housing assistance in a one-year pilot program funded by local philanthropists, the Herald-Tribune reports.

Immigration enforcement: Escambia County teachers are pressing the school district for written guidelines on how to deal with federal agents who come to schools seeking undocumented students, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

School leadership: A Leon County middle school principal accused of financial misconduct resigned to avoid termination, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Volunteers: All Florida school volunteers now must undergo a Level 2 background check with fingerprinting, at an increased cost that some districts are passing on to the volunteers, Bay News 9 reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go … Who knew the bagpipes could sound like this?

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Florida

Florida wildfire strands Amtrak passengers for over 24 hours

Published

19 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Florida wildfire strands Amtrak passengers for over 24 hours

A massive wildfire in Putnam County in northern Florida left Amtrak passengers stranded on a train for more than 24 hours.

One train heading to New York City was forced to turn around, arriving back in Miami Monday night, including one passenger who said he had been on that train for about 38 hours.

He says he and other passengers were left uncertain about what was going on.

“Angry, confused, uncertain, in the dark,” said John Reardon.

Reardon, who lives in New York City, says he boarded the train around 7 a.m. Sunday to go back home. He said around 3 p.m. Sunday, the train stopped near Jacksonville.

“Finally, after about 5 hours, they said we’re not going to New York, we’re going back to Miami,” Reardon said. “One stop at a time.”

Amtrak said for the safety of its passengers, the train couldn’t continue going north because of the fire.

“Amtrak sends a notification to the phone saying, ‘Hey, there’s an issue with the wildfire, it’s too close to the railway,’” said passenger Katrinia Wheeler.

Multiple crews are battling multiple fires in two Florida counties, leaving at least 3,000 acres burned.

“I saw that there was a lot of smoke coming from the woods, and then I saw the fire trucks and emergency services,” Wheeler said.

The train that left Miami at 7 a.m. on Sunday returned around 9 p.m. on Monday, leaving passengers frustrated.

Amtrak corporate says they made the decision out of safety for their customers and said customers would receive full refunds and vouchers.

In:

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Florida

Florida Lottery Fantasy 5, Cash Pop results for April 19, 2026

Published

2 days ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Florida Lottery Fantasy 5, Cash Pop results for April 19, 2026

The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 19 drawing

Midday: 06-09-19-34-35

Evening: 08-09-12-25-31

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 19 drawing

Morning: 03

Matinee: 08

Afternoon: 04

Evening: 01

Late Night: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Winning Pick 2 numbers from April 19 drawing

Midday: 4-0, FB: 3

Evening: 0-6, FB: 6

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing

Midday: 2-9-1, FB: 3

Evening: 3-7-0, FB: 6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing

Midday: 9-7-8-0, FB: 3

Evening: 3-6-7-8, FB: 6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing

Midday: 3-9-3-5-1, FB: 3

Evening: 1-3-1-8-7, FB: 6

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

Full name
City of residence
Game won
Date won
Amount won
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Florida faith leaders call for Miami mental health center to finally open

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

South Florida faith leaders call for Miami mental health center to finally open

On Monday, more than 800 faith leaders and community activists from across South Florida, crowded into the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami to demand the Miami Dade County Commission move forward with opening the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery.

“Are we OK with being told to wait when lives are on the line?” said Quanda Dupree, of the St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church. “Or do we believe real accountability means keeping your word? Even when things aren’t guaranteed. We believe our communities deserve more than a delayed response. We deserve action.”

The center – which was promised to voters back in 2004 – would take mentally ill individuals out of the jail and move them into a place where they can receive comprehensive treatment and support. The county has spent more than $50 million renovating the building and two years ago, a pair of non-profit groups were selected to operate the facility while numerous local groups and agencies have pledged their support, including the Homeless Trust. Funding for the first two to three years of the center is already in place.

And yet, the center remains empty – not helping anyone.

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